The Hakka people dispersed from China to communities across the world, undergoing multiple waves of international migration. While adapting and integrating into local societies and interacting with diverse cultures, they also faced the challenge of transmitting Hakka traditions—most visibly, the younger generation’s gradual abandonment of the Hakka language. Yet the Hakka did not passively accept decline; instead, they leveraged the advantages of globalization, organizing large-scale Hakka events to connect communities worldwide and revitalize Hakka culture.
A striking example is the World Hakka Conference, hosted annually by the Hong Kong Tsung Tsin Association, attracting thousands of representatives from Hakka groups around the globe. The event spans an impressive range of activities, from cultural performances, literature, and cuisine to academic forums, business networking, and political debate. Comparable to a global sporting events, the conference not only raises the host nation’s international profile but also drives significant economic benefits—making it a prize many countries compete to host.
The Toronto Hakka Conference takes a different approach, focusing on bridging the language gap with younger, English-educated Hakka worldwide by helping them reconnect with Hakka history and culture. Another major global Hakka event is the Hakka Mother River Commemoration*, held annually in Changting, Fujian. This ritual draws Hakka people on pilgrimages to what is considered their “ancestral homeland,” where they offer incense and pay homage to their forebears.
*Although scholars dispute that Changting is the true homeland of the Hakka—considering it a historical distortion—participation in the “Mother River Commemoration” has nonetheless become a meaningful element of contemporary Hakka cultural practice.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray that these large-scale Hakka gatherings may not only revive Hakka culture and connect Hakka communities worldwide, but also serve as opportunities to advance Your kingdom. May the Holy Spirit guide Hakka Christians at these events to bear witness to Christ’s grace through their actions, and to build genuine, lasting friendships with fellow Hakka around the world. Lord, we ask that You use these relationships to draw more Hakka people into reconciliation with You through Jesus. We also lift up the younger generation of Hakka, praying that You preserve them from losing their roots amid the currents of globalization. As they inherit Hakka culture, may they also come to know You as the Lord who created all nations and peoples. May the next generation, in seeking their cultural origins, discover the ultimate foundation of life—Jesus Christ. In His holy name we pray, Amen.
