Yan Yiyuan created this handscroll spontaneously during an art gathering in celebration of Khoo Seok Wan‘s 50th birthday (51st according to the Chinese calendar) and gifted the work to him. It contains several poems by different literati of that time. Tis handscroll speaks of the bonds of friendship between well-known poets in Singapore during the 1920s, many of whom are now forgotten. It is also a microscopic study of how literati societies, a continuation of traditional literati gatherings, were functioning between the late 19th century and early 20th century in Singapore.Yan Yiyuan (also known as Yan Wenhao or Yan Diyuan), was a fellow member of the Tan Club 檀社, a poetry society founded by Khoo in 1924, and a well-known local physician who was named the top scholar in Thong Chai Medical Institution's examination in 1923. However, he did not stay in the institution to become its doctors in Chinese medicine. Yan was known for his bold and unrestrained character, which nourished his creative side and led to beautiful paintings and poetry.
