MELAKA: The portrait of Kapitan Li Wei King, a pivotal historical figure credited with shaping the early Chinese community in the historic city and the development of the nation’s oldest functioning place of worship, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, will be returned to the state on Saturday (Jan 17).
The temple’s senior operations manager, Tsu Jia Min, said the portrait, along with a stone inscription honouring Kapitan Li, would be formally handed over following its exhibition at the National Palace Museum Southern Branch at Chiayi in Taiwan, where it has been displayed since last year.
"The handing-over ceremony will be witnessed by the museum’s assistant curator Dr Chung Tzu-yin, while Prof Lin Huan-Shen from Yunlin University of Science and Technology will represent Cheng Hoon Teng Temple at Jalan Tokong, here,” she said on Friday (Jan 16).
The relics were showcased as part of an exhibition titled Harbouring the Past: Cultural Encounters in Maritime Southeast Asia, which highlighted Melaka’s historic role as a major maritime hub and the contributions of early Chinese leaders to regional trade and cultural exchange.
"This collaboration symbolises the successful completion of a meaningful cross-regional cultural exchange,” she said.
She added that the ceremony would also mark the formal donation of several cultural artefacts from collector Katherine Beh, transitioning them from private collections into public heritage under the custodianship of the temple.
"The donated items, including textiles, garments, painted scrolls and wooden carvings, will be preserved, studied and shared with the public,” she said.
Kapitan Li was a prominent Chinese leader during the Dutch administration of Melaka in the 17th century.
