林太史信仰的由来与新加坡云山宫 = THE DEIFICATION OF LIM TAI SEE AND ITS MIGRATION TO SINGAPORE

Abstract

Lin Xie Chun, also known as Lim Tai See, was a Ming official who was widely respected by the people for his loyalty and virtues. His contributions to the Ming society also left a lasting image in the hearts of the people. However, as a historical figure, how did Lim Tai See attain the status of a regional god? How did he become a popular belief and be worshipped by the masses in China? These are some of the issues that this paper would seek to address, through the reconstruction of the history during the Ming and Qing dynasty, as well as through the understanding of Lim's ideologies. During the 19th century, many Chinese migrated to Singapore due to several reasons, bringing with them their religions and beliefs from their hometown. While many researches focused on the belief of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, one of the popular beliefs less discussed is that of Lim Tai See. Through the passage of time, the people involved in the belief changes with societal progression, thus changing the function of religion in the society. The changes in function and leadership roles also reflect the transition of power. Hence, this paper aims to trace the migration and amalgamation of local culture and popular belief through the history of Hoon San Temple, as well as the social network underlying the temple. While it is exceptionally rare to have a street named after a deity of a temple, Jalan Lim Tai See holds the record of being one of the few. As a longstanding street name which has existed since Singapore's preindependence, Jalan Lim Tai See brings historical resonance, with Hoon San Temple serving as a landmark and a cultural icon. This thus contributes to the cultural identity of Chinese Singaporeans who used to live in that area before it was redeveloped in the late 20 th century. As such, this paper also seeks to retrace the formation of a cultural identity through exploring the origin of the street name which serves as the constant in change.Lin Xie Chun, also known as Lim Tai See, was a Ming official who was widely respected by the people for his loyalty and virtues. His contributions to the Ming society also left a lasting image in the hearts of the people. However, as a historical figure, how did Lim Tai See attain the status of a regional god? How did he become a popular belief and be worshipped by the masses in China? These are some of the issues that this paper would seek to address, through the reconstruction of the history during the Ming and Qing dynasty, as well as through the understanding of Lim's ideologies. During the 19th century, many Chinese migrated to Singapore due to several reasons, bringing with them their religions and beliefs from their hometown. While many researches focused on the belief of Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, one of the popular beliefs less discussed is that of Lim Tai See. Through the passage of time, the people involved in the belief changes with societal progression, thus changing the function of religion in the society. The changes in function and leadership roles also reflect the transition of power. Hence, this paper aims to trace the migration and amalgamation of local culture and popular belief through the history of Hoon San Temple, as well as the social network underlying the temple. While it is exceptionally rare to have a street named after a deity of a temple, Jalan Lim Tai See holds the record of being one of the few. As a longstanding street name which has existed since Singapore's preindependence, Jalan Lim Tai See brings historical resonance, with Hoon San Temple serving as a landmark and a cultural icon. This thus contributes to the cultural identity of Chinese Singaporeans who used to live in that area before it was redeveloped in the late 20 th century. As such, this paper also seeks to retrace the formation of a cultural identity through exploring the origin of the street name which serves as the constant in change.