Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng
Traditional Chinese廣惠肇碧山亭
Simplified Chinese广惠肇碧山亭

Singapore Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng is a cultural organisation and columbarium based in Bishan, Singapore with beginnings since 1870. Located at Bishan Lane off Bishan Road, Peck San Theng presently operates a columbarium, two Chinese temples, and ancestral worship services tailoring towards the requirements as well as traditions, customs and beliefs of a cosmopolitan community. It is currently managed by 16 Cantonese and Hakka clan associations.

History

Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng was originally a cemetery in Singapore that was established in 1870 by Cantonese and Hakka immigrants largely from the three prefectures of Guangzhou, Huizhou and Zhaoqing in Guangdong, China.[1] The first words of the three prefectures, Guang-Hui-Zhao were the origins of the name 廣惠肇, or transliterated as Kwong-Wai-Siew.[1] Within a century, Peck San Theng (PST) became one of the biggest Chinese cemeteries in Singapore, holding more than 100,000 graves over 324 acres (1.31 km2) of land.[1]

The earliest known graves in the cemetery was marked 1830 and 1831 and a collective grave marked 1873 for immigrants without descendants from the three prefectures.[1] Other associations and clans started creating collective graves at the cemetery.[1] A stone stele marked 1890 stateed that “a temple was built in the burial ground, roads were paved and a cemetery organization was founded in this year.”[1]

In 1916, an organization was created which consisted of nine regional associations to manage PST.[1] Seven other Hakka and Cantonese regional associations later joined PST, making a total of 16 communities managing PST.[1]

In 1922, PST built a Peck Shan temple dedicated to Goddess of Mercy and also stablished a Chinese primary school for local Chinese children.[1]

In 1954, to avoid conflicts among the 16 associations, an 18-member governing committee with two representatives from the original 9 associations was set up to manage PST.[1]

In 1979, the Singapore government decided to acquire all its land to create the present-day Bishan Town. Many graves were exhumed and remains cremated during the 1980s. To enable Peck San Theng to continue with its tradition, the government leased 8 acres (32,000 m2) of land to Peck San Theng for accommodating an office block, two temples and a columbarium.[2] The columbarium houses some 100,000 niches which are available to the public irrespective of race, language and religion since 1980. It continues to be a place for ancestral worship in Singapore.[3] Peck San Teng also provides financial support to the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, a charitable organisation that provides healthcare and hospice services to the aged and needy. [4]

In 2018, a heritage gallery was built in Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng to illustrate the story of Kampong San Teng.[5]

Present Day

Peck San Theng is currently managed by a federation of 16 clans of the Cantonese and Hakka communities in Singapore.[5]

  • Nam Sun (南顺会馆)
  • Ning Yeung (宁阳会馆)
  • Chung Shan (中山会馆)
  • Poon Yue (番禺会馆)
  • Fa Yun (花县会馆)
  • Kong Chow (冈州会馆)
  • Sam Sui (三水会馆)
  • Tung On (东安会馆)
  • Shun Tak (顺德会馆)
  • Ching Yuen (清远会馆)
  • Chen Loong (增龙会馆)
  • Wui Chiu (惠州会馆)
  • Siu Heng (肇庆会馆)
  • Koh Yiu (高要会馆)
  • Hok San (鹤山会馆)
  • Yen Peng (恩平会馆)

Grand Universal Salvation Ritual

Grand Universal Salvation Ritual (万缘胜会) was first introduced to Peck San Theng in 1921.[1] The ritual was organised irregularly and was organised when there is a need for the ritual and raise funds.[1] The grand ritual is usually collectively conducted by a group of Buddhist monks and nuns and a troupe of Taoist priests.[1] The spiritual significance of this ritual is about preserving and promoting important family value like filial piety.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Choi, Chi-cheung (24 July 2020). "Ancestors Are Watching: Ritual and Governance at Peck San Theng, a Chinese Afterlife Care Organization in Singapore". Religions. 11 (8): 382. doi:10.3390/rel11080382. ISSN 2077-1444.
  2. ↑ "Life and Death in Singapore". 99% Invisible. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "广惠肇碧山亭-简介". YouTube. KwongPeckSanTheng. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "Peck San Theng organisation: 16 clan associations - Our Background". Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 Auto, Hermes (3 June 2018). "Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng columbarium in Bishan opens gallery to showcase 150-year history | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Grand Universal Salvation Ritual". Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng. Retrieved 21 May 2022.

1°20′45″N 103°50′34″E / 1.3459°N 103.8428°E / 1.3459; 103.8428

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