The Residential Segregation of Chinese Dialect Groups in Singapore
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Geographical Review of Japan Vol. 59 (Ser. B), No. 2, 83-102, 1986 The Residential Segregation of Chinese Dialect Groups in Singapore: with Focus on the Period before ca. 1970 Klyomi YAMASHITA This paper aims to clarify the residential segregation patterns of Chinese dialect groups in Singa pore, and to examine the main factors contributing to the formation of residential segregation. In Singapore, population statistics data necessary to grasp residential segregation patterns of the Chinese dialect groups are not available. Therefore, the distribution of Chinese temples, associ ations, and their members are considered important indexes reflecting residential segregation pat terns of the Chinese dialect groups. By making distribution maps of the temples, associations and their members for each period, the author identifies the changing residential segregation patterns. Residential segregation patterns of Chinese dialect groups in the south bank district differed from those of the north bank district. The Singapore River separated the two districts. The three major dialect groups, the Hokkiens, Teochews and Cantonese, segregated themselves in three different areas along the south bank. On the other hand, minor dialect groups such as the Hainanese, Foo chows, Henghuas, and so on, segregated themselves with the major dialect groups in mosaic fashion in the north bank district. Factors in the formation of the residential segregation of Chinese dialect groups are considered on the basis of an analysis of the residential segregation patterns involved. The chains of territorial relation involved in the process of Chinese immigration can be regarded as factors in promoting the residential segregation of Chinese dialect groups. Internal factors in the formation of the resi dential segregation can be found inside the Chinese dialect groups. They expected mutual help inside their society, and wanted to maintain their traditional culture including such aspects as language, religion and eating customs. As a result, they came to form their own urban villages. It was found that the Chinese dialect groups clearly had a tendency to specialize in and dominate certain trades. This promoted area concentration of a specific dialect group. Among relatively recent studies on the I. Introduction residential segregation of ethnic groups in Singapore, the one carried out by HODDER This study is a geographical inquiry into the (1953) is valuable. HODDERclarified the residential segregation of ethnic groups in cities, residential segregation patterns of ethnic particularly the Chinese dialect groups in groups and Chinese dialect groups in the central Singapore. An attempt is made to clarify area of Singapore by using the data obtained the residential segregation patterns of ethnic by means of his field survey. groups in cities, and to examine the main Grasping the residential segregation patterns factors contributing to the formation of of Chinese dialect groups in Singapore is not residential segregation. as easy as it is in advanced cities of Europe or Differences between dialects are such that America. Although population statistics of people in different dialect groups have difficulty Chinese dialect groups at the national level communicating with each other. Therefore, it are published, census tract statistics, necessary is possible to regard a Chinese dialect group as in considering residential segregation patterns being an ethnic group. are not available. * Faculty of Education , Akita University, Akita 010, Japan. 84 K. YAMASHITA In this study the author pays attention to index reflecting the residential segregation Chinese bonds based on territorial and kin patterns of Chinese dialect groups. It serves relationships. The distribution of Chinese as an excellent substitute for statistical data associations and their members are considered on the population distribution of Chinese important indexes reflecting the residential dialect groups. segregation patterns of Chinese dialect groups. In this study, Chinese associations and tem Furthermore, the author supplementarily refers ples are first divided according to the lineage to the distribution of temples established by of each of the dialect groups. Then, after the Chinese. confirming their locations by means of docu Chinese associations and temples were mentary records 1) and field surveys, distribu generally established in areas where many tion maps of the associations and temples will members of the groups lived. That is, a Chinese be presented for each period. For residential association, consisting of members belong segregation patterns after World War II, ing to the same dialect group, tended to be distribution maps of the dialect group mem organized in the area where the dialect group bers will be presented, as the membership lists concerned was concentrated. Otherwise, since of some Chinese associations are available. The most of the members were lower class laborers, author will analyze the distribution maps on they would not have had enough money to pay the basis of data obtained by interviewing transportation fees to visit the association. people in charge of associations and temples The associations thus well reflected the residen and in this way, will try to grasp the residential tial distribution of their groups. segregation patterns of Chinese dialect groups . On the other hand, the Chinese in Singapore worshipped a variety of gods which were II. Chinese dialect groups originally sacred in their homes in China. The in Singapore location of such temples, like the associations stated above, may reflect the distribution of Singapore society is a typical multi-ethnic the Chinese dialect groups at the time of their society, consisting of three major ethnic construction. groups: Chinese, Malays, and Indians. In As stated above, the location of the associa particular, Singapore society is characterized tions and temples established by a specific by having an extremely large proportion of dialect group can be regarded as a valuable Chinese in the total population of the country Fig. 1 Changing composition of Chinese dialect groups in Singapore, 1881-1931. 1. Hokkien 2. Teochew 3. Cantonese 4. Hainanese 5. Hakka 6, Foochow 7. Hokchia 8. Henghua 9. Strait-born Chinese 10. Others Note: Number in the graph shows the dialect group's percentage to the total Chinese population. Source: VLIELAxn(1932): p. 181, Mantestu Toa Keizai chosakyoku (1941): p. 61, and ZHANO(1941). The Residential Segregation in Singapore 85 Table 1 Change of ethnic composition in Singapore, 1824-1980. Source: Saw (1970, p. 57) and Population Census of each year. Population in only in 1939 is according to ZHANG (1941). Table 2 Population composition of Chinese dialect groups in Singapore, 1947-1980 . Source: Population Census of each year. (Table 1). they speak. Most Chinese immigrants were from sou The population composition of Chinese dia thern China, mainly the Fujian and Guangdong lect groups is shown in Figure 1 and Table 2 provinces. There are significant differences shows the population composition by Chinese among dialects spoken in such emigration dialect groups after World War II. A com districts. Chinese people are classified into parison of the figures for the pre and post several dialect groups according to the dialects world War II periods, respectively, shows that 86 K. YAMASHITA great change in the population composition. generaily take the forms of associations In this study, the Hokkiens, Teochews and (huiguan会 館)and temples (miao廟). Chinese Cantonese are called the three major dialect associations can be broadly classified into three groups, and other groups are called the minor main types; namely, territorial associations dialect groups. (tongxiczng huiguan同 郷 会 館), clan associa Among the minor dialect groups, the tions(zonggiazhui宗 親 会), and trade associa- Hainanese and Hakkas are almost the same tions(hanghui行 会). It is natural that ter in population size. Other minority dialect ritorial associations are organized by the mem groups include Foochows, Samkiangs, Heng bers who belong to the same dialect group. huas, and so forth. Figure 2 shows the emi It is also true for clan associations and trade gration areas of Chinese dialect groups in Sin associations that most of their members belong gapore. to the same dialect groups. 2) Chinese society in Singapore is organized on Under the circumstances of insufficient pro the basis of very tight bond kin and territorial tection and support by the governments of relations. Various Chinese social organizations their home country and the colony, Chinese Fig. 2 Emigration areas and population size of Chinese dialect groups in Singapore, 1080. 1. Shanghai上 海 2. Ningbo寧 波 3. Wenzhou温 州 4. Fuzhou福 州 5. Fuqing福 清 6. Putian.蒲 田 7. Xianyou仙 游 8. AIlxi安 渓 9. Xiamen(Amoy)厘 門 10. Dapu大 捕 11.Chaoan蕾 安 12. Shant ou(Swatow)汕 頭 13. Chaoyang潮 陽 14. Hong Kong香 港 15.Aomen(Macao)漢 門 16. Guangzhou広 州 17. Zhaoqing肇 慶 18. Sanshui三 水 19. Haikou海 口 Source: Census of Populat ion 190, Singapore. The Residential Segregation in Singapore 87 associations were not only self-defense organi •@information. zations; but, also, important mutual aid organizations for dialect groups who were far III. Residential segregation patterns away from their homes and living in an un familiar environment. Chinese associations of Chinese dialect groups helped their members find jobs, established and managed public cemeteries, temples, 1. Residential segregation patterns before hospitals, and senior citizens'