Singapore Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng is a cultural organisation and columbarium based in Bishan, Singapore with beginnings since 1870. Located at Bishan Lane off Bishan Road, Peck San Theng presently operates a columbarium, two Chinese temples, and ancestral worship services tailoring towards the requirements as well as traditions, customs and beliefs of a cosmopolitan community. It is currently managed by 16 Cantonese and Hakka clan associations.
| Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 廣惠肇碧山亭 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 广惠肇碧山亭 | ||||||||||||
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History
editKwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng was originally a cemetery in Singapore that was established in 1870 by Cantonese and Hakka immigrants largely from the three prefectures of Guangzhou, Huizhou and Zhaoqing in Guangdong, China.[1] The first words of the three prefectures, Guang-Hui-Zhao were the origins of the name 廣惠肇, or transliterated as Kwong-Wai-Siew.[1] Within a century, Peck San Theng (PST) became one of the biggest Chinese cemeteries in Singapore, holding more than 100,000 graves over 324 acres (1.31 km2) of land.[1]
The earliest known graves in the cemetery was marked 1830 and 1831 and a collective grave marked 1873 for immigrants without descendants from the three prefectures.[1] Other associations and clans started creating collective graves at the cemetery.[1] A stone stele marked 1890 stated that “a temple was built in the burial ground, roads were paved and a cemetery organization was founded in this year.”[1]
In 1916, an organization was created which consisted of nine regional associations to manage PST.[1] Seven other Hakka and Cantonese regional associations later joined PST, making a total of 16 communities managing PST.[1]
In 1922, PST built a Peck Shan temple dedicated to Goddess of Mercy and also stablished a Chinese primary school for local Chinese children.[1]
In 1954, to avoid conflicts among the 16 associations, an 18-member governing committee with two representatives from the original 9 associations was set up to manage PST.[1]
In 1979, the Singapore government decided to acquire all its land to create the present-day Bishan Town. Many graves were exhumed and remains cremated during the 1980s. To enable Peck San Theng to continue with its tradition, the government leased 8 acres (32,000 m2) of land to Peck San Theng for accommodating an office block, two temples and a columbarium.[2] The columbarium houses some 100,000 niches which are available to the public irrespective of race, language and religion since 1980. It continues to be a place for ancestral worship in Singapore.[3] Peck San Teng also provides financial support to the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, a charitable organisation that provides healthcare and hospice services to the aged and needy. [4]
In 2018, a heritage gallery was built in Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng to illustrate the story of Kampong San Teng.[5]
Present Day
editPeck San Theng is currently managed by a federation of 16 clans of the Cantonese and Hakka communities in Singapore.[5]
- Nam Sun (南顺会馆)
- Ning Yeung (宁阳会馆)
- Chung Shan (中山会馆)
- Poon Yue (番禺会馆)
- Fa Yun (花县会馆)
- Kong Chow (冈州会馆)
- Sam Sui (三水会馆)
- Tung On (东安会馆)
- Shun Tak (顺德会馆)
- Ching Yuen (清远会馆)
- Chen Loong (增龙会馆)
- Wui Chiu (惠州会馆)
- Siu Heng (肇庆会馆)
- Koh Yiu (高要会馆)
- Hok San (鹤山会馆)
- Yen Peng (恩平会馆)
Grand Universal Salvation Ritual
editGrand Universal Salvation Ritual (万缘胜会) was first introduced to Peck San Theng in 1921.[1] The ritual was organised irregularly and was organised when there is a need for the ritual and raise funds.[1] The grand ritual is usually collectively conducted by a group of Buddhist monks and nuns and a troupe of Taoist priests.[1] The spiritual significance of this ritual is about preserving and promoting important family value like filial piety.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Choi, Chi-cheung (24 July 2020). "Ancestors Are Watching: Ritual and Governance at Peck San Theng, a Chinese Afterlife Care Organization in Singapore". Religions. 11 (8): 382. doi:10.3390/rel11080382. ISSN 2077-1444.
- ^ "Life and Death in Singapore". 99% Invisible. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- ^ "广惠肇碧山亭-简介". YouTube. KwongPeckSanTheng. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "Peck San Theng organisation: 16 clan associations - Our Background". Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ a b Auto, Hermes (3 June 2018). "Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng columbarium in Bishan opens gallery to showcase 150-year history | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "Grand Universal Salvation Ritual". Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng. Retrieved 21 May 2022.