Biography
Gooi Ming Kuan is a Lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies at Xiamen University Malaysia. His research interests include the history of Chinese Buddhism in southern China and maritime Southeast Asia; Chinese religious leaders and organisations; Chinese popular religions; and Chinese education in Southeast Asia. To investigate these topics, he conducts fieldwork in Fujian, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Research Interest
History of Chinese Buddhism in Southern China and Maritime Southeast Asia
History of the Chinese leaders and organisations in Southeast Asia
History of Chinese popular religions in Southeast Asia
History of Chinese education in Southeast Asia
Educational Background
PhD (Chinese Studies), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya (2026)
MA (World History), School of Humanities, Xiamen University (2020)
BA (Mandarin), Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2008)
Working Experience
Research Assistant, Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre (HBRC-UM), Universiti Malaya (2020-2022).
Teaching Assistant, Department of Chinese Studies, Universiti Malaya (2025-2026).
Research Experience
- “The Chinese Buddhism Monastic Network in Central Malaya'', PV073-2021 (2021-2022).
- “2023-24 Ministry of Education TEEP Program (Cross-field Tour and Record Research on Taiwan's religion, Culture, and Art Sustainability 2023-24 教育部 TEEP 计画 【蹲点台湾宗教及文化、艺术的永续之跨领域田野巡礼与记录研究】) ” (2023)
Representative Publications
- Gooi, M.K. [Some Talk about Two Ancient Artifacts of Kek Lok Monastery 两件极乐寺古文物漫谈]. Xuewen, 10, 2016, pp.135-141 (ISBN: 9772289857309).
- Gooi, M.K. [A Preliminary Study of the Chinese Buddhism in Nanyang --Focusing on Miao Lian, Shan Qing, and Ben Zhong's Involvement in the Buddhism Activities 汉传佛教在马来亚发展初探——以妙莲、善庆及本忠之佛教活动为中心]. Journal of World Confederation of Institutes and Libraries for Chinese Overseas Studies, 6, 2018, pp.207-233 (ISBN: 9787520131483)
- Gooi, M.K. [An Overview of the Inscriptions at Heshan Kek Lok Monastery, Penang - A Discussion on the Temple of the Hall of Bodhisattvas and the Calligraphy "HaiTian FoDi" of the Empress Dowager Cixi 槟城鹤山极乐寺铭刻概述——兼论大士殿及慈禧太后“海天佛地”墨宝]. Xuewen, 15, 2019, pp.76-97 (ISBN: 9772289857309).
- Gooi, M.K. [The Relationship, Interaction and Boundary between Chinese Buddhism and Folk Beliefs: A Study from the Perspective of the Monks of Kek Lok Monastery 汉传佛教与民间信仰之关系、互动与边界——以极乐寺僧人角度为主的研究]. Collected Essays on Malaysian Chinese Folk Culture, Malaysia: SIRD & New Era University College, 2021, pp.237-262 (ISBN: 9789672464198).
- Gooi, M.K., Ho, K.C. [Dependent Arising: The Influence of Chinese Society, Leaders of Bang, Qing Government and King of Siam on the Development of Kek Lok Monastery 仗境方生：华社、侨领、清廷和暹王对槟城极乐寺发展的影响]. Journal of Malaysian Chinese Studies, 26, 2021, pp.1-28 (ISSN:1511-0044).
- Gooi, M.K. [Guanyin, Deities, Benefactors and Ancestors: A Study of the Belief System of Guanyin Temple in Kuala Kubu, British Malaya 观音、神祇、檀那及师亲：英属马来亚古毛观音阁的奉祀系统研究]. Taiwan Guanyin Belief and Others, Taiwan: Liren Bookstore, 2023, pp.443-465 (ISBN: 9786269550531)
- Gooi, M.K. [A Pilot Study of the Ways in which the Chinese Influenced the Development of Chinese Buddhism in China and Malaya (19th-20th Centuries) 论华社对汉传佛教在中国、马来亚发展的影响（19-20 世纪）], Imagining Maritime Asia: Globalization and Deglobalization, Taiwan: International Centre for Taiwan & Hong Kong Studies, Taiwan: Showwe Information Co., Ltd, 2024, pp.131-144 (ISBN: 9786267346549)
- Gooi, M.K., Ren J.H. [Policy-Making on the Handling of COVID-19 Victims' Remains in Malaysia 马来西亚对染疫遗体处理的政策制定]. Area and Country Studies along the Maritime Silk Road, Beijing: Peking University Press, 2024, pp.239-249 (ISBN: 9787301355886)
Honors / Awards
Outstanding Academic Master's Thesis in Fujian Province 福建省优秀学术硕士学位论文 (2020)