加尔各答华人华侨的多元宗教信仰与身份认同

On the Multi-religious Beliefs and Identities of Overseas Chinese in Kolkata

虽然印度加尔各答华人华侨人数不多,其影响力和成就也可能与其他地区的华人华侨无法相比,然而200余年以来,华人华侨在印度的生存智慧与生活经历不可忽视。宗教信仰方面,加尔各答的华人华侨除了保留自己的民间信仰外,还在不同时期信仰了佛教、基督教和印度教,宗教认同理论中有关身份的单一和叠合观点有助于我们认识华人华侨复杂的身份认同现象。一方面,中国民间信仰的跨国传播建构出印度华人的单一身份,另一方面,佛教、基督教、印度教等宗教跨族传播建构出印度华人的叠合身份。加尔各答华人单一身份的形成与其随时准备返回祖籍地有关,而他们的叠合身份则更有利于他们在印度生活下去。

Although the population of overseas Chinese is small in Kolkata,India,their influence and achievements may not be comparable to those of overseas Chinese in other countries.However,for more than 200 years,the survival wisdom and life experience of overseas Chinese in India all reflect China’s participation in the process of globalization.As tellers and communicators of Chinese stories,they will be a unique force on which China’s "Belt and Road" construction can rely,and will also play an irreplaceable and important role.In addition to retaining their own folk beliefs,the overseas Chinese living in Kolkata also believed in Buddhism,Christianity and Hinduism at different times.The single and multi-views on identity in the theory of religious identity can help us understand the complex identity phenomena of overseas Chinese.Although Chinese scholars have long paid attention to the phenomenon of the transnational spread of Chinese folk religions(in India) and the transnational spread of Christianity and Hinduism(Chinese Christians or Chinese Hindus),the breadth and depth of its knowledge production have been far from enough.South Asia is currently an important direction for us to promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative,and India is a key area in South Asian studies.By analyzing the formation process of the identity of the overseas Chinese,it’s positive and practical to formulate policies in the future that can promote the "Belt and Road" initiative to take root in South Asia.