Loh Kah Seng – Shopkeepers of Chinatown Part 2: People’s History | Chronicles of Old Singapore

<p>Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. My new book, co-authored with Stephen Dobbs, recounts the little-known history of shopkeepers. As a varied group of small capitalists, they made Old Chinatown such a fabulously memorable place. Over the last 60 years, they struggled to cope as Chinatown was drastically redeveloped. I discuss two businesses that are trying to survive today – the effigy carver Say Tian Hng and small Chinese bookstores.</p><p><br></p><p>Part 1 | https://youtu.be/1gowQfMb44E </p><p>Part 2 | https://youtu.be/zjajjG3agts </p><p>Part 3 | https://youtu.be/8OAnQpxBmCc </p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>02:02 Origins of the Book</p><p>04:35 People’s History of Shopkeepers</p><p>06:46 Ji Ji Noodles</p><p>08:30 The Shopkeepers’ Town</p><p>12:24 The Research</p><p>14:36 Letter-Writer</p><p>17:06 UN Reports &amp; Other Sources</p><p>21:03 Speaking to Shopkeepers</p><p>26:19 Eng Tiang Huat</p><p>27:09 Thye Shan Medical Hall</p><p>27:51 Pearl’s Optical</p><p>28:36 Signcraft, Brothel, Goldsmith</p><p>30:42 Say Tian Hng</p><p>34:21 Chinese Bookstores</p><p>38:50 Conclusion</p><p><br></p><p>Shopkeepers of Chinatown: A Business World in Motion, 1819-2025</p><p>Kinokuniya</p><p>https://kinokuniya.com.sg/products/9786297575698 </p><p>Shopee SG</p><p>https://shopee.sg/Shopkeepers-of-Chinatown-Loh-Kah-Seng-Stephen-Dobbs-(SIRD)-i.279887392.52914597553 </p><p>City Book Room</p><p>https://citybookroom.com/products/pre-order-shopkeepers-of-chinatown-loh-kah-seng-stephen-dobbs </p><p>SIRD (Publisher)</p><p>https://www.gerakbudaya.com/product/shopkeepers-of-chinatown</p><p>NLB</p><p>https://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/search/card?id=ccfd463e-d61b-53ef-9843-956e9a0d8652&amp;entityType=FormatGroup </p><p><br></p><p>Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city. </p><p>Do like the video and subscribe for future episodes. This will help the channel a lot.</p><p>Write to lkshis@gmail.com if you have any of these stories:</p><p>• Old places or kampongs.</p><p>• Communities – their way of life &amp; culture.</p><p>• Childhood &amp; schools.</p><p>• Work or business.</p><p>YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG </p><p>Spotify | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loh-ks </p><p>Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/61551786759344 </p><p>Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/ChroniclesofOldSingapore </p><p><br></p>