Case Studies

Another example of the use of Chinese belief is evident in the following case study. Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd, one of the oldest tea merchants in Singapore, was established in 1925. That year was the year of the buffalo according to the Chinese horoscope. Because of this, its founder had decided to make the buffalo the mascot of the company, which was adapted into the logo, brand label, and many other symbols representing the company. This shows that the founder of the company believed that by using the buffalo as a representation, his company could be as strong (in terms of wealth and business) as the buffalo.

Chinese beliefs and superstitions can also dictate government policy, thus Chinese beliefs do not just affect individuals or families, but rather the entire country. For example, during the relocation of the Merlion (the animal symbol that represents Singapore), the Singapore government had consulted Feng Shui masters regarding the possible locations of the landmark. This is to ensure that the shifting of an important landmark will not affect the economic status of the country.

During the Qing Ming Festival, the Singapore government had to look into the concerns of the Chinese community when they go tomb-sweeping. Road marshals had to be deployed at cemeteries to maintain road safety and discipline. Some roads had to be closed temporarily because the volume of vehicles entering the cemetery was too large.

In our research of the world holidays of the year 2000, we noticed that some country's had to allocate some Chinese festive occasions to be public holidays for the entire country. For example, we noted that China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan all celebrated Chinese New Year, with China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan all celebrating multiple days of the Chinese New Year. Moreover, Hong Kong celebrated the Qing Ming, Chinese Mid-autumn and the Chung Yeung festivals. Meanwhile, Taiwan celebrated the Tomb-sweeping Day (part of the Qing Ming Festival), the Dragon Boat festival, and the Mid- Autumn Moon Festival.