平章会馆与中华总商会及槟城华人社会 : 廿世纪初期的帮群、领袖及其互动 = Penang Chinese Town Hall, Penang Chinese Chamber Of Commerce And Early 20 Century Penang Chinese Societies: Bang, Leadership And Interaction

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the early Penang Chinese Bang (dialect group or sub-ethnic group) relations and interaction by using Penang Chinese Town Hall and Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce as a case study. My thesis will discuss the following questions: how do the different bang leaders work together? Are they having equal position? If so, in what situation and condition they are equal? All these questions actually can help us to understand bang relationship of Penang. This dissertation will analyze the relations of bang by examining the daily operation of two institutes. At the same time, I will also give a new definition of bang base on the case studies of Penang society. My finding is that the definition and structure of bang relationship has it own local features and characters, which are different from those of Singapore. My finding will help us to have a deeper understanding of the complexity of bang relations of Southeast Asia Chinese societies.