Tan Boo Liat – Politics and Family  

TAN BOO LIAT 陈武烈 (1881–1934)  Place of  Ancestry: Chiangchew (漳澄) 

Tan  was a prominent figure, known for his social activism in high society. On December 26, 1898, his horse “Vanitas” became the first from Malaya to win the Viceroy Cup in Calcutta, earning him instant fame and a $100,000 prize

But more than a horse racing celebrity, Tan was a Rafflesian involved in China’s national affairs. When the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established in 1906 at the behest of  the Qing government, he also joined Dr Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary party the Tong Meng Hui,  同盟会  to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. This period saw ideological debates, with Kang You Wei who advocated imperial reform with the Emperor still in place.  Both Sun and Kang came to Singapore at various times at the turn of the last century to solicit donations and support for their opposing causes.  Tan chose  Dr Sun’s cause and provided shelter and protection to him  at his Goldbell Mansion on Mount Faber at considerable personal risk. Rumours were rife that the remnants of Qing Imperial order had sent assassins to  kill  Dr Sun to prevent him from reaching  Nanjing to take up the Presidency of China.

 In the social sphere, along with the likes of Dr Lim Boon Keng and Song Ong Siang, Tan called attention  to the scourge of opium addiction at a time when opium revenue  accounted for over half of  the Straits Government revenues.  He advocated for women’s education and founded the Singapore Chinese Girls School (SCGS) at a time when womens’ education went against the widely held attitude that  “an unedified woman is virtuous woman” (女子无才就是德)”. SCGS was secular –  unlike existing  schools the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, Methodists and Raffles girls schools – free from overt religious and colonial influences. 

 Boo Liat had a close bond with his grandfather, Kim Cheng, and named his mansion Golden Bell (金钟) in his honour. Both envisioned a rejuvenated China—Kim Cheng celebrated the Qing naval fleet’s visit to Singapore, while Boo Liat supported Dr Sun’s revolution. They shared the same dream but pursued it in different ways.  

Boo Liat maintained close ties with Siamese royalty sealed by his grandfather through a marriage arranged by King Mongut. His altar table carries two titles given by the Siamese King. The Thai chapter started by his grandfather is part of Tan Tock Seng’s extensive family tree, which includes over 2,000 members. 

Grandfather Tan Kim Cheng had a magnificent grave originally located in a private plot off  Changi Road, but because of land development, he was reinterred to Bukit Brown Blk 4 C plot no 1709. 

Tan Kim Cheng’s original grave off Changi Road

Tan Kim Ching’s relocated grave in Bukit Brown (photo credit : all things Bukit Brown