They survived SO many things so that we would have a good life. They were ALWAYS thinking about preparing for the future. Thank you SO much for sharing this beautiful cultural reality!
Ya. You can see how mutually supportive the different generations are towards each other in the clans. Quite heartening. Lots of Singaporeans have lost these values.
I dunno.... it all started because they were new people in a new town, coming together for security and future succes. In a way if the societies are dying off it means the people integrated and are leading succesful lives. But i get it, to see your ancestral connections fading is a little sad
It is sad to see many Clan Associations disappeared not only in Singapore but places where there are Chinese populations! I used to follow my father whenever he visited our Chong Shan Association 中山会館 in the 50's when he stood as President or Chairman of the Association. Fond memory lingers! Good luck to all those who works so hard to keep the heritage going!👍👍加油！
Feel so sad watching this documentary. Thinking how our ancestors put in so much effort in these clans and struggled living in the past only for these clans to slowly vanish really saddens me. I'm so curious about my clan now and might make a visit, I just know that my grandparents were from Wenchang, Hainan, China. I am also glad to be able to speak in my dialect which is very rare, especially for people my age (I'm 21 this year).
I'm Chinese. Welcome to China, I think the Chinese and Singaporean will have that mutual respect for each other's identity today. Just like UK and US. Singapore is a great country.
@@Kingofcathay You welcome them but they are not very welcoming to mainland Chinese. I was in Singapore a few years ago and witnessed how some mainland Chinese were treated. I am ashamed of how these people behaved. They obviously forgot where their forefathers came from.
@@ricchmus Its not surprised. If I were in Singaporean shoes, I would do the same thing. Simply because it's a relatively small country and have a limited impact to affect the 'trends' of the world. So Singapore should not stick to one side and should always remain independent, so that they could continue to get advantage of other countries and continue to thrive.
Very rare indeed but that a great and comforting thing to hear! I speak Hainanese as well but not so fluent anymore as I don’t practise it as much anymore. It’s sad indeed that these clans are slowly disappearing.
@@ricchmus You think mainland China is Singaporean Chinese roots? Think again. The forefathers if you trace back to its roots originated from Africa ( and yes, that applies to mainland Chinese as well). And by the way if you are mainlander Chinese visiting in another country or any country in that aspect and if you respect the local culture and respect others then I am sure you will be treated respectfully as well. If you wanted to be treated like idiots then you probably behave like one to warrant the treatment. There are reasons why the kind of treatment you witnessed happened (not just in Singapore).I am sure it is not hard for you to figure out why. A hint; Maindland China has 1.4billion population, it is not surprising to see millions of blacksheep amongst them. Besides this, just how many mainlanders currently residing in SIngapore has adapted or made an effort to really adapted to the local cuilture? By all means, Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-cultural society. Having ethnic Chinese as majority does not mean that they rule the day. I am a Singaporean of Chinese ethnicity , like most if not all Singaporean, we pledge to have equal opportunity for all regardless of race or religion and we welcome all migrants who are genuinely making contributions to Singapore's economy and willing to adapt to Singapore's society way of life. As far as visitors are concerned, the same rules applies as we would treat Singaporeans who flawn the rules.
When my grandpa was alive he belonged to clan association in Singapore and surprising the clan association still exists. Although my grandpa lived in Malaysia, he gave my dad our jiapu so I can trace back my family’s lineage to China
I'm honestly surprised this isn't something the Singaporean government is interested in documenting and showcasing as part of Singapore's history. (maybe the government needs to know about the closure of clan houses- and with clan house consent display clan documents and histories to the public)
In Hawaii’s Chinatown, we still have a number of these 堂 or clans. Many continue to operate by hosting cultural events, teaching Chinese, and playing music.
This documentary really brought me back to when grandparents would bring us along to the old fashioned clanhouse and then leave us to our devices while they sit around chatting with others in a dialect I couldn't understand. There are a few particularly active associations, like the "Lan" clan association that the filmmaker could qualify for based on his last name.
I am hainanese. I attended a function organised by the Hainan Association in Sydney. I met up with many hainanese old and young and some of them are white Australian.
it's sad to see these things go; everything's dust in the wind right? But we also have the technology to document these things as best as we can so that future generations might learn its history. That's why documentaries like this is so important, thank you for making this!
Respect from China for those who left my country decades ago in a quest for a new life in a another part of the world while preserving their cultural heritage, and for those of you who care to document this part of history before it perishes.
In my hometown Padang, Indonesia these Chinese clan associations are thriving, almost everyone in the Chinatown are member of the clan old to young. They are conducting various social, charity, cultural events every year. They are so proud of their collective identity.
It's probably different because in Singapore the Chinese are the majority. So people don't feel the need for organisations to preserve the culture or gather. My minority friends here feel more strongly about being involved in their traditional culture than the Chinese.
In the Philippines the proper term is Chinese Filipinos or the common word, Chinoys. They've assimilated fully with the Indigenous Austronesian Filipinos & the Mestizos. They're well represented in all aspects of Filipino everyday life, from businesses, politics, showbiz etc.
The Speak Mandarin Campaign launched in 1979 put this clan association culture in decline. The clan association are usually belonged to specific dialect group.
Not only that, the emphasis on “Singaporean national identity” probably contributed even greater to their decline. One integral part of these organizations’ activities is maintaining connections with the motherland, China, which often means regular interactions with organizations within China, Overseas Chinese Office 侨办, PRC embassy/consulates. The younger generation seems reluctant to embrace their these connections, probably due to so-called “political correctness”.
The smaller Hokkien clan such as mine, Anxi, will somehow one day absorb into the Main Hokkien Clan. I reckon it is partly due to financial and socio-political influence they have.
@@jianpingwang6916 I mean, China being closed off to the world for many decades probably didn't help. But many even from my grandparents' generation (who are only 1-2 generations away from hometowns) do not really relate to the current political entity that is the PRC, and probably would not be comfortable interacting with the embassy, etc. You must realise their ancestors left China in the Qing dynasty. Informal/Grassroots associations are okay.
@@Naomi-fb1ej I reckon the identity of oneself shouldn’t be confined to the era of when our ancestors have left China. It’s always the same place and we’re the same group of people regardless of which party is in governance. We still retain the connection with relatives back in Canton, 3rd generation down the line. My grandpa couldn’t have survived in a foreign land when he first came to the UK in 1940 without generosity of his “twong heong” (kins). Let’s keep these precious bonds that unite us, the decedents of Yellow Emperor, wherever we are born, or living in, and pass it down to the future gens to come. We owe it to our forefathers.
@@Raymond_Lee888 What was the objective of the Speak Mandarin Campaign? A form of social integration, or were there some noble economic goals (bi-lingualism = better perceived job offers?). Not arguing if either were true, but trying to understand the mindset of the government's ideals at that time.
I am lost of word for these clans survival in the next decade. Penang too has many clans and associations that uphold the Chinese tradition and cultural. Singapore government being rich in finance and human resources should be able to hold together these clans. In the past without these community there won't be a Singapore. The clans were great supporter of education and business development of their respective fellow members. I wish these youth the best and the passion to keep the clans going. Uncle Kai is amazing gentlemen so are the producer and crews of this video.
Great documentary! Kudos to Douglas and Lyn for helping to preserve this aspect of Chinese heritage and history in Singapore that is in danger of disappearing. It is definitely worth saving.
It is a rather interesting video abt the Chinese Clan Houses. I realised that most of the clans of the earlier Chinese settlers during the 17th, 18th and early to mid 19th centuries existed in the form of temples for example the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple in Malacca, the oldest Chinese temple in this region.
Interesting stories that keeping the connection between members from the same clan (village or surname) and keep the dialect alive. Even us in Hong Kong, clan groups are in decline and dialects like Hokkien or Teochow are almost non-existant and we are next door to China, many have not even been back to their family's village. Thank you for those elderly whom keep the group alive, hard work but I am sure later generations would remember. K
Great fact. I wonder if Irish clan associations also gather by region, or form abstractly (family, ethnicity, nationality, ideology, religion), whether in Ireland proper or Irish who are overseas. FYI, Chinese clan associations originally were strictly and literally for "clan" names only, men exclusively, for the purposes of clan lineage, rank in society, procreative rules, genetic purity, and clan glory. In China, in one 'village' (county) alone there may be several clan associations or sub-clan associations under one family/house name, reflecting clan expansion and the community sprawling apart geographically. ... This is probably the mindset of the Singaporeans... Often a county has hundreds of "villages" each with one or more clan association or hall, like an informal club house or community hall. But once overseas unless there's enough people in the foreign land I guess Chinese group together by region, focusing less on family names, perhaps also considered as something done 'back home' while their migration/stay in Singapore etc may not have been intentionally long-term or coordinated properly as a 'clan migration'.
incredible history! Thanks for making this video for us. It is really impressive to know how our forefathers struggled so hard in their migration to Singapore during the period where Chinese diaspora was the highest. Being a next gen migrant myself from Singapore to Australia, I understand the trials in adapting to a different culture and country. Truly, we all need to remember the spirits of our ancestors especially their tenacity to seek better lives for their families and future generations.
I did some of doctoral dissertation work on clan groups in the USA. They came out of surname associations. Later, they transformed into Benevolent Associations and Gang Affiliated Groups popularly known as Tongs.
A "Tong" means a "Hall".... maybe they changed when it begins to be multi-family names... Technically speaking, they are not gangs, than they are extended families... And everywhere in this world, it is the same. So do not let these terms fool you. Most people even in the US and in other communities in the UK, the people who lives in a city, are all related as well. Just that there is no formal registration. But because these are migrants into another foreign country, it has a record, that is all. In Europe... some areas do have this. They will say "Polish club", or "British club" etc.
My ah gong used to be part of the 永春clan. When he passed, our participation with the clan also faded with him. I think actually our parents generation didn't really adovcate for it. I remember I used to play at the clan during CNY. Then when I asked about it when my ah gong passed, my mum herself also don't know
Hello, I'm from Bolivia but living in Brazil for over 21 years, and trying to learn english nowadays. I'm so happy to have discovered this channel, CNA, so high level journalism and allows us from the other side of the world to know a little bit about Asia. I think we in Latin america are still so sticked in "american" (USA) values that we cannot get out of poverty. Thanks a lot for this amazing work!
what American value? the unspoken American value is work hard to get ahead, it's the same every where. the spoken value is freedom and democracy=regime change. do you like what transpired in Bolivia?
Hello Toyoale! Congratulations on your level of English, and it's wonderful to see such an inquiring minds. Curiosity to explore and expand your knowledge outside geographic borders and to learn about new cultures and people are a great way to find friends and give meaning to life. If you are interested in environmental innovations, business and technology topics... You can try Al Jazeera (more geopolitical topics, a bit too serious) or DW News (more similar to small stories like CNA on this channel).
I’m always wondering about my family clan in the Philippines ? Our last name is 洪 planning to visit Fujian last year but canceled due to CVID . Omg the music remind when I was growing up in the Philippines, my Chinese dad will always me to Chinese opera.
Hi, I'm from the Philippines and my last name is 洪 as well. You can try contacting the 洪 family clan association here - the Philippine Lioc Kui Foundation, Inc. (菲律賓六桂堂宗親總會). It's actually a grand family association of six family clans and 洪 is one of them. Though I believe there are separate chapters for the 洪 family clan that are specific to a town or borough (my dad belongs to the 菲華英林洪氏家族總會 from Yinglin borough) but the Lioc Kui Foundation is a good starting point to connect with your roots. Good luck! (^_^)
Hi, I'm 洪 as well but Singaporean Chinese, to my knowledge the 洪 clan actually has a record of its family tree of those who first left Fujian and went to SEA. Someone already mentioned the Philippine family clan association, but your ancestors may also be in the Singaporean records.
My Grandpa was from 安溪. When he passed away, I cleaned up his filthy flat. Till today, I wish I could have kept his Tools and Antique Radio. Two of his items still with me are Anxi Clan Pin and his Parker Pen.
@@jamesmobach8879 Most of the local AnKuey own hardware stores 五金，and once there was a bank ICB now subsidiary of UOB. And also many heavy construction machinery companies. ex. 白长春。
@clementihammock7572 > filthy flat You should be kind as it reflects his mental state. Many older Southern Chinese men are like this having seen many stressors in life. Hoarding old junk clutter is common. The old trinkets (tools in your case) and old radio are not only tokens of a past life but I guess are like comfort treasures, filling a void of something missing inside. It's sad since this is all he's got. But even men with more substantial trinkets it is all destined to pass away. It's better not to hold onto material things.
Partly true. Australia is a cultural blackhole and everything here gets White-washed into a monocultural Ozzification, plus racism here was (and sometimes still is) really serious. Though millennials and younger won't know much, there were once similar Chinese setups in Melbourne Chinatown (the Chinese museum is quite impressive) but they were also underground societies, again literally battling racist violence from Whites/Anglos. But some of these were also where secret societies/triads/freemasons met (some triads are more innocent - political factions) and where banking and trades happened, inc. various underworld activities. We also have small and old associations in the foot of Surry Hills in Sydney once a Chinese slum or shanty town. Most of these places now are practically defunct, having either been converted to brothels, fancy gentrified residential houses, of hipster cafes. The most significant and living memories however will surprise you as they're not written by White-Australian historians (actively committing Chinese history) but contained in places like the Chinese Presbyterian Church and Central Baptist Church where many of the Chinese gathered, obviously worshipping God and Christ. Inside there are libraries, thousands of members, and a few dedicated historians who will have various archival records, photos, names, etc... I believe Singapore also has this transition/dichotomy, since many things can unite people: family, ethnicity, region, nation, empire, belief/religion/God. "Clan associations" reflect such shifts. Ideally, covering the full spectrum, but people argue, you know?
This was so heartwarming yet bittersweet to watch. Watching as these clans, along with old jobs such as cobbler and shoe making, slowly vanish is just saddening
This was a beautiful journey and I am so happy for you! This is inspirational for ALL cultures to create similar social hubs of legacy and light. Thank you so much for sharing!❤💋📣
Awesome documentary, my ancestor home is Kaiping, Guangdong where your late grandpa hailed from. I was fascinated when I came across there are so many clan associations & their premises existed in Sg. Indeed there re far more clan associations established in Sg than the rest of SE Asia where Chinese migrates settled. It is worth to keep these heritage.
As a total outsider, not Chinese or Singaporean, watching this, I think it's very obvious that clans established a sense of community to early Singaporean settlers and, if the youth allow it, may continue to do so in the future. In this generation, many are finding it hard to find their place in the world, often wandering aimlessly. Sometimes, direction can be found in the past, and the anchor can be found in tradition. Tradition not in the archaic rigid sense, but tradition as in a connection to a history.
How come this young gentleman has not been back to his grandfather's hometown to visit ? He should ask this older clan member... where his grandfather's hometown is, and go for a visit... There are a lot of family-tree books which you can write down, and put down your names. To know your roots is so important. I am also from HK, and in one of those villages. People used to be from HK, or a little bit further up in Boan... or Shenzen areas.
To progress your clan and association, you should actually make a website, or write down histories... and to prosper and to document this. Many of the chinese overseas, who went as "merchants" to work abroad... in those days... were common. My grandfather came to the UK to work. Then so did my dad. But for us, we keep going back to our hometown in HK for at least a good few years all of the time to keep in contact. I think it would be nice if to progress these clan stories.. and then to also build up connections or family tree, so if your descendents want to search, then they can search as a geneology tree.
So heart touching to track records of our old generation, how they united, how they built organization and linked to work together,shared life and made history. They are examples of entrepreneurs.
thank you so much for this documentary. It's beautiful - as a young Singaporean, I believe that more of us should keep in touch with our roots and try not to get too swept up in Westernisation and technology. Huge respect to the people trying to preserve our heritage.
Like if ever these clan association close, I hope NLB goes round collecting, consolidating these old records. Like 90 year old records, jeez. Clans die, it's life. How many have dissipated, those that survive, have a property that works like a club house. Honestly, people have their own CCA, their own gangs and clique, this clans work for a different time for a different need, for a different world. Ask any kid on the streets whether they even know which village they from.
The Clan Houses offered needed services for those that just moved to a new country and could not speak or read the local language. The immigrants of that era needed the familiarity of the Chineses community, but today in most countries Chinese immigrants assimilate rapidly and the clan structure is not as important. The older ones in my family still hold to the old ways but the youth not so much.
So glad to come across this documentary. I've been noticing all the clan associations among the shophouses in Chinatown and feeling really curious about them!
Perhaps these remaining clans should modernise using more technological approaches to attract younger members. I am sure those who love history, geography, or researching would be interested in continuing. Schools could also introduce these clans as part of the curriculum just like in NZ, where students and new PRs/citizens need to attend lessons on NZ past, especially the Treaty of Waitangi.
The colonising mentality and glorification of British history is quite different to most other ethnicities/nationalities. The Chinese clan view is somewhat comparable to the regional Maori and Aboriginal clan differences, except perhaps that major Chinese clans with associations are often former imperial dynasties, rulers of both China, the Asian Continent, and extending into much of South East Asia and perhaps to the Pacific Islands. In other words, while White settlers (or any non natives) in NZ were poor or unhappy in Britain and grateful for a new home and opportunity in NZ, the Chinese experience generally speaking is not so interested/content/well-assimilated living outside of China. The focus for overseas Chinese almost always is on 'Chinese History' (Chinese Imperial history etc) and or simultaneously Taoist or Biblical truths alongside. Imagine House of Windsor, Hanover, Habsburg, Heineken, Normandy, Romanov, etc, living in enemy territory, in say Africa or India under foreign rule as refugees/derelict minorities... The status quo would not teach or promote this... if that makes sense.
Well done CNA going into the crosshairs and that's some deep work have to say it , Even though I'm not Chinese but love to explore and learn about new cultures . Best 48 minutes of niche stuff
These houses were created to help new immigrants? Nice, it always touches me when I see people being nice to each other, today's world feels so cold sometimes. A beautiful film, thank you.
Very long video for no reason, nobody joins Chinese clan houses and association because of how badly managed their websites are. There's practically no way to apply for membership online unless you head down to the place yourself, even then, good luck communicating with them due to generation gap.
This is a problem everywhere in multi-ethnic/immigrant societies for smaller groups e.g. I am a quarter Slovenian and there is a Slovenian church (now shared w/ other nationalities) and a Slovenian Hall in San Francisco BUT hardly any Slovenians left (many of the older generation got "health conscious" before passing and wouldn't even make the same traditional food as it was deemed "unhealthy"!). Unless you live someplace like Joliet IL or you are Donald Trump and happen to meet a supermodel from Slovenia :), the chances of marrying another person of Slovenian descent is pretty low in the USA!
Yes at the end of the day ...... it is sill history. From that view point there should be a permanent museum, exhibition, gallery setup dedicated to this. To somehow help in a small way to offset, pre-empt future inoperability, decline of sorts.
All the reasons why clans were once prevalent and useful are no longer relevant. So please stop all these romantic ideas on how we should revitalize them. All these just categorise people to this and that. We should all be inclusive and not exclusive.
What an interesting documentary from the CNA team. I do have some Chinese heritage via Hong Kong of Hainanese background where my grandparents migrated to S'pore. I really often wondered about their stories and what they heard from their grandparents. But yeah I loved hearing Cantonese spoken on this documentary. Seeing Keong Saik road has fond memories when Tong Ah eating house was at the corner & jamming at Snakeweed studios which has long moved location LOL I noticed portraits of Sun Yat sen in these Clans houses whilst I recognise he truly was a great leader during his time, I am curious if there was some other meaning or just simply a character revered greatly?
I think Sun Yat Sen came from Zhongshan. Zhongshan was originally called Xiangshan, but was renamed Zhongshan in his honour. So it makes sense for the Zhongshan Association to have a big portrait of him.
@@anchored555 @DavidHoughton17 Correct. Zhongshan (中山) is an honorary name after Sūn Zhōngshān (孫中山) alias of Sun Yat Sen. Originally, Hoengshan (香山), "Fragrant Mountain", which is how "Hong Kong" got it's name as the Fragrant Harbour. i.e. 中山 = 香山 => 香港. To name the place and association after a major geographic landmark speaks of region-wide devotion to Modernism, Nationalism, the Modern Republic of China, anti-imperialism (specifically anti-Qing) sentiments, and possible lingering anti-Taiping Revolution sentiments. Also it was pro-Japanese and pro-Western since Sun Yat Sen was part Japanese with very Japanese modernist ideas yet *born in China* and was inspired by the economy in places like Hawaii. Mountains also have religious significance, in ceremonial rituals of high and low, making offerings to Heaven and Earth. The cult of SYS is both a new religion and ideology. Also, Sun (孫) iirc is an ancient clan name from a prince or duke of Zhou Dynasty (founding dynasty in China), he then represents hearkening back to the very earliest founding dynasties following collapse/failure/profligacy of Qing Dynasty as foreign invaders/usurpers from the North. SYS was the people's modern emperor or founding father, espousing modern (Western/European) politics and economics as solutions to mass poverty, regional war lords, injustice, social discord, etc. Idolising SYS is a national mourning of sorts and revolutionary turning point, like Moses to Ancient Israel or Napoleon to the French.
In Canada (vancouver), They are called Tongs. Which is basically a derivative of the 14k (HK gang : China Association) road clan group in China. So there is plus and negatives of these groups.
That's not how it works man. Tong are a last name. They just group together like the wong, chen ect. Gang influences are from the 70s 80s. It's pretty chill now
@@raymondcheung409 My guess the "Tong" the commenter meant is "堂" in Cantonese pronunciation. As you might have already known, "堂" is commonly used in the name of bona fide clan groups & also groups that labelled themselves "clan groups" but went off tangent & carried out mafia or secret society activities... So yeah, that's my guess...
@@Raymond_Lee888 Hi. My guess is the "Tong" might be "堂" in Cantonese pronunciation. (considering many early Chinese settlers in the North Americas being from Canton area). Have seen both "會館/会馆" and "堂" being used as clan group house names... In my country Singapore "会馆" is the common term used, while other countries or regions (example Philippines) do use "堂" too.
Mandarin is a way to entice new interactions / new comers to settle. Lay the red carpet, make Chinese locals learn Mandarin and make it an examinable subject. Your either coped with it, choked on it or found an escape. The other official languages were also exam subjects to mandate "being in touch with ones roots". The speak Mandarin campaign in the 80's was incessant and as visible and audible as can be. English programming on radio and TV would be interrupted by such campaign ads. Imagine that. No other official languages were pushed the same maniacal way. Posters and signage all over the place. It was nuts. Mandarin in > Dialects out. Other incoming nationalities were able & willing to speak English/Singlish At the present day some employment advertisements require candidates to be bilingual (code for must speak Mandarin). While others state it outright.
Not true that the pastries were not in Singapore. They were available during each autumn festival in Singapore. The last time I ate them in Singapore was about 10 years ago. I stopped buying them as they were too sweet. I believe they are still available in Singapore.
