【22th Book Sharing:】Book: Homeland, Cuisine, and Memory: Ethnographic Notes across Nanyang
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | We are honoured to invite Prof. Dr. Onn Huann Jan from New Era University College to our upcoming book sharing session. He will share insights from his latest work, Homeland, Cuisine, and Memory: Ethnographic Notes across Nanyang. Drawing upon his years of in-depth fieldwork throughout the Nanyang region, participants will explore the profound connections between local culture, culinary memory, and social contexts. Students with an interest in Malaysian Chinese culture are encouraged to register and join us. |
| Speaker | Prof. Dr. Onn Huann Jan Dr. Onn Huann Jan is a Professor in the Department of Chinese Studies at New Era University College and a Visiting Research Fellow at the National Institute for Cultural Development, Wuhan University. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Xiamen University and an M.A. from the Institute of History and Philology at National Cheng Kung University. Previously, he served as Vice-Chancellor of Southern University College. In recognition of his academic achievements, Prof. Onn was selected by the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan as an inaugural "Outstanding Overseas Compatriot Student Alumni" (2021) and received the Southern University College Excellence in Teaching Award (2013). He was also a columnist for the "Marginal Commentary" section in the Sin Chew Daily. |
| Reading Material | Onn, H.J. (2025). Homeland, Cuisine, and Memory: Ethnographic Notes across Nanyang. Empress Culture. |
| Content Overview | Homeland, Cuisine, and Memory: Ethnographic Notes across Nanyang examines Malaysian history and the interconnections between local identity and culinary culture throughout Nanyang. Originally presented as a series of newspaper columns, the book brings together narratives around shared themes to form a cohesive and well-structured account. The author incorporates personal observations and reflections on the relationship between "margins" and "centre," while proposing an essential approach to fieldwork, that only by being "prepared to walk, sleep, and eat anywhere" can one achieve meaningful immersion in local contexts. Methodologically, the study draws upon anthropological concepts such as Clifford Geertz's "insider's perspective" and "thick description," while further proposing that fieldwork serves not only as an academic methodology but also as a form of personal cultivation and character development. |
| Seminar Information | Date: Monday, November 10, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Platform: Zoom Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/bp4uyeav *Free registration, due by November 9, 2025. |
Book Sharing Postscript
On November 10, 2025 (Monday), at 7:30 PM, the Institute of International Education of New Era University College successfully hosted a book sharing session for Homeland, Cuisine, and Memory: Ethnographic Notes across Nanyang. The event invited Prof. Dr. Onn Huann Jan, the author and a professor from the Chinese Department of New Era University College, as the speaker, attracting approximately 70 participants, including postgraduate students, faculty members, and researchers.
During the session, Prof. Onn not only shared his research journey across the Nanyang region but also delved into the two core principles of fieldwork that he upholds, namely "thick description" and "internal perspective." He emphasised that these two principles are indispensable for reaching a deeper understanding of culture. Fieldwork should not merely list phenomena but should involve placing cultural phenomena within the context of historical, cross-regional, and cross-cultural frameworks. Using his research on the "Johor Ancient Temple" as an example, he explained that its value lies not only in documenting architectural forms and ceremonial practices but also in tracing how the temple evolved as it accompanied Teochew immigrants to new lands and integrated with local cultures. He shared that good research should seek to reveal the trajectory of cultural transmission and adaptation across the Nanyang region, as reflected in customs, architecture, and food.
While "thick description" provides historical depth, the "internal perspective" requires researchers to empathise and understand the world from the viewpoints and emotions of the local people. In his book, when discussing dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice or Teochew porridge, Prof. Onn focuses not on the taste itself but on exploring the identity and intergenerational memories embedded in the food. He advocates for researchers to temporarily set aside their own judgments and sincerely engage with the emotions and the representations entailed.
Outstanding fieldwork, as Prof. Onn concluded, requires both the macro-level "thick description" to construct contextual understanding and the micro-level "internal perspective" to infuse passion into the research. It is the interplay of these two principles that enables his research to present a broad cultural landscape while resonating deeply with readers. Since its publication in March 2025, the book has been well-received and already reached its third print run by July, establishing itself as a light academia work that combines readability with intellectual depth.
The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, earning unanimous praise from the participants.
