In order to present a collection of great stories of new immigrants to Taiwan, the [Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] collaborates with National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior's podcast series [Culture Chat Room]. [Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] has also compiled this episode into 5 languages including Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian. In this episode, two new immigrants, Zhang Li-ying (張麗英) from Myanmar and Lin Da (林達) from Indonesia, are invited to discuss the traditions and taboos of their home countries as well as the local Chinese community.
Lin Da (林達) from Indonesia shares Indonesian customs.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
Both Zhang Li-ying (張麗英) and Lin Da (林達) came from Ethnic Chinese families, so they are familiar with many traditional customs and related taboos in Taiwan. For example, during the Ching Ming Festival, like in Taiwan, they will visit graves and pay respects to their ancestors. During the ghost month (July of the lunar calendar), the elders will also ask the children not to go out at night, and not to go to the stream to play in the water.
Zhang Li-ying (張麗英) from Myanmar shares customs in Myanmar.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
Additionally, the two also discussed a few unique to Taiwan burial traditions. Lin shared that although there is no custom of Chungyuan Pu Tu in Indonesia, there is a village named Torajan on the island of South Sulawesi. Every three years, a ghost festival celebration will be held to open the coffins of deceased relatives, after changing into new clothes, the dead are carried through the streets of the village, and finally sealed in a new coffin and put back into the cave. Zhang also mentioned that when a relative dies in Myanmar, monks will be invited to chant sutra at home, and people will also prepare cassocks and supplies for the monks to spread the Dharma and dedicate merit to the deceased through the monks.
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The podcast "Culture Chat Room" produced by National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior invites different new immigrants to share their life experiences in each episode.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
The two also indicated that they are in awe of several folk practices and ancient taboos and would prefer to trust them in order to keep the entire family safe after the conclusion of the interview.
Listen to [Culture Chat Room] of National Immigration Agency on the following platforms.
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