I am honoured to officiate at this 7^th World Summit of the Tung-Yang clan in Singapore. The Tung and Yang surnames share a common clan because of our common ancestry a long time ago.

Chinese clans play a crucial role in Chinese civilization. Because the organization of the clan is independent of the state, the extended Chinese family survived wars, revolutions and natural disasters. The clan provides a network of mutual support. Unlike the Indian caste system, the Chinese clan brings together members of different socio-economic classes from the wealthiest to the poorest. During the British colonial period in Singapore, Chinese clans provided schools, temples, burial grounds, healthcare facilities and social welfare.

The Communist revolution in China has not succeeded in destroying the clan structure. All over China today, ancestral temples and clan structures are being re-established. Last year, I was able to bring my children to Anbu in Chaozhou to pay respect to my grandfather. For many years, the Yang ancestral temple was shut down and converted into a school. It has since been restored and the tomb of the first Yang who settled in the area 800 years ago has been renovated. Around the world, ethnic Chinese in different parts of the world are rediscovering their roots and gathering together to meet in conventions such as this. I congratulate the Singapore Yang Clan General Association for hosting this World Summit.

Mao Zedong was a great revolutionary who rebelled against Confucianism. He said that his first revolt was against his own father. Despite this, when he became China’s leader, he honoured his father. According to the book written by his personal physician, when Mao, after many years, returned to his hometown in Shaoshan in 1959, he looked for his father’s grave in the hill beside his family house and bowed before it. When his aides saw him doing this, they quickly gathered some wild flowers for him to present in offering.

When I visited Shaoshan in 1996, the graves of Mao’s parents and grandparents have all been tidied up. Next to the Memorial Hall to Mao Zedong was the Mao Ancestral Tomb where joss-sticks were burnt to honour members of the Mao clan. Thus, in the end, Mao did not succeed in removing Confucianism. Instead, Chinese culture absorbed Mao and his achievements into its ritual and tradition.

It is this tradition which gives Chinese culture its stability and made Chinese civilization the oldest surviving in the world. Sometimes, in the modern world, clan activities may seem old-fashioned and irrelevant. But this would be the wrong view to take. Instead, we should update clan organizations and make clan activities more interesting and relevant to young members. More material should be made available in the English language. We must also adjust to globalization and link up our members in different parts of the world the way the Tung-Yang clan has done.

In addition to their cultural mission, clan associations can also provide networks for business and educational undertakings. In doing this, we should welcome the friendship and cooperation of non-clan members. In Singapore, because of the multi-racial and multi-religious character of our society, it is common for Chinese clans to work with non-clan members for the benefit of all Singaporeans. This is a good phenomenon as ‘all men are brothers’ and we should not be selfish in our attitude.

Among younger Chinese Singaporeans, however, it has become less common for them to register their children’s names with clan associations. We should reverse this trend. With the Internet, clan genealogies can be easily kept and maintained. Human societies which are conscious of their deep roots are better able to weather storms. The existence of strong clans can provide a source of spiritual and material strength to individuals and families. As part of its efforts to rejuvenate the clans in Singapore, the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations is considering ways to encourage younger Chinese Singaporeans to register with their clans, trace their roots and take part in clan activities. We should encourage the registration of daughters as well as women hold up half of heaven.

As the Chinese in Singapore come from many different parts of China, our diversity is of interest not only to Singaporeans but to foreigners as well. Recently, after the theme park failed to take off, the old Haw Par Villa site was returned to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The STB has preserved the old Har Par Villa as a heritage site. The long-term plans for the site include the introduction of Chinese Herbal Garden as well as renovating some of the buildings for related uses. The Chinese Heritage Centre is helping to set up one of the buildings for use as a display centre to tell the story of the ethnic Chinese outside China. The Encyclopaedia of the Chinese Overseas published by the Chinese Heritage Centre a few years ago was well-received. It is now available in not only Chinese but English, French and, in the near future, Japanese as well. The display centre will present this rich story in a more vivid way and will appeal to both Singaporeans and tourists.

As a result of technological advancement, human society is changing very fast. This creates social stresses. Chinese clans can provide an additional point of stability for families as they struggle to cope with social change. The clan spirit encourages individuals to think not only of themselves. In the San Zi Jing, children are taught to study hard and bring honour to their parents. By contributing to human society, individuals bring glory to their ancestors and their descendants. This Confucianist value system makes human society strong.

I congratulate the Tung-Yang clan for its good work and wish you continuing success.

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