On Racial Prejudice 2

While getting my car fixed at the mechanic shop I had a good long visit with my friend Ah Huat one of the owners who took me for a drink at the nearby coffee shop and we had a long and interesting conversation about life and religion. Huat has very minor education after running away from home at the age of thirteen and living on the streets in KL for over ten years before returning to Penang. Today he boasts of two home and two cars and the boss of the Auto-aircondition shop. despite his lack of education he is one of the most intelligent and profoundly spiritually awakened and I always enjoyed our talks.
The Chinese pray to many different deities he explained but to him there is only one God. These deities are like awakened beings that one can approach for various reasons or needs and they will comply to your requests if one knows how to go about it and his simple formula is that I will serve you as you will serve me or I scratch your back, you mine. He has no doubt that these extra terrestrial beings exist and do intervene with the lives of man if and when asked to.Most common to the the Hokien Chinese is called  ' Tua Pek Kong' or more commonly To'Kong among local non-Chinese There are good as well not as good To'Kongs and they each have their own specialty,; those that provides wealth and prosperity and those that performs the simple task of protection and healing.All however are to be treated with respect and reverence as they can make a difference one's life for better or worse.

"Malaysian Chinese religion refers to religious beliefs of Chinese origin as practiced by the sizable Chinese minority of Malaysia. These beliefs and practices are heavily influenced by the three faiths practiced by Chinese communities, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
According to The Encyclopedia of Malaysia, vol. Religions & Beliefs, statistics from the 2000 census indicate that around 20% of the population, mainly Malaysian Chinese, are Buddhist and a further 3% follow Chinese religions including Confucianism and Taoism. The Chinese folk beliefs in Malaysia include beliefs in local guardian spirits which originated from traditional animism and mysticism, most popular Tua Pek Kong, the Malay Na Tuk Kong and the worship of sacred monks and spirits popular among the Thais, also elevated local heroes and leaders to patron saints and guardians.

 " Tua Pek Kong (Chinese: 大伯公; pinyin: Dàbó Gōng Hakka: Thai phak koong: Hokkien: Tuā-peh-kong), literally means "Grand Uncle", is one of the pantheon of Malaysian Chinese Gods. It was believed the date Tua Pek Kong arrived in Penang was 40 years before Francis Light in 1746.
Tua Pek Kong was a man named Zhang Li (张理) from the Hakka clan. His Sumatra-bound boat was struck by wind and accidentally landed on Penang island of Malaysia, which at that time had only 50 inhabitants. After his death, the local people began worshipping him and built the Tua Pek Kong temple there. Today Tua Pek Kong is worshipped by Malaysian Chinese throughout the country. Tua Pek Kong is often mistaken for Tu Di Gong, partially because of their physical similarities"
                                                                                                        Wikipedia
In just about every Chinese homes in Malaysia has an altar dedicated to one or several of these deities and offerings of fruits water and incense are made daily at these altars. Ah Huat has an altar at his small office and i commented that the roof in his office was leaking as it was raining at the time. Unlike most people instead of making excuses about the leak, Ah Huat looked at me with a grin on his face and said, the To'Kong loves to enjoy the rain sometimes too! Out in the yard where he had carefully built a fish pond and bamboo grove stand the small statue of yet another deity getting soaked by the rain and I asked him about this pot belly  joyously laughing character lugging a huge sack on his back. Ah said this was not a To'Kong but simply a character that helps to make one happy when looked at as he laughs at all odds and suffering. It helps to remind us to smile at others to help ease any pain that the other may be going through at the moment.

History

Delightfully decorated Poh San Teng Temple, Malacca (detail)

The Encyclopedia of Malaysia states that the early history of Malaysian Chinese religions traces back to the 15th century, with small settlements that were established in Melaka by Hokkien traders, but it was not until the 19th century that there was a mass migration of Chinese. They built shrines dedicated to their deities and cemeteries for those who died. The Chinese migration during the tin and gold mining days, which were a result of high demand for these products, prompted the need of temples, for practices and religious rituals. During that time, most immigrants were illiterate or poorly educated peasants and coolies, thus Buddhist and Taoist monks were brought over from China to run the temples.
Social organizations in the Chinese immigrant society were important, where surnames, dialect, locality and trade mattered. The Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka, respectively formed their secret societies, such as the Ghee Hin and Hai San, and they played as 'government' in controlling the Chinese immigrants. Local Malay chiefs called the Chinese leaders Kapitan Cina (literally, "Captain China" or "Chinese Captain"), who soon became patron saints of the Chinese. The evolution of Malaysian Chinese Religion was a mixture of local value and belief systems, where it produced some local deities such as the Na Tuk Kong and Tua Pek Kong.



List of Malaysian Chinese Gods:

• Na Tuk Kong (Chinese : 拿督公)
• Celestial God Tnee Kong (Chinese : 天公)
• Earth God Teh Choo Kong (地主公), Tu Di Gong (Chinese : 土地公)
• Tua Pek Kong (Chinese : 大伯公)
• God of Prosperity Choy Sun Yeh / God of Fortune (Chinese : 财神)
• Kwan God Kwan Kong (Chinese : 關公)
• Kuan Yin originated from Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara (Chinese : 觀世音), commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy.
• Ma Zu (Chinese : 媽祖) is the Taoist Goddess of the Sea who protects fishermen and sailors.
• Di Zhu God (Chinese: 地主神) Lord of the Land Used." 
•   

Oddly enough not too many Malays dare venture into the Chinese temples at least not without social or religious inhibition as most Chinese temples are homes to 'Idols' which is very anti-Islam in practice.The ornate designs as well as vibrant red and gold dominated colors depicting gods and demons of these temples are almost too strong for the Malays' taste as well and to top it off so does the overpowering smoke and smell of the incense that constantly fills the air. The sound of bells is a very common as well as essential part of Chinese religious affairs; Ah Huat said that it helps to gather the attention of the congregation that especially in this modern age where our minds drifts more easily than ever.

"In parts of Asia each year, during the seventh lunar month, it is believed that the gates of Hell are opened and all the souls are set free to wander the Earth. At this time, many spirits roam around trying to fulfill their past needs, wants and desires. These are the "hungry ghosts". Numerous religious rituals and folk performances, like street operas, take place during the seventh lunar month to try to appease the spirits."

In Penang many smaller roads are half closed to traffic due to the erection of makeshift stages and incense as well as paper money burning. Today most of the stage shows has been taken over by contemporary Chnese performers with mostly skimpily clad singers while in the older days the performance of the traditional Chinese Opera took center stage. Ah Huat felt that it is allot of waste as the cost to carry this out can be phenomenal. I pointed out to him the environmental pollution it generates. 

But this is life to the Chinese, their faith and beliefs, what makes them who they are. In a multi-racial society such as Malaysia to learn to understand each and every religion and to learn to respect these believes without judgement is crucial for our survival. Like a good Muslim would Ah Huat pointed his finger and said that the finger pointing has three pointing back at itself; when we judge we are actually judging three times more at our own ignorance.