The Teochew community is the second-largest Chinese dialect group in Singapore after the Hokkien. According to the 2010 Singapore census, Teochews make up about 20 percent of the Chinese resident population. The community, together with the Hakka, was singled out for mention by late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in his book, Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas. Lee believed that culture, including the Teochew culture, was the x-factor that helped nations like Singapore succeed, and noted the disproportionate number of Teochew ministers – such as Teo Chee Hean and Lim Hng Kiang – in the Singapore Cabinet.
At the time of its founding in 1819, Singapore had a population of only 150, with around 30 Chinese. As the colony grew, so did the number of Chinese inhabitants. Within 10 years, the Chinese had become the largest resident group. The Chinese population was so large that by 1840, at least four subgroups could be identified, the Teochew community being one of them. The Teochews originated from Chaozhou prefecture in China’s Guangdong province. The first Teochews who arrived in Singapore after 1819 were known to have come from the Riau islands of Indonesia, and Siam (now called Thailand).
In the early years, the Teochew immigrants settled mainly in the northern part of Singapore, specifically Sembawang, Upper Thomson and Punggol. Living near the sea (Punggol and parts of Sembawang) had its advantage as it allowed them to utilise the abundant marine resources available. The fishing industry was a highly lucrative enterprise then and the Teochews chose to concentrate their economic activities around this industry. They worked as fishermen, boatmen, fishmongers as well as fish wholesalers or retailers. Many Teochews became kelong owners and eventually dominated the kelong industry in Singapore. Many Teochews also chose to live along the banks of the Singapore River, especially at Boat Quay. This group was involved in trade. It was said that the Teochews on the right side of the river bank, up to the first decade of the 20th century, monopolised the trade in sundry goods and textiles, while those on the left bank had a dominant share in the trading of gambier, pepper and other tropical produce. The Teochews were also involved in the cultivation of gambier and pepper. These were the two most important crops of the time and accounted for 76 percent of the total acreage and 61 percent of the total agricultural gross revenue in 1848. In the late 1840s, more than 95 percent of Chinese gambier and pepper planters and coolies (labourers) were Teochews. One of the biggest plantation owners in Singapore was Teochew merchant Seah Eu Chin. He is believed to be the first to have started large-scale planting of gambier and pepper on the island. Together with the Hokkiens, the Teochews were known as the rich agriculturalists and merchants.
Teochews in Singapore
The 20th century produced many successful overseas Teochew businessmen, who always devoted their energy and wealth towards the education and other fields of philanthropy. Watch the late Lien Ying Chow of Overseas Union Bank and other Teochews in Singapore share their stories and the philosophy behind their selfless contributions towards the larger society in this documentary produced by Shantou Television in 1997.
Singaporean woman on how she found her way back to her Teochew roots
Her then-three-year-old daughter’s fixation on Teochew opera led Eileen Hair on a path to rediscovering her roots
For younger Chinese Singaporeans, joining a clan association is something not many would consider. Especially taking into account that many of us can barely hold a conversation in our dialect.
But for Eileen Hair, who is the section head of the event management course at ITE College Central, joining the Teochew clan association in 2018 was like fulfilling her calling. However, what prompted the 43-year-old’s quest for membership at Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan wasn’t because she was encouraged to do so by her grandparents, nor was it out of a need to network with other businessmen in the clan.
It was her then-three-year-old daughter’s unexpected interest in Teochew opera at the 2016 Teochew Festival that encouraged Hair to dig deeper into her roots.
