A school boy smiles softly, his portrait capturing a precious moment of youth. Eddie Chan Sin Chuan’s image looks out from the delicate cascade of pink roses and emerald scallops. His colourful tomb suggests life and vigour, however, he was buried during Singapore’s darkest era.
Eddie’s studies were shrouded by the onset of the Pacific War in late 1941. In a shocking defeat, Singapore was captured by the Empire of Japan on 15 February 1942. Fear struck into the local Chinese population, acutely aware of earlier Japanese atrocities in China. War relief efforts by Singapore’s ethnic Chinese to support their ‘motherland’ now left them exposed to Japanese retaliation.
Japanese troops swiftly enacted revenge by seeking out ‘anti-Japanese’ elements. On 21 February 1942, Chinese males aged between eighteen to fifty began registering at ‘screening centres’. Men deemed guilty were shot dead en masse at remote locations. Sook Ching, a Chinese term for ‘purge through cleansing’, lasted twelve days. Executions were finally halted when Chinese community leaders agreed to Japanese demands for a monetary ‘gift’ of $50 million, equivalent to around $800 million today’s terms.
An estimated 5,000 - 90,000 men were killed during the grisly Japanese operation. My cousin’s grandfather, Goh Swee Koon (51), was amongst them. A successful merchant who had helped fund anti-Japanese activities, he failed to return after leaving home to register his details. The founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, was more fortunate. Placed into hiding by his family’s quick-thinking rickshaw puller, he narrowly escaped being taken away by Japanese guards.
Eddie survived the massacre, but tragically died within days of General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s receiving the settlement. Sources reveal that Eddie’s tomb was built in an area normally used as a walkway, suggesting that his death was sudden and that he was buried amid a climate of chaos, with growing shortages of food and supplies. Yet, the great pains taken to construct his tomb are evident.
Eddie’s elegant marble headstone, ceramic portrait, and lavish use of imported tiles hints at a family with connections and influence. The English inscription on his headstone also suggests an English education. Chinese Peranakans, the offspring of early Chinese settlers and Malay/Indonesian women, were one of the first groups to send their children to missionary schools. Their ability to speak their Chinese dialect, Malay and English enabled many Peranakan men to secure roles as community and civic leaders.
Unlike most Chinese epitaphs, Eddie’s does not list immediate family members or the original Chinese 'hometown' of his male ancestral line. Also of intrigue is why Eddie’s Chinese language group has been left blank in the burial registry. The shape of his tomb, however, is consistent with typical Hokkien tombs, suggesting that his paternal side was originally from the south-eastern part of Fujian Province in China.
Nine different kinds of glazed tiles are found on Eddie’s tomb, including several sets of costly two-tile panels. The generous tiling of the tomb arms is particularly outstanding, and rarely seen on tombs built even after the end of the Japanese occupation. Ironically, all the tiles are from Japan, where tile production ceased with the start of WW2.
It may be not coincidental that peacock tiles were chosen for Eddie’s tomb. This flamboyant bird is often associated with high status in traditional Chinese culture. Some locals draw similarities with the phoenix, an immortal bird associated with Greek mythology. The large number of floral tiles chosen for Eddie’s tomb is also of interest, considered by some Europeans to be more commonly seen on a grave of a woman.
I was first introduced to Eddie’s tomb in late 2018. Hidden under low-hanging branches, it took some time for experienced researchers to locate the tomb. As I crouched down in front of the moss-covered headstone, I immediately thought of my own young son. As a mother, I felt it was a natural decision to include Eddie’s tomb in my book. It’s my hope that his memory is revived by the community, and given our greatest respect and affection deserving of the many young men taken before their time.
Thanks for reading about Eddie’s tomb. Please help me spread the word by sharing this article using the small ‘share’ button below! Love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below. - Jennifer
Uncovering A Beautiful Past - The Singapore Heritage Tile Project
Artist Jennifer Lim showcases rare vintage tiles in a passion project to uncover a beautiful past. Learn more about traditional Chinese culture, overseas influences and local trends through these ceramic gems. Get your copy of my upcoming book!