Gaginang

Traditions

Teochew traditions can include anything from the nursery rhymes we grew up with to the values and beliefs of our parents and grandparents. Ideas, information, request, comments or corrections are welcome. CONTACT US

CONTENTS

• Chukhuehēun (Leaving the Garden)
• Teochew Holidays
• Traditional Teochew Music
• Teochew Nursery Rhymes
• Teochew Gogiàn
• “Maintaining Teochew String Music: News from Kuching”
• Buddhism and Poumung Bo-ungyi

Chukhuehēun (Leaving The Garden)　

Chukhuehēun, or in English, “Leaving the Garden", is a traditional Teochew celebration held to mark a child’s journey into adulthood. According to traditional Teochew folk beliefs, children live their lives as if in a “garden", only to leave it upon reaching fifteen years of age. Family and friends are invited to a celebration often including a banquet. Three types of offerings are given to the traditional folk gods: a fish, a pig’s head, and three chickens. For boys, the three chickens should be roosters, symbolizing the strength and vigor that is hoped for in the young man. For girls, hens are used to symbolize the hope for fertility. At the banquet, the child is expected to sit at the head of the table, a position which represents their becoming an important figure in the family and marks their passage to being adults.

Teochew people are originally an agricultural people. As such, their holidays are based on the passing of the seasons and the traditions of farming that have been passed down from generation to generation. The nature of these holidays involve one or more of the following: (1) ancestor worship, (2) celebrating agricultural labors, (3) making pilgrimages, and (4) worshiping folk gods. 時年八節 Sī nī boit joit is a Teochew idiom which means the Eight Holidays of the Year.

• 春節 Chungjoit
• 元宵 Nguāngsiao
• 清明 Chengmēng
• 端午 Duangngòu
• 中元 Dongnguāng
• 中秋 Dongchiu
• 冬至 Dangjĭ
• 除夕 Dēusek

Though each of these holidays has unique practices, they all share one thing in common: ancestor worship.

春節 Chungjoit - Spring Festival

Colloquially known as 過年 Guĕ'nī. The old name for New year’s celebrations is 元旦 Nguāngdăng。 New Year’s is the most important of all Teochew (and Chinese) holidays. Traditional prescriptions for New Year’s rituals are very specific: Morning rise to worship the ancestors, burn incense, prepare tea. Men, women, young and old, must worship their ancestors. Parents and children must honor each other, friends must honor each other. The first day (of New Year’s) everyone must eat vegetarian, the second night meat can be eaten.

Common sayings during New Year’s are:

• 新年健康 Singnī giángkang (Good Health)
• 新年長壽 Singnī dēungsiù (Long Life)

Parents will say to their children:

• 新年敖*大 Singnī ghāo duạ (For children to grow up filial and healthy)
  *敖 (has a 力 beneath it)

When giving the traditional gifts of oranges and Chinese olives on a visit home, you can say:

• 新年如意 Singnī yū'ĭ (Wishing you well)
• 諸事順利 Jusẹu súnglí (May all things go smoothly)

In addition to ancestor worship and visiting family and friends, there are some other traditional New Year’s practices including: performing the Lion Dance, Drumming Bands, Folk song singing, and other performances done in street processions.

元宵 Nguāngsiao - Lantern Festival

Also known as 上元節 Siángnguāngjoit and 燈節 Dengjoit, this holiday has many origin stories. Some scholars point to how Han dynasty emperors introduced the tradition of lighting lamps in order to honor and celebrate Buddhism, which had come from India. After the Sui and Tang dynasties, Nguāngsiao lost its religious associations. Modern forms of celebration come from the Song and Ming dynasties. Some would call Nguāngsiao a holiday of wild celebration. In Dio Suan, the rituals of honoring the ancestors are often even grander than those during New Year’s. The three most often seen offerings include oranges, fermented fruit, and tuber-like vegetables (三甑[ ])．Lantern lights would be lit non-stop for five days straight. Incense would be burned, shadow puppet shows and dragon dances would be performed, traditional songs would be sung.

清明 Chengmēng - Grave-Sweeping Day

Cheng Meng is the holiday where families visit their ancestral burial grounds to pay respects to their ancestors. Teochew people perform 挂紙 guejuà (also known as 上墳 jiónmó), where ‘paper bills’ are hung in respect to ancestors. Teochew botbiàn (Popia, or thin cakes), are made and eaten; of particular popularity are the 葱甜薄餅 Changdiām botbiàn.

端午 Duangngòu

Commonly known to Teochew people as 五月節 Ngóughuētjoit . The story has it that the people of the Chu Kingdom began celebrating Ngóughuētjoit in remembrance of a famous leader after he had committed suicide. Some rituals include placing handicrafts and flowered wreaths on doorways, performing dragon dances, throwing water on people, and also eating Chinese ‘wraps 粽’.

中元 Dongnguāng

Also known as 七月半 Chikghuētbuăn．Originally related to Daoism, for Teochew People it is celebrated entirely as a non-religious holiday. Once again, this holiday is to honor one’s ancestors, though it ranks as one of the more important ones. One is expected to dress in one's best. One's family should assemble in front of their home "ancestor altar" to pay obeisance.

中秋 Dongchiu - Mid-Autumn Festival

Dongchiu is sometimes known as the “Moon festival”, due to the importance of paying respects and making obeisance to the moon. Dongchiu was celebrated as early as the Spring and Autumn Warring Periods. During this holiday, respects are paid to the gods of nature. The natural elements of the world that are important on this day are: The sun, the moon, the stars, the four seasons, and others. In the Diōsuan region, paying obeisance to the moon is mostly done by women. City folk tend to do this in their own homes, while those living in the countryside assemble outside. Offerings made to the moon include: persimmons, pineapples, pears, peaches, bananas, moon cakes, and other fresh food and baked goods. For those children who are in school, new pens/books and other tools of learning are given out. The moon cakes of the Diōsuan region often use red bean paste, green bean paste, or taro, and are very sweet. Into the night as the moon rises, and is as round as it can be, people will light three red incense sticks to bless their own family. Children play a game called 燒塔 sio'tat, which involves building a structure from tiles, and then placing firewood in and around the structure. Afterwards, the structure is lit, and usually stays lit for the entire night.

冬至 Dangjĭ ̣̣- Winter Festival

Dangjĭ happens around the Winter Solstice and the daylight hours are shortest. As such, this holiday was in ancient times refered to as 日至 Yīkjĭ, or 短日至 dòyīkjĭ . In Diōsuan, Dangjĭ is a relatively important holiday that celebrates harvest and family. Activities include visiting the ancestor grave and paying obeisance to ancestors. Sticky-rice balls were one of the requisite gifts to the ancestors (this was common to other Southern Chinese), as well as some types of shelled seafood which were abundant at this time of year. In fact, in some countryside areas, the importance of sticky-rice balls can’t be overstated. It is said that when you consume sticky-rice balls (for Dangjĭ), is when you become one year older.

除夕 Dēusek - New Year’s Eve

Known to Teochew people as 年暝 Ni'men or 三十暝Sănjāpmēn , New Year’s Eve is another important holiday. As with other important Teochew holidays, many of the activities on this evening are related to ancestor worship. All people should clean themselves and wear new clothing, then pay obeisance. On doors and hallways, messages welcoming the New Year are posted on both sides of these openings. The central activity is 围炉 ūilōu , where everyone gathers to eat the New Year’s Eve dinner. People pay their respects to the god of the hearth and the god of the kitchen. Other interesting activities include burning bamboo to make loud explosive sounds, and eating locally available seafood (for coastal areas). All this is to ensure a good beginning to the New Year.

…

Translation by Ty Eng Lim (林恩智)

Source Text Information:
潮汕文化源流 Diōsuan Bhūng'huĕ Nguāngliū - The Origin of Teochew Culture
黄挺 Ēun Tèng - Huang Ting
广东高等教育出版社 Geungdang Gao Deng Ga Iot Chuk Bang SiaGuangdong - Higher Education Publishing House
ISBN 7-5361-2076-1
Copyright ©1997

Much of the traditional music of Teochew people has its roots in Chinese Opera-style instrumentation. There is also an extensive tradition of folk songs. Below is information about some varieties of traditional Teochew Music.

Teochew Nursery Rhymes

Did you grow up singing rhymes that your grandma or grandpa taught you? Struggling to remember those nurseries? Luckily, we have a few songs courtesy of Gaginang members.

Two Clouds in the Sky天頂二條雲

Credit: 王運興 Hēng Ụng Heng 

天頂二條雲
天下二隻船

一隻載阿兄
一隻載阿弟
阿兄跋落水
阿弟走去追
追嘸起
覓阿氣
阿氣氣到面烏烏
覓阿姑
阿姑me把鹽me把米

gak落溪
阿兄bet早起

Tindèng nó diāo hūng
Tin'ẹ nó jiat jūng
Jēk jiat jăi a hian
Jēk jiat jăi a dí
A hian buāt lōt jùi
A dí jào kĕu dui

Duiḿkĭ
Chuẹ a kĭ
A Kĭ kĭ găo mịng ou ou
Chuẹ a gou
A gou me bè iām, me bè bhì
Gāk lōt koi
A hian bet jào'kì.

Twist the Cage 挨籠挨籠挨(BM Boys)

Credit: Līm Ĕung Dĭ 林恩智 (from BM Boys version)

挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米來飼雞, 飼雞叫 goge, 朋友來做客
挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米來飼雞, 飼雞叫 goge, 食飽去過家
挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米来偌joi，留來兩碗糜，日子儉儉過
挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米來飼雞，飼雞叫 goge, 雞仔 bingbong飛
挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米來飼雞，飼雞叫 goge, 雞仔 bingbong飛
挨籠挨籠挨, 挨米來飼雞，燒茶蜀杯來，月娘遮人生

oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi chị goi, chị goi giŏ goge, pēng'iù lāi jŏ ket

oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi chị goi, chi goi giŏ goge, jiat ba keu gue ge
oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi yià jọi, lāo lāi nó buăn muē, yīkjì kiám kiám guĕ
oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi chị goi, chị goi giŏ goge, goigiàn bingbōng bue
oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi chị goi, chị goi giŏ goge, goigiàn bingbōng bue
oi lāng oi lāng oi, oi bhì lāi chị goi, siodē jēk bue lāi, ghuēt niōn jia nāngsen

??? 拥拥 oi
Credit: Heng Ung Heng 王運興

拥拥oi1
拥更東
拥更西
拥銀牌
拥阿弟弟大大個

ong-ong oi
ong geng dong
ong geng sai

ong ngeng bai
ong a didi duadua gai
Grandfather Eats Papayas 公公食 lo hong
Credit: Jennifer Yip
公公食lo hong
溜屎跋落海
擦尻倉唔白
kiot來let
let無血

kiot來刮
刮無毛
kiot去山頂踢 tik to

gong gong jiat lo hong
lao sai buot lot hai
chek ka chung m bet
kiot lai let
let bho huet

kiot lai guet
guet bho mo
kiot ke suan deng tak tek to

Teochew Folk Songs (歌仔 Gogiàn)

The colloquial name for Teochew Folk Songs is gogiàn or “little songs". They are composed in colloquial Teochew language and have enjoyed popularity among Teochew people for generations. Over the years they have also gradually made the leap to a written form in literature. Common themes in these songs involve childhood, proper conduct, living through hardship and the contrasts between good and evil. Some well known songs include: “Tindèng Jēk Jiat Goi” (A Chicken in the Sky), “Jià Ghuēt Giam Chung Mạng” (A Month’s Dream of Spring"), “Ghuēt Niōn, Ghuēt Geung Geung” (The Moon, the Bright Bright Moon).

Source: www.999b2b.net

Maintaining Teochew String Music, News from Kuching

Founded by the late Andrew Lim Eng Hock, the Li-Sheng Recreation Association group is dedicated to the performance and teaching of Traditional Chinese music. Many of the group members are older than 50 years of age, though there are students as young as 25. One of the more famous “plays” is the Tou Huai Epic. Apparently this is an adaptation of another older version called “Madam Su the Sixth". The story is about a scholar who falls in love with his own cousin. Most of the music which the association plays is passed down by instruction without the aid of written musical notes. This means that all songs and entire plays are memorized. No doubt, this kind of art requires a great measure of mental acuity and dedication. Teochew string music is an honored tradition that is often an integral part of Teochew Opera. The current Association advisor, Mr. Tan Poh, helps in organizing various association events. It’s a wondrous sight to see that there are still organizations out there that are preserving the musical traditions of Teochew people.

Much thanks to Mr. Alex Lim for providing this information. Mr. Lim resides in Kuching, a city on the Sarawak side of Malaysia. He is a member of the Sarawak Li-Sheng Recreation Association.

Left to Right: Everyone gathers for a listen to the Zither. A young woman puts attention in her lessons. An Association performance.

As with other Chinese, the traditional religion of a great majority of Diojiu people is Buddhism. Today, there are many Diojiu Christians as well as those believing in other faiths. Below is information about Bhoman Khunaram Temple.

Bhoman Khunaram Temple 普門報恩寺 (Bangkok, Thailand)

Bhoman Khunaram is the Thai name for the temple, Poumung Bo-ungyi is the Diojiu one.

The Bhoman Khunaram Temple is a popular destination for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The temple is located very close to Bangkok's Yaowarat area (Chinatown). It is where most Chinese (Diojiu) go to pray and to do "Gongdek", a ritual for funeral ceremonies. Many tourists come to see the art gallery which is located at the Temple. It shows various collections of Chinese Calligraphy and traditional style paintings. The name of the temple means "Temple of Thanksgiving". The beautiful Chinese (Diojiu) style architecture is plainly evident both outside and inside the temple as well as in the art gallery. On any given day, one can see many tourists from America, Europe, and other places visiting the temple.

Special thanks to GagiNang member Wang for providing pictures and information. Wang is a former resident of Bangkok, now residing in Japan.

Various Pictures of the Temple, and nearby Yaowarat.

Do you have information on Traditional Teochew Culture? Or would you like to see something on a particular topic? Ideas, information, requests, comments or corrections are welcome. CONTACT US.

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