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Aw Chu Kin (Chinese: 胡子钦 ? – 1908 inRangoon,British Burma) was aBurmese Chineseherbalist. He is best known as the original inventor ofTiger Balm.
Aw's father was aChinese herbology practitioner inXiamen and aHakka Chinese with ancestry inYongding County. Being of a poor background, Aw first immigrated toSingapore where he stayed at thekongsi of his clan. He then moved toPenang and started to work as a practitioner ofTraditional Chinese medicine, known as asinseh (Chinese:先生) inPenang Hokkien. Afterwards, he moved to Rangoon where, with the help of his uncle, founded hisapothecary namedEng Aun Tong (Chinese:永安堂;lit. 'The Hall of Eternal Peace') in 1870.
Aw Chu-Kin got married in Rangoon. He had three sons, the eldest of whom, Boon-Leng (Gentle/Refined Dragon) died young. He was survived by his two sons,Boon-Haw (Gentle/Refined Tiger) andBoon-Par (Gentle/Refined Leopard). In 1892, Aw sent Boon-Haw to his grandfather's village to be instructed in traditional Chinese methods while Boon-Par stayed in Rangoon to receive British education. He left his business to younger son Boon-Par who then called his elder brother to run Eng Aun Tong together.