China Paradise comes to Sabah, bringing a -taste- cultural experience

During the closing ceremony of the “2024 Chinese Cultural Garden – Malaysia Sabah Park” on September 22 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, instructors from Tianjin expressed their surprise to reporters at how local youth campers were able to communicate in the authentic Tianjin dialect.

When asked about the instructors’ reactions, Chen Peizhen, a participant in the martial arts session, smiled and said in her Tianjin accent, “It’s just a little bit of Tianjin dialect; I learned it from my grandmother and grandfather.”

More than a century ago, a wave of immigrants primarily from Tianjin County in Hebei Province settled in Sabah, establishing a lasting community known as “Tianjin Village” near Kota Kinabalu. Many descendants of these immigrants have not only embraced local life but have also preserved their ability to speak the Tianjin dialect and uphold traditional customs.

Chen’s maternal grandparents are part of this immigrant legacy, and both she and her mother can speak a few phrases in their ancestral dialect. Her childhood was filled with traditional Tianjin meals like dumplings, cold noodles, and gruel. When she discovered that the Chinese Cultural Garden event was co-hosted by the Tianjin Overseas Friendship Association and the Sabah Chinese Association, and that instructors would be coming directly from Tianjin, she jumped at the opportunity to participate.

Chen, who has been practicing martial arts since she was a child, chose to take part in the martial arts class offered in the cultural program. While she had primarily trained in Southern Boxing, she was excited to learn Northern martial arts, such as Changquan, from the professional instructors. Reflecting on the experience, she commented on the hot weather in Sabah and how many classes were held outdoors, noting the determination of the instructors who continued teaching even when not feeling their best. “It was truly heartwarming,” she said.

In addition to martial arts, Chen and her classmates explored various facets of Tianjin folk culture and broader Chinese culture through activities like quick storytelling, lantern making, calligraphy, and painting. One of the instructors described the curriculum as encompassing a wide range of subjects, from martial arts to music and the arts. Chen felt that these experiences significantly deepened her understanding of both Tianjin and Chinese culture as a whole.

Two lessons that particularly resonated with her were, “Practice courtesy before martial arts” and “Learn virtue before martial arts.” “The teachers not only taught us martial arts but also helped us understand the cultural significance behind it,” she shared. During the graduation ceremony, Chen represented her classmates by performing the “fist salute,” a gesture she learned from her instructors. Her classmates also showcased an impressive Tianjin-style storytelling performance, earning high praise for their seamless delivery despite having a short time to prepare.

Feng Yuanyuan, an executive member of the Tianjin Overseas Friendship Association, highlighted that the organization aimed to foster appreciation for the richness of Chinese culture through professional teaching and a variety of courses, hoping to ignite students’ interest in learning even more. She expressed her desire for the seeds of Chinese culture and the friendship between China and Malaysia to take root through this initiative.

Yang Weiguang, the Deputy Speaker of the Sabah State Assembly, echoed her sentiments, noting that the roots of Chinese culture run deep and flourish around the world. “Through cultural events like this one, we strive to help Chinese culture take root in more hearts, allowing it to flourish,” he emphasized.