By Sim Chuin Peng
Born in 1914 in Henan, China, Lee Hung Ben (李宏贲), later known as Li Rulin (李汝琳), was born into a family with rich literary heritage. His passion for storytelling started at a young age, and he co-published Cherishing the Past Collection (惜昨集) with friends Li Huiying (李辉英) and Tian Tao (田涛) in 1936, marking the start of his lifelong dedication to literature. His later engagement with the Beiping Writers Association (北平作家协会) set the stage for his remarkable literary career.
In September 1944, Lee relocated to India, where he honed his editorial skills as editor-in-chief of China Weekly (中国周报) and the supplements of China Daily (中国日报) in Calcutta (Sim, C., n.d.). He brought these experiences with him when he moved to Singapore in 1947. Later, he adopted various pen names, including Li Lin (李霖) and Ding Xuan (丁宣), as he broadened his literary pursuits (Sim, C., n.d.; 新明日报, 1986; 谢征达, 2018; 新加坡国立大学中文图书馆, 1992).
In Singapore, Lee’s influence expanded through teaching positions at esteemed institutions like the Chinese High School (华侨中学), Singapore Teachers’ Training College (新加坡师范学院), and Nanyang University (南洋大学). Concurrently, he served as a council advisor for the Singapore Writers Association (新加坡作家协会), advocating for the arts (新明日报, 1986).
His editorial excellence was showcased in his work on the Literary Series of Singapore and Malaya (新马文艺丛书) and Drama Series of Singapore and Malaya (新马戏剧丛书). He edited 12 volumes of Southern Literature (南方文艺), which includes literary works of prolific writers such as Miao Xiu (苗秀) and Han Suyin (韩素音). His writing, encompassing poetry, novels, and critiques, represented his relentless efforts to preserve and promote regional literature and the arts (新明日报, 1986).
Lee’s steadfast commitment and endless pursuit of literary excellence earned him the title “Literary Marathoner” (文艺长跑者) from his peers. His legacy continues to inspire generations, enduring well beyond his passing in 1991 (谢征达, 2018).
An avid reader, Lee amassed an extensive collection of books, with a special interest in works by Singaporean and Malaysian authors. Following his passing, he instructed his son, Dr Lee Yuan Kun, to donate his entire collection to NUS Chinese Library, which was renamed the Wan Boo Sow Chinese Library in December 2021.
His donated collection comprises 723 titles, amounting to 821 volumes of Chinese literature from Singapore and Malaysia. It includes:
- 61 titles (67 volumes) of literary essays and biographies
- 178 titles (195 volumes) of prose collections
- 98 titles (120 volumes) of poetry collections
- 279 titles (326 volumes) of novels
- 15 titles (15 volumes) of plays
- 2 titles (2 volumes) of crosstalks, and
- 90 titles (96 volumes) in other genres
Amongst these, 301 titles bear inscriptions by the original authors, while 179 titles were already out of print by the early 1990s, making them particularly rare (新加坡国立大学中文图书馆,1992). Each donated book bears a bookplate inscribed with “Presented by 李宏贲先生”, serving as a lasting tribute to Lee’s generosity and commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
Bookplate with the inscription “Presented by 李宏贲先生”
In 1990, NUS published the Catalogue of Southeast Asian Material in the Chinese Library of the National University of Singapore (馆藏南洋研究中文资料目录), which included over 5,000 titles, with 1,710 titles on Singaporean and Malaysian Chinese literature. The addition of Lee’s 723 donated titles contributed significantly to a 42% increase in the number of titles on Singaporean and Malaysian Chinese literature featured in the catalogue. In 1992, the NUS Chinese Library compiled and published a special catalogue on the bibliography of books donated by Mr Lee Hung Ben, titled 李宏贲先生赠书目录 [Bibliography of books donated by Mr Lee Hung Ben], serving as a commemoration of his generous contribution.
Bibliography of books donated by Mr Lee Hung Ben
This enriched collection has since become an indispensable resource for scholars and students studying regional Chinese literature, further contributing to our efforts to support Southeast Asian studies.
Lee’s legacy continues to live on through the generosity of his donation. His personal collection of prized works now forms an integral part of our library’s holdings, offering future generations the opportunity to explore, appreciate, and be inspired by the rich literary heritage he so deeply cherished.
References
Sim, C. (n.d.). Li Rulin. Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board Singapore. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=9a9747a1-b7d3-4f31-89a4-21bc68ad6d82
谢征达. (2018, October 11). 新华文学小辞典 75. “文艺长跑者”李汝琳. 联合早报, p. 6. https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/fukan/literary-writings/story20181011-898124
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆. (1992). 李宏贲先生赠书目录. 新加坡: 新加坡国立大学中文图书馆.
新明日报. (1986, October 25). 李汝琳简历. 新明日报, p. 12. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19861025-1.2.22.3
