Please enjoy views of the Hulu (Calabash or Bottle Gourd) and 4 Chinese porcelain vases created in their image: (1) Jade Green vase decorated with elevated relief of leaf motifs, (2) Blue & White vase with Plum Flower motifs, (3) Sunny Yellow vase decorated with Plum Blossom motifs, (4) Attractive Maroon monochrome vase. Also included is a picture of green celadon vases of different shapes.
Hulu (Calabash, bottle gourd) is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be harvested young to be consumed as a vegetable or harvested mature to be dried and used as a utensil, container, or musical instrument. The fruit has a light green smooth skin white flesh when it is fresh. Traditionally, Koreans eat the fleshy portion of the gourd as a vegetable, and the outside is cut in half to make bowls. It is frequently used in southern Chinese cuisine in either stir-fry dishes or a soup. In Japan, it is commonly sold in the form of dried, marinated strips known as kanpyō and is used as an ingredient for making makizushi (rolled sushi). Both fresh and dried flesh is used in Korean cuisine.
To the Chinese, húlu (葫芦/葫蘆) is an ancient symbol for health. It was thought to have fabled healing properties due to doctors carrying medicine inside it in ancient times. The hulu was believed to absorb negative, earth-based qi(energy) that would otherwise affect health and is a traditional Chinese medicine cure. As ancient practitioners of traditional medicine used the Hulu to store and carry herbal medications, the hanging of a Hulu outside a building is a sign or indication that it is a place for treatment with traditional Chinese medicine.
Tan It Koon
Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.
