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The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Showing posts from April, 2025

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Earliest known photograph of Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple ?

Bukit Brown +0 temple

Bukit Brown temple

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Bukit Brown968
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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

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Popular Post

Qing Ming at the tomb of Lee Peng Seng (2025)

I left Bukit Brown today knowing a bit more about Mr. Lee Peng Seng thanks to his grandchildren present today during their Qing Ming visit to Bukit Brown. What i can see for sure is a man and the legacy he left behind. It was a legacy of love and filial piety that have lasted almost a hundred years and hopefully. His grandchildren and 1 great grandchild was present today and i am grateful in their generosity in sharing what they know about him and especially the rare photos of him and his family. Lee Peng Seng was a merchant who came to seek for fortune like many others before him. The grandchildren present do not have much details about the name of his chop (company) nor who Lee Peng Seng parents are but they do have with them, a wealth of photos which some were shared with us. This included pictures of 2 of his wives. From the number of photos shared, i guess the Lee Peng Seng was well to do with the ability to manage his company as well as a growing family. The family photo tha...

Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Chew Geok Leong

Chew Geok Leong’s tomb in Bukit Brown stands out for its painted and imposing Sikh guards. A former Qing official who fled China, Chew Geok Leong settled in Singapore and opened a Chinese medical practice and shop. He planned his “live” tomb meticulously, commissioning it from China. The vibrant Sikh guards, ranked as 'Naik,' represent “Home Guard” and “City Guard.” The tomb celebrates Chew Geok Leong's legacy and i was told that his ties to a total of 6 generations of Chinese physicians (the last one being his son, Chew Siew Hai ). It's very heartening to witness descendants of Chew Geok Leong paying respects to him. They (especially Cecilia Chong and her uncle James Chew) have been supporters of the Bukit Brown cause for many years and i am very fortunate to be able to bump into Cecilia as she went about paying respects to her ancestors. There were such beautiful and well selected offerings for Mr. Chew Geok Leong, her daughter, Madam Chew Chwee Eng and son-in-law, ...

Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Madam Toh Pow (Bukit Brown)

We helped in locating the tomb of Madam Toh Pow after a request for help came from Angelique Goh and her cousins way back in March 2023. Today we got to meet them again as they go about their Qing Ming visit to pay respects to their grandmother, Madam Toh Pow. Their family story is an example of the strength and perseverance of the women folk of their family spanning a few generations ! Paying respects to Madam Toh Pow (Qing Ming 2025) Madam Toh Pow was adopted into the Lim family and eventually married a Lim son. Madam Toh Pow was industrious and worked as a amah/baby sister for an English family and subsequently at a biscuit factory. It was during this time, the family grew as well, with first an adopted daughter and subsequently more biological children of her own. Madam Toh Pow life was cut short when she passed away while in labor. Her baby boy survived but Madam Toh Pow passed away on 11 April 1940 at the age of 28 due to child birth complications. In the coffin of Mada...

Qing Ming 2025 - Revisiting Oei Bok Sien

Towkay Oei Bok Sien was in the shipping business and owned ships such as the modern steel ship "Bintan" (built in Singapore by United Engineers shipyard in Tanjong Rhu), and steamers such as the "Esmeralda", "Pontianak" that ply the Singapore-Riau (Indonesia) routes. He also purchase many properties expanding his wealth and base in Singapore. The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Oie Bok Sien is a firm favorite among many "Brownies" including myself because of the many many layers of stories that could be shared and seen from there. This includes stories of : The Chinese Diaspora and how interconnected British-controlled Singapore was with its neighbors, Malaya and Dutch controlled Indonesia. Made his wealth in the shipping business and maritime trade The stories from the exquisite carvings of stones from their tomb including of course the rare sikh guards accompaniments The war story - The headstone of the tomb with a battle scar (a hole on the headst...

Qing Ming - Five-colored paper

During Qing Ming, even if you are passive observer, you will noticed visited tombs with colored papers placed on tomb mount an/ or the headstone. Some are just strewn randomly behind while others follow a pattern of 5 color papers being grouped together. Whatever the individual descendant family practice, from what i read from online sources and asked through oral accounts from descendants is the act of placing the colored papers (called ya zhi (压纸) ) on top of the headstone is symbolic of the fact that this tomb is well taken care of by the filial descendants. The paper typically have 5 colors, representing the 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Gold, Wood and Water) and / or the 5 cardinal directions (North, South, East. West and Centre). 5 colored paper with stones to hold them down Five colored paper on the grave as well on top of the headstone 5 colored paper on headstone Note: None of the perspectives expressed here represent singular truths given the syncretic nature of Chinese...

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown. Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pah...

Lee Choon Seng and family (Kopi Sua)

Mr. Lee Choon Seng (李俊承), was a prominent businessman, philanthropist and Hokkien community leader. Lee Choon Seng came to Negeri Sembilan, Malaya in the early 1900's at the age of 17 from Yong Chun County, Fujian Province, China and got involved as a wholesaler in provisions following in his father's (Mr. Lee Lip Chai) footsteps. He then went to Singapore to expand the family business, founding several companies such as Thye Hin Ltd, Eng Hin Company, Thye Hong Biscuit, Popular Aerated Water and also got involved as a rubber planter. He went on to be the Managing Director of Ho Hong Bank before the amalgamation of the major banks. In 1931 he became the Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Vice-Chairman of the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation. Lee Choon Seng (1940) (source: NewspaperSG) Positions held President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce (1931-1932), President of Ee Hoe Hean Club (1935) President of Singapore Buddhist Federation (1949-19...

Earliest known photograph of Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple ?

As i was searching for more online resources, i come across this rare photograph from the Lee Brothers Studio Collection with the following caption, A Chinese funeral. The coffin being carried into the hearse by several coffin bearers. The date provided was 1911-1935. If you look closer at the temple just behind the hearse, a lot of it structural features seems to match closely of the one in Bukit Brown including the position of the offerings burner. You can see how clear the background of Hill 1 was too assuming this place is indeed Bukit Brown. What do you think ? Do you agree with me that the above picture was possibly taken in Bukit Brown ? . Leave a comment with your opinion or thoughts ! The coffin being carried into the hearse by several coffin bearers (source: NLB ) Close-up of the temple (partially covered by hearse) Known Old Photographs for Comparison The previous oldest photo uncovered was from the Stanley T Tanner Collection from the National ...

The school in the jungle off Kheam Hock Road (Chin Chung Public School)

I have long known that there was a school that existed near Bukit Brown since its mentioned back when there was an exhibition about Bukit Brown ( Bukit Brown: Documenting New Horizons of Knowledge 2014 ). The name of the school was called Chin Chung Public School (振中学校) and it's address was No 25, Jalan Berahi, off Kheam Hock Road, Singapore 11 (The postal code was only 2 digits !). The interest came back recently when Soh Ah Beng, a friend and fellow explorer showed me his school report card and that spurred me to ask this question, where is the original location of the school and is it still there? Today's discovery was a very exciting one because we manage to find out the foundations of Chin Chung Public School was very much still intact and the road that led to the school was still intact as well ! Chin Chung Public School Report Card of Soh Ah Beng Chin Chung Public School no longer exist but the foundation and the steps leading to the school from Jalan Berahi is ...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

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