By Chow Chai Khim
Classical-style poetry in modern China and other Sinitic-speaking localities has experienced renewed interest, with the recent upsurge in academic revision of modern Chinese literary history. In colonial Singapore, classical Chinese poetry played a very important role in the social and cultural development of Singapore’s Chinese community. This curated list of physical and online resources aims to support your exploration of this topic and will be displayed during the upcoming book launch, Cultural Transplantation: The Writing of Classical Chinese Poetry in Colonial Singapore (1887‒1945) by Dr Lam Lap from the NUS Department of Chinese Studies.
Cultural Transplantation: The Writing of Classical Chinese Poetry in Colonial Singapore (1887‒1945) 2024 [print & e-book]
This new monograph by Lam Lap demonstrates how the reading of classical Chinese poetry can enhance the understanding of Singapore’s political, social, and cultural history and deepen knowledge of the transregional relationship between China and Nanyang.
Classical Chinese Poetry in Singapore: Witness of Social and Cultural Transformation in the Chinese Community 2018
Wang Bing’s work sketches out the brief history of classical Chinese poetry in Singapore over a hundred years. The study focuses on the complex identity of poets from different generations, the function of literary societies in the construction of cultural space and the influence of modern media on the development of classical Chinese poetry based on the text interpretation.
Xin Jia Po Hua Wen Jiu Ti Shi Yan Jiu 新加坡华文旧体诗研究 2015
This book by Zhao Ying (赵颖) was edited based on the author’s PhD thesis in 2012. Other than providing a broad and detailed overview of Chinese literary history in Singapore, the research focuses on the old-style poetry works of various poets over different periods and involves a close reading of the texts along with social science research methods to summarize and compare different case studies.
Ma Lai Ya Hua Ren Jiu Ti Shi Yan Jin Shi 马来亚华人旧体诗演进史 1881-1941 1998
This book, on the evolution of the classical-style poetry of Malayan Chinese by Li Qingnian (李庆年) was published based on the author’s PhD thesis in 1993, Development of Malayan Chinese Classical Poetry 马华旧体诗演进史(1881-1941). It analyzes the evolution of Malayan Chinese classical poetry and examines the works of prominent poets across six periods, each closely linked to various political movements in China between 1881 and 1941.
Nan Yang Zhu Zhi Ci Hui Bian 南洋竹枝词汇编 2012
This compiled work by Li Qingnian (李庆年) features a collection of bamboo branch verses in Nanyang, with over four thousand bamboo branch verses published in Singapore and Malaya from 1888 to 1950. These lyrics vividly depict the daily lives and social conditions of various ethnic groups in Nanyang from different perspectives, often expressing the poets’ nostalgia for their hometowns and motherland.
Ren Jing Lu Shi Cao Jian Zhu 人境庐诗草 1911
This anthology, by the second Qing consul of Singapore cum poet, Huang Zunxian (黄遵宪, 1848-1905) includes verses about local customs and products in Nanyang and expresses his concerns about the situations, fate, and future of overseas Chinese in the multiracial society. Together with the first Qing consult of Singapore cum poet, Tso Ping Lung (左秉隆, 1850-1924), both established literary societies and promoted classical-style poetry writing in Singapore in the late 19th century.
Shu Yuan Shi Ji 菽园诗集 1949 [print & e-book]
This book comprises a collection of around 1,045 poems written by Khoo Seok Wan (邱菽园, 1873–1941) compiled into three volumes. Known as the “Master Poet of the South”, his poems cover various subjects such as personal reflections, politics, and social commentary on the world around him. Read this blogpost to learn about the book.
Xiao Hong Sheng Shi Chao 啸虹生诗钞 (date unidentified) [print & e-book]
This collection of poems by Xiao Hong Sheng is another book written by Khoo Seok Wan (pen name Xiaohong Sheng 啸虹生), featuring some of the earliest poetry in Singapore. The poems cover a wide range of topics such as historical figures from China, customs in Nanyang, and the poet’s personal experiences and daily observations.
Jie Hui Ji 劫灰集 1946 [print & e-book]
Through 劫灰集 (the Collection of Kalpa Ashes), the poet, Li Xilang (李西浪, 1898-1972) expresses his emotional reactions and personal experiences in a lyrical way toward the horrible period during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore.
Pan Shou Shi Ji 潘受诗集 1997
This anthology is a collection of poems by Pan Shou (潘受, 1911-1999) is a remarkable calligrapher-cum-poet in Singapore. It contains approximately 1,200 poems written in various classical formats over 60 years, between 1937 and 1997. This coincided with the period during Japan’s invasion of China and the return of Hong Kong to China after 155 years of British rule.
Database of Classical Poetry in Singapore 新加坡旧体诗库
Sponsored by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, this database was established by Lam Lap in 2020 to promote the culture of classical poetry from Nanyang and facilitate cultural exchange. It features brief introductions of notable poets along with their poetic records, highlighting the history, society, and culture of the Singapore Chinese as drawn from local Chinese newspapers, literary journals, and books.
We invite you to explore these curated sources to uncover the historical roots and cultural importance of classical Chinese poetry in Singapore.
Join us for the book launch Cultural Transplantation: The Writing of Classical Chinese Poetry in Colonial Singapore (1887‒1945) by Dr Lam Lap from the NUS Department of Chinese Studies on 3 October 2024 at NUS Central Library Seminar Room (Level 4), 2pm.
