Artefacts, opera performances among highlights at inaugural Cantonese culture festival

SINGAPORE – A century-old statue of the Chinese god of war Guan Gong wielding his battle blade and a charcoal portrait of Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat Sen from over 100 years ago are among the artefacts on display at the inaugural Peck San Theng Cultural Festival to be held on May 17 and 18.

The festival is a major outreach effort by organiser Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng (KWSPST), a 155-year-old cultural institution managed by 16 Cantonese clan associations.

Besides the cultural artefacts exhibition, the festival will also have performances such as Cantonese opera and music, lion dance and martial arts, as well as cultural talks.

And, because there is nothing quite like food to whet anyone’s appetite for tradition, visitors can look forward to a Cantonese food showcase of culinary delights such as dimsum and Samsui chicken rice.

“Our ultimate goal is to use the festival as a platform to encourage more people, especially the younger generation and non-Chinese, to take an interest in our traditional culture,” said Dr Yee Wai Seng, vice-chairman of the festival.

“At the same time, it serves to promote Peck San Theng as a cultural and educational hub.”

Peck San Theng in Bishan Lane is where the festival and KWSPST are located.

The place itself is steeped in history: Today, much of Bishan New Town stands on KWSPST’s old cemetery, which was built in 1870 by Cantonese and Hakka immigrants from the prefectures of Guangzhou, Huizhou and Zhaoqing in Guangdong province, China.

It was the final resting place for more than 100,000 Chinese immigrants. “Peck San Theng” means “jade mountain pavilions”, a reference to the pavilions on the burial site that served as locality markers and shelters for visitors.

The Government acquired the 131ha burial ground around 1979 for the development of a new town called Bishan, whose name was derived from the Peck San Theng Chinese cemetery.

After the acquisition, the Government leased KWSPST 3.2 ha of the land, on which now sits a columbarium that is available to all Singaporeans, two temples, an office building, and a heritage gallery which is open to the public by appointment for free.

There are several historic artefacts on the sprawling grounds, including a pair of Italian marble lion sculptures dating back to 1918 – which were part of the tomb structure of Cantonese pioneer Wong Ah Fook – 23 pieces of porcelain murals, and a statue of the Monkey God from the 1880s.

More unique treasures and ethnographic artefacts are found in the 560 sq m heritage gallery, which was established in 2018.

The gallery remains open, even as it is undergoing a revamp to better showcase its extensive collection of funerary objects recovered from the storied Bukit Brown Cemetery.

It also conducts visits for student groups to learn more about the tales and legacies of Singapore’s early Chinese settlers, and frequently collaborates with other grassroots and community groups to host guided visits and cultural exchanges.

“We have opened our gates, both literally and symbolically, to people from every dialect group, ethnic community and nation, fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and the collective celebration of shared heritage,” said Dr Yee, who is also vice-head of KWSPST’s heritage gallery.

Every five years, KWSPST organises a grand ancestral worship ceremony for all to uphold the virtues of filial piety and remembrance. It also offers support and financial aid to others, including making donations to Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.

The upcoming festival is the first project to benefit from increased funding from the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA).

The apex body of Chinese clan associations in Singapore announced in January that its members will get more money to organise activities, with the expansion of a fund to promote Chinese culture.

It raised the cap for applications to tap its Clan Associations Cultural Activities Fund, from $2,000 to $7,500.

Clans stand a higher chance of getting more funding if they work on joint projects. For clans organising events independently, the funding limit has also been raised from $2,000 to $5,000.

Since then, SFCCA, which has about 250 member associations, has observed a threefold increase in applications for the fund.

“The initial response is encouraging, and we remain optimistic that more clans will leverage this funding opportunity to develop meaningful, forward-looking projects that safeguard cultural heritage,” said an SFCCA spokesman.

He added that the Peck San Theng Cultural Festival demonstrates strong alignment with SFCCA’s mission to promote and celebrate Chinese culture, and is one of the larger-scale events within the clan community.

Ms Sharon Woo, a member of the festival’s organising committee, said the festival is a springboard for KWSPST’s future efforts in cultural and heritage outreach.

“From here, we will get to know what people like, and can curate more interesting exhibitions and programmes that also shed light on our past,” she said.

KWSPST has invited grassroots organisations, schools and other community groups in Bishan to attend the festival. It hopes to attract Singaporeans to find out more about its rich history and culture.

KWSPST president Ho Kwong Meng noted that other clan associations have organised similar festivals for Teochews and Hokkiens.

“There are diverse talents among our 16 member clan associations,” Dr Ho said. “We should use this platform to showcase our Cantonese heritage and unity, and I hope this becomes an annual tradition.”

The Peck San Theng Cultural Festival will be held at Peck San Theng at 50 Bishan Lane, on May 17 and 18, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free (but food is chargeable).

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