Khoo Seok Wan (Khoo Siok Wan)
Photo source : Lee Brothers Studio Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
處士丘菽園君墓
邱菽園
born 10 November 1874, Fujian, China
died. 30 November 1941
died. 30 November 1941
Burial Entry
Date of Internment 2 Dec 1941
Khoo Siok Wan
69 years old
Blk 4 C plot no 242
Photo source : Lee Brothers Studio Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Khoo Seok Wan was a poet, scholar and community leader in Singapore. He was born on 10 Nov 1874 in Fujian China and died on 30th Nov 1941, at the age of 69 at his residence at 42 Amber Road. His death was reported by his son in law Ong Seng Tee and the doctor certifying his death was Dr S C Yin, MRCS LRCP His cause of death was leprosy according to his death certificate.
先君海澄新江人清末民
初累徴弗出以學者終于僑
女
鳴權
鳴真
男
金星
孫
湘秦
命民廿六年預星洲立石
生日
前清同治甲戍十月初四戌時
紀念
殤子
阿大
斯二
少文
亞四
夷庚
思日
(袝)名
自题丁丑生壙
海山天地筑仙龛，
埋骨犹能躍 剑潭，
日下三征终不起，
星洲一卧忍长酣，
飞花恍悟前身蝶，
抚碣思停异代骖，
弗信且看坟艸去，
年年新绿到天南.
八八老人菽園
Plaque in Khoo Kongsi Penang
1894 Fujian village exam ranked 59th
KHOO SIOK WAN = The Non-Poetic Life of the Poetry Master of the Southern Overseas Chinese
Tomb of Scholar Khoo Siok Wan
The late master, a native of Xin Jiang, Haicheng, lived from the late Qing to early Republican period.
Despite being offered multiple official appointments, he declined them all, dedicating his life to scholarship while living in Singapore
Daughters:
Ming Quan
Ming Zhen
Son:
Jin Xing
Grandson:
Xiang Qin
This stone was erected in Singapore in the 26th year of the Republic of China
Date of Birth:
Fourth day of the tenth month in the Jiaxu year of Emperor Tongzhi's reign (Qing Dynasty), at the Xu hour
In Memory Of
Deceased Children:
A Da
Si Er
Shao Wen
Ya Si
Yi Geng
Si Ri
(Dai) Ming
自题丁丑生壙
海山天地筑仙龛，
埋骨犹能躍 剑潭，
日下三征终不起，
星洲一卧忍长酣，
飞花恍悟前身蝶，
抚碣思停异代骖，
弗信且看坟艸去，
年年新绿到天南.
八八老人菽園
Translation
海山無地築仙龛
There is no space in the seas and hills to build my abode
埋骨猶能躍劍潭
… How can the buried bones leap across the sword lake
日下三徵終不起
Even if you beckon 3 times, I could no longer arise
星洲一臥忍長酣
That lay in Singapore enduring long thirst
飛花恍悟前身蝶
Flying flowers realized their butterfly past life
撫碣思停異代驂
Caressing the epigraph, thoughts stop and future generations
prepare the chariot
弗信且看墳草厺
If you don’t believe just look at the tomb grass
年年新綠到天南
Yearly they come back with new greenness
八八老人菽園
88 old man Seok Wan
Khoo Siok Wan was buried in Bukit Brown Cemetery Blk 4 C, Tomb no 242
几枚白石伴青珉,
小筑坟莹隔岁春
地下有灵相谅解,
迟工原是为家贫.
A few pieces of white rock accompany the green stone,
A little grave built but alas late one year
My dear I hope you can understand the reason,
I am late to build because of my poverty.
(Khoo Seok Wan (1874-1941) in memory of his wife, Lu Jie (陆结)
邱菽園 Name variants
邱得馨 Khoo Teck Hin
邱煒萲
Plaque in Khoo Kongsi Penang
1894 Fujian village exam ranked 59th
By June 1907, Khoo Siok Wan became bankrupt and has to do advertisements
BEDRIDDEN BY RHEUMATISM
Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, 10 June 1907, Page 1
BEDRIDDEN BY RHEUMATISM
Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, 10 June 1907, Page 1
Khoo Siok Wan of Singapore wearing his Qing official attire, advertising for Dr William's Pink Pills
CURED BY
DR. WILLIAMS' PINK PILLS.
PROMINENT CHINESE SCHOLAR & MERCHANT RECORDS HIS OWN ASTONISHING RESTORATION TO HEALTH, AND THEN RELATES HOW THE FAMOUS PILLS ALSO CURED A LADY RELATIVE OF HEADACHES AND OTHER AILMENTS.
Mr. Khoo Siok Wan is one of the most highly educated and influential Chinese gentlemen in Singapore. He is a Chinese Graduate of the M.A. Degree, and, besides, is the proprietor of Chop Heng Choon, 16, and 17, Boat Quay, Singapore, where he does a big business as import and export merchant and as a dealer in landed property.
"It gives me much pleasure to state that I have used the famous medicine Dr. Williams' Pink Pills and derived very great benefit," said Mr. Khoo Siok Wan. "I used to suffer from bad Rheumatic pains in the legs. Sometimes these pains were so severe that I could not walk, and sometimes, too, my sufferings were so great as to compel me to keep to my bed. I also had bad pains in the chest, just as if something had suddenly gripped my lungs, and when these came on I had to press my hands against my chest in order to relieve my sufferings.
"I consulted three Chinese doctors about my case but the medicines they gave me did no good. Then I decided to try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. I bought two bottles and commenced to take them. At this time I was confined to bed suffering from an attack of Rheumatism in the legs. After using the two bottles of Pills I was able to get up out of bed. Thus encouraged I went on taking the Pills until I found myself entirely cured not only of the Rheumatism but also of the pains in the chest. My appetite, which had been bad, was restored. This happened a year ago, and ever since then I have remained perfectly well and strong. My pains have never returned."
After relating the facts of his own cure, Mr. Khoo Siok Wan went on to tell how a relative of his, a Chinese lady age 32, had been cured by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. "This lady suffered from Sleeplessness and from severe headaches," said he. "She also was afflicted with pains in the abdomen. Sometimes she was very sick. The results of the use of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills in this lady's case were excellent. They cured her of her headaches, they made her health regular, and she is now quite strong and well."
Rheumatism is caused by a poisonous acid in the blood. It was by driving this acid out of Mr. Khoo Siok Wan's blood that Dr. Williams' Pink Pills cured him. In the case of the lady, weakness due to very poor blood was the cause of her headaches and other troubles, and when Dr. Williams' Pink Pills restored her blood to a good healthy condition she became strong and well. These Pills are the great Blood-Tonic medicine. They are the only proved remedy for Beri-Beri, and they have cured thousands of cases of Liver Complaint, Indigestion, Paralysis, Early Decay, Nervous Breakdown, Kidney Disease, Scrofula, Eczema, Boils, and the after effects of Fevers, Dysentery and Chills. Obtainable at most shops where medicines are sold, they can also be had, post free, 6 bottles for $7/- or one bottle for $1.25 from the Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., Cavanagh Bridge Singapore.
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 August 1907, Page 2
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 August 1907, Page 2
The Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1888
In the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements
IN BANKRUPTCHY No 103 of 1907
RE KHOO SIOK WAN
Receiving Order made 27th June 1907
Date of Order for Summary Administration 25th July 1907
邱菽园 南侨诗宗的非诗人人生
东南快报
2005 Jan 14
厦门市海沧区海沧镇新垵惠佐，村民邱等明最近新建了一栋价值60万元的房子，正准备装修好了用来出租，但是他还是高兴不起来，因为他家的老宅子没有被列为厦门市政府的第五批市级文物保护单位。
“其实我不是为了什么，只是祖先传到我手里的东西，总想把它保存下来，让后人也知道一些曾经发生过的历史。”邱等明对记者说。
这里发生了些什么历史呢？这里出生了一个人，他是清末的举人，他参加了公车上书，他为清末维新变法散尽家财，他首创新加坡为“星洲”的别号，他被康有为和张叔耐誉为“南国（侨）诗宗”，日本史学家田野枯次奉他为清末中国早期革命家，并把他与早期的康有为和后期的孙中山并列。
他就是邱菽园。
他这一辈子，有许多的身份，这些身份冲击了他作为一个百分百的诗人。那么，就让我们来解读一下这个南侨诗宗的非诗人人生。
巨富之子
说邱菽园，自然要先说一下他的父亲，如果不是父亲攒下的金山，或许也就不会有他后来的传奇人生。
海沧新垵惠佐现在生活着邱菽园的第四代、第五代后人，第四代的子孙有兄弟六人，现在他们的家产多则上百万，少也有几十万元，兄弟几人都建了豪宅，购了小车。但这些跟他们的祖先邱笃信相比，仍然是相差得很远。
邱笃信正是邱菽园的父亲，他字正忠，号勤植，清嘉庆廿五年（1820年）出生于福建省漳州海澄县属新垵村（现为厦门市海沧台资投资区海沧镇新垵惠佐）一普通的务农百姓的家。
穷人家长大的孩子身上具有中国农民刻苦耐劳的传统美德，邱笃信本可以一辈子做一个安分守己的普通老百姓，却被历史的车轮牵引向了另一条道路。他成年之际，正值帝国主义的魔爪开始伸进腐朽清政府统治下的中国，1840年第一次鸦片战争拉开了外国列强瓜分中国的序幕。
第一次鸦片战争后，厦门被开设为通商口岸。许多年轻人不堪忍受封建官僚和帝国主义的双重压迫，纷纷漂洋过海外出谋生。新垵的先辈们也接踵远涉重洋，到达槟城（马来西亚）、马六甲和新加坡各地。邱笃信当时家里很穷，连出海的船票都买不起，于是只好赊了一张船票来到新加坡。
初到新加坡，没有什么门路的他只好靠着自己年富力强，在码头替人家驮搬食米和其他土产过活。立志不愿忍受穷困的他节衣缩食，并利用空余时间打杂工积聚金钱，他克勤克俭，准备靠自己能写能算的才能开店赚大钱。
在30岁这年，他用自己好几年辛苦赚来的血汗钱开设了一家米行，通过自己的苦心经营，慢慢由一家米行发展到两家，再到四家……生意越做越红火。20多年后，他把米行开到了越南一带，自己由一个穷小子变成了米业的大王，拥有家产百万。
虽然成为了百万富翁，但他仍是一介布衣，在新加坡也没有一官半职，他总是感觉自己的地位与“米业大王”的身份不相称，于是决定培养出一个出人头地的儿子来做官。
正是由于父亲的这个想法，使邱菽园的命运得到了彻底改变。
邱菽园为释瑞禅师修建的柏城街都城隍庙
清末举人
邱笃信在自己五个儿子中，挑出了从小就聪明伶俐的三儿子德馨，将他作为仕途上出人头地的培养对象。德馨就是邱菽园的原名，他1874年出生于新垵惠佐，2岁时就随母亲杨氏赴澳门，后来才辗转到了新加坡，跟随父亲身边读书写字，父亲也从他小时候就请了先生专门教他中文、讲解四书五经。
1888年，时年已经68岁的邱笃信，把新加坡的巨大产业交给三弟邱正朝经营后，就带着当时只有14岁的邱菽园回到了故乡新垵惠佐，在这里兴建宗祠，设置义塾，并聘请名士督促儿子攻读诗书。
邱菽园的玄孙邱等明带着记者来到老厝的后面，指着只剩下一些石板的一块地告诉我们，这里就是当年高祖菽园的藏书楼，据说当年这里的两层楼都排满了各种书籍，供高祖参阅。后来藏书楼在抗日战争的时候被日军的飞机轰炸炸塌了三分之一，1959年的时候被“8·23”特大台风刮倒了另外的三分之二，现在已经荡然无存了。
1891年，苦读三年的邱菽园参加了童子试，取得了秀才的身份，三年后将参加乡试。说起后来的这次乡试，留下了一段广为传诵的逸事。
乡试这年，邱菽园正好20岁，从小受异国文化熏陶的他，在刚刚成年时高傲孤视。当监考官进入考场时，所有考生都不约而同地向考官磕头膜拜，唯独他笔挺挺站立着，不跪不拜，考官既诧异又不悦，考生也议论纷纷。
但考试结束后，他还是中举了。到底是因为他的才华出众，还是因为这99间半的大厝考场是他父亲邱笃信出巨资修建的，现在已经没法再说得清楚了。这大厝后来一直用来做龙海二中的教学楼，仍然是一代又一代人的教育圣堂。
三年后，邱菽园独自踏上了上京赶考的长路。这是因为头一年，在新加坡掌管家族产业的三叔病危，父亲获知后急赴新加坡处理事务，不能再陪儿子上京会试了。谁知这年，已经76岁高龄的邱笃信自己也病危了。
这年，邱菽园落第了，父亲也去世了。他最终还是没能进入仕途，没能完成父亲的心愿。
这正是邱菽园命运的一个最大转折点。
江湖人士
曾经有人这样说过邱菽园，假如把他带回春秋战国时代，那么中国历史上或许就不只有四大公子了，或许是五大公子。为什么这样说呢？这是因为从某种意义上来说，他是一个江湖人士。
1897年，23岁的邱菽园会试落第，回到新加坡为父亲料理后事，并正式入主家族的巨大产业，他也成为了新加坡华侨中唯一的举人。由于举人在当时中国的地位崇高，因此他在华侨中也很受尊崇，这在新加坡历史上是比较突出的。
23岁的邱菽园顿时成为了超级富翁和社会名士，对突来的巨富，他反而显得有些不适应，他对金钱漫不经心、挥金如土。25岁生日的时候，他大摆宴席，凡向他叩头道贺就有赏金，光赏金就花了上万元。
在过着奢华生活的同时，他也开始广施金钱，济助结交四海之内的朋友。他将自己的住宅取名为“矶客之庐”，只要有中国的留学生经过新加坡到他府第读书论经，向他求助，他都会慷慨赠与钱财，少则几十元，多则数百元。
他家一个叫卢少川的厨师，因为烧得一手好菜深得邱菽园喜爱，在得知卢少川尚未娶妻时，邱菽园就把自己的侍女嫁给了他，并赠给她二千元作为嫁妆。有一个寒士租他的房子用来读书，有一年过年的时候偶然向邱菽园提起自己生活窘迫，邱菽园就当场把房子赠给了他。
著名的禅师释瑞当年云游到新加坡，在街上以替人占卜为生。一次偶然的机会，邱菽园结识了他，非常赞赏他写诗颂经和深谙禅理，于是出资三千元帮释瑞禅师建了一座庙，把大师安顿在里面讲经解禅。
同年，他与新加坡著名的医生林文庆共同出面签约，提保黄乃裳在诗巫开发“新福州”农林垦植场（本报曾在2004年7月29日“人文·世家”版《黄乃裳：一场76年的自由梦》中有报道）。
邱菽园的江湖生涯因为一个人而和中国近代一次重大的政治事件挂上了钩，从而使自己在近代史留下了不能磨灭的一笔，自己也为此散尽了家财。
这个人就是康有为，他的名字和清末维新变法运动是绑在一起的。
维新报人
1895年2月，邱菽园在京城参加会试，这时正是中日甲午战争中国战败、签订《马关条约》的时候，当时就具有救国意识的他，参加了全国举人上书拒和运动——“公车上书”。《马关条约》的最后签订深深触痛了他的爱国心，使他认识到了晚清政治的腐败，于是他接受了当时的进步思想——维新变法。
就是这时，他结识了康有为和梁启超等维新志士。后来会试的落第、远走新加坡经营家业使他没能在国内从事维新变法运动，但他在异国他乡没有停下维新变法运动的脚步。
1898年，25岁的邱菽园在新加坡创办了《天南新报》，自任总主笔，立论鼓推变法维新，并与当时梁启超主办的《时务报》成为了维新派的南北喉舌。他还被康有为推为了“英属各邦保皇分会会长”，积极为维新变法筹集款项，并自己出资10余万元。
同年，邱菽园与林文庆、陈合成合办了新加坡第一所华侨女校，他独捐了三千元，占创校基金的一半。女校引进了西方的教材、教育方法，革除了科举学堂的陈旧陋习，为海外华侨开创了教育新风气，也为破除当时华侨中普遍存在的重男轻女思想起到了重要的作用。
戊戌政变的消息传到新加坡，邱菽园大为愤慨，写下了《骤风》这首诗：“叠叠商声撼旅窗，连墙猎猎拂旗幢，风过黄叶纷辞树，云拥青山欲渡江。斜目光沉龙起阵，平沙影乱雁难双，飞扬猛士今谁属，天地无情自出撞。”
变法失败后康有为等逃亡国外，邱菽园马上电汇一千元接济，1900年他邀请康有为到新加坡避难，亲自安排康有为一家大小住在他家里，并承担康有为一家所有的费用。这年，邱菽园还为了支持维新派唐才常在武汉的“勤王起义”，亲自在新加坡华侨中募捐，自己前后两次捐出20万元。
唐才常起义失败后，清廷得知邱菽园是此次起义的最大赞助人，又在新加坡庇护康有为，所以下令扣押了邱菽园在祖国的亲属。湖广总督张之洞更是将他列入“唐才常同党”名单公开通缉他。
无奈之下，邱菽园只得向清政府交纳了3万元“赈灾款”，张之洞这才撤销了他“同党”的罪名，释放了他的亲属。
经历了这些变故，邱菽园在经济上已经元气大伤了，以至于后来，邱菽园的命运再一次发生转变———从百万富翁到落魄书生。
落魄书生
维新变法失败后，康有为领导的维新派曾与孙中山领导的资产阶级革命派尝试合作，一同探讨救国之路。日本友人宫崎寅藏代表革命派到新加坡会见康有为，邱菽园代替康有为与宫崎寅藏进行了会面，这使邱菽园开始接触到了革命派的思想。
后来，康有为的保皇主义已经跟不上历史的脚步，成了落后的思想，因此也就不可能与孙中山领导的资产阶级革命走到一起。这时候，邱菽园也与康有为产生了分歧，最终邱菽园加入了1905年孙中山领导成立的同盟会，成为了同盟会南洋分会最早期的会员，他因此也转而资助革命派。
可是就在这时候，邱菽园的地产生意遭受重大打击，加之资助维新变法几乎耗尽了他所能支配的现金，《天南新报》也因为资金短缺而停刊了，经济上日渐捉襟见肘。两年后，他破产了。
经济上的巨大打击，政局的逆转，个人蒙受不白之冤，加上会试落第、仕途坎坷一起涌上心头，使他淡出了政治的舞台，未到不惑之年，从百万富翁沦为了落魄书生，并染上了病，贫病交迫一直跟随他到晚年。
生活潦倒的邱菽园在1923年曾担任福建劝业会议会员，1925年受聘为新加坡中华总商会秘书，1930年，他还在新加坡漳州十属会馆（今漳州总会）任职。后来邱菽园还在《南锋日报》《觉华日报》做过编辑，晚年受《星洲日报》创始人胡文虎之聘在该报做了副刊编辑，主编《繁星》，但不到一年因病辞职归隐。
在这些年间，为生活所迫，不管是公事还是私事，或者华侨界内需要打理的事务，他都一概承办，以赚得微薄的收入。晚年染病后，他不得不接受胡文虎、释瑞禅师和那些曾受他帮助过的人的资助，最后他皈依了佛门。
1942年，眼见日寇铁蹄蹂躏我中华，时年68岁的邱菽园愤怒地写下：“抚身恨不着征衣，犹有雄心未脱凡”的诗句。同年12月1日，邱菽园病故于新加坡。
邱菽园一生共写了1400多首诗。1951年，邱菽园的女儿邱鸣权和女婿王盛治将他遗下未刊的诗稿汇集整理出版了《菽园文集》。
后人现状
邱等明带着记者来到了他们宗族以前祭祀祖先的祠堂旧址，这里已经建起了高大的现代化建筑，丝毫看不到告老的影子。他指着角落里的石柱告诉记者，这就是他的高祖邱菽园中了举人后立的旗杆，祠堂两边大门口各一根。
因为经历了文化大革命的浩劫，许多高祖遗留下来的文物都已经被销毁，包括书籍、字画，老屋正厅的格扇、屏门等都被拆毁，中厅的举人匾、柱子上的木刻楹联也被砸毁。现存的这石制旗杆上面刻着“举人十九世裔孙邱炜爰立”是邱菽园中了举人的唯一见证了。
我们来到老屋的“后楼”，邱等明的五弟邱等胜和他的家人正在老宅子里看影碟，这现代化的家电和古老的房子产生了强烈的反差。邱菽园出生的那间房子现在早已经废弃，油漆褪色，墙壁开裂，门口闲置着一个弃用的大铁锅，厚厚的灰尘让刚刚听邱等明讲完百年家族历史的我们唏嘘不已。
邱等明告诉记者，高祖一共有四个儿子，他们这一支属于二房，因为爷爷只有一个儿子，所以他们二房到他们这一代传下了6个兄弟，分别是等明、等跃、等龙、等南、等胜、等满。六兄弟虽然都务农，但是改革开放以来通过养虾、养鱼、种果、运输等，家产都在几十万元至上百万元。一房的后代现在没有和家族取得联系，三房和四房的堂叔和堂兄弟们现在都住在新加坡，每年都会有很多亲属回新垵惠佐来看望他们六兄弟。
邱等明说，现在和他们兄弟有联系的有四个堂叔，其中一个堂叔邱新民是新加坡著名的历史家、文学家，除了著有《新加坡先驱人物》等名著外还出版了很多著作。其中另外一个堂叔前些年在上海浦东投资了两个集装箱海运公司，业务遍及世界各地，后来还回故乡海沧办了一家海运公司。他的一个堂兄前几年任新加坡驻华大使，现在已经卸任从商了，在上海做房地产顾问。
得知记者是负责文化类报道的，他们家人便纷纷追问他们家的古宅为什么在这次申报第五批厦门市级文物保护单位中落选，是不是因为材料准备不足或者其他什么原因。
记者告之是因为海沧区新区经济发展的需要，将来可能要修一条公路从惠佐华侨古民居群中穿过，如果申报成功，意味着公路必须绕过这片民居群，因此区领导在会议上不赞同惠佐华侨古民居群申报第五批市级文物保护单位。
邱氏兄弟听后都沉默不语。
KHOO SIOK WAN = The Non-Poetic Life of the Poetry Master of the Southern Overseas Chinese
Southeast Express News, 2005 Jan 14
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION AND CURRENT SITUATION
In Hui Zuo village of Haicang Town, Haicang District, Xiamen, villager Qiu Dengming recently built a new house worth 600,000 yuan, preparing to rent it out after decoration. However, he still can't feel happy because his family's old house wasn't included in Xiamen government's fifth batch of municipal cultural heritage protection sites.
"Actually, I'm not asking for much. It's just that what was passed down to me from ancestors, I want to preserve it and let future generations know about some history that happened here," Qiu Dengming told reporters.
What history happened here? A person was born here - he was a scholar (Juren) of the late Qing Dynasty, he participated in the Imperial Examination petition movement, he spent his family fortune supporting the late Qing Reform Movement, he was the first to create Singapore's alternate name "Xing Zhou", he was praised by Kang Youwei and Zhang Shunai as the "Poetry Master of the Southern (Overseas) Chinese", and Japanese historian Tanoko Koji regarded him as an early revolutionary of late Qing China, listing him alongside the early Kang Youwei and later Sun Yat-sen.
This person was Khoo Siok Wan.
Throughout his life, he had many identities that impacted his role as a pure poet. Let's explore this Southern Overseas Chinese Poetry Master's non-poetic life.
Would you like me to continue with the next sections?
PART 2 - THE WEALTHY SON
Speaking of Khoo Siok Wan, we must first mention his father. Without his father's accumulated wealth, his later legendary life might never have happened.
The fourth and fifth generations of Khoo Siok Wan's descendants now live in Haicang Xin'an Huizuo. The fourth generation consists of six brothers, whose assets now range from hundreds of thousands to millions of yuan. All brothers have built mansions and own cars. However, compared to their ancestor Khoo Duk Sin, their wealth is still far behind.
Khoo Duk Sin was Khoo Siok Wan's father. His courtesy name was Zhengzhong, and his literary name was Qinzhi. Born in 1820 (25th year of Jiaqing reign) in Xin'an Village, Haicheng County, Fujian Province (now Huizuo, Haicang Town, Xiamen), he came from an ordinary farming family.
Growing up poor, Khoo Duk Sin possessed the traditional Chinese farmer virtues of diligence and perseverance. He could have lived as an ordinary citizen, but history's wheels led him down a different path. When he came of age, imperialism was beginning to penetrate China under the corrupt Qing government. The First Opium War in 1840 marked the beginning of foreign powers carving up China.
After the First Opium War, Xiamen became a treaty port. Many young people, unable to bear the dual oppression of feudal bureaucracy and imperialism, sailed overseas to make a living. The ancestors of Xin'an also traveled to Penang (Malaysia), Malacca, and Singapore. Khoo Duk Sin was so poor he had to buy his boat ticket to Singapore on credit.
PART 3 - THE RISE TO WEALTH
Upon arriving in Singapore, without any connections, he could only rely on his young strength, working as a porter carrying rice and other produce at the docks. Determined not to remain in poverty, he lived frugally and used his spare time to do odd jobs to accumulate money. Being literate and good with numbers, he planned to open a shop to make money.
At age 30, he used his hard-earned savings to open a rice shop. Through careful management, he gradually expanded from one shop to two, then to four... Business became increasingly prosperous. After 20+ years, he expanded his rice business to Vietnam, transforming from a poor youth into the king of the rice trade, owning assets worth millions.
PART 4 - EDUCATION AND EARLY LIFE OF KHOO SIOK WAN
Despite becoming a millionaire, Khoo Duk Sin remained a commoner without official position in Singapore. Feeling his status didn't match his "Rice King" identity, he decided to raise a son who would become an official.
This decision completely changed Khoo Siok Wan's destiny. Among his five sons, Khoo Duk Sin chose his third son Dexin, who showed intelligence from an early age, to groom for an official career. Dexin was Khoo Siok Wan's original name. Born in 1874 in Huizuo Xin'an, he followed his mother Yang to Macau at age 2, later moving to Singapore. Under his father's guidance, he studied Chinese literature and Confucian classics with private tutors from an early age.
In 1888, when Khoo Duk Sin was 68, he entrusted Singapore's vast business operations to his third brother Qiu Zhengchao. He then took 14-year-old Khoo Siok Wan back to their hometown Huizuo Xin'an, where he built an ancestral hall, established a private school, and hired scholars to supervise his son's studies.
Khoo Siok Wan's great-grandson Qiu Dengming took reporters behind the old house, pointing to an area with only some stone slabs remaining. This was once his great-grandfather's library, reportedly filled with books on two floors. The library was partially destroyed by Japanese air raids during the Anti-Japanese War, and the remaining structure was demolished by the "8.23" super typhoon in 1959.
PART 5 - THE SCHOLAR'S PATH
In 1891, after three years of hard study, Khoo Siok Wan passed the preliminary imperial examination, becoming a Xiucai (cultivated talent). Three years later, he would take the provincial examination. This examination left behind a widely circulated story.
During the provincial examination, Khoo Siok Wan was just 20 years old. Influenced by foreign culture since childhood, he displayed youthful pride. When the examiner entered, all candidates knelt and bowed, but he alone stood straight, refusing to kneel. This surprised and displeased the examiner, causing much discussion among other candidates.
Nevertheless, he passed the examination. Whether this was due to his outstanding talent or because his father Khoo Duk Sin had funded the construction of the 99.5-room examination hall remains unclear. This building later served as the teaching building for Longhai No. 2 Middle School, continuing as an educational sanctuary for generations.
Three years later, Khoo Siok Wan traveled alone to Beijing for the metropolitan examination. The previous year, his third uncle managing the family business in Singapore had fallen critically ill, forcing his father to rush there to handle affairs, unable to accompany his son. Unexpectedly, that year, 76-year-old Khoo Duk Sin also fell gravely ill.
That year, Khoo Siok Wan failed the examination, and his father passed away. He never achieved his father's wish of entering official service.
This marked a major turning point in Khoo Siok Wan's destiny.
PART 6 - THE MAN OF THE WORLD
Some have said that if Khoo Siok Wan had lived in the Spring and Autumn Period, China might have had five rather than four famous princes. This is because, in some sense, he was a man of the jianghu (society outside official circles).
In 1897, at age 23, Khoo Siok Wan returned to Singapore after failing the metropolitan examination to handle his father's affairs and officially took charge of the family's vast business empire. He became the only Juren (provincial graduate) among Singapore's overseas Chinese. Given the high status of Juren in China at the time, he was highly respected in the overseas Chinese community, a notable achievement in Singapore's history.
The sudden wealth at age 23 seemed to make Khoo Siok Wan somewhat uncomfortable, and he became careless with money, spending lavishly. On his 25th birthday, he held a grand feast where anyone who bowed in congratulation received a monetary reward, spending over ten thousand dollars on rewards alone.
PART 7 - PHILANTHROPY AND POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
While living luxuriously, he began widely distributing money and helping friends from all over. He named his residence "Jike zhi Lu" (Lodge of the Rock Guest), and whenever Chinese students passing through Singapore came to his mansion to study and discuss classics, he would generously give them money, from dozens to hundreds of dollars.
His cook, Lu Shaochuan, gained his favor through excellent cooking. Upon learning Lu was unmarried, Khoo Siok Wan arranged for him to marry his maid and gave her 2,000 dollars as dowry. When a poor scholar renting his house for study mentioned financial difficulties during New Year, Khoo immediately gifted him the house.
When famous Zen Master Shi Rui came to Singapore and made a living as a fortune teller on the streets, Khoo Siok Wan met him by chance. Greatly admiring his poetry and Buddhist knowledge, he donated 3,000 dollars to build a temple where the master could teach Buddhism.
That same year, he and prominent Singapore doctor Lim Boon Keng jointly guaranteed Wong Nai Siong's development of the "New Foochow" agricultural settlement in Sibu.
PART 8 - THE REFORM MOVEMENT
Khoo Siok Wan's involvement in society took a significant political turn through his connection with Kang Youwei, leading to his role in a major modern Chinese political event that would eventually cost him his fortune.
In February 1895, while in Beijing for the metropolitan examination, China had just been defeated in the Sino-Japanese War and was signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki. With a strong patriotic consciousness, he participated in the national petition movement against the treaty. The final signing of the treaty deeply wounded his patriotic heart, making him realize the corruption of the late Qing government, leading him to embrace the progressive ideology of reform.
PART 9 - THE REFORMIST JOURNALIST
It was during this time that he met Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and other reform-minded scholars. Though his examination failure and return to Singapore prevented him from participating in the reform movement within China, he continued these efforts from abroad.
In 1898, at age 25, Khoo Siok Wan founded the "Tiannan Xinbao" (South Heavens New Paper) in Singapore, serving as chief editor. The paper advocated for reform, becoming the southern counterpart to Liang Qichao's "Shiwu Bao" (Current Affairs Paper) as reform movement mouthpieces. Kang Youwei appointed him as "President of the British Colonies Protect-the-Emperor Association," for which he actively raised funds, personally contributing over 100,000 dollars.
That same year, Khoo Siok Wan, along with Lim Boon Keng and Tan Hap Seng, established Singapore's first overseas Chinese girls' school, personally donating 3,000 dollars, half the founding funds. The school incorporated Western textbooks and teaching methods, breaking away from traditional examination-based education and creating new educational trends among overseas Chinese while helping break down prevalent gender discrimination.
PART 10 - THE WUXU REFORM AND ITS AFTERMATH
When news of the Wuxu Reform's failure reached Singapore, Khoo Siok Wan was outraged and wrote the poem "Sudden Wind" expressing his anger at the political situation.
After the reform's failure, when Kang Youwei and others fled abroad, Khoo immediately wired 1,000 dollars in aid. In 1900, he invited Kang to take refuge in Singapore, personally hosting Kang's entire family and covering all their expenses. That year, Khoo also supported Tang Caichang's "Protect the Emperor Uprising" in Wuhan, personally raising funds among Singapore's Chinese community and donating 200,000 dollars in two installments.
After Tang's uprising failed, the Qing court learned of Khoo's major financial support and his protection of Kang Youwei. They ordered the arrest of his relatives in China. Huguang Viceroy Zhang Zhidong even publicly listed him as Tang Caichang's "accomplice" and issued a warrant for his arrest.
PART 11 - FINANCIAL DECLINE AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Under pressure, Khoo had to pay 30,000 dollars in "disaster relief funds" to the Qing government before Zhang Zhidong would drop the "accomplice" charges and release his relatives. These events severely damaged Khoo's finances, leading to his transformation from millionaire to impoverished scholar.
After the reform movement's failure, Kang Youwei's reform party attempted cooperation with Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary party to find ways to save the country. Japanese friend Miyazaki Tōten, representing the revolutionary party, met with Khoo in Singapore on Kang's behalf, introducing Khoo to revolutionary ideas.
Later, Kang's monarchist ideology became outdated and couldn't align with Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement. Khoo eventually disagreed with Kang and joined Sun's Revolutionary Alliance (Tongmenghui) in 1905, becoming one of the earliest members of its Southeast Asian branch. He then began supporting the revolutionary cause instead.
PART 12 - FINANCIAL RUIN AND LATER YEARS
However, at this time, Khoo's real estate business suffered major setbacks. Having depleted most of his available cash supporting the reform movement, his Tiannan Xinbao newspaper also ceased publication due to funding shortages. His financial situation became increasingly dire, and he went bankrupt two years later.
The combination of economic disaster, political setbacks, false accusations, failed examination attempts, and career obstacles overwhelmed him. Before reaching forty, he had gone from millionaire to impoverished scholar, and illness plagued him through his later years.
PART 13 - FINAL YEARS AND CAREER
In his difficult later years, Khoo held various positions:
1923: Member of Fujian Industrial Promotion Council
1925: Secretary of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce
1930: Served at Singapore Zhangzhou Association (now Zhangzhou General Association)
He also worked as an editor for several newspapers:
Nanfeng Daily
Juehua Daily
Later at Sin Chew Daily, founded by Aw Boon Haw, where he edited the "Stars" supplement, but resigned due to illness within a year
During these years, forced by circumstances, he took on both public and private duties in the overseas Chinese community to earn modest income. After falling ill in his later years, he had to accept assistance from Aw Boon Haw, Zen Master Shi Rui, and others he had previously helped. Eventually, he converted to Buddhism.
PART 14 - FINAL DAYS AND LITERARY LEGACY
In 1942, at age 68, witnessing Japanese forces trampling China, he wrote in anger: "I regret not wearing battle dress, yet still harbor an ambitious heart beyond mortality." He died in Singapore on December 1st of that year. (should be 30th Nov 1941, at the age of 69)
Throughout his life, Khoo composed over 1,400 poems. In 1951, his daughter Khoo Ming Quan and son-in-law Wang Shengzhi compiled and published his unpublished poems as "Shuyuan Wenji" (Collections from the Bean Garden).
PART 15 - CURRENT STATE OF THE FAMILY HERITAGE
Qiu Dengming showed reporters their ancestral hall's former site, now occupied by modern buildings with no trace of its history. He pointed out stone pillars in the corner - flagpoles erected after his great-grandfather passed the provincial examination, originally one on each side of the main gate.
PART 16 - LOSS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
During the Cultural Revolution, many of their great-grandfather's cultural relics were destroyed, including:
Books and paintings
The carved lattice screens and screen doors of the old house's main hall
The wooden inscribed plaques commemorating his status as Juren
Carved wooden couplets on pillars
The only remaining evidence of Khoo's achievement as Juren is the stone flagpole inscribed with "Erected by nineteenth generation descendant Qiu Weiyuan."
PART 17 - PRESENT DAY FAMILY
At the "back building" of the old house, Qiu Dengming's fifth brother Qiu Dengsheng and his family were watching DVDs - a stark contrast between modern electronics and the ancient house. The room where Khoo Siok Wan was born is now abandoned, with peeling paint, cracked walls, and an old discarded iron pot at the entrance, covered in thick dust.
Qiu Dengming explained that his great-grandfather had four sons. His line comes from the second son. Since his grandfather had only one son, their branch now has six brothers: Dengming, Dengyue, Denglong, Dengnan, Dengsheng, and Dengman. Though all are farmers, since China's reform and opening up, they've prospered through shrimp farming, fish farming, fruit growing, and transportation, each accumulating assets worth several hundred thousand to over a million yuan.
PART 18 - EXTENDED FAMILY CONNECTIONS
The first branch's descendants have lost contact with the family. The third and fourth branches' cousins live in Singapore and visit the six brothers in Xin'an Huizuo annually.
Notable relatives include:
Uncle Qiu Xinmin: prominent Singapore historian and writer, author of "Singapore Pioneer Figures"
Another uncle who invested in two container shipping companies in Shanghai Pudong
A cousin who served as Singapore's ambassador to China, now working in Shanghai real estate consulting
PART 19 - HERITAGE PROTECTION EFFORTS AND CURRENT CHALLENGES
When learning the reporter covered cultural affairs, family members eagerly inquired why their ancestral home failed to qualify for Xiamen's fifth batch of municipal cultural heritage protection sites, wondering if it was due to insufficient documentation or other reasons.
The reporter explained that due to Haicang District's economic development needs, a road was planned to cut through the Huizuo Overseas Chinese ancient residential cluster. If the site had been approved for heritage protection, the road would have had to be rerouted around these historic residences. Therefore, district leaders opposed the heritage protection application during the meeting.
The Qiu brothers fell silent upon hearing this explanation.
Further reading :
Khoo Seok Wan – Poet, Scholar, Revolutionary, Romantic