RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KEK LOK SI TEMPLE IN PENANG AND THE EARLY MALAY CHINESE COMMUNITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i3.790Keywords:
Malay peninsula, Kek Lok Si temple, Penang Chinese community, Chinese Buddhist templesAbstract
The purpose of this study is to reveal the significant impact of the establishment of Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang, Malaysia, in the late 19th century on the local Chinese community. Kek Lok Si Temple is the first Chinese Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia and was built by Master Miaolian, a high monk from Yongquan Temple in Gushan, Fujian. This development opened a new chapter for the spread of Chinese Buddhism in the region. By analyzing a substantial amount of historical materials from both Malaysia and China, it becomes evident that Master Miaolian promoted the development of Kek Lok Si Temple within the secular environment of Penang through his own Buddhist studies and cultural cultivation. Additionally, due to his Hakka identity, Master Miaolian played a crucial role in securing the support of the vice-consul, the highest political representative of the Chinese community in Penang. The findings of this study indicate that during the establishment of Kek Lok Si Temple, Chinese social groups from various provinces effectively reintegrated through donations and other means. As a result, regional identity began to surpass dialectal identity, emerging as a new trend in Chinese identity in the modern era.
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