Everyone knows the railway and steel tycoons Rockefeller and Carnegie from the USA. But do you know Cheong Fatt Tze? He is the equivalent of the American robber barons and the Chinese version of the rag-to-riches story. He came from Guandong province and started to work as a water-carrier and eventually started his own businesses quickly spreading into all sorts of trades according to his credo: “whatever people need, he will provide it”. He even became a Chinese Mandarin (Chinese minister), held a wide array of government posts and met the rich and powerful in the 19th century in East and West. According to his status he had eight wives and houses in China, Malaysia and Singapore, whereof the house in Georgetown, Penang, dubbed the Maison Bleu or Blue Mansion because of its Indigo-blue paint, is the most awe-inspiring one with 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 220 windows and 7 staircases. The 19th century house which took 8 years to build is an eclectic mix of a Chinese floorplan with Scottish ironworks and Art Nouveau colored glass. As befit a true Chinese the house was built according to Feng Shui principles with a courtyard collecting water (Feng) and being the center of Chi (positive force) and boasting many windows which let through Shui (wind). The rear side of the house is raised to resemble a little hill (dragon’s back) and the opposite the road five attached shop-houses housed the servant quarters and the kitchen, effectively prohibiting anyone building in front of his magnificent and mighty home. During that time it was fashionable to build in the Indo-Anglo-style but he knew that a traditional Chinese house would be difficult to sell and therefore preserve his heritage.
The house offers excellent tours by Joann and is open every day at 11am and 3pm. The is also a Bed & Breakfast with 17 beautiful rooms. For further details see their website: http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/1intro-01.htm
Just like to say that you've a nice website. By the way, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has 15 B&B rooms.
Posted by: Joann | April 03, 2006 at 05:12 AM