Our Merlion was designed by ang moh queen

Doesn’t something look familiar?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

let’s … focus on our so-called official mascot.

The Merlion.

Commissioned in 1964, it was designed by Alec Fraser Brunner who was a zoologist, as well as the curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium. The statue instead was sculpted by Lim Nang Seng, a prominent sculptor in those days. Origins of the half lion half fish symbolism have been loosely credited to the ‘singa’ of Singapura, as well as the (already proven to be grossly inaccurate) origins of our country as a fishing village. Somehow or rather, it’s left to be as vague as it can possibly be.

Which is why it was intriguing when I came across the coat of arms of the First East India Company, lo and behold, I’m suddenly staring at a pair of Merlions from the 17th century! It first appeared in the Grant of Arms to the East India Company Merchants, dated 4 February 1600. The same pair also appeared on the official seal of the HEIC in 1675, but now with its scary head facing us, staring into our souls. Unfortunately, its partner did not manage to survive the test of time.

This was something new to me, having only familiarized myself with the later day coat of arms of the EIC, no longer featuring confused half lions. It has been mentioned that it was the Queen herself who gave detailed instructions of the elements to be incorporated into the coat of arms. So was our Merlion symbol inspired from the EIC? If so, you could say that the true person behind the design was the Queen!

Jokes aside, that also means that we are subconsciously still subjugating ourselves to traces and elements of colonial rule.

But sea-lions in heraldry isn’t all that uncommon. You don’t even have to look far. In the Philippines, Manila’s coat of arms, the seal of the Navy, Department of Education, as well as the Presidential seal bears sea-lions. Even in Bulgaria, you can spot a sea-lion in the coat of arms of Burgas.

Still, it remains a mystery. Say what you will, love it or hate it. To me personally though, trying to unearth the stories behind such symbolisms is more rewarding 😉

Ahmad Bin Osman

 

No wonder ang moh tua kee even to the PAP: Even PAP govt thinks ang moh tua kee.

Happy feasting and drinking.

Btw, the East India Co’s coat of arms when it ruled India.

 

 

 

Advertisement