The Symbolic Meaning of the Tjong Yong Hian Gallery Building
Abstract
In 1898, Tjong Yong Hian was appointed as the Mayor der Chinezeen, the highest representative of the Chinese community in Medan City. To commemorate all of Tjong Yong Hian’s legacy, there was a gallery building inaugurated at Kejaksaan Street, Central Petisah, Medan Petisah Sub-district, Medan City, North Sumatra, on October 29, 2011. This place is nunique in its architectural symbols and Chinese ornaments. This paper uses Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic analysis model known as the ’three-part-triadic’ model. The data analysis technique was carried out in (1) Representamen, (2) Objects, and (3) Interpretants stages. The ornaments in buildings have particular meanings and purposes. These ornaments are seen on entrance gates, walls, doors, windows, roofs, and other places based on the Chinese people’s beliefs, giving meaning to the building and its people.
Keywords: Tjong Yong Hian, architecture, symbolic, galleries, China
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