Behind the Temple: A Study of the Social Network of the Tua Peh Kong Temple in Skudai, Malaysia (1892-1970)

The Tua Peh Kong Temple in Skudai is a century-old temple located in Skudai Town, Johor, Malaysia. This paper primarily employs literature research and field investigations to outline the social networks and development strategies of the temple during different historical periods. It first analyzes the founding time and process of the Skudai Tua Peh Kong Temple, followed by an examination of its social networks during the early establishment phase, as well as before, during, and after World War II. Academic research on Malaysian Tua Peh Kong temples has largely focused on prominent temples, with an emphasis on identity and cultural recognition. In the context of Johor and the study of Chinese temples in Johor Bahru, scholars have mostly concentrated on ancient temples and the shaping of political power; their research on the regional history of Skudai has been limited to data collection. Therefore, this paper aims to extend the research on Malaysian Tua Peh Kong temples, the study of century-old temples in Johor, and the regional history of Johor Bahru.