Tan Khoen Swie (Chinese: 陳坤瑞; pinyin: Chén Kūnruì; 1883/1894–1953) was a Chinese Indonesian publisher who, through the Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company, published numerous books in Javanese and Malay.
Tan Khoen Swie
Tan in c. 1935
Born
1883 or 1894
Wonogiri, Residency of Surakarta, Dutch East Indies
Born in Wonogiri, Tan took an early interest in Javanese culture, studying under Mas Ngabehi Mangoenwidjaja of Wonigiri and at the Sunanate of Surakarta. After spending time at a Chinese publishing house in Surakarta, he moved to Kediri and established his own company, publishing at least 279 works, written by a variety of authors and on a wide range of subjects, before his death. Though his son continued the Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company, it closed soon afterwards.
Tan was born in Wonogiri, then part of the Residency of Surakarta. Sources disagree as to the year of his birth. The newspaper Kompas and the writers Sam Setyautama and Suma Mihardja give 1883,[1][2] while the sinologist Leo Suryadinata gives 1894.[3] As a child, Tan was interested in Javanese culture, and he would often visit the palace in Surakarta. He also studied locally, under Mas Ngabehi Mangoenwidjaja.[3]
While still in his youth, Tan moved to Surakarta and began working at the Sie Dhien publishing house.[3] He would later marry Lie Gien Nio; the couple had three children.[1] Tan maintained a personal appearance which was commonly remarked upon. Suryadinata likens Tan's long hair and moustache to those of a "modern day hippie",[3] while Ardus M. Sawega of Kompas suggests that this hairstyle was intended as a form of resistance against the Dutch colonial government.[1]
Publishing
Tan later moved to Kediri, in East Java, and established his own company, the Boekhandel Tan Khoen Swie (Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company).[2] Through his company, Tan published works by a variety of writers, including Ranggawarsita, Mangkunegara IV, Ki Padmosusastro, and Yosodipuro. Authors would often come to Kediri from their hometowns—some from as far away as Cilacap—to meet their publisher. Tan would also publish books under his own name, though in a 2002 interview his great-grandson suggested that he did not write these works, but compiled text from a variety of anonymous sources.[1]
Every year Tan would release a catalogue of his recent publications;[3] Setyautama and Mihardja write that at least 279 books were released through the company. Tan's publications covered a wide variety of subject matter, including wayang, law, theology, philosophy, and agriculture. The works, which were generally not thick, were written in either Javanese or Malay.[1][3]
Tan's publications, which were outside of the colonial-government run Balai Pustaka network, introduced the works of authors to wider audiences than possible in the traditional method of hand-copying manuscripts. Though printed publications in Javanese had been around since the mid-19th century, such works had remained relatively uncommon in Java, and the Javanese language was still undergoing the transition from oral literature to written literature.[1]
Selected publications
Serat Lambang Praja; Mangoenwidjaja
Serat Pramanasidi; Mangoenwidjaja
Serat Wirid Hidayat Jati; Mangoenwidjaja
Serat Jitaspara; Pujaharja
Serat Swaraningasepi; Partowirya and Sumahatmaka
Ngelmi Yatnamaya; Tanaya
Babad Tuban; anonymous
Later life and death
Aside from publishing, Tan was active in the vulcanization of Dunlop-brand tyres and owned the Soerabaia mini-market.[1] Among the Chinese community of Kediri, he was involved with the Tiong Hoa Hwe Koan and Hoa Chiao Tsing Nien Hui, and served as a teacher at the Hoe Lie Hiap Hwee school for girls.[2] Tan was also known as a mystic, constructing a cave in his yard for meditation.[3]
Tan died in 1953; though his son Michael Tanzil (Tan Bian Liong) continued the publishing company, it folded soon after. Tan's family continued to live in the house in Kediri, located at 165 Dhoho street, into the 2000s.[1]
Legacy
Sawega wrote that Tan's name remained inexorably linked with the popular literature of early 20th century Indonesia. However, owing to a lack of documentation of his publications, in 2002 the Kediri city government organized a team to research Tan's oeuvre and his life. A spokesman for the team stated that they intended to make Tan's former residence into a tourist attraction.[1]
Sawega, Ardus M (6 April 2002). [The Cultural Role of Tan Khoen Swie]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 9 September 2005.
Setyautama, Sam; Mihardja, Suma (2008). Tokoh-tokoh Etnis Tionghoa di Indonesia [Ethnic Chinese Figures in Indonesia] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Gramedia. ISBN978-979-9101-25-9.
Suryadinata, Leo (1995). Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN978-981-3055-03-2.
External links
Media related to Tan Khoen Swie at Wikimedia Commons
January 08, 2023
khoen, swie, chinese, 陳坤瑞, pinyin, chén, kūnruì, 1883, 1894, 1953, chinese, indonesian, publisher, through, publishing, company, published, numerous, books, javanese, malay, 1935born1883, 1894wonogiri, residency, surakarta, dutch, east, indiesdied1953kediri, e. Tan Khoen Swie Chinese 陳坤瑞 pinyin Chen Kunrui 1883 1894 1953 was a Chinese Indonesian publisher who through the Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company published numerous books in Javanese and Malay Tan Khoen SwieTan in c 1935Born1883 or 1894Wonogiri Residency of Surakarta Dutch East IndiesDied1953Kediri East Java IndonesiaOccupationPublisherSignatureIn this Chinese name the family name is Tan Born in Wonogiri Tan took an early interest in Javanese culture studying under Mas Ngabehi Mangoenwidjaja of Wonigiri and at the Sunanate of Surakarta After spending time at a Chinese publishing house in Surakarta he moved to Kediri and established his own company publishing at least 279 works written by a variety of authors and on a wide range of subjects before his death Though his son continued the Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company it closed soon afterwards Contents 1 Early life 2 Publishing 3 Later life and death 4 Legacy 5 References 6 Works cited 7 External linksEarly life EditTan was born in Wonogiri then part of the Residency of Surakarta Sources disagree as to the year of his birth The newspaper Kompas and the writers Sam Setyautama and Suma Mihardja give 1883 1 2 while the sinologist Leo Suryadinata gives 1894 3 As a child Tan was interested in Javanese culture and he would often visit the palace in Surakarta He also studied locally under Mas Ngabehi Mangoenwidjaja 3 While still in his youth Tan moved to Surakarta and began working at the Sie Dhien publishing house 3 He would later marry Lie Gien Nio the couple had three children 1 Tan maintained a personal appearance which was commonly remarked upon Suryadinata likens Tan s long hair and moustache to those of a modern day hippie 3 while Ardus M Sawega of Kompas suggests that this hairstyle was intended as a form of resistance against the Dutch colonial government 1 Publishing EditTan later moved to Kediri in East Java and established his own company the Boekhandel Tan Khoen Swie Tan Khoen Swie Publishing Company 2 Through his company Tan published works by a variety of writers including Ranggawarsita Mangkunegara IV Ki Padmosusastro and Yosodipuro Authors would often come to Kediri from their hometowns some from as far away as Cilacap to meet their publisher Tan would also publish books under his own name though in a 2002 interview his great grandson suggested that he did not write these works but compiled text from a variety of anonymous sources 1 Every year Tan would release a catalogue of his recent publications 3 Setyautama and Mihardja write that at least 279 books were released through the company Tan s publications covered a wide variety of subject matter including wayang law theology philosophy and agriculture The works which were generally not thick were written in either Javanese or Malay 1 3 Tan s publications which were outside of the colonial government run Balai Pustaka network introduced the works of authors to wider audiences than possible in the traditional method of hand copying manuscripts Though printed publications in Javanese had been around since the mid 19th century such works had remained relatively uncommon in Java and the Javanese language was still undergoing the transition from oral literature to written literature 1 Selected publications Serat Lambang Praja Mangoenwidjaja Serat Pramanasidi Mangoenwidjaja Serat Wirid Hidayat Jati Mangoenwidjaja Serat Jitaspara Pujaharja Serat Swaraningasepi Partowirya and Sumahatmaka Ngelmi Yatnamaya Tanaya Babad Tuban anonymousLater life and death EditAside from publishing Tan was active in the vulcanization of Dunlop brand tyres and owned the Soerabaia mini market 1 Among the Chinese community of Kediri he was involved with the Tiong Hoa Hwe Koan and Hoa Chiao Tsing Nien Hui and served as a teacher at the Hoe Lie Hiap Hwee school for girls 2 Tan was also known as a mystic constructing a cave in his yard for meditation 3 Tan died in 1953 though his son Michael Tanzil Tan Bian Liong continued the publishing company it folded soon after Tan s family continued to live in the house in Kediri located at 165 Dhoho street into the 2000s 1 Legacy EditSawega wrote that Tan s name remained inexorably linked with the popular literature of early 20th century Indonesia However owing to a lack of documentation of his publications in 2002 the Kediri city government organized a team to research Tan s oeuvre and his life A spokesman for the team stated that they intended to make Tan s former residence into a tourist attraction 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Sawega 2002 a b c Setyautama amp Mihardja 2008 p 363 a b c d e f g Suryadinata 1995 p 172 Works cited EditSawega Ardus M 6 April 2002 Peran Kebudayaan Tan Khoen Swie The Cultural Role of Tan Khoen Swie Kompas in Indonesian Archived from the original on 9 September 2005 Setyautama Sam Mihardja Suma 2008 Tokoh tokoh Etnis Tionghoa di Indonesia Ethnic Chinese Figures in Indonesia in Indonesian Jakarta Gramedia ISBN 978 979 9101 25 9 Suryadinata Leo 1995 Prominent Indonesian Chinese Biographical Sketches Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ISBN 978 981 3055 03 2 External links Edit Media related to Tan Khoen Swie at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tan Khoen Swie amp oldid 1024318194, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
