Chan Yen Pai and family (Bukit Brown)

Chan Yen Pai is better known as the son of Chan Kim Boon, a famous Baba Malay Translator and prolific publisher of many translated Chinese classics to Baba Malay. Chan Yen Pai, himself continued his father’s work and helped republish Sam Kok [The Romance of the Three Kingdom] in 1932 (volumes one to five) with Fang Heng Printing Press, and possibly Song Kang in 1934 with D. T. Lim, and Kou Chey Thian (1933) (volume one only). Chan Yen Pai (Chan Yen P'ai) passed away at the age of 87 on 18th June 1961 at 2:15pm at 166 Neil Road. In the obituary notice, he is survived by his wife, 1 daughter, Chan Gaik Thay and 2 sons; Chan Kee Kok and Chan Kee Hee, daughter-in-law; Sim Bee, 7 Grand-children and 6 Great Grandchildren.  Madam Lim Chuan Keat  (Mrs. Chan Yen Pai) passed away at the age of 61 on 12th November 1937 and is buried beside him. They are buried in Block 4 Section C, plot 114 and 107.

Chan Yen Pai and Madam Lim Chuan Keat

Chan Yen Pai, presumably continued his father’s work and helped republish Sam Kok [The Romance of the Three Kingdom] in 1932 (volumes one to five) with Fang Heng Printing Press, and Song Kang in 1934 with D. T. Lim, and Kou Chey Thian (1933) .

Unique Couplets

What is also unique about the tomb is the lion couplets say Power and Might !

Power 

Might 

Family

Father: Chan Kim Boon 
Chan Kim Boon is the son of Chan Yong Chuan, a trader of Padang, Sumatra. Chan Kim Boon was born  in Penang in 1851 and educated at the Free School, Penang. He then went to China and studied at Foochow Naval School with specialisation in Military tactics. Due to his weak constitution, he declined a role as an army officer but instead became an assistant tutor in mathematics. Amongst his pupils was Admiral Sah, the late Admiral Yin and the late Sir Chin-chen Lo Feng-luh (once a Chinese Minister in London, whose elder daughter became the first wife of Lieutenant Tan Soo Bin.

Chan Kim Boon left China after a prediction by a fortune teller that he would live to see his 25th birthday and in January 1872, he returned to Penang to visit his widowed mother. In March 1872 he arrived Singapore and joined the legal firm of Aitken & Rodyk (subsequently Aitken & Co and now Donalidson & Burkinsaw as book-keeper and cashier.  He made good use of his knowledge of Chinese by translating into Romanised Malay during his free time the Sam-kok (History of the Three Kingdoms) and numerous Chinese stories. Chan's  publication of "Sam Kok" was important especially to the local Chinese community as well as for Malay literature as a whole, because it was a massive translation work of over 30 volumes. Chan was known by his pen-name Batu Gantong. The Baba Malay version of this classic was published in Singapore – making this accessible to the Straits-born Chinese community. He had the help of two other people, Chia Ann Siang and Tan Kheam Hock.

Chan Kim Boon

Sam Kok 

Chan Kim Boon passed away on 7 April 1920 at 11 pm due to acute broncho asthma at the age of 70. His remains were taken from his house at No 9 Stanley Road and shipped back to Penang in accordance to his wishes to be buried in Bukit Gantong Cemetery.

Brother: Chan Yen Soon
Chan Yen Soon was a cashier and bookkeeper for the legal firm Donaldson and Burkinshaw and has been in service in the company for 25 years.. Chan Yen Soon's late father, Chan Kim Boon was also a cashier and bookkeeper for Donaldson and Burkinshaw for 45 years and well know among the local Chinese Community for translation Chinese literature to Baba Malay.

Chan Yen Soon passed away at his residence at No. 101 Tras Street on 18th October 1930 at the age of 45 after being of ill health in which he took leave 2 months ago from work to recuperate but things took a turn for the worst. On the tomb, of Chan Yen Soon, the etching says it was erected by his loving wife, Kaw Kim Kee Neo and list the name of their sons; Chan Kah Siew, Chan Kah Hock, and daughter; Chan Gaik Tooi. He has a son-in-law by the name of William Lim. The tomb is located in Bukit Brown at Block 3 Division B, plot 302, 325.


References
Death/ (1961, June 19). The Straits Times, page 16
Chan Kim Boon. Infopedia Website https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1337_2008-10-07.html. Last Accessed 10/01/2020