Ong Chun: A shared maritime memory preserved by China and Malaysia

The Sending Off the King Boat ritual, also known as Wangchuan or Ong Chun, is a traditional ceremony rooted in the veneration of Wang Ye, guardian deities believed to ward off plagues and protect coastal communities. Originating in China’s Fujian and Guangdong provinces, it later spread to southern Taiwan and Southeast Asia through migration and maritime trade.

The ritual involves crafting a wooden king boat filled with offerings and culminating in a ceremonial send-off, where the boat is burned and released into the sea to pray for calm weather and safety. It is practiced in both China and Malaysia, with local adaptations—like using tropical wood and Southeast Asian design elements in Malaysia.

Celebrated every few years, especially in Chinese Malaysian communities, the ritual symbolizes shared cultural heritage. In 2020, China and Malaysia jointly secured its inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2024, the ritual served as a cultural bridge marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Source – CGTN