Seah Eu Chin 130th Anniversary
14
Dateline 27 September 2013
This morning descendants and members of the Poit Ip Huay Kuan marked the 130th anniversary of Teochew leader and King of Gambier, Seah Eu Chin (1805-1883). In November 2012, his grave was found by the Goh brothers, Raymond and Charles. And since then descendants have been making tracks up to Grave Hill, in Toa Payoh to pay their respects.
“Under the initiation of Teochew Poit It Huay Kuan and the endorsement of Ngee Ann Kongsi, it was a great moment in current Singapore Teochew history that many Teochew Organizations and Seah family members gathered at Seah Eu Chin’s tomb for a memorial service for his 130th death anniversary.” Zaobao 28 Sept 2013 (translated by Raymond Goh)
130 Anniversary Seah Eu Chin Zaobao Report 28 September 2013
Today offerings were made at the grave which had been prepared for the occasion. Thank you to Brownie, Khoo Ee Hoon for documenting this commemoration of Seah Eu Chin.
Floral Tributes for Seah Eu Chin (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
Descendants and members of Poit Ip Huay Kuan making offerings (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
Burning offerings ( photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
2 days before the 130th Anniversary when the Brownies visited, the marquee was already up and grave cleared (photo Catherine Lim)
Zaobao reporter Yen Yen who covered the discovery of Seah Eu Chin’s tomb a year back was at the 130 Anniversary to interview descendants ( photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
Members of Poit Ip and descendants of Seah Eu Chin (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
Members of Poit Ip Huay Kuan who were responsible for the major preparations for the 130 Anniversary of Seah Eu Chin (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)
Both Raymond and Charles Goh were in attendance at the anniversary this morning.
Postscript: Raymond reporting from the event posted this photo on the facebook group page.
“”It is a remembrance ceremony on the occasion of 130th death anniversary of Seah Eu Chin’s death. An eulogy was read out during the memorial service.”
Layout of offerings for 130 Anniversary Seah Eu Chin (photo Raymond Goh)
From Sugen Ramiah commenting on the layout of the offerings on the table : What you see above is a Teochew style remembrance. What is seen follows a hierarchy – 5 sets of rice, wine and tea served . Twelve buns/kuehs, odd numbers of poultry and seafood and odd numbers of fruits offerings.
There were 3 chairs placed in the front of the offerings (not seen in the photo above)
From Tay Hung Yong: The three chairs are meant for Seah Eu Chin and his two wives (correct me if I am wrong). The 5 sacrificial animal offerings are quite common among Southern Chinese. There should be at least 8 different dishes. Twelve buns represent 12 months in the calendar. For Teochews, fruit offerings are usually in 4 not 5. The joss paper they offered are usually meant for deities.
Editors note: In any ritual there are different interpretations on how they are conducted and how the different offerings are laid out.
My late grandfather had a benefactor from the Seah Family. The name given to us was Sean Eng Keong. Could any of the desendants kindly clarify who is exactly the person (Eu Chin or one of the sons). My late father had been to the house in Bendemeer and he described to us it had a zoo. During Chinese new year one of the gifts given to the family was a few castrated cockerels.
Thanks for reading and hope I can receive an early response. Incidentally my late grandfather’s name was Mok Peng Kiong and he started the company Cheng Hock Heng with the Seah Family as his “sitting mountain”.
Hi Francis,
Am alerting Seah descendants on your question Hopefully they will reply soon here. If not I will pass it on to a Seah contact.
Hi Francis,
Please note Sean Seah has replied to you on this thread.
Francis,
Just an alert to say Seah Eng Keong’s grandson has just added on more information.
When I was a child I heard that my maternal great grandfather name is seah eng keong n was related to seah eu chin which I think father n son. That was when I was in primary one. As my great grandfather had many wives.
My maternal grandmother who is married into the Sim family never mentioned anything to us. She never like to speak to anyone that is all I can remember. Woman of few words. Maybe too old fashioned n traditional. She was residing at that time at lavender street. Two story old houses. I can still remember vaguely when I visited her with mom n what I saw at their sitting hall a big portrait of not sure seah eu chin or seah eng keong.
One day I ask my mum is seah eng keong her grandfather she nodes yes. Further more do not know anything.
She is now 87 years old.
I was also curious about her family. All her siblings are gone except for her n her brother. They have total 8 siblings. Both the youngest.
Dear Philomena,
There is Seah Eu Chin descendants group on facebook which is public. They maybe able to help you or explore at least new leads for you to follow. This is the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/141193326033825/
Thank you for sharing your story.
Dear Francis,
Seah Eng Keong is the 2nd son of of Seah Liang Seah. I will try to find out if his descendants are in touch with the rest of us.
Hi, I am grandson of Eng Keong. Grandfather died during the war, killed by Japanese, somewhere in Changi Beach. My father is Peng Sue (age 81), 2nd youngest son through the 3rd wife.
Hi, I am grandson of Eng Keong. Grandfather died during the war, killed by Japanese, somewhere in Changi Beach. My father is Peng Sue (age 81), 2nd youngest son through the 3rd wife. Happy to get to know you and to find out more about my family history.
Hi,
I read an article where Sean Seah had mentioned it’s easy to verify family ties as the generation back then used same character in their middle name.
My late dad Seah Cheow Hong was born 1911 and died in 1999. We know very little about our late dad’s family tree as he never really spoke about them.
He had a portrait of his late mother wearing a Baju panjang (traditional peranakan attire worn by the nyonyas). And all we know was that he was born into a Seah family but was given to his father’s brother for adoption.
Many years back while I was in Beijing, I remember I spoke to a native lady there. She said our Seah written character is not common there. She also said this group used to come from one village back then but not many are left in the village as most have moved out of China.
Given my late dad’s name, can anyone help to trace which family ties we belong to?
Cheers
Helen
Hi
my grandmother’s name is seah meow tuan married to sim family residing at lavender street.
all i know is she is related to seah
She maybe related to seah eng keong. Please help me trace. Thank you
Philomena,
Seah Eu Chin Descendants have a Facebook group. This is the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/141193326033825/?fref=ts
You have to request for entry and once in you can post your request for help there.
Good Luck
Dear admin
I have no reply fr the
Seah decendant so far.
Plse advise
Dear Philomena,
Not sure what more advice we can give. So sorry.