During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu Ti had sent Su Wu as an envoy to the Huns, who detained him and ordered him to tend a flock of rams. Refusing to submit to the Huns, the loyal Su Wu endured great hardships while in captivity before he was finally released 19 years later. This sculpture of Su Wu is but one among many others in Haw Par Villa, which was constructed based on the themes of Chinese folklore and legend. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, the villa was built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who was also synonymous with Tiger Balm, the renowned ointment that was successfully marketed in Singapore and around the region.
