Maroc - TAIWANTODAY.TW - Taiwan Review - 01/Feb 00:00

Hakka Diplomacy

Taiwan fosters stronger connections with New Southbound Policy target countries through shared Hakka heritage.   Ivy Wang (王淑慧) had never heard of Singkawang until she participated in a 2013 survey of Hakka residents in the northern county of Hsinchu’s Zhudong Township. Conducted by local nongovernmental organization the Two Rivers Culture Association (TRCA) and funded by the Cabinet-level Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), the project unearthed a fascinating connection: many Indonesian immigrants in Zhudong hailed from Hakka communities in Singkawang, a coastal city in Borneo. Some had relocated as early as the 1960s to escape anti-Chinese movements in Indonesia. “These immigrants blend seamlessly into Zhudong life, which was a remarkable discovery,” Wang said. Inspired by these findings, TRCA developed an interest in exploring Singkawang, culminating in a 2017 visit by 10 association members, including Wang.   Members of the Two Rivers Culture Association visit Singkawang, Indonesia, to document the lives of Hakka residents, left. Students from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University explore Kuching, Malaysia, which has a significant Hakka population. (Courtesy of Two Rivers Culture Association／Courtesy of Lo Lieh-shih) The trip was made possible through the Hakka Community and New Southbound Policy Collaboration program, launched in 2016 by the HAC. Designed to strengthen ties between Taiwan and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the initiative leverages shared Hakka heritage to promote cultural exchange and enhance participants’ cross-cultural engagement skills. For its 2024 edition, the program funded four groups, with each eligible for subsidies of up to NT$1 million (US$30,480). Participants were required to contribute 20 percent of the budget and spend at least two weeks in their host countries. Singkawang Project The program encourages participating teams to amplify public diplomacy through multiyear initiatives, such as TRCA’s visits to Singkawang over three consecutive years. To ensure the success of their first trip, the association secured permission from 10 Singkawang-born women in Zhudong—all of whom had moved to Taiwan through marriage—to visit their families in Indonesia. “Their elderly parents welcomed us as if we were their daughters,” Wang recalled. These warm connections paved the way for broader ties with the Hakka community there in subsequent visits. Local Hakka Christian groups also played a pivotal role, introducing the TRCA team to more community members. The team’s primary objective was to explore the cultural and social traits of Singkawang’s Hakka population through field studies and interviews, comparing them to those in Taiwan. Chiang Hsin-chi (姜信淇), a retired elementary school principal and expert in Hakka nursery rhymes, sayings and proverbs, discovered striking similarities and intriguing differences. “It was thrilling to find some expressions identical to those in Taiwan and discuss the variations with locals,” he said. Meanwhile, Jerry Li (黎錦昌), another retired principal and a Hakka music specialist, studied the evolution of Hakka folk songs and ba-yin music—a traditional performance art featured in religious ceremonies. Inspired by a solo folk tune he heard in Singkawang, Li adapted it into a choral arrangement upon returning to Taiwan.   Exchanges with ba-yin musicians in Singkawang, such as this group dedicated to preserving the traditional performance art, are part of the TRCA’s research on the evolution of Hakka music. ( Courtesy of TRCA)   Although the Singkawang project concluded in 2019, its influence endures. Supported by HAC funding, the team published a book detailing their work. Chiang has since lectured at colleges across Taiwan on overseas Hakka communities, while Wang shares her experiences with students at Zhudong’s elementary schools, where many children are of Singkawang Hakka descent. “These stories help students appreciate Taiwan’s multicultural identity and deepen immigrant children’s understanding of their heritage,” Wang said. “This not only nurtures cultural pride but also boosts confidence in children who often need it the most.” Academic Research Academic Lo Lieh-shih and doctoral students from NYCU attend the inaugural Sarawak-Taiwan International Forum on Village Development and Local Revitalization in Siniawan last year. (Courtesy of Lo Lieh-shih) In addition to private organizations like TRCA, academic institutions such as National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in northern Taiwan play a vital role in connecting the country with overseas Hakka communities. Over the past two years, 30 students have received HAC support to travel to Sarawak, Malaysia, as part of an elective course on the social and cultural development of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia. The students conducted field studies in Kuching and Miri, cities with significant Hakka populations.   Lo, right, details the NYCU team’s visit to the Malaysian city of Miri and neighboring areas to Baram Hakka Association. (Courtesy of Lo Lieh-shih) Each student focused on a specific research topic, regularly reporting in class for guidance from faculty members. Their work culminated in detailed theses submitted following their trips. “These experiences provide students with invaluable opportunities for in-depth exchange with Hakka members of the community across various fields,” said group leader Lo Lieh-shih (羅烈師), an NYCU academic specializing in cultural anthropology and Hakka society. PhD students on the team undertook their own personal research, forming a smaller group led by Lo. During last year’s trip, Lo and three doctoral candidates visited Siniawan, a Hakka-majority town about 20 kilometers from Kuching, to participate in the inaugural Sarawak-Taiwan International Forum on Village Development and Local Revitalization. Organized by NYCU’s College of Hakka Studies and the Siniawan Cultural Creative Tourism Association, the forum allowed the Taiwan group to share insights on village revitalization drawn from the country’s Hakka communities. Over 20 Malaysian participants, including politicians and community leaders, engaged in the discussions. “We aimed to share Taiwan’s expertise to inspire local development,” Lo said, noting the forum’s second edition is planned to take place in another town nearby later this year. Music Links San-geu-tai members discuss their Southeast Asian tour at a radio station in Kuala Lumpur. (Courtesy of New San-geu-tai Band) While academic research builds connections through study, pop culture groups like New San-geu-tai Band foster ties through creative expression, particularly among younger audiences. Established in 1997, the five-member band blends jazz, blues and rock with Hakka folk tunes, with most of its songs written in Hakka by founder Tommy Yen (顏志文). Their journey into Southeast Asia began in 2017 with performances for Hakka communities in Singapore. By 2019 they had collaborated with The Straits Ensemble, a Singaporean world music group, to create the album “Connecting Islands,” which featured six songs in both English and Hakka and was released online in 2022.   San-geu-tai is joined by Singaporean group The Straits Ensemble during a show at Singapore’s annual World Music Festival in 2023. (Courtesy of New San-geu-tai Band) In 2023 with support from the HAC, San-geu-tai held five performances in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, including a joint show with The Straits Ensemble at the annual World Music Festival in Singapore. “This journey deepened our relationships with local musicians,” Yen said. Encouraged by the success, the band embarked on a 2024 tour in Penang, Malaysia, also under HAC sponsorship. They were joined by Suaradua, a Malaysian duo they had connected with during their Kuala Lumpur visit. “We’re not just performing; we’re engaging in meaningful exchange with local musicians,” Yen emphasized. The collaboration has had a lasting impact. Musicians from both The Straits Ensemble and Suaradua contributed to San-geu-tai’s latest album, “Upstream,” released in December. Meanwhile, Dawn Wong, lead vocalist of The Straits Ensemble, plans to seek Yen’s guidance for her upcoming Hakka-language album, on which he will serve as vocal producer. “Our work has inspired artists to explore Taiwan’s Hakka culture and even create in Hakka,” Yen said, noting that Wong discovered her Hakka heritage through their collaboration. “These exchanges go beyond music—they foster profound cultural connections.” Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw