Rebuilding the Ancestral Village: Singaporeans in China

This book explores the relationship between one group of Singapore Chinese and their ancestral village in Fujian, China, discussing why they maintain ties and how they reproduce Chinese culture. It also explores why they feel morally obliged to assist with village reconstruction and how village cadres and teenagers encourage them to revisit. The main argument is about maintaining a cultural identity and lineage continuity with their ancestral home.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 06 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 2000, this second edition was first published in 2010. This is a discussion of the relationship between one group of Singapore Chinese and their ancestral village in Fujian, China. It explores the various reasons why the Singapore Chinese continue to want to maintain ties with their ancestral village and how they go about reproducing Chinese culture (in the form of ancestor worship and religion) in the village milieu in China. It further explores the reasons why the Singapore Chinese feel morally obliged to assist their ancestral village in village reconstruction (providing financial contributions to infrastructure development such as the buildings of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals) and to help with small-scale industrial and retail activities. Related to this is how the village cadres and teenagers, through various strategies, managed to encourage the Singapore Chinese to revisit their ancestral village and help with village reconstruction, thereby creating a moral economy.

The main argument here concerns the desire of the Singapore Chinese to maintain a cultural identity and lineage continuity with their ancestral home. Ethnographically, this anthropological study examines two groups of Chinese separated by historical and geographical space, and their coming together to re-establish their cultural identity through various cultural and economic activities. At the theoretical level, it seeks to add a new dimension to the study of Chinese transnationalism and diaspora studies.

The Singapore Chinese have a strong attachment to their ancestral village in Fujian, China, and this attachment is rooted in various cultural and historical factors. One of the primary reasons for this attachment is the belief that the village represents the essence of their Chinese heritage and culture. The Singapore Chinese believe that their ancestors lived in the village for generations and that their presence there is a way to connect with their roots and preserve their cultural identity.

Another reason for the Singapore Chinese's attachment to their ancestral village is the sense of belonging and community that they feel there. The village is a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other, and the Singapore Chinese feel a strong sense of identity and belonging when they visit the village. They also feel a sense of pride in their heritage and culture, and the village is a place where they can celebrate and showcase their traditions.

In addition to the cultural and historical reasons, the Singapore Chinese also feel morally obliged to assist their ancestral village in village reconstruction. The village has faced many challenges over the years, including economic development, environmental degradation, and population decline. The Singapore Chinese believe that it is their responsibility to help their ancestral village to overcome these challenges and to ensure that it continues to thrive.

One way that the Singapore Chinese assist their ancestral village is by providing financial contributions. They contribute to infrastructure development projects such as the building of roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals. They also help with small-scale industrial and retail activities in the village, such as farming and fishing. These contributions not only help to improve the quality of life in the village but also to create jobs and generate income for the local community.

In addition to financial contributions, the Singapore Chinese also participate in cultural and religious activities in the village. They worship their ancestors and participate in traditional festivals and ceremonies. They also teach their children about their cultural heritage and traditions, and the village is a place where they can pass on their knowledge and values to future generations.

The village cadres and teenagers also play a significant role in encouraging the Singapore Chinese to revisit their ancestral village and help with village reconstruction. They organize events and activities that attract the Singapore Chinese to the village, such as cultural performances, tours of the village, and workshops on traditional crafts and skills. They also provide transportation and accommodation for the Singapore Chinese, making it easier for them to visit the village.

Through these strategies, the village cadres and teenagers have managed to create a moral economy in the village. The Singapore Chinese feel a sense of obligation to assist their ancestral village, and they are rewarded for their contributions with a sense of pride and belonging. They also feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that they are contributing to the development and well-being of their ancestral village.

In conclusion, the relationship between the Singapore Chinese and their ancestral village in Fujian, China, is a complex and multifaceted one. It is rooted well-rooted in cultural and historical factors, as well as moral obligations to assist in village reconstruction. Through various strategies, the village cadres and teenagers have managed to encourage the Singapore Chinese to revisit their ancestral village and help with village reconstruction, thereby
creating a moral economy. This study provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of Chinese transnationalism and diaspora studies, and it highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and identity in the face of globalization and urbanization.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032261607