曾孙女张美春心目中的张永福
文·莫美颜 图·受访者提供
不记得从哪一年开始，张永福(1871~1957)的曾孙女张美春(65岁)便对自己的家族历史有着浓厚的兴趣。从青春少女到步入乐龄，张美春不曾中断过对家族历史的搜寻。她的理由很简单：那是自己的根。
认识家族历史从晚晴园开始
20世纪初的中国处在深刻变革和剧烈动荡之中，孙中山所发起的革命运动不但席卷了整个神州大地，还获得一群热血华侨的热烈响应，其中张永福和陈楚楠是本地辛亥革命人物中两个非常重要的名字。他们是最早支持孙中山搞革命的本地人，分别在孙中山成立的中国同盟会新加坡分会担任过会长和副会长的职务。张永福还把与五弟合买供母亲陈宝娘颐养天年的别墅晚晴园借出来供同盟会使用。
70年代初，张美春初访晚晴园。当时经朋友介绍，张美春正与陈天国交往(两人现为夫妻关系)。那时就读于新加坡工艺学院的陈天国，有一名好友的父亲是晚晴园的看守员，他因此经常到晚晴园会友。一次他也带张美春去，陈天国与一群友人在那里搓麻将，张美春觉得无聊便随处走走看看。
当时的晚晴园已是一座对外开放的纪念馆，馆内设有图书馆和展览室，展示孙中山的遗物及相关的历史图片和日本占领时期死难人民的遗物。走着看着，咦，怎么高祖父张礼、曾祖父张永福等祖先的名字也出现在展览之列？张美春这才恍然大悟，原来那里就是晚晴园。于1994年被列为国家古迹的晚晴园，在辛亥革命成功后便人去楼空，还一度卖给一名印度商人，几番转折后李光前等人于1937年将之买回，并交由中华总商会管理，现为孙中山南洋纪念馆。
张美春说，历史是求学时代她最爱读的科目之一。由于她念的是英校，又受英国殖民地时代历史观念的影响，学校教授的都是西方历史，她对东亚史特别是中国史一无所知。而每当她想向父亲多了解自己的家族历史时，总是受到父亲的阻挠，不许她多问。晚晴园的“发现”对张美春来说简直是如获至宝。她捉住这条重要线索不放，与晚晴园保持联系，不断挖掘。她还因此结识了孙中山南洋纪念馆已故前馆长冯仲汉，从他那里得知更多有关曾祖父张永福的生平事迹。
了解家族历史就可以寻找自己的根，就知道自己是谁。除搜寻家族历史，张美春还带姑婆张茂迪到晚晴园参观。张茂迪是张永福与第二任妻子陈淑字所生，她后来嫁到槟城，还积极投身当地的社会福利工作，担任过槟城女子青年会会长和家庭计划协会会长，晚年在澳大利亚悉尼一个老人退休村生活。2011年辛亥革命100周年时她虽已高龄97，还接受本地媒体的访问。她几年前已过世。
据知，张茂迪很重视家族历史，曾在1995年11月整理了一份族谱，由于张永福有多名妻妾，这份族谱也许并不完整，却是一份了解这一家族的宝贵资料。张茂迪还带头组织家族聚会。每当家族聚会时，张茂迪就会从槟城到新加坡来在一名小辈家里小住，这名小辈家靠近贵都大酒店，因此那里一度成了张家后人聚会的场所。张永福后人众多，且分居世界各地。张美春说，20多年过去了，时至今日，住在本地的家族成员每三四个月都会聚会一次，以保持联系。2011年辛亥革命100周年时，一部分素未谋面的张家后人还首次在新加坡聚首认亲戚。
如今张美春已与晚晴园结下不解之缘。她和丈夫陈天国(69岁)都是晚晴园的常客，经常出席晚晴园主办的活动，有时还偕同儿孙同往。孙中山领导辛亥革命改变了中国的命运，是民主革命的先行者。张美春说：“我为自己有一个和孙中山关系密切的曾祖父感到骄傲。”张美春也很乐意跟媒体配合，提供他们有关张家的资料，比如1995年新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会要编篡《新华历史人物列传》征求资料时，她就主动与主编柯木林联络。不久前她还接受中国中央电视台的采访谈张永福。张永福，祖籍广东省饶平县，在新加坡土生土长，早年投资树胶业，创立胶鞋制造厂，生产网球鞋。据一名历史工作者考证，张永福经营的平民鞋厂总发行所地址是桥北路119号，现为柏龄大厦Bata鞋店所在。当时张永福的鞋子生意相当有规模，除设总发行所还分别在禧街19号和桥北路14号设发行所。20世纪初张永福与陈嘉庚一样垄断了新加坡的胶鞋制造业，张永福因此奠定了从事革命事业的经济基础。
1906年4月6日，孙中山在晚晴园创立中国同盟会新加坡分会，张永福出任副会长。同盟会于同年6月改组，张永福当选为会长，追随孙中山搞革命。20年代中期张永福回潮州祖乡，并担任中央银行汕头分行行长、汕头市市长等要职。张永福回新后，深居简出，1957年在香港去世。
张永福不许女儿参加政治活动
张美春说：“从所收集到的资料来看，张永福对中国的贡献很大。他大可不必这样做的，但为了中国的前途他做出了不少的牺牲。”
的确，张永福为辛亥革命注入满腔热血，甚至放弃个人的利益，可是晚年却因加入昔日革命伙伴汪精卫的中央政府而被贴上汉奸的标签。这也是张美春的长辈们不愿提起的一段伤心事。
张美春记得，父亲生前不喜欢家人在他面前提起张永福，从姑婆张茂迪的回忆录中她发现张永福也不希望其后人参与政治活动。
张茂迪在回忆录中说，父亲冒着得罪英国殖民地政府，失去人身自由和自己的生意可能受影响的风险支持孙中山，为的是希望看到一个民主中国的诞生。相信张茂迪曾因父亲被指为汉奸而困扰并努力寻求答案。在回忆中她说，当时孙中山南洋纪念馆的馆长冯仲汉曾向她保证张永福不是汉奸。冯仲汉认为，张永福的想法是以和平的方式解决问题，他不希望更多的流血事件发生，更不希望中国沦为外国人的殖民统治中。在回忆录中张茂迪也表示能理解父亲不要她参与任何政治活动的苦衷。
张永福去世时，张美春不过五岁。问她曾祖父曾被指为汉奸的看法，她回答：“曾祖父做任何事情都有自己一套做法和想法。”
在张美春眼里张永福是个了不起的长辈。他非常支持女学，并付诸行动，于1917年与陈楚楠、庄希泉、林瑞轩、黄肖岩等人发起创办公立南洋女学校就是一个明证。该校就是新加坡南洋女子中学的前身。1921年张永福还出任该校总理。
除了兴办学校张永福也很重视自己女儿的教育。他让长女张舜琴到英国伦敦法律协会修读法律。张舜琴没辜负他，成为新加坡第一位女律师。即使后来受到1929年到1933年间世界经济大萧条，胶价暴跌的冲击，张永福经济状况已大不如前，他仍把另一名女儿张茂迪送到香港深造。
张美春说，曾祖父思想前卫，且不重男轻女。张美春结婚时张家回拒男方送来的聘礼。她和陈天国育有一男一女，女儿继承了家族的遗传基因当上律师，她出嫁时他们也没接收女儿夫家送的礼金。后来张美春在张茂迪的回忆录中发现，张永福嫁女儿时有不收聘金的习惯。张美春认为，曾祖父这么做表示他是嫁女儿不是卖女儿。“没想我们的见解跟曾祖父如此一致，这就是血脉相承，心灵相通吧？”
张永福对宗教一样抱持开明态度。他不信鬼神，也不排斥基督教，还不顾母亲陈宝娘的极力反对，把当女儿般养育的侄女张漱珠许配给信奉基督教的医生卢本立。张漱珠是50年代本地妇女界社会名人，担任过新加坡女子青年会会长，曾被赐封为太平绅士。
开通的宗教观也体现在张美春和陈天国的婚姻上。张美春是佛教徒，陈天国是基督教徒，但不同宗教信仰并没动摇他们要共结连理枝，白头偕老的初心。如今两人的儿女已成家立业，还为他们添了一对男女孙，家庭生活幸福美满。
以第一代本地人的后裔为荣
张永福的父亲张礼1833年出生于新加坡，是第一代土生土长的新加坡人，母亲陈宝娘是印尼门托克(Mun[1]tok，又名文岛)甲必丹之女。张永福也是土生土长的新加坡人。但据张美春了解，曾祖父非常注重保留华人传统文化，家人之间都必须以家乡的潮州话沟通。从照片中张美春发现，曾祖父爱穿中式长袍，这是他要保留中华文化的另一方式。另有报道，张永福甚至为受英文教育，不懂华文的孙媳妇林佩琼聘请补习教师，教她中文。
张美春对自己是第一代土生土长新加坡人的后裔感到非常自豪。她说，从高祖母陈宝娘的遗照来看，身穿传统娘惹装的高祖母显然具有本土族裔血统，所以他们家是土生华人。张家后人多受英文教育，生活西化，比如张美春跟西方的小孩一样小时候就有生日蛋糕庆生，在许多小女孩只有简单的家家酒玩具或塑胶洋娃娃的年代，她却能拥有一个英国制造的，约一英尺高的泰迪熊。
在张美春家幼辈必须下跪向长辈拜年
现在回忆起来张美春脸上仍难掩幸福的笑靥。同时张家后人也跟土生华人一样沿袭着华人的一些非常传统的习俗。比如每逢农历新年，张美春家的后辈都得下跪向长辈拜年。张美春和夫婿陈天国跟母亲拜年时也如此，孩子和孙子跟他们拜年也一样。这与许多本地华人站着以橘子向长辈拜年很不一样。
现在过年到处都可以买到各式各样的新年糕饼，非常方便，可是张美春家仍沿袭传统年年自制土生华人糕饼，如黄梨挞、小蛋糕、绿豆饼、鸡蛋卷还有牛油蛋糕等。连张美春的女儿也不例外，她工作忙碌，为了继承传统，新年前往往制作糕饼到午夜。此外，出席盛大节庆或典礼时，张美春仍爱穿纱笼可峇雅和珠绣鞋，她还珍藏着一套娘惹前襟银饰。这都是张家后人对土生华人习俗的一份坚持。
(作者为本刊特约记者)
Impressions of Teo Eng Hock
Reminiscences of Rita Teo
Rita Teo, great-grand daughter of Teo Eng Hock (1871~ 1957) could not remember the exact year in which she developed a deep interest in her family’s history. She have been ceaselessly researching since very young till now, aged 65 years. Her reason is simple – this is for her roots.
Early in the 20th Century, China was in the midst of a great turmoil. Dr Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary movement had not only embroiled all of China and also stirred the blood of overseas Chinese patriots. Among these, the names of Teo Eng Hock and Tan Chor Lam were prominent for their support of the XinHai Revolution. They were the earliest advocates from Singapore to support Sun Yat Sen by forming the Tong Meng Hui. Teo, who had bought Wan Qing Yuan villa for his mother Tan Poh Neo’s retirement then allowed the Tong Meng Hui to use the villa.
In the 1970s Rita Teo first visited Wan Qing Yuan Villa with her friend Tan Thian Kok, who used to frequent the Villa as a friend’s father was the watchman (they are now a married couple). Tan frequently brought Rita to Wan Qing Yuan which was then a memorial building with a library and historical artefacts displayed within. Her interest aroused when she saw the names of her forebears Teo Lee and Teo Eng Hock. Why are their names so prominent here? She made the amazing discovery of their connection with Wan Qing Yuan Villa. After the XinHai Revolution, the Villa became neglected and was sold to various owners until in 1937, Lee Kong Chian together with several friends bought the Villa and donated it to the Cinese Chamber of Commerce. By 1994 the Villa was gazetted as a national monument and named as SUN YAT
SEN NANYANG MEMORIAL HALL.
Rita Teo loved history since her school days, but had very little knowledge of Chinese history due to her English schooling background. When she asked her father about the family’s history she was always invariably denied any answers. But ever since her “discovery” in Wan Qing Yuan she was determined to follow this precious thread of connection with her family. This led her to link up with the Villa’s Supervisor, the late Foong Choon Hon who opened up many details of the lives of Teo Lee and Teo Eng Hock.
The knowledge of one’s family history is through the search for one’s roots then to understand oneself. Rita Teo sought out her grand aunt Teo Moh Tet (Teo Eng Hock’s daughter from his second wife) who had settled down in Penang after her marriage, and active in social and welfare
work. In 2011 on the centenary of the 1911 XinHai Revolution, she was interviewed by the local media. She passed away a few years ago. Teo Moh Tet loved tracing her family history, and in November 1995 completed a copy of the family’s genealogical records. As Teo Eng Hock had several concubines, this record is still not completed. From then on, she initiated a gathering of clans. Rita Teo reported that for 20 over years, family members from all over the world gathered in Singapore, and always meeting at the Equatorial Hotel. In 2011 during the centenary celebrations of XinHai Revolution in Singapore many Teo family descendants even just met for the first time.
Together with her husband Tan Thian Kok, Rita actively participates in most Wan Qing Yuan activities. She is proud of her great grandfather’s close association with Dr Sun Yat Sen and the 1911 Revolution which reshaped China. In 1995, when the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations published the “Famous historical figures of Singapore Chinese”, she contributed valuable information to the editor Mr Kua Bak Lim.
Teo Eng Hock’s business success was based on the Rubber industry and the manufacture of rubber shoes. It was with this wealth that he was able to contribute financially to Dr Sun’s revolution. When the Tong Meng Hui was formed on 6th April 1906, he was the Vice Chairman, and later voted as Chairman when the society was launched. In the 1920s, he took on several public appointments in Swatow, China. He returned briefly to Singapore but lived a very secluded life. He passed away in 1957 in Hong Kong.
His daughter Moh Tet, stated that Teo Eng Hock’s contribution to China was so great, especially when he did not have to make those sacrifices for China’s future. In so doing, her father had incurred the wrath of the British colonial Government, which disliked Sun Yat Sen’s revolution intensely and even labelled Teo Eng Hock as “subversive”. But Foong Choon Hon defended him and assured Moh Tet, that her father had never been disloyal to Singapore. His intentions were to seek for a peaceful resolution in order to save lives. He also wanted China to be free from foreign domination. Moh Tet recalled that later events in China during the invasion by Japan made Teo Eng Hock very disillusioned. Rita recollected that her own father did not allow any discussion of Teo Eng Hock and forbade his children from participation in political activities.
Today, Rita Teo remains happily married. She is a Buddhist and her husband is Christian. Such religious harmony is a value much treasured by Teo Eng Hock.
Traslated by Kwan Yue Keng
