Built in 1914, Kom Tong Hall was originally the residence of prominent Hong Kong businessman Ho Kom Tong. It was gazetted as a Declared Monument of Hong Kong in 2010. The Hong Kong Government bought Kom Tong Hall in 2004 and converted it into the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum.
The architectural details tell the life stories of the building. The patterns on the tiles give clues to the owner's interest and the cultural features of the times.
Dr Sun Yat-sen lived in his hometown, Cuiheng Village in Xiangshan County, Guangdong Province when he was young. The region produced a local type of enamel ware called Guangcai, or 'Canton enamels'. Such images and decorations constituted the theme of this panel. (Guangdong, late Qing Dynasty by Leung Lai Man, Jess)
The window designs of Shanghai that merged traditional sculpture and western-style stained glass windows were used for featuring the period of the 1911 Revolution. (Early Republic of China by Wilson Shieh)
The screen pattern in Victorian style implied Dr Sun Yat-sen's period of studying in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong, Victorian era by Wong Wing Shan (Flyingpig))
After failure of first uprising in 1895, Dr Sun Yat-sen underwent an exile in Japan. The ukiyo-e genre which depicted Japanese customs and lifestyles was aptly regarded as the representative feature of pre-modernist Japanese art. (Japan, Meiji period by Cheng Ting Ting and Cho Wing Ki)
From the 16th to 20th century, Macau had been a Portuguese colony. The blue-and-white ceramic tiles have become an iconic feature of Macau. (Macau, Portuguese style by Cho Wing Ki)
In the 19th century, Hawaii was still under the rule of the local indigenous dynasty. The painting there featured rich motifs of tropical forests. (Hawaii, 19th century by Cheng Ting Ting)
The Chinese in Southeast Asia provided Dr Sun Yat-sen with the much needed financial support. The rich and colourful Chinese images and symbols were representatives of cultural integration. (Nan Yang (or Southeast Asia), Nyonya style by Leung Lai Man, Jess)
