Indeed, it's far more important than even Chinese New Year's Day or any other day.
The Hokkiens believe it’s the day their ancestors were saved by the Lord of Heaven from genocidal massacre. Traditional Hokkiens around the world, especially in Penang and Singapore, will make votive offerings to Th’nee Kong (Lord of Heaven) to commemorate the salvation of the Hokkien race by divine grace.
In Penang the yearly pilgrimage to the temple of the Jade Emperor (Lord of Heaven) at Bukit Bendera has already begun.
For more details about the Hokkiens’ most important day of the year, read my KTemoc Kongsamkok post Hokkien salvation in sugar cane fields.
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| Temple of Th'nee Kong at Bukit Bendera, Ayer Itam, Penang |
KT,
ReplyDeleteInteresting story and this was what was told to me by my dad ( he came from Fujian province in the early 1940s). Hokkien influence are far and wide. Guess what the Japs and Korean refer to "news"? "Shimbun"! Penang Hokkien refer to soap as "Sabun" and we always thought that it was due to Malay influence like we refer to cents as "puat". Ask any minanghua speaking Taiwanese and you will be surprised!
yup, many Jap words came from Fujian (Hokkien) Province via the Okinawa islands. Five (5) = go; sisters = chimoi; teacher, master (in a art) = sensei
DeleteSabon is French for soap.
DeleteFrench is savon, but certain sabon must have originated from a European, probably Portuguese. In Welsh, soap is sebon
DeleteLast year I took my Taiwanese visitor around Penang island on the 9th Day of the Lunar New Year, and he was surprised at the scale of the celebrations. Apparently its a declining tradition in Taiwan, mainly practiced by the older generation, largely ignored by younger adults.
ReplyDeleteThe observance virtually died out in mainland China during the decades of authoritarian atheistic policies (yes, there are Atheist versions of the Taliban)
In some ways Penang Hokkien are more Chinese than China Chinese these days :):)
Subang (originally from Penang)
"In some ways Penang Hokkien are more Chinese than China Chinese these days :):)"
ReplyDeletei guess the correct description is we become more malaysian. problem occur is when some dickhead want to dictate how we malaysian live.
Malaysia has somehow allows a certain freedom of religious and culture beliefs. That makes Malaysia rich in diversity and it is good for tourism.
ReplyDeleteA lot of these were lost during the communist era. The communist has destroyed a lot of heritage while in power. "Scorching" and cleansing the whole China, to turn it into a new communist China.
What is happening in Malaysia now could be a new lesson in history books to be studied soon in the future. Well, it will not be the holly side of it, specially the definition of Malay as created by Mahathir which is not a race technically speaking. All Malays are muslims and how other races can be Malay.
To be fair to Dr Mahathir, he wasn't the bloke who defined who a 'Malay' is. It's the which does so.
DeleteCommunism is not a practical ideology for Chinese who are by nature capitalistic, but I have to admit it brought about 3 good things by removing (a) to a large extent the medieval feudalistic mindset of Chinese which held them in evil mental bondage for centuries, (b) the dependence on superstitions and religions which exploited the more simple minded or gullible, and (c) the unmitigated evils of warlord-ism.
"the unmitigated evils of warlord-ism."
DeleteI'm afraid the warlords a back, dressed as Communist Party officials. The Beijing government still keeps a firm overall grip on power, but China is such a huge country, provincial and city level government is often run as a private fiefdom by local Party officials. They are smart enough to keep below the radar and "take care" of the next level bureaucrats.
I know a few people with substantial business dealings in China, and they have to navigate several warlord fiefs and take care of their "needs" now and then. Cash, goodies, girls....
true, but nothing compared to the blatant warlord-ism in the dying days of the Qing (Manchu) dynasty and the nascent period of China's republicanism
DeleteOpps - I missed out a word in an earlier comment (of 9.47 am) - the 1st sentence should have read "To be fair to Dr Mahathir, he wasn't the bloke who defined who a 'Malay' is. It's the CONSTITUTION which does so."
Deletewarlord is back? i call it a lack of transparency and rule of law. big small huge tiny make no different.
Deletemedieval feudalistic? both taiwan n hk was never under communist and both r not that feudal today, i think this have much to do with modernity, science n learn from the west.
superstitions and religions? i agree mao did said communist being a materialist not suppose to be religious, but i dun think ccp suppress religion, cultural revolution was never aim solely at religion, historically china r more secular than most countries in the world, i think only a certain period of tang dynasty and some kingdom between tang and song did allow religion to interfere in state matter. n superstitious is fine, at least we dont have to spend time to engage in issue like how to translate the name for tua pek kong.
China was not a true communist country in the Marxist sense, but was and is a kind of state capitalism. The CCP with its ruling class and princelings are the new bourgeoisie, taking over from the previous ruling apparatus.
DeleteIn Marxism, there are no classes, the state has withered away. However, Marx is a naive dreamer as he did not anticipate human's natural desire to take over in a power vacuum and hijack the revolution.
Which people are qualified to be considered a Malay? Answer:
DeleteJawa, Bugis, Banjar, Minangkabau, Acheh, Jakun, Sakai asli, Arab, Pakistani, Mamak, Malbari, Kadazan, Bajau, India Muslim, Siam, Melanau, Bidayuh.
Says who? Not me. It's from a speech by the PM, see this website:
http://www.pmo.gov.my/?menu=speech&page=1908&news_id=355&speech_cat=2
Chinese and non-Muslim Indians, sorry, this inner sanctum is off-limits to you.
I have to agree with KT that communism brought a lot of good, to overhaul the administrative system in the medieval mindset and removal of the emperor and warlords. It was a sad thing that communism remain too long in China. I would say 20 to 30 years is good enough an overhaul.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, Malaysia would need some kind of overhaul, of course those idiots out there, please do not put words in my mouth by saying communism. I cannot say much in the future, if you watch enough Sci-fi movies, most of it preach about communism or authoritative administrative to control citizen. Singapore is in the initial stage of it all, when land are scarce, food is limited and water is a commodity, it will begin. Right now, our monarchy have the abundance to be spoils with. Even that is not enough, monarchy play politics too, sometimes it is rather dirty. They might be playing with fire, if the monarchy is not too careful.
The closes that I can think of is a two party system with alternative period to government Malaysia. I wonder why the monarchy have not supported this idea, if they want to continue be relevant to their subjects.
One ancient Chinese practice is for high officials found guilty of corruption to be executed by beheading. The reason being corruption by senior officers amounts to treason against the State.
ReplyDeleteThat is one tradition I would like to see instated in Malaysia.
My only worry being having too many headless ghosts wandering the corridors of UMNO headquarters and Government ministries in Putrajaya.
"My only worry being having too many headless ghosts wandering the corridors of UMNO headquarters and Government ministries in Putrajaya."
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHA.....me likee this !
read history on ming emperor hongwu (zhu yuanzhang), almost 100k official killed by him in the Ming Four Cases include many that engaged in corruption nevertheless corruption remain rampant because salary were extremely low and no official can survive on such small income, thus severe punishment alone was never a solution for society ill.
ReplyDeletechina have no election so i dont know how people can end ccp ruling unless opt for revolt (again?). malaysian n singaporean afforded the choice but never do it, pretty cowardice n equally dumb.
ReplyDelete