Our History
Charity Institution Phenomenon in Chaozhou
Welfare societies looking after the old and sickly had existed in Chaozhou since the Ming period and it was not uncommon for local merchants to establish charity institutions to build roads and bridges, in addition to providing medical care, food and coffins for the needy. It is estimated that at least 161 charity institutions existed in the Chaozhou region from 1876 to the Republic period. Many of them looked up to Master Song Dafeng’s compassionate and selfless spirit as inspiration to perform philanthropy.
Shantou’s Cunxin Shantang providing burial service to victomes of the 1922 typhoon.
Shantou’s Cunxin Shantang distributing relief on behalf of Hong Kong donors.
Shantang Origin in Singapore
The first Teochew shantang in Singapore was Seu Teck Sean Tong Yiang Sin Sia formed in 1916 by Chen Sishun, Wu Lisheng, Yang Yongchao and Chen Rong’an in a shophouse at River Valley Road with “joss ash” brought over from Dawu Xiude Shantang in Fuyangzhen, Chao’an. Driven by Master Song Dafeng’s spirit of compassion and philanthropy, they embarked on charity work based on the principles of Birth & Growth, Aging, Illness, Death and Life’s Difficulties.
This was followed by the setting up of Phoh Kiu Siang-tng (1929), Nanyang Thong Hong Siang-tng (1930), Seng Siang Society of the Thong Kheng Charitable Institution (1943) and Nam Ann Siang Theon (1944). Post-World War II the shantangs formed were Thong Teck Sian Tong Lian Sin Sia (1950), Poh Teck Siang Tng (1959), Nam Hong Siang Theon (1961), Cheng Hong Siang Tng (1974) and Chung Hong Siang T’ng (1977).
Formation of Chinese Charitable Institutions’ Union
The Japanese Occupation was a turning point for the shantangs’ operations. The Teochew shantangs provided free food and medical care in addition to taking care of the dead by providing the necessary coffins and burials. These services extended beyond dialect, racial and religious lines and, for the first time, the shantangs reached out to the general public in Singapore beyond the Teochew community. Five of the shantangs, namely Seu Teck, Phoh Kiu, Thong Hong, Thong Kheng and Nam Ann, came together to form the Chinese Charitable Institutions Union. The organization was officially recognized in 1945 and was based in Wak Hai Cheng Bio.
The establishment of the Chinese Charitable Institutions’ Union as reported in the Syonan Shimbun on 19 Jan. 1945.
“During the War they bombed many areas such as the Singapore River. The able-bodied ones ran away while the corpses were strewn all around. Those from the shantang helped to retrieve the dead bodies because nobody attended to these affairs. The people from the shantang handled all the funereal affairs like the burial, prayers and rituals. My father joined them as well.”
- Artist Lee Hock Moh narrating his late father’s volunteer work with the shantang during WWII
The Union set up free feeding centre to provide 2 meals a day for destitute as reported in the Syonan Shimbun on 3 Apr. 1945.
