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Post by helen on Nov 6, 2014 0:46:52 GMT -5
Hi Fay Chee - How exciting - waiting to see photos of your bowls. Hope they took many photos for you as well.
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Post by FayChee on Nov 6, 2014 0:53:15 GMT -5
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Post by FayChee on Nov 6, 2014 1:02:51 GMT -5
Hi Big Sis (Helen), They took lots of pictures of the entire trip, but my favorites were of granddad's house! Of course you will remember that in Dec 2012, my dear Douglas Lam and Shi Cheng went to my granddad's house and posted the first photos of the house, but nephew took more photos, visited the graves, and then did the Village Celebration in honor of our Ancestors.....(I must tell you that I almost cried seeing it done without me there, actually, I keep tearing up now when I think about it). My brother also was touched by the rice bowls and photos, and we both vowed to make the trip next year. I will post the photos as soon I resize them for uploading........ Fay Chee My nephew, niece, grandnephew on tarmack in front of home Roof top view Looking down at remnant walls of first Ancestral Home. I don't know if this is my Granddad's tombstone or my dad's first wife. I am waiting for Nephew to answer my email.
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Post by lachinatown on Nov 6, 2014 2:16:26 GMT -5
Tombstone top line reads 里陽朝 Chaoyangli (Chinese right to left order) Second line just the character 山 (Shan) = hill; mountain; anything resembling a mountain.
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Post by chansomvia on Nov 6, 2014 5:08:27 GMT -5
Thank you Fay Chee for posting the photos, I am so glad that the burial sites were found and respects were paid to the ancestors. Out of our grandfather's side in Ton Tiang in Haiyan his second, third son (my Father)and fourth son managed to leave before the war. The first and fifth son and their family died of malnutrition during the war, his two daughters were lost forever so there is no grave for me to visit. The curse of opium addiction also reared its ugly head, that is another story but it is wonderful to know that with the aid of this forum a lot of people managed to go back to their roots. My heartfelt gratitude to those who have put in so much time and effort keeping this forum active and helpful.
Joe
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msen
Member
Posts: 59
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Post by msen on Nov 6, 2014 11:20:04 GMT -5
Such great photos of past meeting present. Such inspiration for all who find siyi and connections to their ancestors and heritage. Re the last photo "Cheers"!
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Post by FayChee on Nov 6, 2014 13:01:54 GMT -5
Lachinatown, thanks so much for reading the headstone. It looks like it was broken in half or maybe it is buried and there is more writing under the dirt. I re-read my nephews email and it says that "We had a problem finding the graves of the Ancestors, because the hill was covered with tall weeds. With the help of Uncle's older brother, at last we paid respect to the Ancestors." So perhaps that tombstone just marks the hill (ChaoYangLi Hill) where everyone is buried, and everyone pays their respects at that place for all relatives.
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Post by FayChee on Nov 6, 2014 13:23:54 GMT -5
Hi Chamsomvia, Thank you for your kind comments on my pictures. The story of what happened to our relatives makes me very sad, especially since I was told what happened to my granddad during the Mao persecutions.
I have so much to be thankful to this forum for. My nephew and his family had been living in the US since 1971 and I never knew it until they found them for me two years ago.....and all of my Ancestors going back to 1127 have been identified with the help of Shi Cheng who obtained my Zupu. The list of 'good deed's' by this forum just goes on and on.
Fay Chee
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Post by FayChee on Nov 6, 2014 13:25:02 GMT -5
Hi Mara,
Yes, when I saw that last photo, I knew they were saying "Cheers" directly to me!
Fay Chee
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Post by lachinatown on Nov 6, 2014 14:25:53 GMT -5
Yes, Fay Chee, there is at least a character hidden by dirt on the headstone. Too bad they didn't uncover it. Too bad that they don't maintain the path to it. Looks like a delicious meal they were having there. Plastic has taken over the "china" in China.
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Post by amy on Nov 6, 2014 18:20:57 GMT -5
Oh Fay! Thanks for posting your photos. You (and the other forum members) are such an inspiration! I got chills seeing the photo of your ancestor's headstone. Such a wonderful pilgrimage. The interior of your family's home is almost identical to mine. I hope to go to Toisan again next year to pay respects and try to find my family's zupu this time. Your photos and reports just strengthen my resolve to do so.
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Post by lachinatown on Nov 6, 2014 23:00:57 GMT -5
The bottle reads: 唐人?藥公司 (Can't quit make out the third character on right column) Tangren ? yao gongsi = Chinese drug company.
[Update: 唐人製藥公司, Tangren Zhiyao gongsi or Chinese pharmaceutical company]
Bowls cover has the double happiness character on it 囍. [Update: not a cover, but the bowl; angle of photo makes look like a cover] The bowl has 安 (peace) character inside bottom. (not sure painted or etched).
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Post by FayChee on Nov 7, 2014 0:57:27 GMT -5
Gee, thanks Lachinatown................
I thought the design on the bowl was abstract doodling, I didn't think it meant anything. Nice to know.
I wonder what that fine red powder is in the bottle....probably something for good health. It looks pretty old as does the bowl.......in my mind, I can see my dad's two wives cooking and putting the steaming rice into the bowls for granddad and grandma, and they taking the bowls into their hands and up close to their mouths to push the rice with chopsticks so it doesn't fall off......I've only seen this being done on TV and in Chinese restaurants....I've never eaten rice out of a rice bowl with chopsticks and actually don't know how to use chopsticks, although I've tried faking it, but badly. If that isn't bad enough, I am not a rice person and don't cook it (I'm a potato lover)........yes, a real treasure those bowls are.
Fay Chee
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Post by FayChee on Nov 7, 2014 1:13:31 GMT -5
Hi Amy, I'm glad you like the photos and are inspired to make the trip again next year. I'm inspired as well, and think I can almost say that I will definitely give it a good try (at flying). I do hope that you find your Zupu and can construct a detailed pedigree like the one that Mr Philip Tan did for me. He's an incredible artisan and I love the chart that he did for me last year.
I am thinking of putting the little broken dish in a special little box and burying it deep in front of dad's headstone. Call me sentimental (or crazy), but I think that he would like it.
Fay Chee
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Post by helen on Nov 7, 2014 4:25:57 GMT -5
awesome photos Fay Chee. I am so happy that you have seen all of this. But being there will be so special. I do hope Doug can go with you. He knows both worlds - Chinese and English - he will be quite the guide - his hospitality is so great - And I know that you and he wil get a long like a house on fire. Cheers Douglas Lam - Hope the travelling is going well.
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