Columbarium in Singapore
A columbarium Singapore is a place where a cinerary urn may be stored. The term is taken from the Latin word “columba,” which means dove, and attested to a sepulchral building of that form. It is a well-known fact that Singapore is facing a shortage of land for the development of new infrastructure projects and the modernization and urbanization of the country. With the scarcity of land in Singapore and the problems it will cause in terms of allocating land for various development sectors, columbariums could be a solution for the government in one way or another to store the ashes of the deceased. The importance of the chosen subject would be to inform Singaporeans that columbariums may play an important role in their next of kin’s future funerals and to make them aware of the advantages and disadvantages of storing their relatives’ ashes in a columbarium compared to other alternatives. The information for this paper would be gathered from different sources such as other research papers and articles, data from surveys conducted, and interviews with the people in Singapore and the staff or management of columbariums.
Definition of a Columbarium
In the 1970s, Singapore faced a land shortage issue and that changed the way columbariums functioned. More public cemeteries were exhumed and replaced by high-rise or temple-like columbarium structures to store ashes (gca.gov.sg). This was a shift from the traditional practice of urn burial near a tombstone and was done to optimize the use of limited land in Singapore and was met with great acceptance due to several benefits to families, the state, and the deceased. In comparison to a traditional burial plot, a columbarium niche costs less in the long term as there are little maintenance fees imposed on the niche and no other fees for customary Qingming (All Souls Day). It also costs far less for funeral and burial expenses. This is very beneficial when a large population of old folks in Singapore have little or no savings.
A columbarium is a structure that was specifically built to house niches for funeral urns. A niche is a compartment slot in a columbarium used to house an urn. The term ‘columbarium’ was derived from the Latin word ‘columba’ which means dove. In early times, a columbarium was a building with small cells, like those of a dovecote, each cell meant to house a couple of urns. An urn is a vase-like container, especially for the burial of ashes after cremation. This is in relation to the holes which doves and other birds used to dwell. The niche was then later defined as a solitary and uniformed burial urn. Today, a modern-day columbarium has managed to encompass a more holistic value and function.
Importance of Columbariums in Singapore
The importance of columbariums to Singapore is best understood by focusing on the benefits they bring to the nation. In any country, land is a scarce resource. Often this brings about the issue of whether land should be used for development or conserved for greenery and nature. Singapore has constantly been faced with the challenge of balancing the need for development against protecting the ecosystem. Apart from residential housing, there is constant competition between using state land for industrial development, infrastructure, education, defence, commerce and leisure. Green space and parks are important for recreational activities and nature lovers. Bringing the urns with the ashes of the deceased into nature reserves and parks for scattering is turning out to be an increasing problem in society. Eroding the urns will take away the sanctity of the nature reserves. By encouraging people to keep the ashes in a columbarium, a permanent memorial is created for the deceased. This helps to avoid spreading the ashes in non-designated areas and reduces land needed for creating new cemeteries. In the long run, more land can be conserved for other uses. A national columbarium would be one good way to prevent cremated ashes from taking up more land in Singapore. Currently, leasing a niche in a private columbarium directly contributes to less utilization of state land for new cemeteries, which is essentially ‘outsourcing’ the issue of land scarcity to other developing nations. By identifying that a large proportion of the population is/will be cremating loved ones, and providing an affordable and culturally acceptable option to keep the ashes in Singapore, a national columbarium is in the interest of the populace and future generations.
History of Columbariums in Singapore
Currently, the Singapore government has planned to build a few more columbaria to cater to the increasing demand for smooth transition of state land from the cemeteries to other alternative uses. The Ministry of National Development unveiled plans in Parliament to build two columbaria at Yishun and Lim Chu Kang targeting Buddhists, and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and the Singapore Buddhist Federation have decided to build another columbarium near to the monastery on a small portion of state land at Bishan, subject to approval from relevant authorities. Given recent media attention surrounding this issue, this may lead to more research and discussions on the potential role of the government in building and managing such facilities, and the feasibility and sustainability of future private enterprise of columbarium construction to fulfill the needs of diverse communities. Anson Teo, 2005:7-8; Cheow Xin Yi, 28 Mar. 2007. “Two New Ash Storage Sites by 2014.” The Straits Times.
“Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.” 2008. Tourism Board Singapore. Retrieved 6/24/08.
步新加坡小小兰碑园的前身是木葬苑，里头安葬了不少华人名人烈士的神主牌。后来为了适应社会需要及与时俱进，小小兰碑园在为新加坡华族社群服务的使命方面，又转为兴建庙念堂和古亭积善私奉。至1977年，为了服务群众资金不足的缘故，先后兴建了64个骨灰龛及两间法事大厦。至1991年6月份，白沙浮佛教医药协会会长释广宽巴刹长老因园内各种条件有限，为了兴建一所永久戒安的慈济医药奉养院，决定与小小兰碑园狮山龙华寺和小小兰中和观所合并，将园名更名为孔明山八卦山卫奴古亭及一心药养院有限公司，并设于局发展团购下麦方项目一个永久地契建筑新园。2000年，小小兰碑园出售了旧址以资报新，购取靠近新马第二通道的巴督蒲那土地，开始了一项新的发展规划和规模更宏伟的建设。 Anson Teo, 2005:4-6
The first two columbariums were built in 1979, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and in 1983, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex. Initially, columbaria were built to cater to the Buddhist and Taoist communities. In 1983, Rev. Seck Kwang Phing, then President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, announced the decision to build the first Buddhist Columbarium to cater to the needs of the Buddhist community. On 11 November 1987, the Buddhist Union Ltd was incorporated and set up a building fund to finance a Buddhist Memorial Columbarium. On 2 December 1990, Singapore Buddhist Lodge Free Clinic Building and Columbarium was built.
Early Development of Columbariums
In 1982, Singapore’s first columbarium law was established. This law served to rectify the previously ambiguous situation of urn interments which were co-mingled with either full body burials or placed into niches within temples. As of 1982, urn interments were only allowed into specially designated niches or buildings inside a governed columbarium compound. The end result was a clear distinction of urn and full body burial facilities. The implementation of the law saw the redevelopment of many old temples and the incorporation of new columbarium buildings.
The earliest recorded columbarium niche in Singapore is located at the Japanese Cemetery in Chuan Hoe Avenue and was built in 1972 by the Japanese Association. This 47-year-old columbarium pre-dates the rapid growth of private columbariums which began in the 1990s and culminated in the 2000s. However, it was only in the mid-1980s that new concepts of public and private columbariums began to take shape.
Evolution of Columbarium Designs
The first phase of government-built columbaria started in the late 1970s. The avian-designed columbarium at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is an example of a unique and symbolic design simplified to lower costs. This cost-effective design sparked the construction of many columbaria at various cemeteries throughout Singapore. These columbaria usually had long, never-ending corridors of niches on both sides, with a few inner chambers. The use of heavy, concrete materials, small corridors, and dim lighting makes the area oppressive, warm, and cluttered. Such a design, with land at a premium, is an inefficient use of space and does not allow for expansion. The second phase of government-built columbaria, such as the Mandai Columbarium, saw small improvements in design. The use of bigger corridors does make the area seem more spacious and bright. However, this design is still uncreative and inefficient in terms of space. It was only when the government decided in the mid-1990s to consolidate all private columbariums operating in various temples under one roof at a government-built multi-purpose hall attached to larger temples did significant improvement in design occur. A temple-based columbarium is usually a scaled-down version of the temple, conforming to the smaller size allocated by the government.
Significant Columbariums in Singapore
By the 1980s, the government has been exhuming graves to free land for other purposes. Many cemeteries were demolished or fell into disrepair over controversy and legal battles. In place of exhumed graves, estates such as Bishan, Toa Payoh, Boon Lay, Sembawang were offered as public burial sites combined with crematoriums. Peck San Theng was also affected and had gradually become a disheveled state. In 2001, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, the entity responsible for Peck San Theng, reopened it as a columbarium, having salvaged or relocated many of the graves.
Peck San Theng, formerly known as the “Jade Hills on the Forbidden Hill”, is located off Upper Serangoon Road. It is one of the biggest private cemeteries in Singapore. The cemetery is divided by hilly terrains into two parts – old and new. The older part of the cemetery comprises several hills and is dotted with tombs from Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese communities. There is also a section reserved for the burial of Indian nationals. As Peck San Theng was a Hakka cemetery, the graves typically face the southern direction, and thus many of the hills are terraced into the slope with graves. The ridges between the slopes typically house a prominent family ancestral hall.
Cultural Significance of Columbariums in Singapore
The closure of public burial grounds sparked the trend of cremation and it became the only option in the early 90s. This was especially so as the government was advocating it as a way to save space. The trend of cremation meant that there was no longer a physical place to remember the ancestors of loved ones, and it was during this time that columbariums began to gain popularity as a way to remember the departed. Today, the common Singaporean would have a funeral wake at one of the many HDB void deck parlours and the place of cremation would be at the Mandai Crematorium. Following this, the ashes of the departed would usually be stored at home for a month before the ashes are then taken to a chosen temple or church, as the case may be, that has a link to a columbarium in order to enshrine the departed. This is the current practice and though it is not entirely spoken of, it is the expected societal norm. It is clear that the simple act of cremation is no longer sufficient as a way to remember the ancestors of one’s loved ones and society has implicitly condemned that it is not dignified to scatter the ashes of the departed. Usually, the reasoning is such that it is difficult to identify with the departed if there is no concrete place to remember them and for many dispersion of the ashes is a mere matter of cost and practicality. Ancestor worship and remembrance is especially significant in Asian societies and in a multiracial society like Singapore, columbariums have had and will continue to have an important role to facilitate this.
Traditional funeral practices in Singapore In the not so distant past, it was common for the deceased to be buried at a burial ground, usually located near a kampung or village. However, with urbanization and the sudden increase in population after independence, burial grounds gave way to make space for new housing estates and the housing of this ever-growing population, and land scarcity became a real issue. With the very practical matter of land scarcity, public burial grounds were eventually closed in the early 90s and no new ones would be created, save for some private cemeteries and those for different religions. As a result, this forced a complete change in the traditional funeral practices of the common Singaporean.
Cultural significance of columbarium in Singapore Columbariums hold a special place in Singapore’s heartland as they are considered places where family ties and filial piety can be remembered through the generations. They provide a final resting place not only for the deceased, but a place of solace and tranquility for friends and relatives. To understand the cultural significance that columbariums hold today, we would have to look at the role death plays in Singapore society, the traditions of funerals and ancestor worship, and how these have changed over the years. It is necessary to examine how different religions and the nature of death have an impact on the cultural significance of columbariums as well. Finally, we would have to pay close attention to the events and festivals that are held throughout the year at columbariums, as these are a direct reflection of the significance and a measure of the sentiment that people place on these establishments.
Traditional Funeral Practices in Singapore
Role of Columbariums in Honoring Ancestors
The Malay and Indian cultures do not cite the care for the departed ancestor as their main reason for practicing burial. However, because of land scarcity and burial will ultimately utilize large amounts of land, it has been made against the law for a body to be buried and to remain buried in Singapore, and there is a movement to encourage cremation as an alternative to burial for all races in Singapore. This is to free up land for the living and future generations. An Indian association was once forced into moving a temple and columbarium on land that was to be acquired for urban development. The Indian culture is not against having a temple and a final resting place for the ashes of their departed. This was a move of necessity brought about by land scarcity in Singapore.
The care and veneration of ancestors are deeply ingrained in the Chinese culture, and filial piety is vital in the continuance of the Chinese culture. Many Chinese accept as true that when a person dies, his spirit has not deceased, and it is still necessary to care for the departed ancestor’s lineage. Common ways of showing honour and care for a deceased relative is to burn incense and provide offerings to the deceased at his grave. By storing the ashes of a departed relative in a columbarium, which is basically a final resting place, descendants can reciprocate the loving care and great affection that the departed has shown them all his life. For the joy of offering is not in the article or substance offered, but in the love, respect, and devotion which prompted the offering. In this way, the essence of the departed is still around the descendants, and they can seek to develop an even better understanding and a great affection for the departed as they carry on the family name. However, it cannot be assumed that all races in Singapore share the same way of thinking and culture on caring for the departed.
Influence of Different Religions on Columbariums
Step into a typical Buddhist or Taoist columbarium, and one will feel a profound sense of serenity and tranquility in the air. Atmosphere is important as it is believed to have a direct impact on the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those who visit. The exterior and interior of the building will be adorned with intricate designs of dragons, heavenly deities, and floral emblems that are meant to bring persons closer to their cultural roots. Such designs are rarely found in Christian cemeteries and columbariums.
For example, Buddhist and Hindu Singaporeans view death as a process of moving from one life to the next in the reincarnation cycle. Hindu funeral rites generally encourage cremation while scattering the ashes in a river or sea, as it is believed that the released soul will be freed from the cycle of reincarnation and will have achieved liberation. Buddhists also prefer cremation as they view it as a kinder alternative to burying; it is well accepted as the Buddha himself was cremated. Ashes from the cremation of loved ones will be collected and placed in an urn to be stored in a Buddhist or Taoist columbarium.
The various religious beliefs in Singapore play a significant role in determining how one copes with sickness, death, and grief. These religions have a strong influence in determining views of health, illness, and death, and the way health care is perceived and utilized. This is especially significant when it comes to decisions pertaining to whether to choose burial or cremation when a loved one passes away.
Cultural Events and Festivals at Columbariums
The Brazilian and Japanese communities too have important cultural events to honor and remember loved ones. The Japanese celebrate the Obon Festival, which is a Buddhist tradition to honor the departed spirits of one’s ancestors. The Brazilian Dia de Finados (Day of the Dead) is a celebration where friends and family gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The festive plaza and unique Columbarium designs at both the Japanese and Brazilian sectors provide an ideal setting for these respective communities to celebrate and remember in a cultural and festive manner.
The annual Qing Ming Festival is an important cultural event for the Chinese community, and it involves the coming together of families to remember and honor their forefathers. To enhance the appreciation of the festival, the new niche Columbarium will incorporate an open plaza where memorial services can be conducted during Qing Ming. This will provide families with a conducive environment to perform traditional rites and customs as a mark of respect to the deceased.
Cultural events play an important role in the life of Singaporeans. Festivities are held throughout the year and such occasions symbolize unity, harmony, and the celebration of life. In line with its emphasis on serving the needs of the community, the new niche Columbarium at Yishun will offer families the opportunity to come together in celebration, to honor and remember loved ones who have passed on.
Future of Columbariums in Singapore
Columbariums are gaining in popularity in many parts of the world, including Singapore. They are seen as a way of practicing filial piety and commemorating the deceased in urban Singapore. However, the future for columbariums in Singapore is uncertain as they face challenges such as limited space, intense competition due to large numbers of similar facilities, and providing affordable and quality service relative to the diverse needs of Singaporeans. Opportunities for columbariums include being able to provide a niche market for various religions, cost effectiveness compared to burial plots, and promoting the highly regarded practice of filial piety among younger generations. In light of these challenges and opportunities, there have been several innovations and proposals to improve the current and future state of columbariums in Singapore.
Challenges and Opportunities
The high level of competition in the industry means that columbarium designers are constantly looking to outdo each other. Over time, features found in different religious buildings may become more exaggerated in the design of future columbariums. For example, a Taoist columbarium may have a lot of water features and nature elements near the niches whereas a Buddhist columbarium may have more open spaces for group recitation of sutras. The level of competition will also mean that future columbariums will have a large range of facilities and services offered to niched individuals. This could include anything from in-niche webcasting to columbarium field trips for students.
A buffer is needed between the housing blocks and the stacks of niches. This allows family and friends to have private moments with the deceased away from the public eye. As such, the typical columbarium will evolve to become a blend of public and private spaces. The columbaria at the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex are already taking steps in this direction with family suites and niche designs that allow families to customize the level of privacy they desire. With niche designs creating such a big impact on how spaces are utilized.
Innovations in Columbarium Design and Services
With increased affluence and education, future generations will expect higher standards of education, service and choice. To cater to this, the public and private sectors will have to provide a higher variety of services and develop new technologies to enhance the experience of commemorating the departed. A joint effort by the government and the private sector is also in the works to raise standards of the bereavement care industry; the recent collaboration between JTC Corporation and the National Environment Agency to launch the Garden of Memories, Singapore’s first eco-friendly columbarium is an example of that effort.
The Singapore Buddhist Lodge’s (SBL) recent development of the One-stop Buddhist Funeral Service Hub has provided a new direction in the provision of funeral and memorial services. The Hub includes a nursing home for the sick and destitute, a hospice with home care services, funeral parlours, ash collection and storage facilities and a columbarium. This facility will enable customers to make end-of-life preparations and go through the entire post-death Buddhist funeral rites for a loved one at a single convenient location. In turn, this will generate higher demand for SBL’s niche services at their columbarium.
A study on Columbarium services by the Committee of the Ageing was conducted in 2002. The findings clearly stated a shift in preference for cremation as a form of disposition. The committee also found that future customer segments will demand for a basic niche to be low maintenance, affordable and be designed to provide a place for quiet reflection and a site for commemorative services. In essence, the niche will become a glass fronted private space, functioning as a permanent place of memorial similar to that of a traditional ancestor tablet, setting aside the image of the niches of today where they are no more than a compartment in a wall. Such a transformation will result in a decrease in demand for public niches and an increase in demand for private niches, therefore innovative designs are necessary to meet that demand.
A change in consumer demand has led to a change in the design of columbariums. In the past, design aesthetics and quality of upkeep were not primary concerns for the bereaved, as the surviving family members were the ones primarily responsible for maintenance. However, with changing lifestyles and increased mobility, the responsibility for tending a gravesite can be an inconvenience to family members who may not live in close proximity, while others may wish to relocate to another country in their golden years.
Government Regulations and Planning
The regulatory aspects of columbarium development and management in Singapore had already been touched upon in a few studies (Chambers, 1993; Chan, Ho and Gam, 2001; Yeh, 2006) over the last two decades, which is indeed not a long time given the thousands of years that the institution of ancestor worship has been around. That being said, the subject appears to be quite under-researched in the context of the Singapore government’s opinions towards it. Announcements made by public officers on the subject have sometimes been met with surprise due to the lack of public awareness on the issues, for example Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu’s revelation that niche allocation would eventually cease in public cemeteries to make way for government plan to phase out cemeteries. Also, a particularly significant event that has shaped the future of public and private columbarium/niche developments was the success of the 2008 appeal by Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple to erect a crematorium and columbarium in a BTO residential precinct as decided by the Appeal Board under the Building Control Act. This has set a precedent for future proposals of similar nature especially at residential areas where a higher accessibility to niches by elderly family members could be expected. With the opening of a new columbarium by the National Arts Council expected in around 2015, public-civic institutions joining in niche provision may also become a common sight in the future.
Columbarium in Singapore
A columbarium Singapore is a place where a cinerary urn may be stored. The term is taken from the Latin word “columba,” which means dove, and attested to a sepulchral building of that form. It is a well-known fact that Singapore is facing a shortage of land for the development of new infrastructure projects and the modernization and urbanization of the country. With the scarcity of land in Singapore and the problems it will cause in terms of allocating land for various development sectors, columbariums could be a solution for the government in one way or another to store the ashes of the deceased. The importance of the chosen subject would be to inform Singaporeans that columbariums may play an important role in their next of kin’s future funerals and to make them aware of the advantages and disadvantages of storing their relatives’ ashes in a columbarium compared to other alternatives. The information for this paper would be gathered from different sources such as other research papers and articles, data from surveys conducted, and interviews with the people in Singapore and the staff or management of columbariums.
Definition of a Columbarium
In the 1970s, Singapore faced a land shortage issue and that changed the way columbariums functioned. More public cemeteries were exhumed and replaced by high-rise or temple-like columbarium structures to store ashes (gca.gov.sg). This was a shift from the traditional practice of urn burial near a tombstone and was done to optimize the use of limited land in Singapore and was met with great acceptance due to several benefits to families, the state, and the deceased. In comparison to a traditional burial plot, a columbarium niche costs less in the long term as there are little maintenance fees imposed on the niche and no other fees for customary Qingming (All Souls Day). It also costs far less for funeral and burial expenses. This is very beneficial when a large population of old folks in Singapore have little or no savings.
A columbarium is a structure that was specifically built to house niches for funeral urns. A niche is a compartment slot in a columbarium used to house an urn. The term ‘columbarium’ was derived from the Latin word ‘columba’ which means dove. In early times, a columbarium was a building with small cells, like those of a dovecote, each cell meant to house a couple of urns. An urn is a vase-like container, especially for the burial of ashes after cremation. This is in relation to the holes which doves and other birds used to dwell. The niche was then later defined as a solitary and uniformed burial urn. Today, a modern-day columbarium has managed to encompass a more holistic value and function.
Importance of Columbariums in Singapore
The importance of columbariums to Singapore is best understood by focusing on the benefits they bring to the nation. In any country, land is a scarce resource. Often this brings about the issue of whether land should be used for development or conserved for greenery and nature. Singapore has constantly been faced with the challenge of balancing the need for development against protecting the ecosystem. Apart from residential housing, there is constant competition between using state land for industrial development, infrastructure, education, defence, commerce and leisure. Green space and parks are important for recreational activities and nature lovers. Bringing the urns with the ashes of the deceased into nature reserves and parks for scattering is turning out to be an increasing problem in society. Eroding the urns will take away the sanctity of the nature reserves. By encouraging people to keep the ashes in a columbarium, a permanent memorial is created for the deceased. This helps to avoid spreading the ashes in non-designated areas and reduces land needed for creating new cemeteries. In the long run, more land can be conserved for other uses. A national columbarium would be one good way to prevent cremated ashes from taking up more land in Singapore. Currently, leasing a niche in a private columbarium directly contributes to less utilization of state land for new cemeteries, which is essentially ‘outsourcing’ the issue of land scarcity to other developing nations. By identifying that a large proportion of the population is/will be cremating loved ones, and providing an affordable and culturally acceptable option to keep the ashes in Singapore, a national columbarium is in the interest of the populace and future generations.
History of Columbariums in Singapore
Currently, the Singapore government has planned to build a few more columbaria to cater to the increasing demand for smooth transition of state land from the cemeteries to other alternative uses. The Ministry of National Development unveiled plans in Parliament to build two columbaria at Yishun and Lim Chu Kang targeting Buddhists, and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and the Singapore Buddhist Federation have decided to build another columbarium near to the monastery on a small portion of state land at Bishan, subject to approval from relevant authorities. Given recent media attention surrounding this issue, this may lead to more research and discussions on the potential role of the government in building and managing such facilities, and the feasibility and sustainability of future private enterprise of columbarium construction to fulfill the needs of diverse communities. Anson Teo, 2005:7-8; Cheow Xin Yi, 28 Mar. 2007. “Two New Ash Storage Sites by 2014.” The Straits Times.
“Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.” 2008. Tourism Board Singapore. Retrieved 6/24/08.
步新加坡小小兰碑园的前身是木葬苑，里头安葬了不少华人名人烈士的神主牌。后来为了适应社会需要及与时俱进，小小兰碑园在为新加坡华族社群服务的使命方面，又转为兴建庙念堂和古亭积善私奉。至1977年，为了服务群众资金不足的缘故，先后兴建了64个骨灰龛及两间法事大厦。至1991年6月份，白沙浮佛教医药协会会长释广宽巴刹长老因园内各种条件有限，为了兴建一所永久戒安的慈济医药奉养院，决定与小小兰碑园狮山龙华寺和小小兰中和观所合并，将园名更名为孔明山八卦山卫奴古亭及一心药养院有限公司，并设于局发展团购下麦方项目一个永久地契建筑新园。2000年，小小兰碑园出售了旧址以资报新，购取靠近新马第二通道的巴督蒲那土地，开始了一项新的发展规划和规模更宏伟的建设。 Anson Teo, 2005:4-6
The first two columbariums were built in 1979, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and in 1983, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex. Initially, columbaria were built to cater to the Buddhist and Taoist communities. In 1983, Rev. Seck Kwang Phing, then President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, announced the decision to build the first Buddhist Columbarium to cater to the needs of the Buddhist community. On 11 November 1987, the Buddhist Union Ltd was incorporated and set up a building fund to finance a Buddhist Memorial Columbarium. On 2 December 1990, Singapore Buddhist Lodge Free Clinic Building and Columbarium was built.
Early Development of Columbariums
In 1982, Singapore’s first columbarium law was established. This law served to rectify the previously ambiguous situation of urn interments which were co-mingled with either full body burials or placed into niches within temples. As of 1982, urn interments were only allowed into specially designated niches or buildings inside a governed columbarium compound. The end result was a clear distinction of urn and full body burial facilities. The implementation of the law saw the redevelopment of many old temples and the incorporation of new columbarium buildings.
The earliest recorded columbarium niche in Singapore is located at the Japanese Cemetery in Chuan Hoe Avenue and was built in 1972 by the Japanese Association. This 47-year-old columbarium pre-dates the rapid growth of private columbariums which began in the 1990s and culminated in the 2000s. However, it was only in the mid-1980s that new concepts of public and private columbariums began to take shape.
Evolution of Columbarium Designs
The first phase of government-built columbaria started in the late 1970s. The avian-designed columbarium at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is an example of a unique and symbolic design simplified to lower costs. This cost-effective design sparked the construction of many columbaria at various cemeteries throughout Singapore. These columbaria usually had long, never-ending corridors of niches on both sides, with a few inner chambers. The use of heavy, concrete materials, small corridors, and dim lighting makes the area oppressive, warm, and cluttered. Such a design, with land at a premium, is an inefficient use of space and does not allow for expansion. The second phase of government-built columbaria, such as the Mandai Columbarium, saw small improvements in design. The use of bigger corridors does make the area seem more spacious and bright. However, this design is still uncreative and inefficient in terms of space. It was only when the government decided in the mid-1990s to consolidate all private columbariums operating in various temples under one roof at a government-built multi-purpose hall attached to larger temples did significant improvement in design occur. A temple-based columbarium is usually a scaled-down version of the temple, conforming to the smaller size allocated by the government.
Significant Columbariums in Singapore
By the 1980s, the government has been exhuming graves to free land for other purposes. Many cemeteries were demolished or fell into disrepair over controversy and legal battles. In place of exhumed graves, estates such as Bishan, Toa Payoh, Boon Lay, Sembawang were offered as public burial sites combined with crematoriums. Peck San Theng was also affected and had gradually become a disheveled state. In 2001, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, the entity responsible for Peck San Theng, reopened it as a columbarium, having salvaged or relocated many of the graves.
Peck San Theng, formerly known as the “Jade Hills on the Forbidden Hill”, is located off Upper Serangoon Road. It is one of the biggest private cemeteries in Singapore. The cemetery is divided by hilly terrains into two parts – old and new. The older part of the cemetery comprises several hills and is dotted with tombs from Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese communities. There is also a section reserved for the burial of Indian nationals. As Peck San Theng was a Hakka cemetery, the graves typically face the southern direction, and thus many of the hills are terraced into the slope with graves. The ridges between the slopes typically house a prominent family ancestral hall.
Cultural Significance of Columbariums in Singapore
The closure of public burial grounds sparked the trend of cremation and it became the only option in the early 90s. This was especially so as the government was advocating it as a way to save space. The trend of cremation meant that there was no longer a physical place to remember the ancestors of loved ones, and it was during this time that columbariums began to gain popularity as a way to remember the departed. Today, the common Singaporean would have a funeral wake at one of the many HDB void deck parlours and the place of cremation would be at the Mandai Crematorium. Following this, the ashes of the departed would usually be stored at home for a month before the ashes are then taken to a chosen temple or church, as the case may be, that has a link to a columbarium in order to enshrine the departed. This is the current practice and though it is not entirely spoken of, it is the expected societal norm. It is clear that the simple act of cremation is no longer sufficient as a way to remember the ancestors of one’s loved ones and society has implicitly condemned that it is not dignified to scatter the ashes of the departed. Usually, the reasoning is such that it is difficult to identify with the departed if there is no concrete place to remember them and for many dispersion of the ashes is a mere matter of cost and practicality. Ancestor worship and remembrance is especially significant in Asian societies and in a multiracial society like Singapore, columbariums have had and will continue to have an important role to facilitate this.
Traditional funeral practices in Singapore In the not so distant past, it was common for the deceased to be buried at a burial ground, usually located near a kampung or village. However, with urbanization and the sudden increase in population after independence, burial grounds gave way to make space for new housing estates and the housing of this ever-growing population, and land scarcity became a real issue. With the very practical matter of land scarcity, public burial grounds were eventually closed in the early 90s and no new ones would be created, save for some private cemeteries and those for different religions. As a result, this forced a complete change in the traditional funeral practices of the common Singaporean.
Cultural significance of columbarium in Singapore Columbariums hold a special place in Singapore’s heartland as they are considered places where family ties and filial piety can be remembered through the generations. They provide a final resting place not only for the deceased, but a place of solace and tranquility for friends and relatives. To understand the cultural significance that columbariums hold today, we would have to look at the role death plays in Singapore society, the traditions of funerals and ancestor worship, and how these have changed over the years. It is necessary to examine how different religions and the nature of death have an impact on the cultural significance of columbariums as well. Finally, we would have to pay close attention to the events and festivals that are held throughout the year at columbariums, as these are a direct reflection of the significance and a measure of the sentiment that people place on these establishments.
Traditional Funeral Practices in Singapore
Role of Columbariums in Honoring Ancestors
The Malay and Indian cultures do not cite the care for the departed ancestor as their main reason for practicing burial. However, because of land scarcity and burial will ultimately utilize large amounts of land, it has been made against the law for a body to be buried and to remain buried in Singapore, and there is a movement to encourage cremation as an alternative to burial for all races in Singapore. This is to free up land for the living and future generations. An Indian association was once forced into moving a temple and columbarium on land that was to be acquired for urban development. The Indian culture is not against having a temple and a final resting place for the ashes of their departed. This was a move of necessity brought about by land scarcity in Singapore.
The care and veneration of ancestors are deeply ingrained in the Chinese culture, and filial piety is vital in the continuance of the Chinese culture. Many Chinese accept as true that when a person dies, his spirit has not deceased, and it is still necessary to care for the departed ancestor’s lineage. Common ways of showing honour and care for a deceased relative is to burn incense and provide offerings to the deceased at his grave. By storing the ashes of a departed relative in a columbarium, which is basically a final resting place, descendants can reciprocate the loving care and great affection that the departed has shown them all his life. For the joy of offering is not in the article or substance offered, but in the love, respect, and devotion which prompted the offering. In this way, the essence of the departed is still around the descendants, and they can seek to develop an even better understanding and a great affection for the departed as they carry on the family name. However, it cannot be assumed that all races in Singapore share the same way of thinking and culture on caring for the departed.
Influence of Different Religions on Columbariums
Step into a typical Buddhist or Taoist columbarium, and one will feel a profound sense of serenity and tranquility in the air. Atmosphere is important as it is believed to have a direct impact on the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those who visit. The exterior and interior of the building will be adorned with intricate designs of dragons, heavenly deities, and floral emblems that are meant to bring persons closer to their cultural roots. Such designs are rarely found in Christian cemeteries and columbariums.
For example, Buddhist and Hindu Singaporeans view death as a process of moving from one life to the next in the reincarnation cycle. Hindu funeral rites generally encourage cremation while scattering the ashes in a river or sea, as it is believed that the released soul will be freed from the cycle of reincarnation and will have achieved liberation. Buddhists also prefer cremation as they view it as a kinder alternative to burying; it is well accepted as the Buddha himself was cremated. Ashes from the cremation of loved ones will be collected and placed in an urn to be stored in a Buddhist or Taoist columbarium.
The various religious beliefs in Singapore play a significant role in determining how one copes with sickness, death, and grief. These religions have a strong influence in determining views of health, illness, and death, and the way health care is perceived and utilized. This is especially significant when it comes to decisions pertaining to whether to choose burial or cremation when a loved one passes away.
Cultural Events and Festivals at Columbariums
The Brazilian and Japanese communities too have important cultural events to honor and remember loved ones. The Japanese celebrate the Obon Festival, which is a Buddhist tradition to honor the departed spirits of one’s ancestors. The Brazilian Dia de Finados (Day of the Dead) is a celebration where friends and family gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The festive plaza and unique Columbarium designs at both the Japanese and Brazilian sectors provide an ideal setting for these respective communities to celebrate and remember in a cultural and festive manner.
The annual Qing Ming Festival is an important cultural event for the Chinese community, and it involves the coming together of families to remember and honor their forefathers. To enhance the appreciation of the festival, the new niche Columbarium will incorporate an open plaza where memorial services can be conducted during Qing Ming. This will provide families with a conducive environment to perform traditional rites and customs as a mark of respect to the deceased.
Cultural events play an important role in the life of Singaporeans. Festivities are held throughout the year and such occasions symbolize unity, harmony, and the celebration of life. In line with its emphasis on serving the needs of the community, the new niche Columbarium at Yishun will offer families the opportunity to come together in celebration, to honor and remember loved ones who have passed on.
Future of Columbariums in Singapore
Columbariums are gaining in popularity in many parts of the world, including Singapore. They are seen as a way of practicing filial piety and commemorating the deceased in urban Singapore. However, the future for columbariums in Singapore is uncertain as they face challenges such as limited space, intense competition due to large numbers of similar facilities, and providing affordable and quality service relative to the diverse needs of Singaporeans. Opportunities for columbariums include being able to provide a niche market for various religions, cost effectiveness compared to burial plots, and promoting the highly regarded practice of filial piety among younger generations. In light of these challenges and opportunities, there have been several innovations and proposals to improve the current and future state of columbariums in Singapore.
Challenges and Opportunities
The high level of competition in the industry means that columbarium designers are constantly looking to outdo each other. Over time, features found in different religious buildings may become more exaggerated in the design of future columbariums. For example, a Taoist columbarium may have a lot of water features and nature elements near the niches whereas a Buddhist columbarium may have more open spaces for group recitation of sutras. The level of competition will also mean that future columbariums will have a large range of facilities and services offered to niched individuals. This could include anything from in-niche webcasting to columbarium field trips for students.
A buffer is needed between the housing blocks and the stacks of niches. This allows family and friends to have private moments with the deceased away from the public eye. As such, the typical columbarium will evolve to become a blend of public and private spaces. The columbaria at the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex are already taking steps in this direction with family suites and niche designs that allow families to customize the level of privacy they desire. With niche designs creating such a big impact on how spaces are utilized.
Innovations in Columbarium Design and Services
With increased affluence and education, future generations will expect higher standards of education, service and choice. To cater to this, the public and private sectors will have to provide a higher variety of services and develop new technologies to enhance the experience of commemorating the departed. A joint effort by the government and the private sector is also in the works to raise standards of the bereavement care industry; the recent collaboration between JTC Corporation and the National Environment Agency to launch the Garden of Memories, Singapore’s first eco-friendly columbarium is an example of that effort.
The Singapore Buddhist Lodge’s (SBL) recent development of the One-stop Buddhist Funeral Service Hub has provided a new direction in the provision of funeral and memorial services. The Hub includes a nursing home for the sick and destitute, a hospice with home care services, funeral parlours, ash collection and storage facilities and a columbarium. This facility will enable customers to make end-of-life preparations and go through the entire post-death Buddhist funeral rites for a loved one at a single convenient location. In turn, this will generate higher demand for SBL’s niche services at their columbarium.
A study on Columbarium services by the Committee of the Ageing was conducted in 2002. The findings clearly stated a shift in preference for cremation as a form of disposition. The committee also found that future customer segments will demand for a basic niche to be low maintenance, affordable and be designed to provide a place for quiet reflection and a site for commemorative services. In essence, the niche will become a glass fronted private space, functioning as a permanent place of memorial similar to that of a traditional ancestor tablet, setting aside the image of the niches of today where they are no more than a compartment in a wall. Such a transformation will result in a decrease in demand for public niches and an increase in demand for private niches, therefore innovative designs are necessary to meet that demand.
A change in consumer demand has led to a change in the design of columbariums. In the past, design aesthetics and quality of upkeep were not primary concerns for the bereaved, as the surviving family members were the ones primarily responsible for maintenance. However, with changing lifestyles and increased mobility, the responsibility for tending a gravesite can be an inconvenience to family members who may not live in close proximity, while others may wish to relocate to another country in their golden years.
Government Regulations and Planning
The regulatory aspects of columbarium development and management in Singapore had already been touched upon in a few studies (Chambers, 1993; Chan, Ho and Gam, 2001; Yeh, 2006) over the last two decades, which is indeed not a long time given the thousands of years that the institution of ancestor worship has been around. That being said, the subject appears to be quite under-researched in the context of the Singapore government’s opinions towards it. Announcements made by public officers on the subject have sometimes been met with surprise due to the lack of public awareness on the issues, for example Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu’s revelation that niche allocation would eventually cease in public cemeteries to make way for government plan to phase out cemeteries. Also, a particularly significant event that has shaped the future of public and private columbarium/niche developments was the success of the 2008 appeal by Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple to erect a crematorium and columbarium in a BTO residential precinct as decided by the Appeal Board under the Building Control Act. This has set a precedent for future proposals of similar nature especially at residential areas where a higher accessibility to niches by elderly family members could be expected. With the opening of a new columbarium by the National Arts Council expected in around 2015, public-civic institutions joining in niche provision may also become a common sight in the future.
