Friday, March 10, 2006

Book: Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual

This book: Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual: Tang-ki: Chinese Spirit Medium Worship by Margaret Chan is probably the first English edition book on Tang-ki worship in modern day Singapore. This book is also a Tangki Worship 101 for many who might have witnessed numerous such events in Singapore and yet have no idea on what they were all about.

This book is both for those "inside" and those "outside". Many Singaporeans probably have a hard time explaining to their foreign friends about this interesting and colourship worship. Tang-ki worship is also very much an oral tradition, where knowledge is passed down from grandparents to grandchildren, and much detailed information has been lost. So, this book is certainly timely, especially for present day kids and adults alike who are asking to understand and know more about what their grandparents and parents have been and are worshipping.

Certainly a good guide book for one to read before and after attending a temple event where there are tang-kis (spirit mediums). This book is now available in all major bookstores in Singapore.

Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual
Tang-ki: The Chinese Spirit Medium Worship
By Margaret Chan

Published by
Wee Kim Wee Centre
Singapore Management University
& SNP International

ISBN : 981-248-115-X
Bookshop Price: S$39.90

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

ask my parent to go popular to check for me if got or not,cos i see the popular online cant find the book le hope got....cos i love this book.....

Anonymous said...

yea,i got the book $39.90 and it is worth it..it tell us how did tang-ki came about and the history of both tao and tang-ki and intro of detiy both heaven and hell and many color of picture of people been posseces buy detiy,and got detail of some event of tao.....so go buy it ..it worth it

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna borrow it from the national library. don't know bookshops still selling anot

chinatownboy said...

Maybe you can try ordering from http://www.chinatownology.com. (^^)

Anonymous said...

Hey, good introduction! I finished reading the book already. Very interesting read and very netural, not preaching the religon at all, making it suitable for both believers and non-believers. Now I will return my book to the library first. :)

Von said...

Hey UnDead where do you get it from? Which popular?