The Function of Mazu Belief of the Chinese People in Vietnam

Abstract

The Mazu belief is a type of Chinese folk belief that has become a global cultural phenomenon. Before the Second World War, Chinese immigrants built temples for Mazu in many places of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, especially its Southern part. The region has been commonly known as the place of coexistence and multicultural exchanges between four ethnic groups, namely the Viet (Kinh), Hoa (Chinese), Khmer and Cham. Chinese immigration to Vietnam has a long history. Southern Chinese immigrants and their unique culture started arriving in the region in the late seventeenth century. After immigrating to Vietnam, they maintained various ties with their motherland through cultural practices and belief systems, especially Mazu worship. In Vietnam, they set up various guild halls, temples and chambers of commerce to worship Mazu, forming a dense ethnic social network that has played a significant role within the Vietnamese Chinese community. Using the notions of transnationalism and ethnic identity, and supported by fieldwork, literature research and a more comprehensive general analysis, this study is not only aimed at understanding Mazu belief in Vietnam but also underlines the role played by this belief in the Chinese community in Vietnam.