Abstract
The Transformation of Hakka Local Organizations: A Case Study of “Share-holding Worship Associations” (嘗會) in Northern Taiwan Abstract One key trend of Taiwanese history under Qing rule (1683-1895) was the island’s settlement by Han Chinese people, as well as their efforts to establish (or “re”-establish) local communities. While previous research has indicated the importance of some settlement and religious organizations, this thesis attempts to enhance our understanding of these phenomena by exploring the roles played by “share-holding worship associations” (changhui 嘗會) that were set up by Hakka migrants in northern Taiwan. On the one hand, such associations served as a means to maintain blood relationships among families; on the other hand, they helped establish a new “order” or “identity” that contributed to the growth of local society. In other words, share-holding worship associations exerted profound influence on Hakka communal life, and were intertwined with facets of lineage growth, economic development, and ethnic identity. When Hakka people were engaged in social activities, they tended to do so via changhui. What exactly does the term changhui mean? In general, changhui are organizations devoted to ancestor or deity worship that possess common property that is managed by the association’s membership. Two types of changhui existed in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty: those for ancestor worship (zhengchang 蒸嘗) and those for deity worship (shenmingchang 神明嘗). Both types centered on the practice of making sacrificial rites, but the object of these offerings differed. After the Japanese established colonial rule over Taiwan in 1895, the authorities changed the term “share-holding worship associations” to “common property organizations for ancestor worship” (jise gongye 祭祀公業). Moreover, during the Japanese colonial era, legal experts engaged in a heated debate over the future status of these organizations, particularly in terms of conforming to new laws that had been enacted by the state. Such concerns persisted even after the ROC government established its rule over Taiwan in 1945. As recently as 1999, after the devastating 921 Earthquake, the importance of common property organizations for ancestor worship continued to attract the government’s attention and has remained a serious matter of public debate. Changhui have played a crucial role in the lives of many Taiwanese people during the past 250 years, especially in terms of economic life, social networks, and personal relations, and their importance has persisted to the present day. For nearly three centuries, the Hakka people have utilized changhui to raise capital for investments (especially real estate), to mark territorial boundaries, and to establish social and ethnic identities. Their unique and intricate properties of can be difficult to comprehend, but their significance merits further scholarly attention. keyword：Hakka, share-holding worship associations, local society, common property organizations for ancestor worship, lineage