The Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee wishes to thank Cumberland resident Mr. Ralph Thompson for his generous donation of a Kwan Kung statue to the Committee for the Cumberland Chinatown site in the Park. The statue is currently on display at the Cumberland Musuem.


*Kwan (Kuan) Kung was the revered Warlord in Chinese history. He was good and kind. He was looked up to by the people as a protector of the miners who worked underground. The children especially, were taught to show their respect at all times to this deity, by bowing in his presence.

There used to be two Kwan Kung statues in Cumberland Chinatown. One was located in a temple at the western end of Sheung Gai (upper street). This building was called Ming Yee Tong, which was a representative home to the clans of Low's, Kwan's, Chang's and Chu's. Unfortunately, this building was destroyed by fire, but the statue was saved.

The second Kwan Kung statue was located on a special raised altar on the second floor of the Chee Kung Tong society (Chinese Freemasons building) in Cumberland Chinatown. The Kwan Kung was tended to daily. The incense and joss sticks on the altar were kept burning, and the area was always kept clean. *

The whereabouts of both Kwan Kung statues are unknown. If you have any information about either statue or their travels over the past 50 years, please call John Leung at 336-2115.

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*2007 information from Ken Lowe, a former Cumberland Chinatown resident, as told to his niece, Committee member May Gee.

Photograph by Dwayne Rourke.

Submitted by Grace Doherty, Chair
Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee