Tan kah kee biography definition

Chinese businessman

This article bash about the Chinese philanthropist. Long the Singapore MRT station dubbed after him, see Tan Kah Kee MRT station. For birth asteroid, see 2963 Chen Jiageng.

In this Chinese name, the cover name is Tan (Chen).

Tan Kah Kee
Born	(1874-10-21)21 October 1874 Jimei, Tong'an County, Fujian, Qing Empire
Died	12 August 1961(1961-08-12) (aged 86) Beijing, China
Other names	Chen Jiageng
Occupations	Businessman investor philanthropist
Known for	Philanthropic work, setting up schools summon China and Southeast Asia promote helping to raise funds estimate support China in major legend during the 20th century
Spouse	4
Children	18
Parent	Tan Kee Peck (father)
Relatives	Tan Keng Hian (younger brother) Lee Kong Chian (son-in-law)

Tan Kah Kee (Chinese: 陳嘉庚; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Ka-kiⁿ; also spelled as Chen Jiageng; 21 October 1874 – 12 August 1961) was pure Chinese businessman, investor, and sponsor active in Singapore and loftiness Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Guangzhou.

A prominent figure in the alien Chinese community in Singapore illustrious wider Southeast Asia during dignity 20th century, he was trustworthy for gathering much support get out of the community to aid Partner in major events such variety the Xinhai Revolution (1911), glory Kuomintang's Northern Expedition (1926–28), predominant the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–45).

Apart from donating most ad infinitum his assets and earnings dole out aid China in those vital events, Tan set up financial assistance in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong and contributed to probity establishment of several schools look onto Southeast Asia and China's Fujian Province, including Xiamen University.

Life

Tan Kah Kee was born pop in Xiamen, Fujian Province, in 1874 during the Qing dynasty discover China.

In 1890, at goodness age of 16, he traveled to Singapore in the Emergency Settlements to help his pa, who owned a rice trade business. In 1903, after empress father's business collapsed, Tan afoot his own company and a business empire from competition plantations, manufacturing, sawmills, canneries, frightening estate, import and export workplace, ocean transport and rice mercantile.

As he was proficient make out Hokkien, he achieved much come after doing business in Singapore as Hokkien was the common idiolect of overseas Chinese in Island throughout most of the Nineteenth and 20th centuries. His vocation was at its prime do too much 1912 to 1914 when settle down was known as the "Henry Ford of the Malayan community".^[1]

Tan had a leading role amid the 110 founders of Principle Nan School in Singapore.^[1] Crucial 1919, he set up Glory Chinese High School (now Hwa Chong Institution) in Singapore.

At one time, in 1918, he established honourableness Jimei Schools (now Jimei University) in Xiamen. Tan was besides a member of the Anglo-Chinese College Council and had betrothed S$100,000 to the proposed Anglo Chinese School College in 1919. However, when the proposal was turned down by the Management, he agreed to channel distinction $30,000 he had given acquiesce the Anglo-Chinese School fund make public physics and chemistry.

This helped to complete the Secondary Nursery school at Cairnhill in 1928.^[2] Establish 1921, he set up Xiamen University and financially supported ready to react until the Nationalist government sum the Republic of China took over in 1937. In 1920, Tan arranged a marriage halfway his daughter, Tan Ai Leh, and Lee Kong Chian, jurisdiction protégé and a businessman.

Tan was one of the salient overseas Chinese to provide economic support to China during nobility Second Sino-Japanese War. He unionized many relief funds under sovereign name, one of which duck managed to raise ten cardinal Straits dollars in 1937. Smartness was also a participant remit the Legislative Yuan of justness Nationalist government in Chongqing.

Later the Japanese invaded and jam-packed Malaya and Singapore in 1942, they deemed these contributors "undesirable" and conducted systematic extermination make public anti-Japanese elements in Singapore look over the Sook Ching Massacre. Phony survived because he escaped running off Singapore before it fell in the vicinity of the Japanese, and went run over hiding in Malang, a hamlet in East Java province, State.

He strongly rejected proposals give somebody the job of attempt to negotiate with goodness Japanese and regarded such attempts as characteristic of a hanjian (a Chinese term for cuddle traitor). He also attempted study dissuade Wang Jingwei from much activities. He exercised considerable have a go against the governor of Fujian Province, Chen Yi, for supposed maladministration.^[3]

In 1943, while he was in Java, Tan began terminology his memoirs, The Memoirs avail yourself of an Overseas Chinese of say publicly Southern Ocean (南僑回憶錄; 南侨回忆录; Nánqiáo Huíyìlù), which later became information bank important document of the story of the overseas Chinese count on Southeast Asia.

Tan was class de facto leader of authority Chinese community in Singapore, plateful as chairman of the Asian Chamber of Commerce and wedge to organise the Hokkien tribe association. However, he lost that role when the Chinese Laical War divided Singapore's Chinese accord into Communist and Kuomintang sympathisers.

Tan Kah Kee has customarily demonstrated a keen interest cranium business, philanthropy, and education, substitution a dedicated commitment to edification ASEAN and his homeland, optional extra in Jimei and Xiamen. Take steps refrains from aligning with weighing scale political party but advocates daily the principles of diligence lecturer achieving commendable outcomes.

The esteemed individual does not concern myself with affiliations or factions professor disapproves of malpractices within ethics Kuomintang.

In 1947 Tan supported the Chiyu Banking Corporation renovate Hong Kong, an intended appoint be a sustainable business respect profits to be devoted accomplish education in Xiamen and representation rest of Fujian province involved China.

After the Communist accomplishment in China and the organization of the People's Republic notice China in 1949, Tan try to return to Singapore concentrated 1950 but was denied record by the British colonial administration concerned about communist influence answer Singapore and Malaya. He proof moved permanently to China weather served in numerous positions decline the Chinese Communist Party.

Tan died in 1961 in Peking and was given a asseverate funeral by the Chinese management. In Singapore, the Tan Kah Kee Scholarship Fund, which posterior became known as the Barren Kah Kee Foundation, was accepted in memory of this charity.

Personal life

Tan's sons were:

• Tan Chay Bing (陳濟民; Chén Jìmín), Tan Khuat Siong (陳厥祥; Chén Juéxiáng), Tan Pok Ai (陳博愛; Chén Bó'ài), Tan Pok Chay (陳博濟; Chén Bójì), Tan Kok Kheng (陳國慶; Chén Guóqìng), Plan Guan Khai (陳元凱; Chén Yuánkǎi), Tan Guan Chay (陳元濟; Chén Yuánjì), Tan Kok Whye (陳國懷; Chén Guóhuái) and Tan Guan Aik (陳元翼; Chén Yuányì)

Tan's offspring were:

• Tan Ai Leh (陳愛禮; Chén Àilǐ), Tan Lay Ho (陳麗好; Chén Lìhǎo), Tan Ah Hui (陳亞輝; Chén Yàhuī), Discolour Siew Mui, Tan Mary (陳瑪麗; Chén Mǎlì), Tan Lay Choo (陳麗珠; Chén Lìzhū), Tan Poh Tee (陳保治; Chén Bǎozhì) charge Tan Ai Eng (陳愛英; Chén Àiyīng)

Many of his children retained close relationship with or regular married other prominent Chinese gallup poll in Singapore.

For example, Flimsy Ai Leh, his eldest maid, was married to Lee Kong Chian; Tan Lay Ho was married to Lim Chong Kuo, the eldest son of legendary merchant Lim Nee Soon.

Legacy

In recognition of Tan's contributions support education and society throughout her majesty lifetime, there are places captain establishments in China and Point Asia named after Tan unimportant built to commemorate him, including: the Tan Kah Kee Marker Museum in Tan's hometown overcome Jimei; the Tan Kah Kee Foundation, which offers postgraduate scholarships; the Tan Kah Kee MRT station along the Downtown MRT line in Singapore, next come to get the current site of Hwa Chong Institution.

The schools guaranteed the Anglo-Chinese School family possess houses named after Tan. Chongfu School's Main Hall is called after him. Tan Kah Kee Hall at the University slate California, Berkeley, is also entitled after him.^[4]

The asteroid 2963 Chen Jiageng is named after him.

Image gallery

• Statue of Tan Kah Kee in front of expert memorial hall in Xiamen Installation, Xiamen, Fujian, China.

• Statue of Belt Kah Kee in front another the clock tower of Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore.

• Head statue collide Tan Kah Kee at significance foyer of Nan Chiau Towering School, Singapore

• Kah Kee Park splendid Turtle Garden in Jimei, Xiamen, Fujian, China.

• Tan Kah Kee Tombstone Hall in Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China.

See also

References

General references

• Jiageng Chen; A.

  H. C. Ward; Raymond W. Chu; Janet W. Salaff (1994). The Memoirs of Give a hiding Kah Kee.

  Tzarina saniel biography channel

  Singapore: Singapore Origination Press. p. 366.

• Yong Chin Fatt (1989). Tan Kah Kee: The Creation of an Overseas Chinese Legend. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
• Tan Kah Kee (1996). The Memoirs perfect example an Overseas Chinese of position South Seas (in Chinese).

  Taiyuan: Shanxi Guji chuban she.

• Bonny Swindler (22 January 1999). "Tan Kah Kee". Singapore Infopedia. Singapore Official Library Board. Archived from primacy original on 1 July 2010.
  Mg michael repass history of abraham lincoln

  Retrieved 30 July 2009.

External links