Spirit-writing and mediumship in the Chinese new religious movement Dejiao in Southeastern Asia

International audienceThrough the case study of the Teochew people of Northeastern Guandong who formed the bulk of Chinese immigrants to mainland Southeast Asia between the late 19th century and the Second World War, this article deals with a widespread Chinese technic of written spirit-mediumship, called fuji. By taking into account the example of a New Religious Movement, named Dejiao (teaching of virtue), which appeared in the context of the Sino-Japanese war and spread to Southeast Asia afterwards, the author analyzes the ways mediums enter into communication with gods and their state of mind before and after their performance. He also singles out the sociological factors, which lead to attractive oracles and thus strengthten the faith of the believers. [China, Chaozhou, Teochew people, mediumshi