Goddess of Mercy Temple
Kuan Yin Temple is one of the oldest temples in Penang, dedicated to the Mahayana Buddhist religious practices. Its official name, Kong Hock Keong, translates to Temple of the Cantonese and Hokkien Community, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of these two communities who built it before the arrival of the British.
The Temple was originally dedicated to Ma Chor Po, the deity for seafarers. Local Hokkien speakers would refer to her as Ma Chor, while Mandarin speakers would say Mazu. It was built following Feng Shui practices according to the Hokkien saying, “ceh-sua-kua-hai,” meaning “a view of the sea from a hillside position”.
Early records show that community members gathered here to resolve disputes. However, when the Penang Chinese Town Hall was built next door in 1880, secular matters were no longer handled by the Temple. Despite this shift, Kuan Yin Temple still holds many untold stories and continues to be a vital place of worship for many.
