A Bridge of Remembrance: Honoring My Ancestors at the Autumn Ceremony

In the quiet of a Singapore morning, I performed a simple yet profound act on behalf of our family. I registered for a Lotus Seat at the annual Autumn Ancestral Worship Ceremony, to be held this September 28, 2025, at the Fong Yun Thai Association.

As I filled out a form, I was given the sacred privilege of inscribing three names. My pen hovered for a moment, the weight of our family’s entire history resting on this simple act of remembrance. It’s connecting our modern lives directly back to the Hakka heartland of China.Then, I carefully wrote the names that tell our story:

1. 钟荣宗 (Zhōng Róngzōng) – Our venerable patriarch from Fengshun
2. 钟世炳 (Zhōng Shì Bǐng) – My father, who bridged the old world and the new
3. 钟门罗干娘 (The Honored Lady Luo) – The respected matriarch , my grandmother who helped build our clan

The Generations That Made Me

This act of remembrance prompted me to trace where I stand in our family’s long journey:

• The Pioneer Generation: My great-grandfather 钟荣宗, who made the courageous decision to leave Fengshun, China, seeking opportunity in Southeast Asia. He was the original immigrant who planted our family in new soil.
• The Singapore-Born Generation: My father 钟世炳, the first in our direct line born outside China, on Pulau Tekong. His name carries the generational character 世 (Shì), a direct link to traditions carried from China.
• My Generation: I am the third generation born outside of China—the beneficiary of all their struggles and sacrifices. I am the one who reaps the rewards of their courage and has the privilege of remembering.

Why the Lotus Seat Matters

In Buddhist tradition, the lotus symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and rebirth—rising unstained from the mud to bloom beautifully. By securing this Lotus Seat for our ancestors, we express our highest hopes for their spiritual journey.

On September 28, 2025, in the “Three Counties Hall” at 33 Holland Link, their names will be present. A monk’s chant will carry their memory. The scent of incense will be for them. The vegetarian meals served will nourish both living and departed.

In that sacred space, the generations will gather—the pioneer from Fengshun, the son born on Pulau Tekong, and his children, now remembering.

The Thread That Binds Us

This Lotus Seat is our family’s way of saying: Your journey mattered. Your struggles built our foundation. We are here because you were.

To my siblings and relatives: I will be there to represent us all. We have secured our family’s place in this annual act of remembrance. The thread connecting us to Fengshun remains strong, and this year, we have woven another golden strand into its fabric.

The ceremony schedule—from the 9:00 AM altar opening to the 6:00 PM conclusion—will be a day of continuous prayer and remembrance. For our family, it represents something even larger: the ongoing story of a family that crossed oceans but never forgot its roots.

This blog post is part of an ongoing series documenting my family’s journey to reconnect with our Hakka Chinese roots. To read the full story, from our ancestral village in Fengshun to modern-day Singapore, please explore the other entries in this collection.