Persistence or Localization? A Preliminary Inquiry into the Hokkien Tombstone Inscriptions of Taiping, Malaysia

傳統的持續或在地化？馬來西亞太平福建公冢墓碑碑文初探

康培德(Peter Kang)

《季風亞洲研究》 9期 (2019/10) Pp. 77-112

摘要

This paper provides an assessment of the tombstone inscriptions of Hokkien descendants in Taiping, Malaysia since the late nineteenth century. Four types of expression on the tombstone are highlighted for the argument. First, the exhibition of the deceased's offspring shows a tendency toward a bilateral principle rather than a patrilineal one, albeit in displaying a symbolic hierarchical order highlighting the males. Second, the identity expressions used for tombstone inscriptions show a changing process from the imperial subjects of the 19^(th) century, to that of identifying with the Republic China in the first half of the 20^(th) century, and finally to the deceased's personal position in the family clan. Third, the dating reveals a changing trend from use of the imperial calendar to that of the Republic, and finally to the universal calendar of Christian origin, while the counting of the date based on the Chinese Sexagenary Cycle is maintained. In addition, the toponymic expression tends to emphasize the (male) ancestral origins as well as serving as an ethnic or a clan marker. Finally, where the tombstone inscription is located and the use of language itself vary according to the contemporary local situation, but with more weight on Anglicization rather than Malayanization. All of these features demonstrate the gradual development of hybrid localization of Hokkien tombstone inscriptions since the late 19^(th) century.

關鍵字

Tombstone Inscription ； Necrogeography ； Hybrid Localization

並列摘要

本文討論近百年來的馬來西亞太平福建公冢墓碑碑文變化。藉由分析墓碑（福建語：主牌／墓牌）與墓肩石（福建語：挾牌／墓翼）上的文字變化，歸納出墓碑碑文主要變化在四方面：一、碑文中記載的後代子孫雖在百餘年前即自父系法則改為雙系，但在孫輩（含）以下的排列階序仍側重男性後代；二、身分認同的表徵，從十九世紀末的大清屬民，轉成二十世紀前半的中華共和，最後轉成僅止於表述墓主在家系中的位置；三、時間的表述（曆法）經歷大清、民國，最後轉成西元，但仍保持天干地支陰曆歲次與不同期的陽曆並列。空間表述（地名）則依然強調父系祖源，但其意義逐漸側重在族群或地域性氏族的標示，而非僅止於祖源；四、墓碑碑文的表達與語言文字的使用，雖會隨著當地的時代性變化，但英屬馬來亞的影響遠大於馬來化。這些特色顯示近百年來太平當地的福建墓碑碑文表示方式，早在受中國民族主義影響最深的英屬殖民地時期，甚至更早，即開始進入選擇性的混雜在地化過程。

並列關鍵字

墓碑碑文 ； 墓地理學 ； 混雜在地化 ； 福建人 ； 馬來西亞