IDNO

P.62786.ELT

Description

Initiation of young spirit-mediums at a Chinese temple in Jalan Eunos, Singapore. Inside the temple, a structure of bamboo with walls of leaves, one young man holds the wrists of a second young man, dressed in loose trousers and a stomacher, who appears to be in a trance state. Onlookers watch from outside the temple. [EB 13/07/2022]

Place

SE Asia; Singapore; Jalan Eunos

Cultural Affliation

Chinese

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

Elliott, Alan J.A.

Date

1950 - 1951

Collection Name

Elliott Collection

Source

Elliott, Alan J. A.

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

The batch of prints, P.62833.ELT to P.62887.ELT, were found in a plastic filing folder now numbered C474/5/. This folder came from the cardboard box now numbered C474/.
See archive reference for more details regarding their dates and history.

P.62784.ELT to P.62790.ELT are described by Elliott as “Training of Mediums. Page 60 ff.”

Publication: Image published in Adams, G. Kernohan, K. Bell, E. and Ovens, G. 2023. 'Anthropologists and Photographers: The Poignant and Elliott Collections'. MAA Digital Lab blog post with the caption "Figures 8 and 9. Initiation of young spirit-mediums at a Chinese temple in Jalan Eunos, Singapore. Photographed by Alan Elliott, c. 1950. Left – MAA P.62786.ELT. Right – MAA N.54132.ELT." [source: https://www.maadigitallab.org/blog/2023/07/11/anthropologists-and-photographers-on-the-poignant-and-elliott-photographic-collections/ KK 14/08/2023]

MAA Facebook: Image published on 30th August 2023 with the caption: "Our latest #DigitalLab online exhibition focuses on exploring the religious rites and ceremonies used in #Singapore to communicate with spirits and ancestors through a tang-ki or dang-ki (spirit-medium).
Documenting religious and supernatural experiences is challenging as the inner worlds of semi-consciousness and the sublime are not easy to record. The Elliott photographic collection focuses on the physical and performative elements of spirit-medium possession and allows us to draw parallels to similar rituals across different religions.
WARNING: This exhibition features graphic images of violence and self-harm.If you wish to view the exhibition, click here:
https://preview.shorthand.com/8K1Wl9zqnfMwB3cL
Initiation of young spirit-mediums at a Chinese temple, Singapore. Photographer: Alan Elliott, 1950-51.
https://collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/356057"
11 Likes; 0 Shares; 0 Comments. [JD 19/09/2023]

Publication: Image published in a Digital Lab Online Exhibition by Gemma Ovens, 2024. 'Chinese Spirit-Medium Possession: Exploring Ritual and Religion in the Photographic Archives of Alan J. A. Elliott' and captioned "The dang-ki's whole body sways and his head begins spinning round in circles.' Elliott, J. A. MAA P.62786.ELT." [source: https://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/story/chinese-spirit-medium-possession-singapore/, JD 12/02/2025]