Closer than you think
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is often seen through the lens of the
Pacific — part of Oceania, tied historically to Australia and the wider
Melanesian world. Yet when we look more closely, culturally and spiritually,
PNG has as much in common with Asia as it does with the South Pacific. Across
countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, China,
Indonesia, Japan, and Korea, we find striking parallels in the rhythms of life,
values, and worldviews that bind people together.
Family at the Heart of Society
In PNG and much of Asia, the family is not just a social
unit — it is the foundation of identity. From the wantok system in PNG
to the extended kin networks of rural Thailand or the Philippines, the idea of
belonging runs deep. Decisions are made with family in mind; wealth and success
are shared, not hoarded. Elders are cared for at home, not left to
institutions, because wisdom is seen as a living inheritance. This collective
orientation stands in contrast to the Western ideal of independence — here,
interdependence is the true measure of strength.
Faith and the Sacred Everyday
Religion, too, plays a central role in daily life. In PNG,
Christianity blends seamlessly with older spiritual traditions; the divine is
present in mountains, rivers, and ancestral places. Similarly, in Asia,
Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and ancestral worship infuse the everyday with
reverence — whether it’s the morning offering at a Balinese shrine or incense
rising in a Vietnamese temple. Across both regions, spirituality is not
confined to Sundays or festivals; it’s a lived rhythm, a quiet awareness that life
itself is sacred.
Music, Dance, and the Living Language of Culture
Where words fail, music and movement speak. PNG’s singsings
— vibrant gatherings of dance, drum, and costume — express the pulse of
identity much like the ramvong dances of Laos, the gamelan of
Indonesia, or the masked festivals of Japan. In both worlds, music is not mere
entertainment but a form of storytelling, of history carried in sound. It
reinforces community, teaches respect, and connects the living to their
ancestors.
Respect as a Cultural Constant
If there is one value that quietly unites PNG and much of
Asia, it is respectfulness. In Thailand, the graceful wai gesture
expresses humility and gratitude; in Japan and South Korea, bowing reflects the
moral balance between self and society. PNG’s own traditions echo this same
depth of courtesy — through posture, silence, tone, and the ritual of gifting.
Younger people defer to elders not out of submission, but out of recognition of
shared wisdom. Respect is not only good manners; it is the framework of harmony.
This respect also shapes how both regions grieve. In PNG,
the haus krai — a house of mourning — is not merely a funeral custom but
a communal act of love and remembrance. Families and friends gather for days or
even weeks, sharing food, stories, and tears until the spirit is properly
honoured and released. The same deep reverence is found across Asia: in
Thailand’s extended mourning for Queen Mother Sirikit, where the nation is
currently observing ninety days of public respect (and a full year for
government officials); in Japan’s quiet ceremonies of remembrance; and in the
Philippines’ novenas and wake traditions. In PNG, in recent years the national
mourning for Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and more recently the late Hon.
Luther Wenge, show how loss becomes an expression of unity — where grief itself
is an act of collective respect.
Attitudes Toward Wealth and Balance
In the West, wealth often measures success; in PNG and much
of Asia, it measures responsibility. Money is meaningful when it circulates —
when it helps pay for a relative’s school fees, builds a community church, or
supports a village event. This mirrors the Confucian and Buddhist notions of
balance and shared duty found across Asia: prosperity should flow, not
stagnate. True wealth lies not in accumulation, but in generosity.
Conclusion: The Pacific-Asian Continuum
Papua New Guinea may be separated from Asia by sea, but
culturally it shares an invisible bridge of values — community, spirituality,
respect, and balance. In fact, it shares a common land border with Indonesia, our gateway to South East Asia. These shared traits point to something larger:
a human truth that transcends borders. The more PNG looks north and west, the
more it may find reflections of itself — not as an outsider, but as part of an
ancient and living continuum of wisdom.
Endnote: When the Tide Comes In
Papua New Guinea’s growing alignment with Australia brings many gifts — shared values, stronger trade, deeper understanding. Yet, as two nations draw closer and converge, something gained may also be something lost.
In the exchange of ideas and influence, the vivid differences that once set us
apart can fade at the edges. The challenge is not to resist change, but to move
with it carefully — keeping the wisdom of the ancestors, the rhythm of the
drums, and the deep respect that anchors our way of life. Papua New Guinea has
a lot to protect – culturally, geographically and spiritually.
The task ahead is not to resist change, but to let the tide come in without washing away the sand beneath our feet.
Main photo (L to R)
2. Bang Bao Fishing Village, Koh Chang, Thailand
3. Hanuabada Village, Port Moresby, PNG
4. Betelnut at a local market, Hainan, China;
5. Local market, Vinh Long, Vietnam
Further reading
https://smartshopper-png.blogspot.com/2024/05/amazing-parallel-universes.html
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