In the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown, despite its unassuming modern appearance, there is a historically infamous street. Known for its macabre past, “death houses” inundated Sago Lane, places to send the terminally ill to die during the 20th century.
Sago Lane derives from the sago factories that were prominent in the area, becoming a staple export for Singapore in 1834. In its former days, the area annually produced nearly 8,000 tons, with 30 factories. Cantonese settlers with occupations such as traders, coolies, hawkers, peddlers, resided in the area. Sag0 Street, nearby, was predominantly known for its prostitutes and brothels.
Its nickname, Sei Yan Gai (“Street of the Dead”), would gain notoriety due to its macabre functions in the 20th century. As mentioned, death houses arose between the 1930s and 1960s. Death houses were not just known for their hospice facilities, but for the overcrowded and impoverished conditions of these lettings. Funeral homes were present as well. People believed the act of dying in one’s home was inauspicious, as they were superstitious.
They paid a small fee to stay in these death houses, rates depending on how close you were to death. The area also housed shops that sold coffins and paraphernalia related to Chinese funerals, including incense paper and funeral clothing. The street was notorious for its foul odour due to unsanitary conditions and distrust in Western funeral practices such as embalming.
Due to international scrutiny in the 1960s, the horrendous conditions became apparent worldwide, thus making it easy to support its shutdown. Eventually, being banned in 1961, the government converted the remaining death houses into funeral parlours.
Today, barely resembling the poor conditions of its past, the remaining shophouses along Sago Lane have been converted into souvenir shops and eateries. It is also part of festivities in celebrations like the Chinese New Year.