By Tan It Koon
Let me share a Chinese ink and colour painting entitled “Autumn in Nikko, Japan” that I created after one of my trips to Japan. The painting is a glorious autumn scene of one of the many famous shrines and its vast surrounding garden in Nikko City. A temple/shrine, traditional toro stone lantern, tall trees in golden-yellow hue, orangy red maple trees, and some evergreen trees in the spacious grounds.
The name Nikkō comes from a Japanese word that means “daylight” or “sunshine.” Nikko is a small city in Tochigi Prefecture located in a mountainous area north of Tokyo. The famous Toshogu Shrine was built in 1617 as a grand monument for the founding ruler of the Tokugawa Shogunate or Edo period. As early as the 4th century, shrines may have existed in Nikko.
In 1999, shrines and temples encompassing 103 buildings and their grounds in Nikko were designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Five have been selected as National Treasures of Japan, and three were designated as important cultural properties.
Dr. Tan It Koon 陈一军 博 士
Prior to retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry of SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He served on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and the WHO Expert Panel on Healthcare Laboratories. He received the Inaugural Award for Distinguished Contributions to Clinical Biochemistry of the Asian & Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, for which he was the Founding President.
On the artistic side, Dr Tan was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman of its Cultural Committee, looking after six music and dance affiliated groups. He was also Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of Spore Cultural Foundation, Member of the Ministry of Culture Committee for the “Music For Everyone” series of concerts, and Member of the Singapore Dance Theatre Board of Management. He was also President, Forum of Fine Arts and President, Southeast Asian Association of Art. Dr Tan has performed in solo, duet, two-pianos, and an orchestra in public concerts and radio/TV recording programmes.
Dr Tan received the National Day Awards, PBM and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in public administration respectively.
