浅谈马六甲送王舡祭祀大典史略

A Historical Overview of the Wangkang Ceremony in Malacca: Focusing on Documents from Cheng Wah Keong Temple and Yong Chuan Tian Temples

Abstract

王爷信仰与送王舡祭祀大典（简称“送王舡”）盛行于中国闽南一带，自成体 系，是闽南独树一帜的乡土信仰和传统习俗。随着晚清移民潮之兴起，该信仰伴 随着移民群越洋南渡，远播海外，成为侨民初抵异国他乡之际，赖以寄托的原乡 信仰，当中尤以马六甲甚为兴盛。侨民有感神灵在航海之际护佑在侧，遇到生死 危难之际屡显神威，并时而为侨民排忧解难，待一切安顿以后，纷纷立庙崇祀， 以慰神恩。除此，侨民在当地不时举办盛行于祖籍地的送王舡仪式，以期在疾病 肆虐之际，达到驱瘟辟邪、趋吉避凶之效。由此足见，王爷信仰与送王舡早已和 马六甲侨民社会融为一体，不可切割。因此，学术界对马六甲王爷信仰之传播， 尤其是送王舡之发展和祭祀活动颇为重视。奈何碍于文献之不足，许多方面仍无 法全面开展。笔者拟以此文进一步剖析马六甲送王舡之史略，通过更多原始资料 之挖掘，进一步考究其具体的发展形势和运作情况，以期填补不足之处，使其历 史脉络更臻完善。

关键词：马六甲，王爷信仰，送王舡，华人社会

Ongyah Worship and the Wangkang Ceremony are significant religious and cultural practices in southern Fujian, China. These rituals embody a unique manifestation of regional belief that became established in the area. In the late Qing Dynasty, as immigration increased, these beliefs accompanied migrants over the seas and were adopted by overseas Chinese groups, especially in Malacca. Ongyah Worship served as a source of spiritual support for newcomers in strange territories. Overseas Chinese held the belief that deities monitored their travels, frequently offering protection in perilous circumstances and intervening during life-threatening events. In appreciation, upon establishing themselves, they built temples to honour these deities. The Wangkang Ceremony, an essential ritual originated in their ancestral homeland, aimed to dispel illnesses, repel malevolent spirits, and foster peace and prosperity during periods of illness and turmoil. This illustrates the profound entrenchment of the belief in Ongyah and its associated rites within the lives of Malacca’s Chinese people. Due to its cultural importance, scholars such as Soo Khin Wah, Chen Geng, Lee Feng-mao have consistently demonstrated interest in the dissemination of Ongyah belief in Malacca, particularly about the Wangkang ritual and related religious rites. Despite extensive scholarly research on the dissemination of Ongyah religion and its associated rites in Malacca, deficiencies persist owing to an absence of primary materials. This paper intends to explore the historical context of the Wangkang ritual in Malacca. Through the exploration of additional primary sources, this paper aims to analyse the ceremony’s evolution and operational dynamics to enhance the comprehension of its historical progression.

Keywords: Malacca; Ongyah Worship; Wangkang Ceremony; Overseas Chinese Society