祖先、祖神与国家： 新加坡闽客华人姓氏网络研究 = ANCESTORS, ANCESTRAL DEITIES AND THE STATE: A STUDY OF CLAN NETWORKS OF HOKKIEN AND HAKKA CHINESE IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

THIS DISSERTATION EXPLORES THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND CHANGES OF THE HOKKIEN AND HAKKA CLAN NETWORKS WITHIN SINGAPORE, WITH IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ON NETWORKS OF MEMBERS FROM THE SAME LINEAGE OR BEARING THE SAME SURNAME. THE SUBJECTS OF THIS RESEARCH ARE CLAN ASSOCIATIONS AND LINEAGE TEMPLES IN WHICH KINSMEN WORSHIP THEIR ANCESTRAL DEITIES AND OTHER DEITIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISSERTATION IS TO ANSWER THREE RESEARCH QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE ANY CONCEPT WHICH COULD HELP ACADEMICS TO COMPREHEND THE PROCESSES AND PRACTICES OF PEOPLE FROM THE SAME LINEAGE, OR BEARING THE SAME SURNAME, GROUPED THEMSELVES? SECONDLY, HOW DID MEMBERS OF THE CLAN ASSOCIATIONS AND LINEAGE TEMPLES REACT TO THE TRANSITION OF THE SINGAPORE SOCIETY AND THE CHALLENGES POSED BY GOVERNMENT POLICIES? LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRACTICES OF HOKKIEN AND HAKKA PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION OF CLAN ASSOCIATIONS AND LINEAGE TEMPLES RESPECTIVELY?