The Mystery and Mastery of Tan Yeok Nee (Part 8)
Tan Yeok Nee is best known for his home in Singapore, a famous heritage building now known as The House of Tan Yeok Nee. The previous post told the story of its creation, including referencing the several visits he made to China to facilitate its completion. The post also highlighted, once more, the perplexing mystery as to why so little seems to be known about such a high profile public figure as Tan. On the one hand the mid-1870s to the mid-1890s saw Tan at the peak of his eminence, even celebrity; but on the other hand there appears to be long stretches of time where little information can be found about him in the historical record. All the more surprising then that, apparently out of the blue, it was during this period that he received his honorific title from the Qing court in Peking. Few in Singapore appear to be aware of Tan’s Qing title despite the inscription above the main entrance to The House of Tan Yeok Nee. Fewer still would be able to guess at the back story...