PRC Chinese Government Genealogical Records?

[hh]

Hi, we're going to China this summer for genealogy. We have located the village and have started corresponding with a relative there. However, the relatives don't have genealogical records (the one with the genealogy supposedly committed a crime and fled the country...).

Does anyone know anything about PRC Chinese government genealogical records? Are there any? Are they located locally? Do you need anything to see them? What's the Chinese name (and characters) of the government "division", and address/ website/ way to contact them? Any resources?

Or, is this likely going to be a cemetary logging trip?

If there is already a thread on this, or a website you could refer to me, that would be great, too, thanks!

[kerry]

Their doesn't appear to be "official" records - and if there were, they'd probably be secret - oops, I didn't say that...;-)

Remember that many family records were destroyed during the Great Leap. My immediate families were. My grandfather later made some inquiries and was able to get copies of some "neighbouring" clans that were distantly related and we reconstituted it from there.

If the people in the village reckon the overseas rel has the details, you're probably better placed to look for chase him than they are. You may need to be sensitive to legal issues too - depending on when and where he went, there may be problems in talking about these details. (It takes a few generations to get over things like stigma and risk of explusion - Aussie's are quite happy to cite convict ancestry now but this has probably only happened widely in this century even though Transportion ended in the mid 1800's)

[Henry]

Hi HH,

Welcome to the Forum.

My suggestion would be to ask your relative to check with the nearby villages that have the same clan surname - sometimes, these villages were extensions of villages that ran out of space for expansion. There is redundancy in the lineages between neighboring villages with the same surname. Then your relative could update this genealogy book so that you can recover your lineage.

Henry

[hh]

kerry, Henry,

Thank you very much for the tips!

I think we'll check what's in the village, then check the neighboring villages (I imagine checking the same name), then find out who ran away and to where specifically (somewhere in the Philippines, I think), if possible. Along with all that, probably a lot of time in the cemetaries!

I'll take my digital camera (also has video) and a few memory cards. That way I can copy anything that needs to be copied, quickly and clearly--whether it's tombstones, written records that can't be let out of the family (I'm sure if there are any left, they're this kind--I know a relative of ours that has this stipulation on their records--nothing leaves the room, though there's a copy machine inside--I'm not planning on finding a copy machine in the village!), recording living family's accounts or oral genealogy facts, or whatever. I guess that means I'll need to check on electricity and batteries, too.

If I find out anything else that might help others (village leaders?/ village boards?/ etc.), I'll post it on the forum.

Thanks again!

HH

[helen]

a tape recorder is in order. as well as a laptop. HARC3 has uploaded meany photos on to photobucket.

[chansomvia]

Yes Helen, your comments are always a welcome feature in this forum. I am enjoying HARC3 photos and enthusiastic commentaries, although he is not able to access it directly in China.
May I suggest that if no tape recorder is at hand, most video cameras and phones can go on speech mode and record sounds, this mode uses very little memory and can record for hours.

As an gourmet eater may I suggest that someone pass on the message to try out the Beijing Golden Jaguar International uiseine Collection buffet to all buffet meals, see www.goldenjaguar.com.

Joe

[chansomvia]

My message was rather garbled and should read:

As HARC3 is a goumet eater may I suggest that someone pass on the message to him to try out the Beijing Golden Jaguar International Cuisine Collection, which is the buffet to beat all buffet meals, see www.goldenjaguar.com. There are many branches which are listed in their website!!

[helen]

chansomvia -Hi - I posted your comment on his blog. Not sure if he can access it from Beijing. Did you see Simon's article in the Marlborough Express today? (Stuff.co.nz) A Chinese lady has started a circus, and it's in the South Island at the moment.

[chansomvia]

Hi Helen,
Yes, I am following Simon on the internet. He has written some very good stories in his newspaper, he is just the right person to contact should Henry manage to come to New Zealand: Simon could interview him on the Chinese migration and the seeking of roots in China from overseas born Chinese which would make a good story.

I have details sent to me by a Malaysian friend living in Canada of the tremendous Chinese TV series on Chinese civilisation appended below:

The Chinese Civilization Video Series on YouTube: In English and Chinese versions

Those of you who are interested in Chinese history, the TV stations of China have recently released the "Chinese Civilization" series, depicting 10,000 years of Chinese history, starting with the "Cradle of Chinese Civilization", in High Definition video. They are in two versions: The English and Chinese versions, as shown below.

If your computer does not have sufficient memory or a high resolution video card installed, you could opt to view the video in lower resolution at 360 or 480 pixels, so that the video may run smoothly.

English version synopsis:
【Chinese Civilization】 Presented by CCTV-9 New Frontiers
History of China. Chinese Civilization - the only ancient civilization in the world that remains today. Colossal cities with city walls 35 metres thick appeared in China dating back at least 6000BC, small cities and rice farming dating back at least 10000BC, silk production dating back all the way to the neolithic period. China was the strongest and richest nation in the world until late Qing dynasty. In 1895, the Chinese GDP still accounted for 10% of total world GDP. Birth place of countless inventions that had profound impact on the ancient world, China since ancient time shaped the world, and was later shaped by the modern world. This video series investigates the origin and history of the multi-ethnic Chinese civilization.

There are 12 parts of 3 chapters of 45 minutes each in the English version.

English version playlist link:http://www.youtube.com/user/chinesecivilization#g/c/D6529FB4E327C8B1
First episode link:http://www.youtube.com/user/chinesecivilization#p/c/D6529FB4E327C8B1/0/g2lcPNRPW2o

I am sure Simon as a Kiwi born Chinese, and other English speaking Chinese, would be interested, and would give him a good background of our history.

I have a very nice powerpoint presentation of the Shanghai Expo sent to me from our nephew in Beijing, I could send it to you but it is too large to attach in this forum due to its limitation to a maximum size of 1,024.0 KB

Joe