Chinese Yici 義祠– The Transition from the Fellow-Township Model to the Chinese Buddhism Model (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City) อี้ฉือ (義祠) ของจีน: การเปลี่ยนผ่านจากแบบแผนชุมชนบ้านเกิด สู่แบบแผนพุทธศาสนาจีน

Abstract

This study aims to examine the functional transformation of Chinese Yici institutions within the context of Vietnamese–Chinese Buddhist integration. The study primarily employs historical methodology and functionalist theory to analyze the process by which Buddhist institutions have encroached upon and replaced the functions of traditional worship centers, within the broader context of social development and transformation. The Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City has a long-standing history. Their social organization is fundamentally based on five linguistic groups, established during the French colonial period on the foundation of regional affiliations. French policies allowed each linguistic group, represented by a respective guild, to have its management structures, including cemetery temples. Chinese cemetery temples operated under a system of regional affiliations, with charitable activities focused on honoring the deceased and repatriating remains to their homeland. Over time, as the guild-based management system dissolved, these cemetery temples gradually shifted their focus towards charitable activities, mutual aid, connections with hospitals, and participation in festivals such as Vu Lan and the Lantern Festival. The management structure transitioned from being regionally based to being under Chinese Mahayana Buddhism or a combination of both. The Mahayana Buddhist tradition, rooted in the distinct beliefs of the Chinese community, facilitated this functional transformation smoothly, aligning with Buddhism's compassionate principles. The research finds that Mahayana Buddhist principles facilitated a smooth institutional transformation, preserving cultural identity while shifting community functions toward charitable work.