Anyone familiar with Chinese history knows that for millennia, China was ruled by dynasties of emperors. However, modern China has no emperor, and that can be attributed to the actions of one man: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, sometimes called the Father of Modern China.
This is an interesting historical titbit, but what does this have to do with Malaysia? This is Malaysia Food & Travel after all, right? Well, Chinese and Malaysian history are intrinsically linked, and there’s no stronger evidence about this than this little spot in Penang.
An untold history of Penang
Image Credit: Mario on Google Review (Left), Wikipedia (Right)
Dr. Sun’s quest to topple the Qing dynasty took him to places all around the world. One of his most important pit stops was actually in Penang! He would establish a base of operations at 120 Armenian Street, a shophouse which stands today as a museum dedicated to him.
Who is Dr. Sun?
Image Credit: Universiti of Hawaii @ Manoa (Left), Library of Congress (Right)
But why is Dr. Sun such an important guy? This isn’t History.com, but we’ll try our best to give you a summary. In any case, knowing a bit of world history might come in handy during a trivia competition, yeah?
Dr. Sun aka Sun Wen was a medical doctor who studied in the US. He was impressed by Western ideas of democracy and modernisation and believed that China would benefit from these. At the same time, he felt the Qing dynasty was corrupt and holding China back.
From doctor to rebel
Giving up his medical practice, Dr. Sun began visiting Chinese communities around the world, organising groups to prepare for a revolution back in China. Many people were motivated to support him, as they also saw the Qing as the source of China’s problems.
However, Dr. Sun’s journey was not easy. The Qing saw him as enemy number one, so he had to move around to avoid arrest. After being kicked out of Japan, Dr. Sun went to another Asian country with a significant Chinese community: Malaya.
Supporters in Malaya
Image Credit: Vintage Malaysia on Pinterest (Left), Wikipedia (Right)
Even before his arrival, Dr. Sun had local supporters and admirers in Malaya, including the Penangite businessmen, Goh Say Eng and Ng Kim Kheng. Thus, when he arrived in Penang on 19 July 1910, he received a warm welcome from the local Chinese community.
The office of the Penang Philomatic Union would become his headquarters during his time here. It was also here that Dr. Sun began planning another uprising against the Qing. In November 1910, he led the Penang Conference, meeting many important local figures.
During this time, he acknowledged that he was underfunded and appealed to the local community for donations. Amazingly, people of all walks of life chipped in, and he raised an amount equivalent to about RM100,000 today.
The fall of the Qing
Image Credit: Mark Beerdom on Pinterest (Left), Wikimedia Commons (Right)
The following year, Dr. Sun left Penang for the US, having angered the British administration with his criticism of their colonial rule. He would raise even more funds there, and this would culminate in the Second Guangzhou Uprising in April 1911.
Despite Dr. Sun’s hopes, the uprising was squashed, with four Penangite volunteers losing their lives fighting the Qing. However, not all was lost as the uprising inspired other revolts throughout China. One of these, the Wuchang Uprising, would kickstart the end of the Qing.
In February 1912, the last emperor of China, Pu Yi (who was just 6!), abdicated. Thousands of years of imperial rule had suddenly come to an end. While it was a new age, many more years of hardship and war awaited the new Republic of China.
The museum today
Image Credit: Hanu Rahtio on Google Review (Left), Gyi Houey on Google Review (Right)
While one can debate if Dr. Sun’s dream has been realised, it is undeniable that his legacy is a greatly honoured one. This museum in Penang is just one of many scattered throughout Asia. It is also one worth visiting if you admire the man.
Like many other buildings in George Town, the museum’s building is well-preserved. When you walk in, you will feel like you’ve travelled back in time to the 1920s. What you see before you is what Dr. Sun would have seen back in the day.
What’s inside?
Image Credit: Stephen Kong on Google Review (Left), GT Hodge (Right)
Past the front door is the first hall, where visitors would be welcomed and announced to the hosts. Wooden screens separate the first hall from the second. A prominent portrait of Dr. Sun hangs from one of these screens.
The second hall is where you can find a long table, where people would have dined and discussed important matters. This table has chairs decorated with mother-of-pearl, a show of affluence back in the day.
If you ever wondered how people prepared and cooked food back in the day, the kitchen at the back of the shophouse is open for viewing. Traditional utensils and charcoal stoves are among the sights which you can see here.
Tours by the custodian
The building itself has passed through a variety of owners. For now, it is in the care of Khoo Salma Nasution, a local writer and historian. She has written extensively on Dr. Sun’s time in Penang, and for a small fee, she will lead you on tours around the house!
Worth your time?
Ultimately, the Sun Yat-sen Museum is worth visiting when in Penang. The aforementioned tours are available in English and Chinese, as the museum is visited by Chinese and Taiwanese tourists, who come to pay their respects here.
Sun Yat-Sen Museum Penang
Address: 120, Lbh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Opening Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Contact: 016-2121910
You should also check out: This place in KL has detailed 3D printed & crafted miniature replicas of M’sian places & food
Feature Image Credit: Sun Yat-Sen Museum on Google Review (Left), Edvin Tan (Right)
