2020 is the beginning of a new decade. Being the Year of the Golden Rat, it also starts a new cycle in the sexagesimal calendar. The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) and Business China wish everyone a prosperous Golden Rat Year and success in all your endeavours! Based on the 60th SCCCI council’s key thrust, “Keeping Pace with the Times, Adapting with Resolve”, the SCCCI has been actively promoting Chinese Entrepreneurial Culture. Chinese Entrepreneurial Culture emphasises the importance of having integrity, contributing back to society and staying loyal to the nation as well as adopting innovation to promote business culture and improve business performance. This Lunar New Year Gathering is SCCCI’s first major event of 2020. This year is also the third year that SCCCI co-organised the Lunar New Year Gathering with Business China. In a departure from previous years, we have planned the Lunar New Year celebration by infusing activities with the essence of the Singapore Culture and Chinese Entrepreneurial Spirit. Since independence, the Singapore Government has strived to build an inclusive society. After half a century’s effort, we have gradually developed a unique “Singapore Culture”. “Singapore Culture” embodies a special force, which constantly reminds us that we share a common history and urges us to work hard and continue to progress! The vital cornerstone that ensures the sustainable development of Singapore Culture and our continued prosperity is racial harmony and cultural integration. In the future, based on the principle of seeking harmony without uniformity, we will continue to actively promote Chinese Entrepreneurial Spirit and Singapore Culture. As we welcome the Year of the Golden Rat, we hope that everyone will contribute back to society by building an even more inclusive society and a better future for Singapore.
“Jin Shu Xian Rui” Bearing New Year Well-Wishes, the Enterprising Golden Rat Embodies the Social Etiquette of Chinese Entrepreneurial Culture and Traditional Wisdom 2020 SCCCI Lunar New Year Gathering’s most impressive highlight is the unveiling of the centrepiece – “Jin Shu Xian Rui”. The design concept of this centrepiece is inspired by the ancient Chinese coin, which is round with a square hole in the centre. This represents the conduct one should apply in life and business, being flexible while upholding your principles. The centrepiece also subtly demonstrates the traditional wisdom of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) and their inter-relationship. For example, “metal generates water” shows the correlation between the design of the golden rat and ribbon in the centrepiece and the creation of water ripples resulting from the pulling of the golden ribbon. Water is the source of nourishment for living things, symbolising an unwavering force of life. “Water nourishes wood” is shown through the water ripples and wooden base of the centrepiece, symbolising social stability. Among the five elements, the colour white represents metal. There are 12 zodiac animals in white and outlined with gold to wish all guests blessings of more wealth.
Promoting Cross-cultural Interaction and Social Cohesion Sand Art, Chinese Orchestra and Chinese Dance During this Lunar New Year Gathering, sand art artist Imran has been invited to present the bicentennial story of Singapore, to emphasise the importance of having racial harmony as the bedrock of Singapore’s prosperity. To complement the sand art performance, a Chinese orchestra ensemble will provide musical accompaniment in the background. This performance combines both visual and auditory art so that visitors could feel the pulse of Singapore Culture – racial harmony and social cohesion. We have also invited young local artists to perform in a Chinese orchestra and dance segment at the Lunar New Year Gathering.
Calligraphy: Cross-cultural interaction Malay calligrapher Malik Mazlan has been specially invited to demonstrate his calligraphy writing during this year’s Lunar New Year Gathering. At the age of 19, Malik started to learn calligraphy. His passion for calligraphy is a perfect example of multi-cultural interaction. Chinese character “Wang”, symoblises good luck.
For the first time, we have set up a children’s calligraphy workshop at this Lunar New Year Gathering to allow locals and foreigners experience a form of Chinese Culture through practising the art of calligraphy.
Spring Festival Themed Balloon Sculptures Balloon sculpturing activity is one of the most popular activities among Singaporeans. For the first time, we have specially invited the balloon artists for this Lunar New Year Gathering to complement the Spring Festival theme and promote Singapore Culture. A life-size God of Fortune balloon sculpture will doubtless become the Lunar New Year Gathering’s most popular photography opportunity spot. There will also be another God of Fortune mascot in the Lunar New Year gathering, bringing double amounts of good luck to our guests. Every Golden Rat shaped balloon sculpture represents wit, agility and flexibility, suggesting the guests’ discernment and resilience towards business opportunities. The Chinese character for pineapple when spoken in Hokkien sounds like “wanglai” (旺来), thus the pineapple balloon sculpture symbolises prosperity and good luck. Balloon sculptures shaped like gold ingots represent the blessings of wealth and prosperity.
Festive Food How could we miss out on food in the promotion of culture? Guests will also understand the significance of local pastries in Chinese culture during this year’s Lunar New Year Gathering. For example, the symbolic meaning of cake or “gao”（ ）is a homophone for another Chinese character, “gao”（高）, which means high. Traditional New Year Cakes symbolise well wishes to all guests for a greater career or academic success. Kueh Bahulu is a traditional pastry believed to have originated from Malaysia and Indonesia, but it is now enjoyed across all races in Singapore. Rice grains symbolise having an abundance of food and clothing, New Year Cakes symbolise advancement and progress, mandarin oranges represent fortune and prosperity, the pomelo symbolises family reunion and blessings, pineapple means good luck “wanglai” (旺来), persimmon means a vibrant economy and the pumpkin represents abundant wealth. This year, the new year gifts given to guests include mandarin oranges, chocolates and milk candies. The mandarin oranges symbolise both luck and auspicious wishes, chocolate having sweetness in life, and milk candy evolves fond childhood memories for many locals. These traditional treats connect the collective memories of two generations, forming the core of Singapore Culture. Even as we are part of a globalised world, the cultures of our homeland will never be forgotten.