THE TOUR / The Murals and Coloured Drawings in Leong San Tong
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The Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons
This painting epitomises the common wish of Chinese society for a big family with plenty of offspring. For a house filled with offspring is considered a blessing. It is also the wish of the Khoo clan to procreate and flourish on this land, as the number of offspring illustrates the power of the clan. This painting has a rich and dense composition. The family members filled up the big house and in its spacious courtyard are burning firecrackers, lion or dragon-dancing, riding and shooting on horses. These scenes create an ardent and joyful atmosphere. On the bridge in the courtyard there is a person waiting to receive a decree from the Emperor, while outside the gate there is a procession bearing the plaques of learning achievement with the accompaniment of gongs and drums, indicating that someone in the family has passed an imperial examination. |
) The Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons. The vivid and lively picture has a dense composition - (CLICK TO ENLARGE) |
 
(Right) Picture of a Fisherman and a Woodcutter (Yu Qiao), (Left) Picture of a Farmer and a Scholar (Gen Du); together they form a phrase of Yu Qiao Gen Du
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The Fisherman, Woodsman, Farmer and Scholar
The two paintings flanking the "Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons" are thematically a pair. The one on the right features a fisherman and a woodsman, while the one on the left features a farmer and a child reading and riding on the back of an ox, hence the title the "Fisherman. Woodsman. Farmer and Scholar" (Yu Qiao Geng Du). The representation reflects the values revered in a traditional agricultural society, in which people are encouraged to work hard to be self-sufficient on the one hand, and to cultivate good morality and try for an official career through studying on the other. The Eight Immortals The well-known Eight Immortals are considered auspicious. The mural of these Immortals in Leong San Tong depicts the eight in a leisurely mood. It was painted by an artist surnamed Tan from Tong Aun in 1905. This work shows a different style from that of Yeoh Boon Ngah. The couplets flanking the painting read: "loyal officials and dutiful sons are first-class human beings; farming and studying are two things that matter most." The former accentuates the significance of loyalty and filial piety as advocated in Confucianism, while the latter reiterates the meaning as represented in the "Fisherman. Woodsman. Farmer and Scholar."  The mural of the Eight Immortals by an artist surnamed Tan from Tong Aun - (CLICK TO ENLARGE) |
 The story of the "Three Visits to the Cottage", which tells of Liu Bei, Guan Gong and Zhang Fei's three visits to the cottage of Zhu Ge Kong Ming to invite him to be their military adviser to the Kingdom of Shu. Moved by their sincerity, Kong Ming in the end accepted their invitation |
 The story of filial piety in which the Heaven was moved. It tells of the extraordinary story of filial piety and the patience of Shun which touched the Heaven and Earth. Even the elephants and the birds gathered to help him with his farming |
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The Door Gods at the Verandah
The Door Gods or Men Shen painted on the door act as a talisman guarding against evil spirits and welcoming good fortunes. Three pairs of Door Gods are painted respectively on the doors of the three halls of Leong San Tong. The pair at the central hall are called Shen Tu and Yu Lei; the pair at the right hall are those of two heavenly generals; while the pair at the left hall are those of two heavenly officials representing wealth and dignity. | ||
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| The mighty and dignified Door Gods, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, at the Cheng Soon Keong | The martial Door Gods at the Hock Teik Soo | The Door Gods painted on the door of the Ee Kok Tong. The hat and the deer represents the acquisition of official ranks |
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