Lien Shih Sheng

Introduction

Lien Shih Sheng (连士升; 1907 – 1973) was born and raised in Fu’an County in Fujian Province, China. He moved to Singapore in 1949. In 1948, he became a special correspondent for Nanyang Siang Pau (南洋商报) and, over the course of 20 years, rose through the ranks until his retirement in 1971. With his strong foundation in Chinese classics, Lien became a prominent literary pioneer in Malaya during the 1950s and 1960s. He published over 20 books about his travels and letters, as well as collections of essays and biographies of prominent Indian personalities, such as Tagore, Gandhi and Nehru, and western heroes. He was best remembered for his compilation of letters to his children and friends in the eight-volume series, Letters from the Coast (海滨寄简). He also held positions in various organisations and committees, serving as: a committee member in the Nanyang University Founding Committee, a member of the Singapore University Council, the president of the South Seas Society (1964–1969), the vice-president of the China Society for several years, and a member of the Public Service Commission (1961–1966). In 1963, he was awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award. He passed away in July 1973 at the age of 66.

Selected books on Lien Shih Sheng

• 连士升著； 连侨思, 连亮思, 连文思主编. [Lien, S. S.; Lien, Q. S., Lien, L. S., and Lien, W. S. (Eds.).] (2009). 回首四十年 [Looking Back on 40 Years]. 新加坡: 南洋理工大学孔子学院. Call no.: RSING C810.092 LSS An autobiography written by Lien when he was 45, this publication comprises short articles featuring recollections of his life before settling in Singapore. This book was first published in 1952.

• 高凡. [Gao, F.] (2007). 连士升传: 文学述评 [Biography of Lien Shih Sheng: A review of his literary works]. 新加坡: 玲子传媒公司. Call no.: RSING C810.092 GF A study on the literary contributions of Lien Shih Sheng.

• 柯木林. (主编). [Ke, M. L. (Ed.).] (1995). 新华历史人物列传 [Who’s who in the Chinese community of Singapore]. 新加坡: 教育出版公司, p. 40. Call no.: RSING 959.570092 WHO-[HIS]. This book contains the biographies of 1,175 Chinese personalities in Singapore from 1819 to 1990. Each biography contains birth and death dates, dialect group, occupation and affiliated organisations of the Chinese personality. Lien Shih Sheng’s biography is also included.

Selected newspaper articles on Lien Shih Sheng

• Leong, W. K. (2007, September 14). Confucian influence of dad still felt today, The Straits Times, pp. 1-2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This article is about Lien Shih Sheng’s family members continuing their tradition of Sunday morning gatherings. It also highlighted events in commemoration of the centenary of Lien’s birth.

• 郑碧玉 [Zheng B. Y.]. (2001, November 26). 一位不应该被忘却的文坛名人 [A prominent literary pioneer who should not be forgotten]. 联合早报 [Lianhe Zaobao], p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This is a report on a seminar held in memory of Lien Shih Sheng.

• F. Hwang takes you down memory lane – Child of the Cloud. (1983, February 5). The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This article examines Lien’s pen-name Zi Yun (子云), which means “child of the cloud”. It also describes how Lien used to write at the Sea View Hotel promenade at Meyer Road.

• 前本报总编辑连士升逝世遗体明日安葬 [Former chief editor Lian Shih Sheng dies, funeral will take place tomorrow]. (1973, July 10). 南洋商报 [Nanyang Siang Pau], p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. A notice announcing the funeral of Lien Shih Sheng, which also provided information about his works and family members.

Selected oral history interviews on Lien Shih Sheng

• Lai, S. C. (Interviewer). (2007, March 11). Oral history interview with Luo Mei @ Mrs Lien Shih Sheng, Lien Lian Sze, Lien Qiao Si, Lien Wen Sze and Lien Siaou Sze. [Accession No. 003126, 8 reels]. Retrieved from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/. A collection of interviews with Lien Shih Sheng’s family members on their memories of him.

Selected works by Lien Shih Sheng

Correspondences:

连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1958). 海滨寄简 [Letters from the Coast] in 8 volumes. 新加坡: 南洋商报. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese C816 LSS

连士升 [Lien, S. S.]; [主编, 连侨思, 连亮思, 连文思] [Lien, Q. S., Lien, L. S., Lien, W. S. (Eds.)]. (2007). 长天集 [Eternal Sky]. 新加坡: 玲子传媒公司. Call no.: RSING Chinese C816.3 LSS

Biographies:

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1953). 西方英雄谱 [Biography of the Western Heroes]. 新加坡: 南洋商报社 Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 329.00922 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1959). 尼赫鲁传 [Biography of Nehru]. 新加坡: 南洋印刷社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 954.04 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1961). 泰戈尔传 [Biography of Tagore]. 新加坡: 南洋印刷社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 891.4414 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1968). 甘地传 [Biography of Gandhi]. 新加坡: 世界书局. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 954.03 GAN.L

Prose:

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1955). 南行集 [Travels in the South]. 新加坡: 南洋商报. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese C814.3 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1955). 给新青年 [To the New Youth]. 新加坡: 南洋商报. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 305.235 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1957). 闲人杂记 [A Reveller’s Musing]. 新加坡: 南洋商报. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese C814.3 LSS-[HYT]

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1960). 春树集 [Spring Tree Collection]. 新加坡: 青年书局. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese C814.3 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1961). 名山胜水 [Famous Mountains and Waters]. 新加坡: 青年书局. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese C814.3 LSS

Travelogues:

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1948). 祖国纪行 [A Trip to My Motherland]. 新加坡: 南洋报社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 951.08 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1950). 塞纳河两岸 [Banks of the Seine]. 新加坡: 南洋报社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 940 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1950). 地中海之滨 [Mediterranean Coast]. 新加坡: 南洋报社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 940 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1950). 大西洋一角 [Corner of the Atlantic Ocean]. 新加坡: 南洋报社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 940 LSS

• 连士升 [Lien, S. S.]. (1950). 印度洋舟中 [On a Boat in Indian Ocean]. 新加坡: 南洋报社. Call no.: RCLOS Chinese 910.41 LSS