Aw Boon Haw
Encyclopedia
Aw Boon Haw, OBE ' onMouseout='HidePop("6422")' href="/topics/Hong_Kong">Hong Kong
) was a Burmese Chinese
entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for introducing Tiger Balm
. He was the son of Hakka
herbalist
Aw Chu Kin
, with his ancestral home in Yongding County, Fujian Province, China.
in 1926, where he began the business of Tiger Red Balm with his brother, Aw Boon Par
. Aw also founded several newspapers, including Sin Chew Jit Poh (星洲日報) and Guang Ming Daily
(光明日報), which are both based in Malaysia today. Sing Tao Daily
(星島日報) dates back to 1938 and is currently based in Hong Kong. Aw moved to Hong Kong
during the Japanese occupation of Singapore
and managed the business from there, while his brother stayed in Singapore until he closed down the factory and went to Rangoon. Aw returned to Singapore after the end of World War II
and re-established his business.
While on a trip to Hong Kong from Boston
in 1954, Aw died at the age of 72 from a heart attack following a major operation. His legacy is found in the Haw Par Villa
s throughout Asia, with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Fujian Province.
member Sally Aw
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) was a Burmese Chinese
Burmese Chinese
The Burmese Chinese or Chinese Burmese are a group of overseas Chinese born or raised in Burma . Although the Chinese officially make up three percent of the population, the actual figure is believed to be much higher...
entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for introducing Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm is the trade name for a heat rub manufactured and distributed by Haw Par Healthcare in Singapore.- History :It was originally developed in the 1870s by a herbalist, Aw Chu Kin, in Rangoon, Burma, who asked his sons Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par on his deathbed to perfect the...
. He was the son of Hakka
Hakka people
The Hakka , sometimes Hakka Han, are Han Chinese who speak the Hakka language and have links to the provincial areas of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian in China....
herbalist
Chinese herbology
Chinese Herbology is the theory of Traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese medicine ....
Aw Chu Kin
Aw Chu Kin
Aw Chu Kin was a Burmese Chinese herbalist. He is best known as the original inventor of Tiger Balm.Aw Chu Kin's father was a Chinese herbology practitioner in Xiamen and an Hakka Chinese with ancestry in Yongding County . Being of a poor background, Aw Chu Kin first immigrated to Singapore where...
, with his ancestral home in Yongding County, Fujian Province, China.
Biography
Business
Aw migrated to SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1926, where he began the business of Tiger Red Balm with his brother, Aw Boon Par
Aw Boon Par
Aw Boon Par was a Burmese Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for introducing Tiger Balm.He was the son of Hakka herbalist Aw Chu Kin. His father left the business to Boon Par and after Aw Chu Kin's death in 1908, he called his elder brother Aw Boon Haw to run his father's...
. Aw also founded several newspapers, including Sin Chew Jit Poh (星洲日報) and Guang Ming Daily
Guang Ming
Guang Ming Daily was previously known as Sin Pin Daily , Sin Pin Daily was founded by the Aw brothers which have also started Sin Chew Daily...
(光明日報), which are both based in Malaysia today. Sing Tao Daily
Sing Tao Daily
The Sing Tao Daily is Hong Kong's second largest Chinese language newspaper. It is owned by Sing Tao News Corporation Limited, of which Charles Ho Tsu Kwok is the chairman. Its English language sister paper is The Standard...
(星島日報) dates back to 1938 and is currently based in Hong Kong. Aw moved to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
during the Japanese occupation of Singapore
Japanese Occupation of Singapore
The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
and managed the business from there, while his brother stayed in Singapore until he closed down the factory and went to Rangoon. Aw returned to Singapore after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and re-established his business.
While on a trip to Hong Kong from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1954, Aw died at the age of 72 from a heart attack following a major operation. His legacy is found in the Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is a Chinese mythological theme park in Singapore, located along Pasir Panjang Road.The park contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese folklore, legends, history and illustrations of various aspects of Confucianism...
s throughout Asia, with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Fujian Province.
Personal
Aw's adopted daughter is the Hong Kong businesswoman and former Chinese People's Political Consultative ConferenceChinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
member Sally Aw
Sally Aw
Sally Aw Sian, OBE. DStJ, JP is a Hong Kong businesswoman and adopted daughter of Chinese entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw.In 1931, Aw Boon Haw and the second of his four wives adopted the five-year-old daughter of a distant relative from Burma, changing the girl's name from She Moi to Sian...
.