Singapore River (Central)

Singapore River (Central) - Carp Jumping over Dragon Gate

Singapore River is the river of life and of history.

It is the starting point of Singapore's prosperity and the breeding ground for her industrial and commercial business. Between 1819 and the 1970s, entreport trade was the main pillar if Signapore's economy and the Singapore River was the heart of business activities - warehouses lined up on both sides of the riverbank served as the control centre.

Today, the boats and sampans are not longer seen. Singapore River has become a quiet and peaceful place. The Singapore government has converted it into a tourist and leisure hub. We can say life is like a game of chess where every move is completely new.

A live Carp

I once accompanied my late father to Boat Quay and caichuantou to view the feng shui of Singapore River from the berth. We spotter plenty of white pebbles that resembles fish row, while boats bobbing on the river surface looked like fish scales.

Now, the fish scales have disappeared but the dragon gate reminds. The Fullerton Building, Victoria Theatre and the old Parliament House represent the dragon gate.

Presently, surrounding the dragon gate are skyscrapers, each taller than the next, representing obstacles to the carp in its attempts to jump over the dragon gate.

From a feng shui viewpoint, Singapore River has the landform of a fertile female carp capable of breeding more fishes. It also has a great life force. Its lull period is thus temporary and it will son revert to its vivacious, vibrant self.

Time and tide wait for no man. Since we cannot turn back the clock, we have to adapt to the times. Let us take a leaf from the Singapore River, which, despite having enjoyed more than a century of glamour, has reinvented itself to meet the challenges of the new era.

Singapore River recently underwent a series of changes and transformations, resulting in a formation where several small carps swim alongside a big carp towards the river mouth. A bird's eye view readily reveals this interesting pattern. The riverbanks have developed into night spots flanked by a quaint mix of European-style buildings and those conserved with a touch of colonial Singapore. Locals and foreign visitors throng the numerous pubs, eateries and stalls there. The Singapore River is like a window that displays Singapore's unique image. After 2004, this river of life will once again come alive.

The Singapore River belongs to the carp jumping over dragon gate formation with the gate situated at the river mouth where two bridges were previously sited. In 1972, the predecessor of the Singapore Tourism Board placed a sculpture of the Merlion by the famous sculptor Lim Nang Send, at the mouth of the dragon gate as a symbol for Singapore's tourism. Reverend hong Choon conducted the settlement ceremony. In end 1997, the position of the Merlion was lowered after the Esplanade Bridge was completed. Some people saw this as the nation's feng shui being suppressed and argued for changes.

Personally, I do not agree with them. Singapore River's prosperous qi had changed and the Merlion of the Singapore River and Kallang River were merged, with the water slowing into the sea near Marina South.

After more than 20 years, the Merlion has gained worldwide recognition. It is a pity the big new bridge has undermined its glamour. Perhaps the Merlion should be moved to the river mouth in front of the Grand Fullerton Hotel, in the central business district facing the Esplanade. A better idea is to move the Merlion to Marina South facing the spot where the Singapore River and Kallang River flow into the sea, so that it can once again protect Singapore.