A PEACEFUL NATION MAKES BLISSFUL PEOPLE TEOCHEW TRADITIONS TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS TRADITIONAL TEOCHEW VALUES LOYALTY AND FILIAL PIETY DILIGENCE AND THRIFT BENEVOLENCE INTEGRITY ALL THINGS FLOURISH FOR FAMILIES IN HARMONY TEOCHEW TRADITIONS PREFACE About Teochew Federation (Singapore) Customs and traditions are the cornerstones The Ngee Ann Kongsi was founded in 1845. At the behest of Teochew Federation Teochew Federation (Singapore) aims of cultural heritage. In late 2018, Teochew Back then, a group of 12 prominent Teochew (Singapore), the Editorial Committee carried to provide a network and a common Federation (Singapore) led a delegation businessmen led by Seah Eu Chin established out extensive research on the customs and platform for exchange among the comprising more than a hundred members The Ngee Ann Kongsi to look after the welfare traditions of the Chaoshan (潮汕) region in Teochew community and businesses in to the Chaoshan (潮汕) region in China on a and religious needs of Teochew immigrants China, and drew on the collective wisdom and Singapore; facilitate cooperation and cultural exchange visit. In 2019, we published in Singapore. As times changed and society knowledge of local Teochew clan associations, collaboration in good faith; work together this handbook on Teochew traditions in progressed, The Ngee Ann Kongsi has kept community organisations, charities, experts for the common interest of all members; partnership with the Singapore Press Holdings pace by focusing on educational development, and scholars. Their support and assistance and strive to preserve our culture and Chinese Media Group, in the hope of enabling setting up a primary school, a secondary gave us the confidence to harness our team traditions, as well as to expand business future generations to keep our treasured school, and a polytechnic. In 1998, the Ngee spirit and complete this pictorial and textual opportunities both at home and abroad. cultural traditions and customs alive, ensuring Ann Cultural Centre was established to compilation of fine Teochew traditions, At present, around 90% of all cultural continuity and succession. promote Singaporean arts and culture, as well customs, beliefs and values quite quickly. The Teochew organisations in Singapore are Teochew Federation (Singapore) sees the as Teochew culture. resulting handbook serves as a reference for members of our Federation. They include a total of 40 clan associations, charities, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage Our sponsorship of the publication of future generations in their efforts to uphold Teochew opera and music ensembles, as its obligation and duty, and still has a long Teochew Traditions by Teochew Federation the same values, practise the same traditions, educational and welfare organisations. way to go in boosting unity among the Teochew (Singapore) is in line with our commitment and keep our cultural heritage alive. Collectively, these organisations have community and Teochew organisations. As the to preserving and propagating our cultural We would like to express our gratitude a total of 16,000 individual members, saying goes, unity is strength. With the support heritage. It is the hope of the Kongsi and Ngee to all members of Teochew Federation business members, and representatives. and cooperation of many members of the Ann Cultural Centre to build upon the work of (Singapore) for their unwavering support and 2 This makes Teochew Federation community, we will continue to draw upon their our forebears and work together in earnest to the team from Singapore Press Holdings 3 (Singapore) the biggest and most wide-ranging expertise and wisdom and work to continue to foster unity in the Teochew for this fruitful collaboration. Let’s continue influential Teochew association in closely together so as to make an even greater community and drive progress for all, in order to work together on our important mission to Singapore. contribution to the Teochew community and to do more for the Teochew community. sustain and build upon our cultural heritage. our nation. Chia Chor Meng JP, BBM Jamie Teo Teochew Traditions President, 4th Council President Editorial Committee Teochew Federation (Singapore) The Ngee Ann Kongsi READ MORE ABOUT FOLLOW THESE FAMILIES TEOCHEW FEDERATION AS THEY JOURNEY TO CHAOSHAN (SINGAPORE) HERE. IN SEARCH OF THEIR ROOTS. TEOCHEW TRADITIONS WHERE ARE TEOCHEWS FROM? CONTENTS THE QUARTET OF LIFE FESTIVALS AND HERITAGE Marriage 37 Gathering Around the Stove 09 Matchmaking on Chinese New Year’s Eve 09 Proposal 37 Giving Lucky Money Three Chaoshan cities in Guangdong Province, China 10 Compatibility Check 38 Chinese New Year’s Eve Shantou, Chaozhou, Jieyang 10 Betrothal Vigil CHAOZHOU 13 Engagement 38 Ancestor Worship Raoping 13 Selection of Wedding Day 41 Chinese New Year Jiedong Xiangqiao 14 Threading • Dowry Greetings 14 Fetching the Bride 41 Away with Poverty Rongcheng 17 Bridal Chamber Decoration 42 The Seventh Day of the Chaoan Chenghai Jiexi 17 Wedding Banquet First Lunar Month JIEYANG Jinping 18 Eating Sweet Dumplings 42 Spring Lantern Festival Longhu Nanao My name is Jiahe • Playing Pranks on the 44 Tomb Sweeping Festival SHANTOU (家和). Papa says, Newlyweds 45 Dragon Boat Festival Puning Chaoyang “All things flourish for 18 Visits to the Maternal Home 46 Hungry Ghost Festival Chaonan families in harmony”, and tells me we 20 Wedding FAQ 47 Mid-Autumn Festival must uphold our 48 Winter Solstice Huilai traditional Teochew Birth 49 Festivals FAQ values close to heart. 23 Pregnancy He also wants me to 23 Birth Announcement SOCIAL MORES learn about Teochew 24 Confinement 53 Order of seating 4 5 traditions. So, let’s go 24 Three Day Rites • Full 53 Meal service Chaozhou (潮州) is a fengshui treasure trove speaking Fengshun (丰顺) and Dabu (大埔). back in time together Month Rites 54 Traditional Tea Ceremony in the eastern part of Guangdong province Later on, the Teochews decided to exclude to find out more. in China, known for its abundance of fish these areas and Chaozhou became a region 55 Forms of Address for and rice, produce and resources, as well as with eight districts. Coming of Age and Family Members talented and bright people. Even as the geographical demarcations Birthday Celebration 56 Forms of Address for Archaeologists have identified traces of evolved with the change of regimes in China, 26 Coming of Age Paternal Relatives human habitation in the region that dates the Teochews in Singapore continued to use back 5,000 years. More than 1,500 years ago, the original names of the eight districts, 27 Birthdays 57 Forms of Address for the emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty had which are Raoping (饶平), Chaoan (潮安), Maternal Relatives named the region the Prefecture of Yi’An Chaoyang (潮阳), Jieyang (揭阳), Chenghai Death and Funeral Rites (義安). During the Sui dynasty, it was renamed (澄海), Puning (普宁), Huilai (惠来) and 28 Death 58 Advisory Committee Chaozhou. It was called Chaozhoufu (潮州 Nanao (南澳). 28 Funeral 59 Editorial Committee 府) through the Ming and Qing dynasties, and At present, the Chaoshan (潮汕) region in 31 Mourning Observances 60 Members of Teochew was divided into nine administrative districts. China consists of three cities: Shantou (汕头), 31 Memorial Ritual Federation (Singapore) These nine districts included the Hakka- Chaozhou (潮州) and Jieyang (揭阳). 32 Death Rites FAQ TEOCHEW TRADITIONS Marriage, birth, birthday celebrations and funerals – whether other people’s or one’s own – are inevitable in a lifetime, so let’s start our Teochew traditions journey with marriage customs, and take a look at the difference between modern-day practices and those in the past, as well as their significance. The six rites (六礼) are the six traditional Chinese wedding rites covering the entire process from marriage proposal to the completion of wedding ceremony. They include matchmaking and proposal, THE compatibility check, betrothal, engagement, selection of wedding date and fetching the bride (wedding). Parents rarely get to decide who their children should marry these days, and the traditional matchmaker has now been replaced by dating agencies, reality TV shows and dating apps on mobile phones, but some fine traditions still have their place and are worth upholding QUARTET and passing on. OF LIFE TEOCHEW TRADITIONS THE QUARTET OF LIFE MARRIAGE Past Present The matchmaking phase was also a chance to Matchmaking used to be common in gather information on a family. Matchmaking Singapore after WWII. The man’s family could be open or covert, and it happened would usually set a time and venue to meet between the parents of both sides as well with the woman’s family. In addition to the as the prospective couple. Of interest were potential couple, other family members who family background, upbringing, personality would tag along for the meeting included the traits – such as conscientiousness, moral parents and siblings of both candidates. The uprightness and other aspects that might Teochews who lived downtown usually chose MATCHMAKING provide a clearer impression of a candidate. to meet at People’s Park Market or Great Matchmaking used to take place between World Amusement Park. After sitting down the proposal and compatibility check, but together for tea, young couples might take a in keeping with the norms of the day, its walk or catch a movie together. Today, many introduction was brought forward. dating agencies also arrange meetings over a meal or activity for those seeking spouses. Pre-marital counselling has also become more popular, facilitating mutual understanding on marriage expectations, and easing the transition to married life. Past Present The proposal was also known as ‘engagement’ Most people get to pick who to marry and (纳采), where an appointed matchmaker is walk the red carpet with these days. But when 8 entrusted with telling the man’s family about it comes to the formal proposal of marriage 9 the prospective bride’s background. If the between the families, some people like to stick man’s family was agreeable, the matchmaker with tradition, inviting aunts (either paternal would then head over to the woman’s family to or maternal) along to play the role of the PROPOSAL propose marriage.