民國廿九年正月初四日 (11 Feb 1940)
Chew Geok Leong (Chew Geok Liong)
Date of internment : 13 Feb 1940
Plot No : Bukit Brown Blk 3 Division D, Plot No 590
Chew Geok Leong 周玉龍 | Qing Official & Chinese Physician
Overview
Chew Geok Leong (周玉龍, 1872–1940) was a former Qing dynasty official from Anxi (安溪), Fujian province, who came to Singapore at the turn of the century. According to his youngest daughter Madam Chew Chwee Eng, he fled China as he did not want to align himself with warlord Yuan Shih Kai, who was at that time trying to consolidate his power and become emperor. (The Straits Times, 5 January 1993)
After settling in Singapore, he brought his wife, his seven children, a slave girl and another servant. The family lived in a bungalow in Kampong Batak, now known as Jalan Eunos, while Chew practised traditional Chinese medicine in a nearby Geylang Serai shophouse. His clinic was at 985 Geylang Road. He came from a family with four generations of Chinese physicians, and his patients included many Malays. (The Straits Times, 5 January 1993)
Chew Geok Leong died on 11 February 1940, aged 70, and was interred on 13 February 1940 at Bukit Brown Cemetery, Block 3, Division D, Plot 590.
Burial Record
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Chew Geok Leong (Chew Geok Liong) |
| Age | 70 |
| Date of death | 11 February 1940 |
| Date of internment | 13 February 1940 |
| Cemetery | Bukit Brown Cemetery |
| Plot | Block 3, Division D, Plot 590 |
Genealogy & Family Details
Wife: Madam Chan (陳淑慎)
Sons:
| Chinese | English Name |
|---|---|
| 壽黾 | — |
| 壽松 | Chew Siew Siong |
| 壽亥 | Chew Siew Hai |
Daughters:
| Chinese | English Name |
|---|---|
| 潔李 | — |
| 蔭英 | Chew Im Eng |
| 真金 | Chew Chin Kim |
| 翠英 | Chew Chwee Eng (Mrs Chong Wee Ling) |
Grandsons:
| Chinese | English Name |
|---|---|
| 崇挺 | Chew Chong Teng |
| 崇珍 | Chew Chong Chin |
| 崇順 | Chew Chong Soon |
| 崇汪 | Chew Chong Ong |
Granddaughters:
| Chinese | English Name |
|---|---|
| 宝珊 | Chew Poh Suan |
| 銀杏 | — |
Tomb Inscription 墓碑銘文
| Section | Chinese | Translation / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death date | 民國廿九年正月初四日 | Republic year 29, 1st lunar month, 4th day = 11 Feb 1940 |
| Name | 周玉龍 | Chew Geok Leong |
| Wife | 陳淑慎 | Madam Chan Suk Sim |
| Courtesy name | 駟馬字德子 | Style name: Dezi |
| Official name | 官章德光 | Official title: Deguang |
| Literary name | 號玉龍 | Sobriquet: Yulong (Jade Dragon) |
| Birth | 生同治壬申年 | Born in Tongzhi Renshen year = 1872 |
| Title 1 | 本朝法石守府 | Qing dynasty Prefectural Official, Fashi |
| Title 2 | 黙劄烟苗委員 | Commissioner for Opium and Indigenous Affairs |
| Title 3 | 依新鎮團鍊長 | Militia Commander of Yixin Township |
The Tomb — A Living Monument
Chew Geok Leong designed and commissioned his own tomb, coffin and Sikh guard statues while still alive — a practice known as a 壽墳 (living tomb). His youngest daughter Madam Chew Chwee Eng recalled: "He had the coffin, tomb and statues made in Singapore while he was still alive. When I was young, I remember seeing his coffin in one of the servants' room. I avoided that room as best as I could." (The Straits Times, 5 January 1993)
The two life-sized Sikh guards are the only painted (polychrome) Sikh guards in Bukit Brown Cemetery, making this one of the most distinctive and most photographed tombs in the cemetery.
His grandson Mr James Chew, a bank branch manager, stated in 1993: "Since the statues are two of a kind, if the grave has to be exhumed in the future, we will donate them to the National Museum if it wants them." (The Straits Times, 5 January 1993)
Newspaper Archives
Grave guarded by statues of two Sikhs belongs to Chinese physician The Straits Times, 5 January 1993, Page 20
The identity of the man buried in a grave watched over by statues of two Sikh guards was confirmed after two of Chew Geok Leong's grandsons contacted The Straits Times following an earlier report about the tomb at Bukit Brown Cemetery, off Sime Road. One grandson put the paper in touch with his mother, Madam Chew Chwee Eng, 70, the youngest daughter of Mr Chew and the sole survivor among the seven siblings. She confirmed that her father was a former Qing dynasty official who came to Singapore at the turn of the century, that the family lived in Kampong Batak (now Jalan Eunos), and that he practised medicine in a nearby Geylang Serai shophouse. She did not know when her father came to Singapore or how old he was when he died in 1939. (Note: Burial record gives date of death as 11 February 1940.)
MAN GIVES EVIDENCE AGAINST SON Morning Tribune, 21 March 1939, Page 3
Chew Siew Hai (壽亥) alleged that his brother Chew Siew Siong (壽松) threatened to shoot him — a family dispute that reached the courts. Chew Geok Leong himself testified against his son Siew Hai. In his evidence, the accused stated he had been a Chinese physician but was at that time working as a teacher. He was sent to Shanghai in 1929 to study Chinese medicine, remaining in China for approximately eight to nine years, during which period he was supported by his sweetheart. For the first four years he received no financial support from his father; only after joining the Medical College did he receive $250 per term from Chew Geok Leong. He returned to Singapore in October 1937, prompted by his father's letters warning that Shanghai air raids made it unsafe to remain. His wife was also a graduate, and together they were capable of supporting themselves. Family address: 494-18 Jalan Eunos.
FALSE REPORT ON BROTHER — $75 Fine for Chinese The Straits Times, 22 March 1939, Page 16
Chew Siew Hai was convicted and fined $75 for making a false report against his brother.
Note : Chew Siew Hai was a son of Chew Geok Leong - His father sent him to study medicine in Shanghai when he met Mdm Toh. They became sweethearts and later married. During the early years in Shanghai, she supported his studies. They later married and returned to Singapore in Oct 1937. She died during childbirth in Oct 1944 unfortunately
(see https://tombs.bukitbrown.org/2021/06/mrs-chew-siew-hai.html)
福生棧藥行 — Death Notice 南洋商報 (Nanyang Siang Pau), 28 April 1940, Page 4
Death notice published by 福生棧藥行 (Fuk Seng Chan Medical Hall), 985 Geylang Road — Chew Geok Leong's clinic.
ENGAGEMENT The Singapore Free Press, 13 February 1950, Page 8
Engagement announcement for grandson Chew Chong Soon (崇順), son of Chew Siew Siong.
WEDDING BELLS The Straits Times, 8 June 1950, Page 6
Richard Chew Chong Soon, second son of Chew Siew Siong, married Yap Wee Neo, second daughter of Yap Kee Kok and Tan Kim Eng, and cousin of Dr and Mrs Ong Siow Hian (Lim Liang Neo, daughter of Lim Peng Chin). Ong Siow Hian was the son of Ong Soon Tee. Address: 405 East Coast Road.
100 get early look at the dragon dance The Straits Times, 1 June 1953, Page 5
閩南國術研究社金龍飛舞試演博得讚美 南洋商報, 1 June 1953, Page 6
The Minnan (Hokkien) Martial Arts Research Society (閩南國術研究社) staged a preview of their golden dragon dance to an audience of 100, receiving wide praise.
周崇汪 林連絲 喜締良緣 星洲日報 (Sin Chew Jit Poh), 16 August 1962, Page 8
Grandson Chew Chong Ong (崇汪) married Lim Lian See (林連絲) in 1962. Address: 405 East Coast Road.
References
- Burial Record — Chew Geok Leong, age 70, death 11 Feb 1940, burial 13 Feb 1940, Bukit Brown Blk 3 Div D Plot 590
- The Straits Times, 5 January 1993, Page 20 — Grave guarded by statues of two Sikhs belongs to Chinese physician
- Morning Tribune, 21 March 1939, Page 3 — Man Gives Evidence Against Son
- The Straits Times, 22 March 1939, Page 16 — False Report on Brother, $75 Fine
- 南洋商報, 28 April 1940, Page 4 — Death notice, 福生棧藥行
- The Singapore Free Press, 13 February 1950, Page 8 — Engagement
- The Straits Times, 8 June 1950, Page 6 — Wedding Bells
- The Straits Times, 1 June 1953, Page 5 — Dragon Dance
- 南洋商報, 1 June 1953, Page 6 — 閩南國術研究社
- 星洲日報, 16 August 1962, Page 8 — Wedding of Chew Chong Ong
第4页 广告 专栏 2
南洋商报, 28 April 1940, Page 4
Comments
Post a Comment