Fortune-Telling Practices within the Chinese Ethnic Community during the Chinese Lunar New Year
A Review of the Rationality Behind the Actions Based on Bronisław Malinowski’s Cultural Functionalism Theory
Keywords:
Keywords: Fortune-Telling; Chinese Ethnic Community; Chinese Lunar New Year; Culture; Destiny, Kata kunci: Tilik Nasib; Masyarakat Etnik Cina; Tahun Baharu Cina; Budaya; NasibAbstract
This study examines the practice of fortune-telling among the Chinese ethnic community in Ipoh leading up to the Chinese New Year, guided by Bronislaw Malinowski’s cultural functionalism theory. Generally, this study aims to provide an overview of fortune-telling practices among the Chinese ethnic community by examining the main motives for the Chinese seeking fortune tellers. Semi-structured qualitative interview methods were used to obtain the data. The study results have elucidated the connection between fortune-telling practices and the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The fortune-telling practice passed down through generations, it reflects a cosmological belief about one’s destiny deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese ethnic community. The Chinese ethnic community seek fortune tellers due to the latest trend developments, uncertainties about the future, daily life disruptions, the influence of traditional practices, new beginnings in life, the desire to achieve aspirations, happiness in life, and to take preventive measures in their daily lives. Studies like this can further enrich the discipline of ethnic studies in general and the corpus of Chinese ethnic studies in particular in Malaysia.
Keywords: Fortune-Telling; Chinese Ethnic Community; Chinese Lunar New Year; Culture; Destiny
ABSTRAK
Kajian ini mengkaji amalan tilik nasib dalam kalangan masyarakat etnik Cina di Ipoh menjelang Tahun Baharu Cina dengan berpandukan Teori Fungsionalisme Budaya Bronislaw Malinowski. Secara umumnya, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mendapat gambaran tentang amalan tilik nasib dalam kalangan masyarakat etnik Cina dengan meninjau motif utama orang Cina mencari tukang tilik nasib. Kaedah kualitatif temu bual separa berstuktur digunakan untuk mendapatkan data kajian ini. Hasil kajian telah menjelaskan hubung kait antara amalan tilik nasib dengan sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina. Amalan tilik nasib yang diwarisi secara turun-temurun mencerminkan kepercayaan kosmologi budaya yang berakar dalam sanubari masyarakat etnik Cina. Anggota masyarakat etnik Cina mencari tukang tilik nasib kerana perkembangan trend terkini, ketidaktentuan masa hadapan, gangguan masalah harian, pengaruh amalan tradisional, titik permulaan hidup baru, ingin mencapai cita-cita, kebahagiaan hidup, dan mengambil langkah-langkah pencegahan dalam kehidupan haraian mereka. Kajian yang seumpama ini dapat mengkayakan lagi disiplin ilmu kajian etnik amnya dan korpus ilmu kajian etnik Cina khususnya di Malaysia.
Kata kunci: Tilik Nasib; Masyarakat Etnik Cina; Tahun Baharu Cina; Budaya; Nasib
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