Welcome to my blog. This blog is to talk about Tan Tock Seng and his contributions to Singapore. Firstly, I would give a brief summary of him and then I will explain how his contribution made an impact to Singapore's society. Secondly, I will give a suggestion for the monument and provide a sketch of it.
Please have a good look at this blog and comment on it.
Thank you
Friday, May 1, 2009
Brief Biography on Tan Tock Seng
Tan Tock Seng was born in 1798, Malacca and died on the 24th of February 1850.
He was a renowned philanthropist who often helped the poor, a landowner, and a entrepreneur.
His father is Whay Teck and he had 2 brothers in China. His wife was Lee Seo Neo, who also contributed greatly to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital after his death. Moreover, Tan Tock Seng also had 3 sons, Kim Ching, Swee LIm and Teck Guan. All of them did many charitable acts and helped the poor.
Tan Tock Seng left Malacca and came to Singapore at the age of 21. He first started as a vegetable seller and brought produce from the countryside to sell. He was very hardworking and saved every cent he made, not squandering them away. Finally, in 1827, after much hard work, he saved enough money and managed to open a shop along the riverside at Boat Quay.
Tan Tock Seng was a businessman and owned many house. For instance : He owned a block of shop houses at Ellenborough Building and a 14-acre fruit plantation opposite St Andrew's Mission Hospital.
As said earlier, Tan Tock Seng was a renowned philanthropist amongst the Chinese and generously donated to the poor. His most famous charitable act was when he donated $7000 to build the Chinese Pauper's Hospital which was later named after him -- Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Tan Tock Seng was the first Asian that was made a Justice of Peace by Governor Butterworth. He had helped many Chinese immigrants settled disputes which earned him the title " Caption of the Chinese "
Unfortunately, Tan Tock Seng became seriously ill and died at the age of 52 in 1850. His sons continued his legacy and also became leaders in the Chinese community.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital is an apt memorial to this great philanthropist who was deeply concerned over the sick and did his best to help them in early Singapore. He is a greatly respected man who have made great contributions to Singapore's society.
He was a renowned philanthropist who often helped the poor, a landowner, and a entrepreneur.
His father is Whay Teck and he had 2 brothers in China. His wife was Lee Seo Neo, who also contributed greatly to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital after his death. Moreover, Tan Tock Seng also had 3 sons, Kim Ching, Swee LIm and Teck Guan. All of them did many charitable acts and helped the poor.
Tan Tock Seng left Malacca and came to Singapore at the age of 21. He first started as a vegetable seller and brought produce from the countryside to sell. He was very hardworking and saved every cent he made, not squandering them away. Finally, in 1827, after much hard work, he saved enough money and managed to open a shop along the riverside at Boat Quay.
Tan Tock Seng was a businessman and owned many house. For instance : He owned a block of shop houses at Ellenborough Building and a 14-acre fruit plantation opposite St Andrew's Mission Hospital.
As said earlier, Tan Tock Seng was a renowned philanthropist amongst the Chinese and generously donated to the poor. His most famous charitable act was when he donated $7000 to build the Chinese Pauper's Hospital which was later named after him -- Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Tan Tock Seng was the first Asian that was made a Justice of Peace by Governor Butterworth. He had helped many Chinese immigrants settled disputes which earned him the title " Caption of the Chinese "
Unfortunately, Tan Tock Seng became seriously ill and died at the age of 52 in 1850. His sons continued his legacy and also became leaders in the Chinese community.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital is an apt memorial to this great philanthropist who was deeply concerned over the sick and did his best to help them in early Singapore. He is a greatly respected man who have made great contributions to Singapore's society.
Impact of Tan Tock Seng's contributions
As everyone knows, Tan Tock Seng donated a huge sum of money to build a hospital, later named after him -- Tan Tock Seng hospital.
At that time, there was very few hospital and people were suffering every day due to diseases and sickness. There were no medical care for the people and they were dying on the streets everyday.
Tan Tock Seng, who was a philanthropist, saw the people and felt sorry for the people. He wanted to help the citizens and cure the injured and sick. Hence, he donated the money to build the hospital.
This great act has indeed made a social impact on Singapore. When the hospital was built finished, the people could have access to medical care and they would have a better place to rest. With the hospital, thousands of people were saved.
The hospital was generously supported by the Chinese who donated huge sums of money to meet the expenses of the hospital and give the patients there a better life. However, the hospital was overcrowded, had no proper drainage, and the food supply was limited. Every day, an average of 2 people would die.
However, as time passed, the hospital became more advanced and had many more new facilities and better medical equipments. As a result, more people were saved.
Besides building the hospital, Tan Tock Seng also had a passion for the sick and poor. At his own expenses, he buried the unclaimed bodies or paid the funeral expenses of those who could not afford one. He did this as he was an ardent Taoist and believed that a decent funeral should be conducted for the dead.
Tan Tock Seng was indeed a great man that reached out to the poor. He spent a lot of money to build the hospital and saved thousands of lives. His contribution has indeed made a great impact on Singapore and the people will remember him forever.
At that time, there was very few hospital and people were suffering every day due to diseases and sickness. There were no medical care for the people and they were dying on the streets everyday.
Tan Tock Seng, who was a philanthropist, saw the people and felt sorry for the people. He wanted to help the citizens and cure the injured and sick. Hence, he donated the money to build the hospital.
This great act has indeed made a social impact on Singapore. When the hospital was built finished, the people could have access to medical care and they would have a better place to rest. With the hospital, thousands of people were saved.
The hospital was generously supported by the Chinese who donated huge sums of money to meet the expenses of the hospital and give the patients there a better life. However, the hospital was overcrowded, had no proper drainage, and the food supply was limited. Every day, an average of 2 people would die.
However, as time passed, the hospital became more advanced and had many more new facilities and better medical equipments. As a result, more people were saved.
Besides building the hospital, Tan Tock Seng also had a passion for the sick and poor. At his own expenses, he buried the unclaimed bodies or paid the funeral expenses of those who could not afford one. He did this as he was an ardent Taoist and believed that a decent funeral should be conducted for the dead.
Tan Tock Seng was indeed a great man that reached out to the poor. He spent a lot of money to build the hospital and saved thousands of lives. His contribution has indeed made a great impact on Singapore and the people will remember him forever.
Suggestion of a monument for Tan Tock Seng
After all Tan Tock Seng did -- built the hospital to help the sick, donated huge sums of money to organizations, and help the poor and injured, I think that a monument of him should be erected to remember this philanthropist that had helped the people live
in a better place.
Firstly, I feel that the monument of Tan Tock Seng should stand beside Tan Tock Seng's Hospital. This is because building this hospital was Tan Tock Seng's most famous gesture that helped save many people. He spent a huge sum of money to build this hospital. Hence, I feel that the monument should stand beside the hospital so people will remember him and his great deeds.
Now, I will tell you how I feel the monument should take shape and why. Tan Tock Seng donated money to help the poor, thus, I feel that the monument should picture him giving money to the poor.
By doing this, people will remember his great acts and younger children will also be encouraged and inspired to follow in his footsteps and also become a philanthropist to help the poor. Thus, more people will reach out to other unfortunate people who are suffering.
The above picture is the monument that I had drawn out. The logo in the center represents the hospital that Tan Tock Seng had built for the people. The vegetable represents Tan Tock Seng's humble beginning as a owner of a shop that vegetables. Also, the dove represents the peace that he had brought to Singapore. By building the hospital, he helped saved many lives. Moreover, he donated huge sums of money and helped to bury the dead people lying on the streets.
in a better place.
Firstly, I feel that the monument of Tan Tock Seng should stand beside Tan Tock Seng's Hospital. This is because building this hospital was Tan Tock Seng's most famous gesture that helped save many people. He spent a huge sum of money to build this hospital. Hence, I feel that the monument should stand beside the hospital so people will remember him and his great deeds.
Now, I will tell you how I feel the monument should take shape and why. Tan Tock Seng donated money to help the poor, thus, I feel that the monument should picture him giving money to the poor.
By doing this, people will remember his great acts and younger children will also be encouraged and inspired to follow in his footsteps and also become a philanthropist to help the poor. Thus, more people will reach out to other unfortunate people who are suffering.
The above picture is the monument that I had drawn out. The logo in the center represents the hospital that Tan Tock Seng had built for the people. The vegetable represents Tan Tock Seng's humble beginning as a owner of a shop that vegetables. Also, the dove represents the peace that he had brought to Singapore. By building the hospital, he helped saved many lives. Moreover, he donated huge sums of money and helped to bury the dead people lying on the streets.
My reflection for this assignment
I feel that making this history blog really benefited me.
Firstly, I could gain a better understanding of Tan Tock Seng and how he had helped Singapore to be a better place. I also know how he started off as a vegetable seller before becoming rich. I really respect Tan Tock Seng as he cared for the people and even donated huge sums of money to aid them.
Secondly, by doing this ace assignment, I have learned how to source for information on the internet better. I also learned how to think critically and creatively when thinking of a monument for Tan Tock Seng.
Thirdly, though the process was tiring and I had to spend much time on this project, I feel that this is a better alternative than studying from the textbook as reading from the textbook would be very boring and uninteresting.
By researching on the immigrant, I could learn more about the history of Singapore and understand it. As such, this had benefited me greatly.
Firstly, I could gain a better understanding of Tan Tock Seng and how he had helped Singapore to be a better place. I also know how he started off as a vegetable seller before becoming rich. I really respect Tan Tock Seng as he cared for the people and even donated huge sums of money to aid them.
Secondly, by doing this ace assignment, I have learned how to source for information on the internet better. I also learned how to think critically and creatively when thinking of a monument for Tan Tock Seng.
Thirdly, though the process was tiring and I had to spend much time on this project, I feel that this is a better alternative than studying from the textbook as reading from the textbook would be very boring and uninteresting.
By researching on the immigrant, I could learn more about the history of Singapore and understand it. As such, this had benefited me greatly.
Bibliography
I would like to thank the owners of the website for all the precious information that helped me to complete this assignment.
References :
http://www.ttsh.com.sg/new/index.php
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/singapore/historical_sites/266/tan_tock_seng_hospital.php
http://www.singaporemedicine.com/hcp/ttsh.asp
My history textbook : Singapore : From Settlement to Nation Pre-1819 to 1971
And everyone else who have helped me.
References :
http://www.ttsh.com.sg/new/index.php
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_118_2005-01-22.html
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/singapore/historical_sites/266/tan_tock_seng_hospital.php
http://www.singaporemedicine.com/hcp/ttsh.asp
My history textbook : Singapore : From Settlement to Nation Pre-1819 to 1971
And everyone else who have helped me.
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