The Institute of East Asian Cultural Studies and the Interdisciplinary Program in East Asian Comparative Humanities are pleased to announce an upcoming event. On Tuesday, November 19, from 4 to 6 PM, we will host a special lecture on East Asian Studies. We invite all members to participate and show their interest in this lecture.

Special Lecture on East Asian Studies

Title: The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Singapore: Ritual, Community and History  
Topic: Southeast Asia’s Temples and Daoism: Focusing on the Nine Emperor Gods Culture  

Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 4–6 PM  
Venue: Room 308, Building 7, College of Humanities, SNU  
Speaker: Koh Keng We, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore  
Organizers: SNU Humanities Institute - Institute of East Asian Cultural Studies & Interdisciplinary Program in East Asian Comparative Humanities  
Sponsor: Pony Chung Foundation  
Contact: donga_studies@snu.ac.kr, snueasia@snu.ac.kr  
*This lecture will be held in person only.*

This talk examines the history of one of the largest Chinese religious festivals in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is observed and celebrated by Chinese communities (often involving other ethnicities in their respective locales) primarily in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as Indonesia and Myanmar (Yangon). With historical roots in China, the festival in Southeast Asia has developed unique features and rituals, shaped by the histories of southern China and Chinese migration to Southeast Asia. This talk will explore these distinct traditions, rituals, and the interaction between religion and society in shaping the festival in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.