A Study On The History Of The Associations Of Overseas Chinese In Malaysia

The historical development of the Chinese associations in Malaysia, originally known as Cheng Hoon Teng Temple in 1673 and lasting until the 21st century, is divided into four periods, which are the beginning period (1673 - 1799), the inward developing period (1800-1899), the outward developing period (1890-1945), and the comprehensive developing period (from 1945 till now) . The thesis analyzes not only the historical developing processes of the associations of Hokkien Pang, Cantonese Pang, Hakka Pang, Teochew Pang, Hainanese Pang, and so forth, but also those of the Localized Associations, the Lineage Associations, the Business Associations, the Cultural Associations, the Religious Associations, the Charitable Associations, and other associations during each period. It discusses the interaction relation between the Chinese associations, and Chinese society, Malaysian society and Chinese society in Malaysia. It also discusses the internal interaction relation among the Chinese associations. It generalizes the laws, characteristics, functions and influences of the relation. It probes into the practicality of the interaction theory in the study of the historical development of overseas Chinese and Chinese associations.