Preserving Chinese Culture through a Chinese Religious Association in Brunei Darussalam: The Case of Teng Yun Temple

Title

Preserving Chinese Culture through a Chinese Religious Association in Brunei Darussalam: The Case of Teng Yun Temple

Author

ZHAO Kaili, HOON Chang-Yau

Page

115-138

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.202412_21(2).0004

Abstract

Situated in the northwest region of Borneo, Brunei is a Malay monarchy where Islam holds the status of the state religion. Within the country, there exists a small ethnic Chinese population with limited opportunities for cultural and religious expression, along with a few dozens of Chinese associations. This paper uses Teng Yun Temple as a case study to explore how Chinese associations in Brunei maintain and preserve their culture in a country dominated by Islam and Malay culture. Besides documentary research, this article draws its data from participant observation of ritual activities at Teng Yun Temple and semi-structured interviews with 13 members of Chinese associations and religious practitioners in Brunei. Among Chinese associations, Teng Yun Temple stands out as the largest and oldest Chinese religious institution in Brunei. It serves as a focal point for preserving ethnic identity and represents Chinese culture and Chineseness in the region. Teng Yun Temple’s mission involves the conservation of Chinese religious and cultural traditions through various means, such as the creation of symbolic representations, adaptation of practices, and the establishment of transnational connections. The case of Teng Yun Temple underscores the strategies employed by a Chinese diasporic community in navigating intra- and inter-ethnic dynamics within their social context. It also illustrates how they sustain their ethnic culture by fostering transnational relationships with Mainland China and other Chinese communities across the region. The paper highlights the ways in which Chinese Bruneians maintain their cultural identity while flexibly responding to the challenges of the external dynamics.

Keyword

Teng Yun Temple,Chinese Associations, Cultural Inheritance, Chinese Temple, Brunei Darussalam

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