The Asiatic Fathers of America

[Henry]

Dear Colleagues,

This is quite intriguing:

"In 1972 the late Dr. Hendon M. Harris, Jr. made a startling discovery. While searching for Chinese collectibles he came across an ancient Asian map book containing a world map showing a land mass labeled "Fu Sang" to the east of China, land that we today call America.

After years of research and his discovery of the existence of twenty-nine other supporting maps, Dr. Harris published a 796 page book titled The Asiatic Fathers of America. That book has long been out of print and for years after Dr. Harris' death the map collection just lay in a box under his son's bed.

In 2003, with the sudden world-wide interest in this topic, the family took the maps to the Library of Congress. For three years the maps were there while being studied.

On May 16, 2005 Dr. Harris' daughter, Charlotte Harris Rees, gave a speech at the Library of Congress about the early arrival of Chinese to America. Now Mrs. Rees is presenting this condensed, easy reading version of Dr. Harris' original text.

Recent research on DNA and on the method of the Indians arrival to America support what Dr. Harris taught - Chinese came early and they came by sea.

This abridged version of Dr. Harris' book, The Asiatic Fathers of America, contains several never before released pictures of the Harris map collection. The book also contains a brief biography about Dr. Harris' unusual life written by his daughter Charlotte.

Harris, a third generation missionary, was born in Kaifeng, China to American parents. He learned both Chinese and English at a very early age. He was familiar with the Chinese classics which down through the centuries discussed Fu Sang in detail. Most Chinese today believe that Fu Sang was just myth, but was it? Harris' introductions to the maps, Chinese classics, and the similarities of American Indians to Chinese give new insights to this topic."

www.harrismaps.com/

I am going to attend the presentation given by Charlotte Harris Rees in Lynchburg, VA on February 5, 2010.


Henry

[douglaslam]

Henry,

This is very exciting news for all members of the Forum.I am, we are waiting with bated breath for your opinion on the forthcoming presentation at Lunchburg Va. You have the professional knowhow to sort out the wheat from the chaff and give an honest and considered assessment of the material presented.

Charlotte Harris Rees is referred to often on Gavin Menzies' website. At last we have someone knowledgeable getting up close to this very intriguing uncontested aspect of history. If the native Americans do have Chinese DNA, it is proof enough that our ancestors have been sowing wide oats centuries back. Long before one Christopher Columbus lays claim to discovery of the New World.

Scepticism is also a good thing as Gavin Menzies' books and documentaries are rigorously challenged by other scholars. Our public broadcaster even labelled his theory Junk Science ( a pun there somewhere) in a counter program. Let the presentation at Lunchburg clear the air somewhat for us.

On an unrelated subject, I read in a Chinese article some years back about California's famous sunkist oranges. The variety was introduced by the Chinese to Ca. in the 19th century and improved on. Sunkist oranges and juice are heavily promoted in Hong Kong. It is a very well known brand, a brand associated with health and Californian sunshine. Just ask tyuti1668.

Then there is the kiwi fruit. Kiwi fruit were originally from China and aptly called Chinese gooseberry. Tyuti1668, please give us the Chinese name as it is now known in HK. The New Zealanders improved on it and gave it a more marketable name kiwi fruit. When I was lodging and working in my great-aunt's greengrocer in the 60s, the kiwi fruit was still called Chinese gooseberry before the name change. Great-aunt in her very poor English called it Chinee goosyby. She was an authority on this regard for she had been selling them for years before the name change and my arrival in Sydney.

Douglas

[Henry]

Hi Douglas,

I will certainly provide a report of the presentation by Charlotte Harris Rees.

In Florida, Lue Gim Gong was known as the "Citrus Wizard" and developed a variety of oranges now sold as "Valencia" oranges.

Here is a short biography of a very interesting life:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lue_Gim_Gong


Enjoy,


Henry

[douglaslam]

Hi Henry,

You are keeping us in suspense. How did you find the presentation by Charlotte Harris Rees ? Was it worth braving the snowstorm to get to Lynchburg Va ?

I was a little skeptical of Charlotte Harris Rees as to her motives. I thought there was a dollar in it. Then I found out the talks are usually for free, and for $10, there was a lunch thrown in. My apologies to the good lady.

Douglas

[Henry]

Hi Douglas,

The organizers were quite nice in calling me directly to let me know that the event was re-scheduled to April 16th. I do have a FWD Ford Explorer Sport SUV and probably could have made the 2.5 hour drive, however, we'd have probably had to spend the next 2 days in a motel down in Lynchburg. We had about 30 inches of snow this past Friday & Saturday. We are due for another 18 - 24 inches of snow today and tomorrow - depends when and where the two weather fronts meet.

The event is sponsored by a Christian church which recently adopted 50 children from the Haiti crisis - I do not believe Ms. Rees, whose missionary father was born in China and who wrote the book, are trying to make money from sharing the information.

Henry