This research study examines the influence of travel and tourism in formulating cultural identity within the Sarawakian-Chinese community, with a special focus on travel to the People‟s Republic of China (PRC), the 'ancestral homeland'. Given the nature of this study, an interpretive paradigm that is informed by the use of a qualitative methodology was employed. In keeping with this research paradigm, interpretive ethnography was utilised to investigate how the Sarawakian-Chinese understand their sense of 'Chineseness' based upon their tourism experiences to China. The research enquiry also includes researcher reflexivity as part of the research process, as the identity of the researcher is significant in this study that investigates the identity of her 'own' people. The findings of the research suggest that the Sarawakian-Chinese perceive China as being significant in constructing their ethnic identity. It is also apparent that there is a commonality of being 'Chinese', however the extent of this association varies by characteristics of age, education, religion and language. Within this association there is also an element of 'pick and mix' of culture, which was observed during the field visit to China, as members of the group evaluated different aspects of Chinese culture. The research study concludes that the experiences of the Sarawakian-Chinese in China highlighted their similarities and differences to the Chinese identity. It is evident that although all Sarawakian-Chinese feel themselves to be at least Chinese in an essentialist context, their degree of 'Chineseness' is affected by Sarawak culture, especially religion and education. They also make a clear distinction between Sarawak as 'home' and China as the 'homeland' with their travel and tourism experiences have served to highlight their sense of hybridity of being Sarawakian-Chinese.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the identity of Chinese businesspeople in a South African context. This is to determine whether their knowledge of and application of the traditional Confucian concepts of ‘guanxi’ (relationships) and ‘mianzi’ (face) offer that community any tangible benefits to negotiating and maintaining business relationships. While much has been written of the group’s early history, more could be done to determine their contribution toward South African society today. Bilateral trade with China and domestic job creation are just two areas where more research could develop our mutual understanding, given our unique relationship with China. South Africa is the only African country to invest in China and is also home to the largest and longest standing Chinese community in Africa. A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to previously identified groups of Chines businesspeople located within the metropolitan Cape Town area. The purpose was to collect data that would provide practical assistance to inform local South African business people on how to tailor their approach to interact in commercial enterprises with their Chinese counterparts. The prospect was that better understanding of Chinese culture and historical traditions may prove a meaningful tool to bolster intercultural relationships. This could then lead to enhanced business relationships and a better understanding of this misunderstood and marginalised community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie beoog om die identiteit van Sjinese besigheidsmense binne ’n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te ondersoek. Dit is om te bepaal of hulle kennis asook die toepassing van hulle tradisionele Konfusiaanse konsepte van ‘guanxi’ (verhoudings) en ‘mianzi’ (aansien) hulle gemeenskap enige tasbare voordele ten op sigte van die onderhandeling en instandhouding van besigheidsverhoudings bekom. Terwyl daar alreeds redelike skrywe omtrent hierdie groep se vroeë geskiedenis bestaan, kan daar baie meer gedoen word om vas te stel wat hulle bydrae tot vandag se Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap is. Bilaterale handel met Sjina en plaaslike werkskepping is slegs twee areas waar verdere navorsing wedersydse begrip kan bevorder, siende ons unieke verhouding met Sjina. Suid-Afrika is die enigste land in Afrika om in Sjina te investeer en is ook die tuiste van die grootste asook die mees lank bestaande Sjinese gemeenskap in Afrika. ’n Selftoegediende vraelys was versprei onder voorafgeïdentifiseerde groepe van Sjinese besigheidsmense wat in die Kaapstadse metropool gevestig is. Die doel was om data te versamel wat doelmatige bystand kan lewer vir die Suid-Afrikaanse besigheidsgemeenskap om hulle ’n pasgemaakte benadering tot interaksie met handelsondernemings met hulle Sjinese eweknieë te kan gee. Die vooruitsig was dat beter kennis van die Sjinese kultuur en hulle historiese tradisies ’n betekenisvolle instrument sal wees wat interkulturele verhoudings sal versterk. Dit kan dan aanleiding gee tot verbeterde besigheidsverhoudings en ’n beter begrip van hierdie misverstane asook gemarginaliseerde gemeenskap.

My thesis is a creative writing doctorate which focuses on one Chinese family's adaptation to living in Australia in the mid-twentieth century. The thesis is in two parts. Part I is an examination of Chineseness and identity within the context of the short stories that make up Part I1 of the thesis. In Part I, I have looked at the place of the Chinese within the larger, dominant cultures of America and Australia. In particular, I have discussed the way in which the discourses of the dominant culture have framed Chineseness; and also what it might mean to describe authentic and essential qualities in Chineseness. The question I ask is whether the concept of Chineseness shifts according to time, location, history, and intercultural encounters. This leads me to try to "place" my family and myself. I provide some background on my family and on specific incidents that have served as springboards for the fiction. Part I also discusses some aspects of narrative theory in relation to the stories and considers the stories within the context of other Chinese- Australian fiction and performance. Ln Part 11, I have written a collection of nine short stories about the lives of a fictitious family called the Tangs. The stories can be described as a cycle that is unified and linked by characters who are protagonists in one story but appear in a minor or supporting role in other stories. Composing a linked cycle of stories has given me the opportunity to extend the short story form, especially by giving me scope to expand the lives of the characters beyond a single story. The lives of the characters can take on greater complexity since they confront challenges at different stages of their lives from different perspectives.

The Chinese education issues in Malaysia appear frequently in political discourse, often featuring contentious discussions of language learning and national education policies. Applying an historical approach to contextualize a political discourse, this thesis examines the politics and transformation of Malaysian Chinese education, in microcosm, at the level of a renowned Chinese school, Chung Ling High School in Penang. It explores and maps the question of "Chineseness" through the examination of the history and development of Chung Ling since its establishment in 1917. This thesis also aims to elucidate the complex negotiation between multiple stakeholders of the Chinese community which took place at different historical junctures in a postcolonial and multi-ethnic nation. I discuss memorial activities for two deceased educationists, David Chen and Lim Lian Geok, which have been readapted into contemporary discourse by different factions of educationists to express their dissatisfactions toward state hegemony on education policies. Lastly, I argue that the persistent pursuit of "Chineseness" is counterproductive to the aim of safeguarding interests of Chinese schools within and outside the national education system today.

馬來西亞至今已獨立58年，國內族群的問題一直備受矚。然而，回顧馬來西亞華人身份認同研究，主要從歷史脈絡結構下詮釋，缺乏經驗性研究。伴隨著世代的改變，馬來西亞華人身份認同亦可能隨之改變。本研究主要探究當今馬來西亞華人是否仍強調華人的概念以及在文化認同上是否認知為中華文化，以及影響該認同之因素。協商式認同是一種建構式認同，主要認為透過國家的主導以及社會環境可影響民眾的認同。有鑑於此，吾人認為不同世代華裔隨著國家政策與社會環境影響下，年長世代華裔與年輕世代華裔在身份與文化認同上有所差異。本文研究以馬六甲為例，在研究途徑上分成三種方式，分別是「非結構性訪談」、「內容分析法」、「參與觀察法」以探究該因果關係。吾人發現，在身份認同上，年長世代認為華人與中國人沒有差別，且他們較重視華人身份。反觀，年輕世代則認為兩者皆有差別，同時他們不太重視華人認同，傾向強調馬來西亞國家認同。至於在文化認同方面，年長世代認為中華文化等同於華人文化，且較重視華人文化，反之年輕世代則認為華人文化屬於馬來西亞文化一部分並不太重視華人文化。造成各世代認同的差異的因素主要是家庭教育、教育類別、接觸非華裔頻率、居住地區等。另一方面，倘若觀察年輕世代會館參與狀況，亦可顯現出年輕世代華裔缺乏華人文化認同，因而不投入會館，促使會館無法透過活動強化年輕世代對於華人文化的認同，並造成會館沒落的趨勢。最後，從馬來西亞報章脈絡變化，從早期偏中國化報章並於獨立時期轉向偏馬來西亞化，無論是編寫格式或內容版面差異，亦可了解年輕世代華裔缺乏華人身份與文化認同的原因。由於年長世代經歷中國模式報章，因此強化他們華人認同。反之，年輕世代則浸溺在馬來西亞模式的報章中，強化了他們的馬來西亞人認同。綜合而言，基於國家的政策主導與社會環境的影響，促使年輕世代的華裔產生新的認同，即：不太重視華人認同，反之被國族認同取代。反觀，年長世代則維繫著以往研究成果所指出，較強調華人認同。 / Malaysia had already independence for 58 years, but the ethnic problem is still the most important issue. When reviewing the research about the Malaysia Chinese identity, we can know that, most of the researches were from the historical structure annotation, therefore which lack of experience research. The main of this thesis is to explore the Malaysia Chinese will emphasize the Chinese identity or not based on the difference in generation and ideas. And what’s the reason affect the difference generation self-identity? Furthermore, in the idea of culture, what is the differences between Malaysia culture and Chinese culture thinking by Malaysia Chinese? And what’s the reason affect the difference generation thinking about the culture? Negotiating identity is an identity which constructs with civil society and political life, thus I think Malaysia Chinese in self-identity might be changed by the generation differences. This thesis use a case of Malacca city, in approaches, use the “nondirective interview”, “participant observation”, “content analysis”, to explore the relationship between Chinese identity and the affect reason. We found that, difference in generation who culture identity and Chinese identity are different, older generations think Malaysian Chinese & China people are the same and they will emphasize more on Chinese identity. On the contrary, younger generations think Malaysian Chinese & China people are different, and they won’t emphasize on Chinese identity conversely emphasize more on the national identity (Malaysia identity).The factor of affecting are family effects, educational effects, relationship with another ethnic, the region which stay, etc. Moreover, through observed the Chinese group also realized that, younger generations lack of participation in the Chinese group. This means younger generation scarcity the Chinese identity, thus Chinese group becomes wane. Finally, the analysis of Malaysian newspapers also ascertain that, older newspapers reported more on the news of China, thus strengthen older generations emphasize the Chinese identity. The other hand, newer newspapers reported more on the news of Malaysia, thenceforth created younger generations who are more emphasize on Malaysian identity.

This thesis contributes to the ongoing discussion of modern Chinese identity by pro-viding a case study of Cheok Hong CHEONG. It necessarily considers Australian atti-tudes towards the Chinese during the 19th century, not least the White Australia Pol-icy. The emergence of that discriminatory immigration policy over the second half of the 19th century until its national implementation in 1901 provides the background to the thesis. Cheong was the leading figure among Chinese-Australian Christians and a prominent figure in the Australian Chinese community and the thesis seeks to iden-tify a man whose contribution has largely been shadowy in other studies or, more commonly, overlooked by the parochialism of colony/state emphasis in many histo-ries of Australia. His role in the Christian church fills a space in Victorian religious history. Although Cheong accumulated great wealth he was not part of the Chinese mer-chant class of the huagong/huaquiao traditions of the overseas Chinese diaspora of the 19th and 20th centuries. His wealth was accumulated through property investments following the spectacular collapse of the Victorian banking system during the 1890s. His community leadership role arose through his position in the Christian Church rather than, as was generally the case, through business. His English language skills, resulting from his church association, were the key to his role as a Chinese community spokesman.¶ Cheok Hong Cheong left an archive of some 800 documents in the English lan-guage covering the major people, incidents and concerns of his life and times. His Let-terbooks, together with the archives of the various Christian missions to the Chinese in Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries, shed light on one person’s life and more broadly, through his involvements on the complex relationships of Chinese emigrants, with the often unsympathetic majority of Australians.¶ This is a case study of a Chinese identity formed outside China and influenced by a wider set of cultural influences than any other Chinese-Australian of his time —an identity that justifies the description of him as an ‘Alien Son’. Cheong’s story is a con-tribution to the urban and family history of an important ethnic sub-group within the wider immigrant history of Australia.¶ While Cheong remained a Chinese subject his identification with Australia cannot be questioned. All his children were born in Australia and he left just twice after his arrival in 1863. He visited England in 1891-2 and in 1906 he briefly visited China. Identity and culture issues are growing in importance as part of the revived relation-ship between the Chinese of the diaspora and the economic renewal of the People’s Republic of China and this thesis is offers a contribution to that discussion.

La civilisation chinoise est généralement comparée à un monolithe ayant traversé les âges. Elle jouit d’une grande réputation et se caractérise elle-même par une idéologie holiste. Cette vision synoptique implique incidemment une notion de groupe, c’est-à-dire qu’existerait à travers l’espace et le temps un immense ensemble humain identifié par sa « sinité ». Cette thèse s’interroge sur les éléments et les étapes historiques de la construction de la nation contemporaine chinoise. Elle cherche à discerner précisément le moment où ce groupe commence à se percevoir en tant que tel et à comprendre les motifs sous-jacents à sa fondation consciente et volontaire. Afin de mettre en lumière les identités chinoises, cette étude anthropologique du politique brise les barrières des définitions, articule les différentes notions de groupe, et use d’une comparaison entre perspectives historiques de groupe de la France et de la Chine. Animée par l’ambition de s’émanciper de schémas interprétatifs parfois trop stéréotypés à l’égard de l’histoire et des politiques contemporaines chinoises et en vue d’en proposer une compréhension renouvelée, cette entreprise analytique porte une attention accrue sur la conscience d’appartenance au groupe. / The Chinese civilisation is generally likened to a block of stone which has travelled through time. It enjoys a widespread reputation and is itself characterised by an holistic ideology. This summary vision implies incidentally a notion of group, which questions through space and time the existence of a huge group of human identified by its “Sinitic” character.This PhD thesis will interrogate the elements and the historical steps of the construction of a contemporary Chinese nation. It seeks precisely to discern the moment when this group began to perceive as such, and to understand the reasoning behind its conscious and voluntary foundation. In order to reveal these Chinese identities, this anthropological study in politics will break down the barriers of definitions, articulate the different concepts of group, and compare thoroughly different perspectives of some French historical groups and that of Chinese. Driven by the ambition to release the interpretative schemas, sometimes too stereotyped, regarding the history and the politics in modern China, and to propose a renewed understanding, this analytical work pays greater attention on the awareness belonging to the group.