The Medicine Man, or more colloquially referred to as the Koh Yok Seller, was known as the “poor man’s doctor” in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s. Their methods for treatment were based on traditional Chinese medicine, which was a cheaper alternative to Western medicine and private doctors in those days.
This Miniature Stories collectible set depicts a Medicine Man / Koh Yok Man in the midst of a performance to demonstrate his medicine to onlookers. He comes with his stall set up of a table with medicines, banner, two stools and a bamboo stick. The Chinese characters on the banner have been painstakingly recreated from real life.