Tanjung RhuBy Minfong Ho

Tanjung Rhu, Singapore

Tanjung Rhu

Tanjung Rhu

Tanjung Rhu

About the Author•A Chinese-American award winning writer

•Born in Myanmar 1951

•Has lived in Singapore and Thailand

•Currently resides in New York

•Studied Chinese History and Literature at Tunghai University, Taiwan

About the Author•Writes on the lives of people in South East Asia

•Writes stories for young adult readers and young children

• 1983, worked for National University of Singapore for 7 years

•Her works have been selected as teaching material of English Literature in lower secondary school

Synopsis• Simple yet profound story

• Relationship between Mr T.W. Li , a rich businessman and Ah Ma, his mother

• Mr Li has his office at Shenton Way and is modern in ways and ideas.

• Ah Ma is traditional with strong religious beliefs and practices ancestor worship

• The day after Ah Ma’s funeral, Mr Li recalls the day he told his mother about using binoculars or see-far glasses

Synopsis• He wants her to have better vision

• She hopes to see her husband’s shipyard in Tanjung Rhu

• She tells Mr Li she sees his childhood days when they enjoyed walks on Tanjung Rhu beach

• She then becomes sick and unable to talk much.

• She manages to tell him of a hidden key in the altar before she passes away

• He promises to fulfil her last wish but is unable to find the key

Mr T. W. LiSuccessful business man

Has a happy childhood in Tanjung Rhu

Close relationship with his mother but does not open up easily

Modern in his ways and ideas

Tolerant- does not interfere in his mother’s traditional ways

Meticulous- keeps track of the number of ships everyday

Mr T. W. Li

Filial – made sure the funeral of his mother is done in the right way

Strict and does not entertain disrespect for the young

Regrets not talking to Ah Ma and never listens when she talks

Ah Ma (Mr Li’s mother) Traditional with strong religious

beliefs

Values Chinese ancestors worship

Meticulous – keeps prayer paraphernalia under lock and key

Determined to do things her own way

Often lost in memories – yearns to see Tanjung Rhu

Old fashioned – doesn’t want surgery for her eye cataract

Proud of her son’s success

Ying (Mr Li’s daughter)

Loving – takes care of her grandmother in the hospital

Modern – speaks English to her parents and takes the traditional customs and rituals lightly

When young, loves helping her grandmother to pray

Persuasive – tries to persuade her grandmother to let her do the praying

Themes:

Traditional values vs modern ideas:- Ah Ma is steeped in traditional values while Mr Li

and Ying represent the modern society.

- Ah Ma has high regard for the traditional practices of the Chinese community while the new generation does not place much importance on tradition.

Past vs Present:

•Ah Ma represents the past while Mr Li symbolizes the present.

•Mr Li sees the ships at the harbor at present while Ah Ma ‘sees’ the port of Tanjung Rhu when they used to live there in the past

Regret:

•Mr Li feels deep regret for the way he treats Ah Ma after his mother falls ill and later passes away

•He never pays much attention to his mother’s stories about the past and realizes a little too late that most of his questions remained unanswered.

Generation Gap:

• The characters in 3 different generations – Ah Ma, Mr Li and Ying

• Each generation behaves differently and has their own beliefs and ideas, and they do not often agree with each other.

Moral Values:•Although we live in a modern world, we must not forget our traditional values

•We must learn to appreciate people while we can

•Money cannot buy everything

•Learn to respect and tolerate each other

Question:

In the story Tanjung Rhu, we are exposed to characters who hold on dearly to traditional values. Do you think that this is a wise thing to do? Why?