The Influence of Chinese Cultural Practices among Malaysian Indians

Abstract

The diplomatic relationship between the Indian and Chinese communities has existed since the beginning of civilization. The Malaysian Chinese and Indian ancestors, who migrated from China and India to Malaya under the encouragement of British colonials at the end of the 18th and 19th centuries to fulfill the labor-power within the nation, stayed in Malaya and became the citizens of the country. As a result, these communities constructed a new life born from constant contact between them. The shared cultural practices had even amalgamated to produce new cultures in both communities, respectively. As both occupied the same geographical space, the influence of each community on another was highly evident in many aspects of their lives, namely in religious beliefs, arts, medical practices, dressing, and food. The current research investigated the influence of the Malaysian Chinese community on the Malaysian Indian community based on two significant questions: what were the influences and how these influences were manifested among Malaysian Indians. Research findings revealed that Chinese religious beliefs and food had dominant influence among Malaysian Indians. This influence mainly stemmed from the similar cultural traits between Chinese and Indians in general, which prompted the Malaysian Indians to accept the Chinese culture and infuse it in their life with ease.