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Post by douglaslam on Mar 2, 2012 5:23:33 GMT -5
Often I read of mixed marriages between Chinese male and aboriginal or First Nation female in Canada. This is a direct consequence of the Head Tax and the Exclusion Act era which made bring a bride from China next to impossible for most men. I am sure most of the unions were out of genuine love and commitment across the cultural barriers. But I failed to find anything on the net or in the library with reference to this aspect of social history. I am curious to know how well did the mixed marriages work, back in the exclusion days? Were the Chinese sons-in-law well received by the brides' families and tribes? Were the brides treated with respect as beloved members of clans by marriage ? The children, too, how did they deal with two very diverse cultures? Were there many of them sent to China for schooling? These are just some of the questions I am seeking answers to. I'd like to see a human face put to this very human story of love across the divide. I have no first hand knowledge of Chinese marrying indigenous or aboriginal Australians. But I do know of many prominent Australians of mixed Chinese / indigenous heritage. For examples, John Ah Kit was a cabinet minister in the Northern Territory government, and Peter Yu is a land rights activist. And there is Kelvin Kong, the first indigenous surgeon. www.abc.net.au/gnt/health/Transcripts/s966677.htm |
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Post by helen on Mar 2, 2012 22:29:41 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 3, 2012 5:06:40 GMT -5
Helen, it is a tantalising introduction to New Zealanders of Chinese-Maori descend. What is said in the foreword may apply equally to Chinese in Canada or the U.S. Both the Chinese and natives were treated as "undesirables."
I do think there were relationships of enduring nature in the past. Whether it was for long term or just for lust, I am interested to read of this largely neglected slice of history. Can members in Nth. America add to the topic?
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baksha
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wongyen@comcast.net
Posts: 105
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Post by baksha on Mar 4, 2012 22:35:16 GMT -5
Hi All,
On the topic of mixed marriages, I refer you to the book by Ruthanne Lum McCunn, "Chinese American Portraits:Personal Histories 1828-1988." San Francisco:Chronicle Books, 1988. There are photographs of some mixed marriages and the stories of each family. If you are doing census research pre1900 for various states, you'll also find the head of household listing a Chinese married to someone of another ethnic group. Sometimes, their children are listed as Americans rather than Chinese.
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 5, 2012 6:10:09 GMT -5
Thank you baksha for that piece of information. I heard of Ruthanne Lum Mccunn, unfortunately there is just one volume of her works in my local library, and I am not sure it was a work of non-fiction. There are books by Lisa See, Iris Chang, Denise Chong and Wayson Choy. There is just one work by Paul Yee, and it is in the junior's section. I read it, anyway. I am hungry for North American stories.
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baksha
Member
wongyen@comcast.net
Posts: 105
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Post by baksha on Mar 5, 2012 21:50:49 GMT -5
Hi Douglas,
Ruthanne also holds a MLS degree in library sciences and lives in California. She is Eurasian born in Hong Kong and speaks fluent Cantonese. Many of her historical fiction books are based on her research and interviews. She written several books on the Chinese in American experience. She wrote a historical fiction on the life of Polly Bemis, a Chinese woman who later in life married a Caucasian man in her book "Thousand Pieces of Gold." That book was later made into a movie.
Ruth's book Chinese American Portraits is a non-fiction book. Maybe, your public library has a program that seeks recommendations from patrons on books to purchase ! That program exists in California.
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 6, 2012 6:56:06 GMT -5
Hi baksha,
Thank you again for letting me know the availability of Chinese American Portraits. My library has a copy of the Pie-biter, I'll get on to it on my next visit. I did make purchase requests in the past, which included "The Rape of Nanking" by Iris Chang, a few years.
My daughter says she'll get Denise Chong' book, and Ruthanne Lum Mccunn's Chinese American Portraits for me from ebay. To that I am adding the DVD "From Mao to Mozart", the groundbreaking visit to China by the great American violin virtuoso Issac Stern in 1979.
Douglas
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Post by douglaslam on Apr 1, 2012 4:51:43 GMT -5
Linda, Thank you for letting us know a little of your family background. This board is acquiring a reputation as a great melting pot. I have personally met many of the members, and even greater numbers, if I may include you, in cyber space. siyigenealogy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=shared&action=display&thread=1084I do empathise with your quandary of sitting on the cultural divide. Take heart, you are a valued member of this large family. There is something tribal about Chinese genealogy . You and your siblings are the descendants of a son of Sze Yup or Siyi. You always will be, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't give up on your pursuit. Douglas |
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Post by FayChee on Apr 1, 2012 9:48:10 GMT -5
Yes, this board has made me feel very welcomed and it was nice seeing that there were others like me, searching for family ties and feeling ill-at-ease with the differences between overseas chinese and mainland chinese. I have learned alot about culture and my family in just the short time that I've been here.
Thank you for the link to the stories about the black chinese girl. I did hear a little about her on the news, and was not surprised at the reaction to her mixed heritage. I will do a search to see what became of her.
I can't wait to have Ching Ming at my dad's gravesite on Tuesday! Linda
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Post by geoff on Apr 1, 2012 14:49:12 GMT -5
Hi Imurak,
I'm Australian born chinese & reading your #7 reply reminds me of a story Mum told me. During WW2 chinese living in Australia were issued with a "China" badge to wear in public so as to distinguish them from the enemy. She gave me her "China" badge that she'd kept & I tried to do further research on it. I have only met one other chinese family that has still kept their badge. They say the same story.
Last year, as I was cleaning out Dad's (now deceased) belongings, I found his "China" badge. Both parents have given their oral family histories since arrival in Aust in 1856 & 1874. Dad probably hadn't got to ww2 yet.
At our local primary & high schools, from the late 1950's to 1970's (sister is 6 yrs younger than me, we were the only chinese students there. When i told my daughters that fact a few years ago, they didn't believe me. I quickly retrieved my school photos & now they believe....lol
It's very interesting to hear your family history....both the differences & the similarities.
Geoff from Sydney
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Post by douglaslam on Apr 2, 2012 7:49:10 GMT -5
Linda,
I Applaud your decision to visit to your father's grave. Why not make it an outing with the extended family, to include your siblings. That is the way it is done. It is our custom to venerate our ancestors.
Tuesday 4th April is Ching Ming proper. Whilst it is a holiday in China, Hong Kong, Macau,and Taiwan, the festival is not observed in Western countries. The clan and county associations do arrange a show of strength as it were, of their members at the cemetery. They come in busloads, replendent with offerings to burn, food to share, and noise children to make it an occasion to honour the dear departed.
May I suggest you and your extended family introduce yourselves to and join the local New York Sze Yup association or society for the occasion. Tell the people that you are a 司 徒 Seto or Szeto, your want to find out about your father, reclaim your heritage. You just don't know, an old timer or two may shed information on your father. With a name like Seto, you are 100% of Sze Yup heritage.
As far as I know Seto is a family name unique to that particular part of China. There is no mistaking that you belong to Sze Yup, the four counties whose sons and daughters did so much to open up the New World. A good friend of mine who is also a Szeto told me the name is a breakaway from the name 薛 (Sit in Cantonese). The Sit clan was persecuted centuries back, in desperation, some members changed the name to Seto in order to avoid complete annihilation, and settled in Hoiping and Yanping (Enping).
Here in Sydney, Australia, we the Chungshan Society are having our Ching Ming outing on Sunday, April 15. There will be a convoy of cars as well as a bus to take members to the main cemetery. Other societies will have separate arrangements. I hope to take some photos and upload them for all to see. Douglas
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Post by geoff on Apr 2, 2012 15:31:33 GMT -5
Linda,
Thank you for reminding me about Ching Ming. It brings back memories of Dad's stories of Ching Ming's in the 1940's at Rookwood cemetery in Sydney. Twice a year the small chinese community would get together at Sydney's largest cemetery. It became a meeting place for them.
Dad stopped going to Ching Ming so I've never been to a Ching Ming. When I attend funerals I 'm asked to attend the next Ching Ming, so I must go next time. I'm sure I'll also pick up some family history there too....lol
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Post by FayChee on Apr 2, 2012 18:39:27 GMT -5
Hi Geoff,
I hope you decide to do Ching Ming too! This is our first time and for some reason I am feeling very excited about doing it, probably because this is the first real 'culture thing' that we've ever been a part of....hooray! hooray!! hooray!!! Then we'll probably go to Chinatown and eat my favorite 'roast duck hanging by the neck in the window' dish and my very very favorite...Lobster Cantonese, the kind in egg sauce...hmmmmmmmmmmm.
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baksha
Member
wongyen@comcast.net
Posts: 105
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Post by baksha on Apr 3, 2012 2:39:01 GMT -5
Hi Imurak,
Thanks for reminding me about Ching Ming. It is a time to honor family members and to reconnect with each other. It is a reflective time - the lessons and relationship that person had to us. It's going to crowded on the weekend !
Here are some basic customs you might want to observe each time you visit your Dad's gravesite :
Arrive at the cemetery before noon.
Bring some water and paper towels to clean his gravestone.
After cleaning the gravestone and surrounding area, place some flowers in a container of water, and bow three times while facing the front of the gravestone to show your respect.
Others at the cemetery will know that you are honoring a family member - your father.
On the West Coast (US) and you might see this when you are the cemetery during the Ching Ming :
If you are there during Ching Ming, you'll see many Chinese families observe more traditional customs and they will also bring :
Some incense sticks (lighting the tops) and each person will hold 2 lit incense stick with each bow while facing the gravestone.
Chinese families usually bring food offerings:some roasted pork, a poached chicken @ its head and tail, 3 bowls of cooked rice, 3 pairs of chopsticks, and 3 cups of wine. The food and utensils will be place at the foot of the gravestone.
Some Hell money and a container to burn as offerings to the decease's spirit
Other families will bring firecrackers to light to scare off "bad spirits..."
After the festivities are over, the families will stay at the gravesite and spend time re-connecting with each other and have a picnic with the food offerings. They bring paper plates, plastic forks, and napkins.
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Post by geoff on Apr 3, 2012 5:01:53 GMT -5
Linda,
You like lobster too.....I recently had my 60th birthday at the local chinese restaurant with ginger & eschalot lobster on a bed of noodles as the centrepiece. Also enjoyed a few other delicious dishes with my wife, 2 daughters, best mate & his wife.
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