Chinese Indonesians Research Articles

Chinese Indonesian hometown associations in Singkawang: a sentimental construction of Kampung Halaman

ABSTRACT After the fall of Suharto and the retraction of discriminatory laws in Indonesia, many Chinese Indonesian Voluntary Associations (CIVAs) have reemerged. Over the past two decades, hometown associations have proliferated in order to channel support to, express love for, and generate identification with the kampung halaman, or hometown. These associations do not refer to qiaoxiang (侨乡), or the ancestral villages of overseas Chinese in China, but rather hometowns around Indonesia, and members consist of local, Jakarta, or overseas-based Chinese Indonesians who engage in developing their hometowns socially, culturally, politically and economically via a series of activities. The rapid revival of hometown and other types of CVAs in the Indonesian contexts indicates the resiliency of this form of social organization as a diasporic mechanism through which to construct community, articulate feelings of home and belonging, while contributing to regional place making within diasporic imaginaries of hybrid Chineseness. This paper presents a qualitative analysis based on ethnographic research in the city of Singkawang, West Kalimantan.

Revisiting Chinese Indonesian Violence in Indonesian Post-New Order Fiction

May 1998 saw one of the worst cases of racial violence in Indonesian history. During 13th to 15th May 1998, there were acts of expropriation, looting, arson and sexual assault targeting the Chinese community in Indonesia. Using two specimens of Indonesian post-New Order fiction, Sekuntum Nozomi 3 (SN3) by Marga Tjoa and Putri Cina (PC) by Sindhunata, this study investigates how cultural memories of the May 1998 Tragedy were shared with the post-event generation. The method employed is a qualitative narrative with a narratological approach. The results showed that literary works function as a medium for the spread of memory. Through SN3 and PC, the memory of violence against ethnic Chinese Indonesians between 12th and 15th May 1998 is transmitted, especially for the post-event generation who did not experience it firsthand. Despite the differing representation strategy, there was substantively one voice to be conveyed, namely that of “discrimination, violence and human rights violations” against Chinese Indonesians. Memories are institutionalised and distributed as part of the national memory in these works. Both works mediate the politics of cultural memory to memorialise the past “sins” of the Indonesian people. These literary works can be viewed as tools for minorities to articulate discrimination.

Perception of perpetrators’ acknowledgement of victimhood increases rather than decreases support for reconciliation with another victim group

ABSTRACT Centuries of colonial oppression in the collective memory of native Indonesians perpetuated their perception as victims of historical injustice, and left behind violent intergroup conflicts. We investigated how perceived acknowledgement of victimhood by perpetrators and another victim group would predict support for reconciliation with Chinese Indonesians through acknowledgement of ingroup wrongdoing and reduced prejudice. We conducted an online survey among native Indonesians (N = 333) and identified an indirect relationship between perceived acknowledgement of victimhood by Dutch colonizers and support for reconciliation with Chinese Indonesians via the mediating effect of prejudice. However, contrary to expectations, participants with higher levels of perceived acknowledgement of victimhood by perpetrators were more likely to show prejudice, which in turn predicted lower support for reconciliation. Acknowledgement of ingroup wrongdoing was not a statistically significant mediator. This study suggests that, in some cases, acknowledgement of victimhood by the perpetrator group may be primarily taken as a confirmation of victimhood rather than a direct path towards a more peaceful co-existence with other groups.

三发市华人冬至节传统习俗概况

<p>The title of this study is “Overview of Traditional Customs of Chinese Winter Solstice Festival in Sambas City”. The winter solstice is a very important solar term in the lunar calendar, it is the 22<sup>nd</sup> of the 24 solar terms. The winter solstice is also a traditional festival. The Winter Solstice is generally celebrated on December 21<sup>st</sup> or 22<sup>nd</sup> of the lunar calendar. The winter solstice was once called “eating glunious rice balls” by Chinese Indonesians. The purpose of the research is to understand the customs and significance of the Sambas city Winter Solstice Festival and the differences between Sambas and Chinese Winter Solstice Festivals. The author chooses Sambas Chinese as the research object. The data collection method used in this article is interviews. It can be seen from the interview results that the Sambas Chinese still celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival, but many people do not understand the meaning, significance and customs of the Winter Solstice Festival. With the development of the times, many traditional customs have gradually changed, and some customs have even slowy disappeared.</p>

An integrated threat theory analysis of latent tension between native Indonesians and Chinese Indonesians

ABSTRACT The relationship between Chinese Indonesians and native Indonesians (Pribumi) is marred by tensions and violence. The Dutch colonial legacies have positioned Chinese Indonesians as perpetual outsiders, making them constantly question their roles and identity in the process of Indonesian nation-building. Despite their centuries-old presence and Indonesia’s almost three decades of reform, prejudice towards Chinese Indonesians persists. This was reflected in the 2017 Indonesia National Survey Project, suggesting native Indonesians still perceive their Chinese Indonesian counterparts as an economically privileged group, greedy, selfish, and exclusive. Using integrated threat theory, this study explores the link between the perception of threats and prejudice towards Chinese Indonesians. Using multiple regression analysis, this study found stereotypes, realistic threats, history of intergroup conflicts, and age are strong predictors of prejudice towards the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. Theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for integrated threat and prejudice are discussed.

Past, present and future: Colonial comparative victimhood hinders reconciliation with Chinese Indonesians through prejudice among natives

Past, present and future: Colonial comparative victimhood hinders reconciliation with Chinese Indonesians through prejudice among natives

‘Marriage is like Gambling’: Interpreting and Narrating Stories of Hakka Chinese Indonesians’ Marriage Migration

ABSTRACT This article examines the stories of marriages between ethnic Hakka Chinese women from Singkawang, Indonesia and men in Taiwan. Initially, Indonesians described marriage as an opportunity to achieve a better life, whereas Taiwanese saw a ‘foreign spouse’ as the means to fulfil caring duties and carry on family lines. Marriage from Singkawang to Taiwan was a normative practice shaped by cultural, sociopolitical, and economic conditions, which peaked in number in the early 21st century. Yet these marriages rapidly declined in number after 2010, as Indonesia’s economy improved, and as attitudes changed when returning women told stories of failed marriages and abusive spouses and in-laws in Taiwan. Analysis of stories collected from more than 100 participants in Singkawang shows how participants interpreted ‘good’ and ‘bad’ marriages via an adaptive and malleable folk theory of fate and luck. Hence, parents can narrate themselves as passive, ill-fated participants not responsible when their daughters’ marriages turn bad. Or a woman can say that it is her fate to ‘try’ marriage and narrate herself as having agency when making decisions that test her luck. Therefore, this study deepens and enriches our understanding of the complexities and enduring impacts of marriage migration as experienced across time in Asia.

Religion, culture, and identity: the generational evolution of identification with Buddhism from the perspective of young Chinese Indonesians

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the generational shifts in identification with Buddhism from the perspective of young Chinese Indonesians. The study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to collect data from 257 respondents spanning three generations (grandparents, parents, and children) across 10 provinces in Indonesia. The findings indicate a general trend of generational decline in Identification with Buddhism among Chinese Indonesians. Identification with Buddhist symbols declines most rapidly, while recognition of Buddhist behavioural patterns shows the least decline. The alignment with Buddhist values and perceptions initially changes slowly but accelerates in decline over time. Additionally, there is a negative correlation between Buddhist identity and emotional engagement, reflecting complex intergenerational dynamics. The analysis also reveals significant effects of regional differences, community relationships, and familial occupational backgrounds on the decline in levels of Identification with Buddhism.

Death Kongsi and the Survival of Chinese Death Processions in Padang City

This article explains how the ethnic Chinese of Padang maintain the continuity of the death procession in Chinese culture. This article uses a historical approach by utilizing sources in the form of Dutch period documents, organizational documents of Himpunan Tjinta Teman (HTT) and Himpunan Bersatu Teguh (HBT), newspaper news and literature studies on the death processions of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia and outside Indonesia, as well as observations and interviews with HBT and HTT funeral administrators. These sources are used to find facts related to the death processions carried out by ethnic Chinese and the existence of HBT and HTT as institutions organizing Padang Chinese funeral processions. Furthermore, the existing facts are analyzed using historical and ethnographic approaches. The findings of the article show that the ethnic Chinese of Padang still carry out and preserve the implementation of the Chinese cultural death procession in an organizational forum. In this case, the organization's function as the organizer of the death procession for Padang Chinese is the key to the survival and existence of the organization itself. Various Chinese cultures preserved and inherited in the HTT and HBT organizations, including the culture of death, are essential in forming self- and collective identity and solidarity of Chinese community groups in the city of Padang.

Theravadization of Buddhayana under the discourse of modern Buddhism and Indonesian politics

Scholars have presented the Buddhayana Movement as a diverse and localized form of Indonesian Buddhism, which was facilitated by the cooperation of transnational Buddhist networks. This paper raises two questions: (1) what were the impacts of Theravada Buddhism that facilitated the rise of Buddhayana? and (2) when Theravada became a symbol of authentic Buddhism and its identity could satisfy the state rather during assimilation policy, how did Buddhayana members balance the needs of the Chinese patrons and of the government? Based upon documentary methods combined with in-depth interviews, the data collected are analyzed through the concepts of transnationalism and the discourse of modern Buddhism. This paper proposes that (1) the birth of Buddhayana in the 1960s was facilitated not only by transnational relations, but also by the discourse of modern Buddhism, which led to an emphasis on Theravada Buddhism. Therefore, even though Buddhayana claimed to be open to Mahayana and Vajrayana as well, its official doctrines and ritual performances presented in public tend to be Theravada in character. (2) The politics of discrimination against the Chinese Indonesians helped to marginalize Mahayana Buddhism, a tradition that its image links to the Chinese culture. In consequence, Mahayana tended to play a role in the daily practices of the Chinese in their houses and klenteng, meanwhile Theravada in terms of philosophical teachings and huge rituals was chosen to be presented in the public sphere in accordance with the state’s needs.

How inter-ethnic relations are reproduced through everyday social practices: A perspective from the Javanese nasi pecel vendors in Mataraman cities

There is growing scholarship on how ethnic groups with historical tensions recover and manage to build harmonious relationships. However, detailed accounts of the lived experiences of such relations are limited. We seek to address this gap by exploring everyday inter-ethnic relations between Javanese and Chinese Indonesians in Indonesia as exemplified in the practice of selling nasi pecel, the traditional food of Mataraman cities in East Java. Our eight-week fieldwork involved 30 nasi pecel sellers in the four cities of Madiun, Nganjuk, Kediri, and Jombang through go-alongs and subsequent photo-elicitation interviews. Our engagements with the sellers have enabled us to generate a large body of empirical materials comprising 35 interviews and over 200 photographs. In the roles of bricoleurs, we then worked abductively to make sense of the empirical materials generated to build case studies of six sellers which resonated with the stories of the other 24 nasi pecel sellers in the study. We focused on the centrality of the seemingly mundane everyday practices of selling nasi pecel in (re)producing inter-ethnic interactions between the Javanese nasi pecel sellers and the Chinese Indonesian landowners. The everyday interactions for purposes such as accessing electricity and water and serving the customers which have been enacted every day for decades build spaces for inter-ethnic friendship and solidarity. We discuss how such inter-ethnic relations are vital in Indonesian society by emplacing such phenomenon within the broader socio-historical context of Chinese Indonesian and Javanese inter-ethnic relations, which are often framed as adversarial.

Navigating and Exhibiting Ambivalence: Yin Hua Artist Organization and Sino-Indonesian Relations in the 1950s to 1960s

Abstract: This paper interrogates the logic of inclusion and exclusion that foregrounds the ethnocentrism and spatial boundedness of the state project’s national identity construction and proposes critical terms of discussion that challenge the limiting nation-centric framework prevalent in the dominant modern art historiography discourse. Drawing on primary archival research, it describes accounts of Lembaga Seniman Yin Hua (Yin Hua Meishu Xiehui, 印華美術協會, Yin Hua Artist Organization), an art organization established in 1955 in Jakarta and analyzes it against the backdrop of the Sino-Indonesian diplomatic relationship during the Cold War era. By engaging with the ambivalent aesthetic and politic of Chinese Indonesian artists, this paper recognizes the active and strategic agency of Chinese Indonesians as both insiders and outsiders in China and Indonesia under the uncertain circumstances of their dual nationality status. It argues that Yin Hua ambivalently navigated between the political patronage of Indonesia and China, performed dual loyalty to Indonesian and Sino-centric art history, and exhibited multiple artistic lineages that disrupted the stabilized territory of postcolonial nation-state geographical and cultural border. Weaving exhibition history, diplomatic history, and critical ethnic studies through a thread of transnational perspective, this paper provides historical narratives that unsettle the roots of racializing logic in the political articulation of nationalism and pushes toward an epistemic shift in rethinking categories of national identity, ethnicity, and citizenship.

A Road to “Unity in Diversity”: The Case of Indonesia’s Chinese Minority Group

Indonesia is well-known for its diverse ethnic groups. The lovely motto bhinneka tunggal ika (unity in diversity) has long been used to foster national identity and demonstrate how these many ethnic populations may cohabit peacefully. However, this is not always the case, especially among the Chinese-Indonesian community. This article examines the history and current situation of the Chinese-Indonesian minority, which has faced various forms of violence and discrimination since the Dutch colonial era, to understand why Chinese Indonesians are frequently used as a scapegoat for problems in the country, particularly those related to economic disparity. It explores the causes and implications of the unfavourable sentiment against this ethnic group using Johan Galtung's concepts of direct, structural, and cultural violence. It also evaluates the Indonesian government's legislative and social actions to solve the issue, concluding that they are insufficient to promote constructive peace and justice. The article argues that a genuine reconciliation process is required to heal the trauma and promote mutual understanding among Chinese Indonesians and other ethnic groups.

‘‘A dream of guru came to me’’: Meanings of dreaming about spiritual teacher for Chinese Indonesian Buddhists

AbstractBased on an ethnographic study among Chinese Indonesians who practice Tibetan Buddhism, we analyze doctrinal beliefs and meanings associated with the appearance of spiritual teacher in dreams. The most common meanings conveyed in their narratives were the beliefs that Guru‐related dreams signify successful spiritual practice, a prophetic insight into future events, and an encouragement for further endeavor in spiritual practice. For a significant number of them, these meanings centered around the precarious feeling of being perceived as the source of the nation's problem. Analyzing the dynamic of these positive/optimistic meanings and negative/pessimistic feelings with regard to Guru‐related dreams, we conclude that both represent the ongoing negotiation between spirituality and ethnic belonging and are connected to the soteriological project of forging a new ethical self.

Navigating the Path to Islam: Evaluating Persuasive Communication in Conversion Guidance Programs at the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Unity Institute (PITI) in Surabaya

Understanding Islam poses a significant challenge for newly converted individuals and groups, underscoring the necessity of companionship and guidance to facilitate their learning and exploration of faith. Recognizing this imperative, the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Unity Institute (PITI) in Surabaya has initiated mentoring activities tailored specifically for new converts of Islam. Employing a persuasive communication approach between mentors and converts, the program aimed to deepen their understanding of faith. This study evaluated the effectiveness of persuasive communication in the development of conversion to Islam at the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association Institute in Surabaya. Using qualitative research methods with a descriptive approach, in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted to gather data. The analytical framework is rooted in the AIDDA concept, encompassing Attention, Interest, Desire, Decision, and Action. The findings reveal that the Surabaya PITI Institute adeptly implements the AIDDA concept in the context of persuasive communication. Beginning with capturing converts' attention through the introduction of the ta'aruf program by da'i, the program proceeds to generate interest by delivering engaging and relevant content. The da'i employs a gentle and persuasive language when imparting Quranic teachings and avoiding coercion. As a result, converts make informed decisions to embrace Islamic practices such as regular prayer, zakat, and fasting, signifying a meaningful behavioral shift towards adherence to Islamic principles. Consequently, converts integrate the teachings presented by the da'i, prioritizing Islamic doctrines derived from the Quran and Hadith while gradually distancing themselves from conflicting Chinese cultural practices. This research provides insights into the role of persuasive communication in guiding converts and offers implications for the development of effective Da'wah strategies and approaches.

The Mutual Influence between Chinese and Indonesian Language Users in Sunlie Thomas Alexander’s Short Story “My Mother is a Mong Kap San Woman”

This article examines how the characters as language users influence one another and what factors enabling or motivating them to do so in Sunlie Thomas Alexander's short story "My Mother is a Mong Kap San Woman". This research uses qualitative approach with discourse analysis method. The narrator and his family members are Chinese Indonesians who speak Hakka language. Their neighbors are Malay people who speak Indonesian language. The narrator, his family, and his neighbors live in Bangka Island, Indonesia. They influence one another using their own certain vocabulary, spelling and articulation while communicating. The findings of this research are education and political repression are the reason for a certain ethnic group not to understand Indonesian language. Nevertheless, this research concludes, the interaction between the two different ethnic groups has created a hybrid language.

探析中印文化碰撞之跨文化交际——以中国赴印尼汉语教师的工作学习生活采访为例

<p><span lang="EN-US">With the opening and development of Chinese language education in Indone-sia, the number of people learning Chinese in Indonesia has also increased significantly. That way the demand for Chinese teachers in Indonesia is in-creasing slowly . In 2004, Hanban launched the "Chinese Teacher Volunteer" project in which thousands teachers are sent to various countries around the world every year to teach Chinese and spread Chinese culture. Most of the volunteer Chinese teachers have been working and living abroad for a long time, and in this long-term foreign cultural atmosphere, they have more contact with the locals, not only from theoretical understanding, but also from practical life, they will continue to face difficulties, especially in terms of cultural ad-aptation, they will experience a kind of culture shock, which will be reflected in these Chinese teachers. The authors randomly selected a Chinese teacher teaching mandarin in Indonesia to conduct an interview survey to investigate how they reflect differently in cross-cultural communication under the collision of different cultures in China and Indonesia. After consolidating interviewees, the authors found that the explicit culture of interviewees in foreign countries includes: language, food, etiquette, systems, and clothing; Implicit ones in-clude: religion, the concept of time, etc. It is hoped that this survey can provide assistance, references and advice to teachers who will volunteer as Chinese teachers in Indonesia in the future, making it more convenient for teachers to work, study, and live in Indonesia.</span></p>

FROM STREET SINGER TO POPULAR MUSLIM PREACHER FIGURES

This article seeks to examine the representation of Chinese Indonesians in New Media after the demise of Suharto’s New Order regimes. It takes root in the recent phenomenon in Indonesia as the “reappearance” of Chinese faces in popular Indonesian media by discussing the celebrities or public figures, and ordinary ‘man-on-the street’ of Chinese Indonesians, who are catapulted in the mainstream mass media and portrayed in popular television formats in particular such as reality-shows, talk-shows, news and variety shows. Based on participatory observation and in-depth-interview to the producers of several popular TV shows casting Chinese figures, this article argues that the political changes from authoritarian Suharto’s regimes which marginalized Chinese ethnicity to democracy has re-identified the representation of Chineseness in public sphere which contributes to more reception of Chinese identity at large in the country. This representation intermingles to produce the debates on religiosity and nationalism.

Identification with Buddhism among young Chinese Indonesians: multicultural dynamics and generational transitions

Amidst the diverse cultural and religious tapestry of Indonesia, Buddhism holds a prominent position as a major faith. Within the context of multiculturalism and generational shifts, this study explores the evolving identification of young Chinese Indonesians with Buddhism. This research addresses the existing knowledge gap by investigating the intricate interplay of historical, cultural, and religious elements that help shape young Chinese Indonesians’ identification with Buddhism. By conducting a thorough analysis of quantitative data gathered from young Chinese Indonesians through a survey, this study investigates six dimensions of identification with Buddhism. This examination considers variables such as age, family background, and regional disparities. Furthermore, to obtain deeper insights and support the quantitative findings, the researchers conducted semistructured interviews to gather qualitative data. The findings reveal the characteristics of young Chinese Indonesians’ identification with Buddhism. First, there are significant variations in identification levels across regions, with relatively lower levels in Java and higher levels in other archipelagos. Personal factors, such as parents’ occupations, also influence individuals’ degree of identification with Buddhism. Second, today’s Chinese Indonesian youth maintain their identification with Buddhism through family ties despite overall intergenerational decline. The participants also show a keen interest in modern religious symbols, dissemination methods, and content. Third, the Buddhist identity of Chinese Indonesian youth transcends traditional values and cultural content, reflecting characteristics of multiculturalism and cultural blending. They not only appreciate various aspects of local culture but also incorporate Buddhist values and symbols into the mainstream of globally shared culture, creating a more extensive and modern collective cultural identity. Unveiling the factors that shape Buddhist identification among Chinese Indonesian youths has implications for fostering intercultural and intergenerational cohesion. The insights derived from this research can contribute to the design of effective strategies aimed at advancing the broader goal of cultural harmony and social unity in Indonesia.

The Role of Chinese Ethnic in Grebeg Sudiro: A Historical Perspective

<p>The dynamics of ethnic Chinese life in Indonesia have been a part of historical civilization since ancient times. The involvement of ethnic Chinese is sometimes rarely highlighted by the public, even though there are various roles of ethnic Chinese in the traditions that exist in Indonesia. This research aims to examine the role of ethnic Chinese in Grebeg Sudiro from a historical perspective. This research is based on a literature study with data obtained from various books, journals, and theses to find out the role of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in the Grebeg Sudiro tradition. The results show this tradition exists in the Central Java region, especially in Surakarta. The ethnic Chinese in this tradition present their cultural heritage and foster a sense of unity and tolerance within the Javanese community. This tradition represents the beauty of diversity and wealth from different backgrounds. It not only shows the role of ethnic Chinese but also shows the symbolism between Javanese and Chinese culture. The awareness of the Javanese community itself can produce a form of diversity in the form of the Grebeg Sudiro tradition.</p>