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Post by douglaslam on Nov 4, 2017 9:09:12 GMT -5
Lolly, across the top it says the descendants to prosper and flourish in numbers. Straight below is the man and his wife's name who lived during the height of the Ming dynasty.I can't make sense of the names. It is a joint burial plot.
On either side is a couplet with matching meanings. On the right the character 雉 is perhaps a mythical pheasant-like bird, an auspicious bird, a harbinger of glory to the generations to come. On the left is the matching auspicious animal of a lion 獅 which is safeguarding the everlasting resting place.
This is my interpretation, lolly. I am sure there are others who are better qualified than I am in interpreting the couplet. I welcome any correction from members.
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Post by lolly on Nov 6, 2017 20:42:11 GMT -5
Again thank you Douglas. That helps a lot. I might start a new thread asking for assistance if you think other members may be able to offer further insights.
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Post by ronchun on Nov 17, 2017 13:45:38 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey. I wish we could make a PBS Documentary about Chinese-Americans finding their villages. I'm trying to find my paternal grandfather's village with limited expectations about the Jiapu. Doug, the moderator, has mentioned Douglas Lam could help. I'm exploring different options. I'll probably have to get back to him how get Douglas' help. I loved all of the photos. Your post is a source of encouragement and it also relieves the anxiety about all the possible difficulties that we talk ourselves out of making the trip to the village.
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Post by lolly on Nov 18, 2017 6:29:01 GMT -5
Hi Ronchun. If my story can help "inspire" others to take the plunge into China in search of answers, then I am very very pleased. I am many generations Australian through my mother and paternal grandmother, with a lot of Irish history in that background. I have no Chinese language, or indeed any close connection with chinese customs or traditions, so my starting point has been very very "unchinese". Douglas Lam (also in Australia) came to my rescue when he responded to my initial post asking for information about my paternal grandfather's home village. I was fortunate enough that Douglas was from the same area, spoke the same dialect, and very willingly offered to find out what he could on my behalf on one of his annual trips home. The results he produced for me were totally amazing and undreamed of. Douglas also derives an enormous amount of pleasure and satisfaction when he can put people in touch with their chinese roots. I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for me and my family. I wish you well in your endeavours to find your grandfather's village. This forum is a great launching pad.
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