SFCCA Holds First Full-Day Symposium on Singapore Chinese Language and Culture
“Diversity and Coexistence” brings research and community perspectives together to explore how Singapore Chinese culture has evolved and what its continued development means for future generations
SINGAPORE, 17 October 2026 – The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) today held its first full-day thematic research symposium dedicated to Singapore Chinese language and culture, bringing together 270 researchers, educators, clan representatives, cultural practitioners, youths and members of the public, with Mr Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Transport, as Guest of Honour. The symposium examined how Singapore Chinese culture has evolved within the nation’s multicultural and multilingual society.
Held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), Diversity and Coexistence: Symposium on Chinese Language and Culture in Singapore brought academic research into conversation with lived community experience, creating a platform to examine Singapore Chinese culture not simply through individual traditions or practices, but through the broader forces that have shaped it – from migration, language and education to nation-building, modernisation and generational change.
Creating Space for a Broader Conversation on Singapore Chinese Culture
Singapore Chinese culture has been shaped by different dialect groups, migration histories, languages, customs and community experiences, and has continued to develop alongside Singapore’s nation-building journey.
As part of SFCCA’s longstanding efforts to promote understanding and appreciation of Chinese language, culture and values, the symposium marks the first time the Federation has dedicated a full day to bringing researchers and the wider community together to examine these subjects collectively – including how Singapore Chinese culture has evolved, its place within Singapore’s wider multicultural identity, and what its continued development and transmission mean for future generations.
“Singapore is a multicultural society where diverse languages, cultures, and traditions converge and thrive. Chinese language and culture are integral parts of Singapore’s history, anchoring a sense of cultural memory and sense of belonging while continuously evolving with the times. Cultural preservation is not about replicating the past, but about enabling tradition to find fresh expression and renewed vitality in the modern era” said Mr Thomas Chua, SFCCA President.
Highlights from the Symposium
Across two keynote presentations and two panel discussions, the symposium explored how Singapore’s Chinese language and culture have evolved through nation-building, migration, education and social change. Prof Leo Suryadinata (ISEAS) examined the place of Chinese language and culture within Singapore’s multicultural nation-building journey, while Prof Chiang Bo-Wei (National Taiwan Normal University) drew on photographs, films and family histories to explore how migrant experiences become part of shared community memory.
The discussions also examined the evolution of Singapore’s bilingual education and language environment, shifting attitudes towards Chinese dialects, and renewed interest among younger Singaporeans in reconnecting with their linguistic and cultural roots. The afternoon session broadened the conversation to folk traditions and beliefs, exploring how customs, community identities and cultural practices have adapted alongside modernisation, media and changing lifestyles.
For participants, the symposium also provided an opportunity to consider these issues in relation to their own experiences and understanding of Singapore Chinese culture.
“Our grandparents’ generation spoke of 落叶归根, the falling leaf returning to its roots. For my generation, the more honest phrase is 落地生根: we take root where we land. Chinese culture in Singapore is not a copy of somewhere else. It is Singaporean, and it is ours. ” said Mr Stanley James Ng, Youth Chairman of Huang Clan (Singapore) and the World Huang Federation, and recipient of the SFCCA Outstanding Youth Award for 2017–2018.
Together, the discussions reflected how Singapore Chinese culture continues to evolve, and the importance of understanding these changes as communities consider what should be carried forward, and how.
By bringing academic research together with personal memories and community experience, SFCCA hopes the symposium will encourage further conversations about Singapore Chinese culture beyond individual customs and traditions, while deepening understanding of the diverse histories and experiences that have shaped it. These conversations form part of SFCCA’s continued efforts to ensure that Singapore’s Chinese language and culture remain meaningful and relevant to future generations.
