Globalizing Thai amulets: the Chinese - Singaporean role in commoditizing objects of faith

Abstract

ABSTRACTThai amulets have gained increasing popularity among Chinese believers throughout Asia and beyond. This study aims to explore the social life of Thai amulets, their complex relationship with Chinese religiosity in the highly individualistic Singapore society, within the modern system of monetary transactions and new social media, and investigate how these embodied material networks affect their value and meaning. Based on ethnographic data, in-depth interviews and media analysis, this article highlights the agency of Chinese-Singaporean amulet dealers in the transnational amulet market. Taking advantage of global trust in the credibility of the “Singapore Brand” with their multilingual and marketing expertise, Chinese-Singaporean dealers have played a key role in commoditizing and selling Thai amulets to other Chinese believers throughout Asia and beyond. Moreover, the authors argue that a transnational sphere has enabled Chinese-Singaporean dealers to produce an “unofficial” sacred space that lies outside the state’s gaze in order to negotiate with a stressful life in Singapore.KEYWORDS: Chinese-Singaporeansfaith-commodityglobalizationThai amuletstransnational religious-networksBuddhist monkonline market AcknowledgmentsThis article is part of a PhD dissertation of the Asian Studies doctoral program, School of Liberal Arts, Walailak University. The Walailak University Human Research Ethics Committee approved this study, assigning it certificate number “WUEC-20-041-01.”Additional informationNotes on contributorsNattakarn NaepimaiNattakarn Naepimai is currently a lecturer at Suratthani Rajabhat University’s Bachelor of Education Program in Social Studies, Faculty of Education. He holds a B.A. in History from Thaksin University (2010), an M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies from Walailak University (2015) and is a Doctoral Candidate in Asian Studies from Walailak University. His research interests include anthropology of religion, ethnicity and Thai local history.Somrak ChaisingkananontSomrak Chaisingkananont is currently a lecturer at Walailak University’s Doctoral Program in Liberal Arts, School of Liberal Arts. She holds an MA in Anthropology from Thammasat University and a PhD in Southeast Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research interests include consumer culture, empowerment of communities, geosocial and cultural dimensions, transnationalism, ethnicity, and cultural anthropology.