Singaporean Mandarin Database

This database contains a collection of Mandarin terms which have cultural, historical or sentimental value unique to Singapore. These terms may be used by Singaporeans in the past or at present. Some of the terms are read in print while others are used in our everyday conversations.

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善

shàn

堂

táng

charitable halls

社会

Social

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charitable halls

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社会

Social

释义

名词

以潮州人为主的民间慈善机构。

DEFINITION

Noun

Charitable non-governmental organisations mainly affiliated with the Teochew community.

由来

作为一种民间慈善组织，善堂的发展和社会贡献自明朝末年以来就非常可观。
新加坡的善堂主要由潮州人所发起和管理，并且以崇奉宋大峰祖师为信仰中心。
宋大峰祖师俗姓林，名灵噩，字通叟，生于宋朝宝元二年（1039年）。宋大峰祖师削发出家之后，云游到了潮州潮阳县，在当地兴建石桥以解决当地乡民所受的河水阻隔之苦。百姓为了纪念宋大峰祖师和弘扬其精神，便兴建了善堂“报德堂”承办各种善事。
1916年，新加坡的第一座善堂修德善堂养心社 (Seu Teck Sean Tong Yiang Sin Sia)正式成立，其源自于大陆潮安县的大吴修德善堂。
在慈善方面，善堂以发扬宋大峰祖师“生、老、病、死、苦”的救济精神为宗旨。
除了施医赠药及设立洗肾中心和安老院，善堂也为堂员办理亲属的丧殡事宜。因此，一些善堂内也提供祖先牌位和骨灰盒的安置服务。

ETYMOLOGY

As a charitable non-governmental organisation, charitable halls have developed and contributed significantly to society since the end of the Ming Dynasty.
Charitable halls in Singapore are mainly founded and managed by the Teochew community, and centred on the worship of the monk, Master Song Dafeng.
Master Song Dafeng, whose secular name was Lin Ling'e, was born in the second year of Baoyuan in the Song Dynasty (1039). After becoming a monk, his travels took him to Chaoyang County, Chaozhou, where he built a stone bridge to help local villagers cross the river. To honour him and promote his values, the locals erected a charitable hall known as “报德堂” and carried out various charitable deeds.
In 1916, the first charitable hall in Singapore, Seu Teck Sean Tong Yiang Sin Sia, was officially established. Its origins can be traced to its parent temple, “大吴修德善堂”, in Chao’an County, China.
Charitable halls carry out charity work while promoting Master Song Dafeng's spirit of helping those in need. This is encapsulated in his spirit of relief work with regards to Birth, Age, Illness, Death and Agony.
In addition to providing free medical care and medication, and establishing dialysis centres and nursing homes, charitable halls also help families manage funeral arrangements. Hence, some charitable halls also provide services for the placement of ancestral altars and ashes within the hall.

例句

在日军军阀统治下，几乎所有民间社团都被禁一切活动，但作为慈善机构的善堂得以继续运作。（《联合早报》，11/12/2017）

SAMPLE SENTENCE

During the Japanese Occupation, almost all community organisations were banned from conducting activities. However, charitable organisations such as charitable halls were allowed to continue operations. (Lianhe Zaobao, 11/12/2017)