The Spirit-mediums of Singkawang: Performing Peoplehood of West Kalimantan

Author

Margaret CHAN, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Chinese New Year in the West Kalimantan town of Singkawang is marked by a parade featuring hundreds of possessed spirit-mediums performing self-mortification and blood sacrifice. The event is a huge tourist draw, but beyond the spectacle, deeper meanings are enacted. The spirit-medium procession stages a fraternity of Dayak, Malay and Chinese earth gods united in the purpose of exorcising demons from the neighborhood. The self-conscious presentation of the Chinese as brethren among pribumi [sons-of-the-soil] Dayak and Malay, proposes the Chinese as belonging to the ‘peoplehood’ of West Kalimantan.

Keywords

Chinese, Indonesia, spirit mediums, religious processions

Discipline

Asian Studies | Religion

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Chinese Indonesians Reassessed: History, Religion and Belonging

Editor

Sai Siew-Min and Hoon Chang-Yau

First Page

138

Last Page

158

ISBN

9780415608015

Publisher

Routledge

City or Country

New York

Citation

Chan, Margaret. 2013. "The Spirit-mediums of Singkawang: Performing ‘Peoplehood' of West Kalimantan." In Chinese Indonesians Reassessed: History, Religion and Belonging, edited by Sai Siew-Min and Hoon Chang-Yau, 138-158. New York: Routledge.

Copyright Owner and License

Author

Comments

Edited by Sai Siew-Min and Hoon Chang-Yau

Additional URL

https://worldcat.org/isbn/9780415608015