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Have you ever visited Tan Kah Kee Study?

Located on the second floor of the Library at Xiamen University Malaysia, Tan Kah Kee Study is a memorial in the form of an early-20-century study for Tan Kah Kee, the founder of Xiamen University.

Covering an area of 124 square meters, Tan Kah Kee Study opened its doors to the public in November 2023, integrating exhibition and reading functionalities. Through immersive interactive experiences, it guides visitors through the spiritual world of Tan Kah Kee, narrating stories of industry, education, patriotism, and responsibility.

Life and Death: History of Modern China

The preface of the exhibition gives the visitors a peep into modern Chinese history. From the First Opium War to the establishment of the Republic of China, as well as the two World Wars, the milestones in modern Chinese history will transport readers back to the years of upheaval and transformation.

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Tan Kah Kee lived through an era of changes, where the society and politic system in both China and Asia were rapidly evolving. Wars, poverty, self-improvement, and innovation intertwined to form essential aspects of his life. Facing these challenges, one might wonder how Tan Kah Kee embarked on his life journey amidst the historical waves.

By retelling his stories in industry, education and resistance against Japan, Tan Kah Kee Study provides answers to these questions.
 
Business Nurture Culture

As Tan Kah Kee emphasized in his company's articles of association, "Only with genuine backbones can one love the country, only with true cause can one save the country". Industry not only marked the starting point of Tan Kah Kee's legendary life, but also stands out as the first highlight of Tan Kah Kee Study. 

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Rubber manufacturing is the core business of Tan Kah Kee’s enterprises

Here, objects related to Tan Kah Kee's enterprises, such as trademarks, posters, and articles of association, are displayed inside the study room. Upon careful observation, visitors m ay understand how Tan Kah Kee, starting as a mere shopkeeper, finally became a business tycoon.

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A poster of rubber soles sold by Tan Kah Kee’s enterprise

For instance, the logo with the "中 (zhōng)" character is the most well-known trademark of Tan Kah Kee's enterprises. "中 (zhōng)" represents China, and also implies the ringing of an alarm bell. By using this, Tan Kah Kee hoped to awaken Chinese people’s patriotic spirit and rejuvenate the country through the circulation of goods.

Study: It is Shameful to be Afraid of Failure

Moving through Tan Kah Kee's business empire, visitors will reach the core area of the exhibition - a true study room. Guided by warm lights, his family photos and documents such as drafts of his memoirs are placed here awaiting exploration.

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Outside the two windows of the study, visitors can see the two most important places in Tan Kah Kee's life - Port of Xiamen Port and Port of Singapore, which symbolize the beginning and the end of his life story.

A telephone behind the desk allows visitors to listen to Tan Kah Kee, then sixty years old, recounting his life. In the 1930s, Tan Kah Kee's companies all went bankrupt due to the Great Depression. Thus, in his memoir, he recalled both his achievements and his regrets, allowing visitors to hear about Tan Kah Kee's life in the flesh.

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According to the curator Dr. Aki Chong Li Chin, this telephone is the starting point of her designing the whole exhibition. In her concept, visitors should not only see the glorious side of Tan Kah Kee - it is his ability of self-introspection that has completed him.

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Articles of association of Tan Kah Kee’s enterprises

Great Patriotism from Overseas

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Tan Kah Kee was elected as the chairman of the Federation of Southsea China Relief Fund Union, leading overseas Chinese to support China during World War II. Under his leadership, a total of over 10 million people and about 3,000 anti-Japanese organizations joined the campaign, raising huge sums of money to support their mother country.

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Tan Kah Kee Post Office

In this part of the exhibition, the Tan Kah Kee Post Office stands out among the rest. During World War II, overseas Chinese sent their hard-earned money back home to support their families, along with letters wishing for their safety. Moreover, concerning their homeland, they also donated money to save the country, which can be seen from the letters they wrote.

Moving away from the Post Office, visitors will be positioned at the streets of Nanyang, where the wall displays scenes of Tan Kah Kee's company signs juxtaposed with the raging flames of the war, providing a tremendous visual and emotional impact. On one side, people in Guangzhou were massacred by the Japanese army; on the other side, volunteers from Southeast Asia traversed the battlefields to support their mother country, making the Burma Road a veritable lifeline for China's resistance against Japan.

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This scene was specially designed by Lee Lik Hsiang, a well-known designer in Malaysia. He hopes visitors can further understand the inseparable relationship between Tan Kah Kee’s industry, education, and resistance against Japanese aggression, as well as the significant role played by the voluntary workers, thus arousing people's cherishing for peace.

Education as the Foundation of Nation

Returning to the front half of the exhibition space, visitors will finally witness Tan Kah Kee's achievements in education. Various historical documents and images showcase his decades-long efforts in fundraising and school-founding, with every word and line brimming with his determination to change the fate of the country through education.

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In the early 20th century, China was weak and poor, with very little education resources. Shocked by the sight of children playing naked in the countryside, Tan Kah Kee established schools in his hometown Jimei, raised funds for Chinese schools in Southeast Asia, and founded Xiamen University, which soon became one of the leading universities in China.

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Group photo of XMU faculty members in 1927

Beneath the plaque of "诚毅(Integrity and Perseverance)", visitors will find a small wooden box hidden in the wall, with Tan Kah Kee's manuscript "Speech on Establishing Xiamen University" inside. Opening the scroll, one can see Tan Kah Kee's expectations for future generations of XMU students and his ambition to educate and save the country.

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Research Vessel Tan Kah Kee

Travelling through the entire space, it is easy to see that windows of Nanyang style are widely used in the study. These window carries the metaphors of two cities, two sides, connection and projection, bringing in the ideas of “the other side”, “historical perspectives” and “external landscapes”. No matter which direction one looks at, a unique view will be unfolded to complete the image of Tan Kah Kee.

Tan Kah Kee Study does not only serve as an exhibition space, but also a time tunnel, giving visitors the opportunity to revisit his lifetime. From the inauguration of China's first university founded by an overseas Chinese, to the establishment of Xiamen University Malaysia in 2016, each story is like a torch, illuminating the path of Tan Kah Kee's everlasting spirit.

Tan Kah Kee Study is located at Level 2 of A3 building, Xiamen University Malaysia. It opens between 9am to 10 pm during working days, and 9am to 5pm during weekends and public holidays.