Eu Yan Sang, Singapore
Copyright © Timothy Tye.
Eu Yan Sang
Eu Yan Sang is a Chinese medicine shop in Singapore. It was founded by Eu Kong Pai alias Eu Kong in Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia in the 1870s. He noticed the harsh living condition of the tin-mining labourers, and used his knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine to help them. Eu Kong opened his first Chinese medicine shop in Gopeng in 1879, calling it "Yan Sang", which in Cantonese means "caring for mankind".
The business was taken over by Eu Kong's eldest son, Eu Tong Sen, born in Penang in 1877. Eu Tong Sen rose to become successful in the tin-mining industry. His prospecting for tin led him to Kampar, where he opened his second medicine shop. From tin mining, he also branched into rubber and properties. He also set up Lee Wah Bank, which eventually merged with United Overseas Bank. Eu Tong Sen was one of the richest man in Malaya and Singapore. Eu Tong Sen Street in Singapore is named after him.
Today the Eu Yan Sang medicine shops can be found not only in Malaysia and Singapore but also in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou.
