Thesis completed: Acknowledgements

James L. Watson is a renowned American anthropologist, and it was out of sheer ignorance that I knew of his “Orthopraxy Hypothesis” only in late 2007. I must thank Jack for introducing me to the hypothesis which I now use to form the crux of my thesis. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Peggy for having airmailed me some research materials from Taiwan. I am indebted to Siyu, Yong Chang and Yuting for taking the time off to proofread my drafts. I am grateful to my family for providing a loving environment under which this thesis is completed, and for nursing my weak constitution when I was down with bouts of flu while writing it.

This thesis marks the end of my academic life at NUS. I thank A/P Peter Pang for giving me many opportunities to learn and experience in USP, A/P Albert Teo for his care and friendship, and the USP admin staff for their fun-loving nature. At the Chinese Studies department, I enjoy the unreserved assistance of A/P Lee Chee Hiang and the office staff. At the NUS Chinese Library, I benefit from the dedicated service offered by its friendly librarians. Indeed, this thesis is a true epitome of the wonderful experiences that I have shared with these individuals over the years.

Last but definitely not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to my thesis supervisor A/P Lee Cheuk Yin for his guidance and inspiration. It is through him that I am exposed to a comprehensive overview of how academic inquiry and research should be conducted. I thank him for all the recommendation letters that he has written for me, the delightful coffee treats in Beijing, and my appointment as his research assistant. I am grateful for his expertise when my thesis became engaged in tautology and for his patience when I could not submit my drafts on time. He has to be the best thesis supervisor that a student can have, and this thesis would not have been possible without him. All fault and responsibility, however, remains invariably mine. Thanks to all my friends as well!