The Trail of the Tan Khoen Swie Bookstore

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

LATE in July 2006, Serat Babad Kadhiri, a book on the origin of Kediri, was published in Kediri, East Java. The book is a translation of Serat Kadhiri, in Javanese, published by Tan Khoen Swie in 1932.

Tan Khoen Swie was a publisher in the early 20th century. His contribution to the widespread publication of various works by court poets and Javanese spiritual teachers was enormous. Today, the publishing house is legendary. However, its heirs still have a treasurea large number of books belonging to them. The publication of Babad Kadhiri is intended to be an initial step toward the uncovering of a mountain of manuscripts which might run the risk of being destroyed.

. tempo : 173176420554.

OVER the front door of the shop is a blue, shabby-looking wooden signboard bearing the word SURABAYA. This shop on Jalan Dhoho, Kediri, sells foodstuffs, such as abon, dendeng and kerupuk. In the 1930s, the shop, named SOERABAIA, was well-known as a center selling Dunlop tires and automotive spare parts.

Next to the shop is a 12-square-meter structure which now serves as a dentists clinic. Photographs of the 1930s indicate that this building used

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