The Impact Of China’s Economic Rise On The Ancestor Worship In Thai-chinese Clan Association

On one hand, this paper illustrates after the 1997 Asian financial crisis and signing ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) , China has become Thailand's most influential economic partner. And it drives Thai people to be keen on learning Chinese language. As same time, it highlights the Chinese government attaches great importance to establishing relations with leaders of Thai Chinese communities. By the way of example, this article introduces the Chinese government through various activities drew the leaders of Thai-Chinese communities to China's government side. On the other hand, due to the anti-China anti-communist policy during the Cold War and the impact of Western culture, most young generation Thai-Chinese do not speak Chinese. In addition, actually, Thai-Chinese mainly retain the Chaoshan (Teo Chiew) culture and do not understand Chinese culture. Hence, the young generation of Thai- Chinese are not interested in the ritual of ancestor worship in the Thai-Chinese Clan Association. In other words, the rise of the Chinese economy do not arouse the Thai-Chinese younger generation to pay attention to the ancestor worship in Thai-Chinese clan association