A Comparative study of moral uplifting society between Singapore-Malaysia and Hong Kong-Macao (changes in ethnic chinese society)

Abstract

This thesis is inspired by the importance of folk religious faith among the contemporary ethnic Chinese, especially the ones which are not considered as orthodox religions but widely spread outside the mainland of China. As one of the most popular folk religions among ethnic Chinese overseas, the Moral Uplifting Society had been such a super star which deserves more attention not only from the public but also the academic community. Very few scholarly works have been done on this subject; hence this study attempts to trace the development of the Moral Uplifting Society, examine the differences of their present patterns between Singapore-Malaysia and Hong Kong-Macao, and analyze how these differences were formed. The contribution of this thesis is not only to give a comprehensive introduction of the Moral Uplifting Society, but also try to demonstrate the historical and cultural reason for its popularity. This study aims to be the basic and groping research of the Moral Uplifting Society, with an international contradistinctive perspective. Materials for this study were obtained both from historical documents and oral interviews of my fieldwork. Chronological and logical approaches were adopted in order to capture the development and intrinsic connection accurately. The results show that the popularity of the Moral Uplifting Society is not a chance occurrence, but follows the Chinese religious customs and cultural tradition. The discussion about its religious specialty and its dilemma to become a religious group or a charity organization are being focused in the following years. Most importantly, the study confirms that the rapid grow of folk region such as the Moral Uplifting Society is a way through which ethnic Chinese are able to recall their tradition and culture. And by the rituals they practice their own culture can be preserved in a multi-cultural and multi-races environment. This is the secret how these folk regions are able to occupy their own land regardless in China or Southeast Asia.