Fusion and Creation of Immigrants' Religion in the Multi-Ethnic Country: Hinduism and Chinese Religion in Malaysia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01063
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Kaichi International University
• Principal Investigator: Koga Mayuri 開智国際大学, 国際教養学部, 教授 (20782345)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マレーシア / シンガポール / ヒンドゥー教 / 華人宗教 / シンクレティズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study reveals how Hinduism and Chinese religions are mixing and creating new forms and values in multi-ethnic Malaysia, as well as syncretism's cultural, social, and historical factors. Cultural factors included iconographic similarities, doctrinal similarities (polytheism, incarnation, reincarnation), imitation through ritual similarities (possession, self-mutilation, fire-walking), and the transformation of the qualities of the deities of the deities, resulting in the identification and influx of the deities. As for social factors, it was noted that development, land issues, and ethnic policies have led to the merging or combining both religions. Historical factors included the proximity of the two ethnic groups due to development during and after the British period, as well as the permeation of culture through marriage and adoption.

Free Research Field

文化人類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

多民族国家では、宗教間の対立や紛争が絶えない。マレーシアにおいては、1969年以来、大きな宗教対立が生じていない。その背景としては、民族対立を回避する政策があるが、一方でマレー人優遇政策を続け、ムスリムと非ムスリムの心理的溝は開いている。移民宗教であるヒンドゥー教と華人宗教が、互いの価値観を認め、共同で寺院運営を行い、合祀または合体している現象は、多宗教の融和の可能性を示すものである。融和の要因として、文化や社会、歴史的要因を解明できたことは、他の地域での宗教対立を解決する一助となるであろう。