A large and unique tomb from 1884, the final resting place of Foo Teng Nyong ((Hú Dīng Niáng 胡丁娘) ), wife of a colourful 19th century native of Zengcheng (Zēngchéng qū 增城区), Chung Keng Quee (Zhèng Jǐngguì 郑景贵), is facing the threat of destruction to make way for a high-rise apartment project in Penang, Malaysia (Mǎláixīyà, Bīnchéng 马来西亚槟城).
Foo, who was born in 1849, died in 1883 and was entombed in 1884 when her final resting place was completed at its location off Jalan Bunga Telang, Fettes Park, Penang, Malaysia, well outside the protection of the George Town Heritage zones.
The structure is large, and its architecture very different from the traditional shape and form of Chinese graves found in Malaysia, even those of her well-known husband, son Chung Thye Phin (Zhèng Dàpíng 郑大平) and nephew Foo Choo Choon (Hú Zichūn 胡子春).
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Chung Keng Quee
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Chung Thye Phin
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Foo Choo Choon
Unlike the usual case, the coffin is uncovered by soil and instead rests, above ground, in the centermost of the several vaults that make up its base. A shrine-like headstone conceals the man-height vault enclosing the coffin while the other vaults on either side of the coffin are concealed by panels sculpted with fruit, flowers, trees and mythological beasts like the imperial dragon and mystical qilin.
Today, a petition to save the grave has garnered over a thousand signatures appealing to Penang authorities to save this nineteenth century artifact for the study and appreciation of future generations.
According to a newspaper report, it is unknown how or when the land on which Foo's grave rests, left family hands to end up in that of a property developer. Penang State Heritage Commissioner Rosli Nor who comfirmed that the landowner had sought permission to demolish the grave to build high-rise apartments is reported to have said, “I have visited the site and I find that it has very unique carvings and beautiful designs which are rarely found.” Rosli said a proposal he had received involved cutting the grave up into pieces and relocating it elsewhere. “I don’t agree to this because cutting it up will destroy it, it has these unique carvings, these might be destroyed in the process so my recommendation is still to protect it,” he is reported to have said.
In early March Rosli said they would be documenting the site, after it had been cleaned up to provide access, in preparation for a proposal to preserve the tomb. The proposal would have to be placed before the Penang Heritage State Council, chaired by the Chief Minister.
In the meantime those wishing to see this grave preserved fear that it may be destroyed before the relevant measures are put into place to protect it, as has happened in the past.
Foo's husband, Chung Keng Quee (native of Zheng New Village, Lianan, Fuhe Zhongxin, Zengcheng) who had come to Penang to mine tin at Larut, Perak, in 1843, had been ennobled by the Qing government for his acts of charity supporting the Qing government including donations for the Zhili flood relief (1871) and the Sino-French (1883-1884), during which last, his wife passed away and was buried.
"Even if you ignore the personalities involved," said Jeffery Seow (萧舜良) a great grandson of Foo Teng Nyong and Chung Keng Quee, "the art and craftsmanship alone of this grave from 1884 should be enough reason to save this grave."
Seow is hoping to garner sufficient public support behind his petition to effect a temporary protection order to ensure the safety of this grave before it can be listed as a heritage site.
Link to petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-massive-one-of-a-kind-138-year-old-grave-of-foo-teng-nyong-wife-of-chung-keng-quee
Please sign and share today!
