妈祖信仰与新加坡的发展历史

Mazu Belief and the Development History of Singapore

文章结合新加坡从19世纪初至今的发展历程来梳理当地妈祖信仰的组织形式和特点,按照社团与宫庙的成立动因、组织形式和发展历史大致分为如下类型:1.因新加坡自由港的发展而移民前来从事与航海、贸易有关的中国闽粤移民建立的妈祖庙,妈祖作为行业保护神而受到奉祀;2.来自中国不同籍贯地的商人而形成的新加坡华人帮权团体建立的天后宫,成为帮权团结的象征和认同纽带;3.散居在新加坡的市郊、农村地区,不同籍贯的移民,在聚居地以所属方言所管理的妈祖庙,此类庙宇带有地缘特点;4.基于妈祖祖姑身份,来自同一籍贯地的林氏宗亲以宗族的形式崇奉祖姑妈祖,并且不同籍贯地的林氏宗亲团体联合成立新加坡林氏大宗祠九龙堂家族自治会。

This article examines the organizational forms and characteristics of Mazu belief in Singapore in the context of Singapore's development from the early 19th century to the present.The Mazu temples and associations are categorized based on the motives for their establishment,organizational structures,and historical development as follows:firstly,Mazu temples established by Chinese immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong provinces who arrived in Singapore due to the development of the free port.These temples were dedicated to Mazu as the protector goddess of maritime and trade industries.Secondly,Temples dedicated to Mazu established by Chinese business associations with members from various regions of China,symbolizing unity and identity for these associations.Thirdly,Mazu temples managed by immigrants of different dialect groups residing in suburban and rural areas of Singapore.These temples exhibit geographical characteristics based on the dialects spoken by the local communities.Fourthly,The Lin clan,based on Mazu's ancestral identity,venerates Mazu in the form of a clan deity.Lin clan members from the same region unite to establish the Singapore Lin Clan Ancestral Temple Kowloon Tang Family Autonomous Association.