NG Sow Chan @ Shi Jun @ Jane Liu S.M. @ Shihjen 吴秀珍@石君
Literary Scene in Singapore (Chinese),
Accession Number 003363
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 7
Total Reels
- Lye Soo Choon 赖素春
Interviewer
- 06:13:44
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 7
Metadata
- 24 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:54:42
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Born in 1940 in Guangzhou, China. Mother was from rich family, left home to ran away from arranged marriage. Left China to Ipoh and then Singapore in early 1940s with her mother. Mother worked as domestic help in Eurasian family, interviewee was taken care by nanny, stayed opposite Peace Centre. Mother used her cousin’s birth certificate for her to enrol in school as she was under age. Closed relationship with her mother. Recalled teachers who had influence on her interest in literature. Left school for more than one year due to sickness and followed mother to China in 1950. Took part in writing competition in secondary school. Got to know other young writers. Books she read, liked Soviet Union and English literature. Mother worked in Government House, recall received present from Sir Franklin Gimson (Governor of Singapore). To be able to receive the biggest present was her motivation to study English. Recalled first poem she wrote at age fifteen. Studied in Nanyang University. Received government scholarship. Performed ‘Nantah Song’ (南大颂).
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 7
Metadata
- 24 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:43:08
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*How she joined the performance of ‘Nantah Song’ (南大颂). Talked about the performance. Impression of Nantah (Nanyang University). Her study in Nantah. Active in writing when she started to work as teacher. Why she chose to development her interest in writing and not other hobbies. How her children were involved with her in writing. Some content she wrote were very personal, felt that writing was a way to release her feelings. Forms of writings that she started with were prose and poem. Recalled Liu Si (刘思), editor of newspaper literary supplement who had encouraged her to write. Recalled writing book review for radio programme in 1970. Wrote Xiao Pin Wen (小品文) for Sin Chew Jit Poh’s column <唐芬小品>. Recalled without using “我” (subject: me) in her writings. Her pen-names: Shi Jun石君, Chang Xiu常秀, Fang Fei方菲 and Tang Fen 唐芬.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 7
Metadata
- 29 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:55:42
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Recalled going to Government House, received present from Sir Franklin Gimson (Governor of Singapore) that encouraged her to study English. Met Sir William Goode’s (Governor of Singapore) wife and his daughter. Interviewee’s name ‘Jane’ was given by them. Recalled sending gifts to them when they left Singapore. His mother work in Government House, later in Istana. Started writing when she started teaching in 1960s. Talked about the content of the works in her first book. The publication of her first two books were handled by writer Zhou Can 周粲. The books were well received. Feedback that she received from Hong Kong writer Zhang Jun Mo张君默 and her lecturer. Her first collection of short novel Jin Wai《井外》. Her writing on young prostitute in Thailand was translated to English. Feedback from writer Fang Bei Fang 方北方 on her short novels. Travel notes she wrote that was compiled into her forth book. Her works in her fifth book, talk about one of the works which was inspired by her son drawing. How she wrote children’s literature儿童文学, won book prize. How she published her works in Hong Kong.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 7
Metadata
- 29 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:57:43
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Comments from local and Hong Kong writers on her children’s literature. How her novel ‘She is from the east’ was published by Teo Chew Poit Ip Huay Kuan潮州八邑会馆. Content of the book. Translated the book from Chinese to English in 1991 to raise fund for Raffles Institution (RI) scholarship fund. How she guided her students to do the translation. Printing cost was sponsored by Lee Foundation. How she taught translation in Higher Chinese classes in RI. Students’ feedback on the challenges in translating literary works. Published book on her poetry prose 散文诗with photography, sponsored by Lee Foundation and National Arts Council. Characteristics of her writings. Felt that writing was a way to release herself. People who encouraged her to write. How her three children felt about her influenced on them. How she joined Singapore Association of Writers新加坡作家协会.
Joined Tropical Literature and Arts Club热带文学与艺术俱乐部 in 2003, activities that she helped in the Club. Started bilingual column and encouraged more modern poetry in Xin Feng 《新风》 (poetry magazine) when she joined Xin Feng Poetry Association新风诗协会. Others literary organization that she joined. How she was engaged to be one of the editors of Collections of Modern Chinese Literature of Singapore (Poetry) 《新加坡当代华文文学作品选（诗歌）》. Read the poems three times, then she selected more than one hundreds poems from more than four hundreds. Her involvement in Yan Huang Wen Hua《炎黄文化》 (journal on Chinese customs and culture).
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 7
Metadata
- 6 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:57:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Talked about publishing two books from her Sin Chew Jit Poh’s column <唐芬小品>. Comments she received from Hong Kong writer and China writer. Why she published Chun Quan 《春泉》. Talked about her collection of poems in ‘Si Shui Si Shui’ 《似水，是水》, comments from Hong Kong writers. Felt happy to receive comments on her improvement. Recalled words from writer Zhou Can 周粲 in her first collection of poems that made her strived to have improvement in her writings. Her love poems on her six romances which were published into a collection in 《心灵的守候：情诗九十九》. Collections of six novels on her romances were published into 《我俩的晴空》, how the novels reflected her values. Future plan in writing. Started teaching in 1964. With Dunearn Secondary School for sixteen years. How she handled mischievous students. Her feeling for Dunearn Secondary School. Process of being transferred to Crescent Girls’ School to be the Vice Principal. Duties as a Vice Principal.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 7
Metadata
- 6 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:55:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Talked about the Chinese name of Crescent Girls’ School. Transfer to Ministry of Education (MOE), edited its students periodicals Cheng Zhang 《成长》, in-charged of four columns of the English and Chinese versions. Recalled interviewing Lee Seng Gee about his father Lee Kong Chian. Transferred to Curriculum Planning & Development Division, MOE, compiled Civic and Moral Education textbooks for primary school. Enjoyed working with flexi-hours, talk about restriction in words used imposed by MOE. Transferred to Bukit Merah Secondary School to be Vice Principal. Compared her duties as Vice Principal in Crescent Girls’ and Bukit Merah Secondary School. In-charged of Dance group in Bukit Merah Secondary School. Wanted to teach, applied for transfer.
How she managed to get Principal of Raffles Institution (RI) to accept her as a teacher. Taught Higher Chinese and Confucianism in Gifted Education Programme in RI. Setting up Chinese Cultural Society in RI. Their publication《鹰的天空》. Talked about the RI’s Chinese Orchestra that she in-charged. How the Orchestra gained a chance to perform in Beijing.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 7
Metadata
- 14 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:50:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Continue to talk about how Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra got the chance to perform in Beijing, China. Sixty Orchestra members were selected for the trip, sponsored by Lee Foundation. Interviewee duties as teacher-in-charge, how she mentally prepared the student before departure. How she was assigned to be the Advisor of Jin Fan Chinese Orchestra of Beijing Hai Dian District北京海淀区. How she reported this assignment when she came back to Singapore.
How she was involved in International Who’s Who of Intellectuals (IBC) and Five Hundred Leaders of Influence (ABI). Recall helping in citizenship application in 1960s. Assigned as Member of Feed Back Unit of Ministry of Community Development & Sports (MCDS), Singapore. Talked about her hobbies. Joined Lee Howe Choral Society 李豪合唱团. Talked about practicing ballet and Chinese dance. Other hobbies such as Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting. Life after retirement.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
