Click to see 李燕燕&陳良貴 in SF Bay Area pictures
Wee-yong's China Tours 2009: 中國28天走透透
Soo Family Tracing of Roots in China:
Click to see 蘇國泰's Documents.
All email correspondences are inside "comments" below.
後记
大家好！
回想起来，我寻根的方式，似乎有点夸张。其实这跟一般的旅游也没有两样，只是我游的景点都有祖先的足迹而已。
这次的寻根之旅使我得益不少，筹备行程时，得收集许多资料。旅途中，也获得不少的知识和资料，使我对自己的祖先有更深一层的了解。
回来后，把所拍的相片及有关资料制成寻根录以介绍给旅居世界各地的亲戚们，希望能唤起年青的后辈们对自己的根源有些了解。不然以后，可能都变成无根的人了。结果大家对有关祖先的事迹都感到很有兴趣。
没想到的是，把这寻根录介绍给同学们，也受到大家的欢迎及获得正面的回响。
在此，我要感谢茂辉，玲珑，妙珠，伟荣，爱芳，浩明，燕燕等给我的鼓励及支持。谢谢你们！也谢谢伟荣把我的寻根录收录在宽中同学的“部落格”里，使一些没有收到我的电邮的同学也能一览。
希望这寻根录能起抛砖引玉的作用。也希望大家能把你们寻根的故事或其他有趣的事，与大家分享。谢谢！
伟荣， 很高兴你有打算回乡寻根的念头。希望你在家乡能找到你们的族谱。当中可能会有一些有趣的发现。
上回我们是由旅行社安排酒店，午餐，及一辆小巴士，加上司机和导游。行程由我们指定。在中国乘公共交通工具不方便而且不安全。有包租车会比较好。付上安排我们旅游的中国旅游公司的名片。请向他们询问。
祝你旅程愉快。希望你能给我们一个有趣的报导。
国泰
古廟眾神出遊! 牛年2009 財神到!
各位同学：大家好！
新山一年一度的古庙遊神节己在前两天欢庆中过去了，也就是说新山人总萛过完年了。附上报章的图片供大家作怀念过往在新山欢庆遊神的日子。
祝健康快乐！
茂辉
17/2/2009 於新山
(己丑年正月卄三)
送你黃色的東西:
財神到 恭喜發財! Happy Chinese New Year! 農曆新年快樂!
Click to watch 財神到!
The first year we had 撈魚生: Below was made by my sister-in-law when we were in Singapore in 2008 for Chinese New Year.
Click to watch 撈魚生 撈得好運道
28 comments:
茂辉 is right. Johorean must wait till 古庙遊神节过去 then could 新山人总萛过完年了。I was a Johorean once, thus I have been there annually since my childhood and I subtlely understand his assertion. (To clarify, I am neither an atheist nor a follower of any faith). I am there annually because I was born and grown up in that vicinity and many of my childhood memory are spinning with those activities. To me, I feel ease and comfortable to witness the excitement, high spirit etc displayed by the devotees/pilgrims towards deities. Anyway, I usually go on the 1st or the 3rd day of the procession and skip the 2nd day (night, elaborated one) when we used to mingle and made fun with damsels during my teenage period.
Good day and Cheers,
hoebeng
Hi Wee Yong,
Yes has been very long time we haven seen each other.
I had retired since Yr 2006. Now is very free to do Taiji in the morning, play chinese chees in internate with world players.........
Some time ago , there is a big gathering but I was unable to joint in. If your trip to china and when returning to Malaysia then try to drop by to Singapore. I will bring you to few nature walk places like "Top Tree Walk ", "Kent Ridge Park ", The" New Henderso Wave". etc....
But you have to prepare to take MRT or Bus for I don't have car .( Had returned back to company and it is very expensive to have one myself.)
Hope be able to meet Lin Long at the same time.
Keep in touch. Bye.
Kim Huat
Dear all,
I have been receiving email messages, jokes and photos over the years, especially from Wee Yong and Sally Heng. I really appreciate your sharing.
I made a trip to Guangdong in April this year. It is a tracing of roots cum sightseeing trip. After that, I compiled the photos with commentary and shared it with my relatives who live in various places all over the world. Surprisingly, it was very well received. So I am thinking you may be interested too.
Due to the memory size, I've split it into 5 parts. Attached is "Soo Family Ancestors Migration Route Re-Visit Album (Part 1)".
I am not sure whether you are interested in my story. So, please give me your comments and let me know whether you still want to receive the rest of the album. Thanks.
Regards
Soo Kok Thai
Dear Kok Thai,
It is marvelous!!! I am eagerly waiting to see the other parts!!! Keep up!!!
God bless you n your family n all your relatives!!!
Love from Sally
WeeYong,
I have not hear from you for a while. I just received Soo Kok Tai family tree story and those pictures are so well done. What a guy,he sure has done a good job searching for his family tree. In fact the town he described ,is not too far from Zhong Shan most likely I drove passed that area before. ………
Li Lung
Hi Kim Huat,
Sorry for taking a long time replying your email. I guess there is no urgency. Ha... It seems you're doing well...
I didn't go to Shenzhen yet. I may go there in October. But with this
swine flu thing, I am not sure now. Same thing for going to Singapore.
I like it if you can take us doing natural walks and riding MRT. If I
can find a cheap place to rent for months, we love to live in Singapore for awhile.
I am doing 活力八段錦 just for exercise. I am not good at it and just follow the demo on TV for 1/2 hour. Someone told me this is different that practiced in China because this is much faster. However, I like it.
Keep in touch, Wee-yong
国泰,
我喜欢你的寻根录第一页所提: “慎终追远、飮水思源”及背景，可说是我们这一代人，若在客观条件许可下，都会有寻根的念头。要不然我们下一代子孙对根源的槪念将会逐歩的淡忘. . . 。
2005 年我与内子、三个女儿及一个孙女也到潮安旅游与寻根。虽与家乡亲友共聚数日与祭祖，并拍了蛮多照片，但却没有你的寻根录较有保存的价值与意义。请再将part 2-5寄出供欣赏与参考，谢谢!
茂辉
14/7/09
Dear all,
In Part 1, I mentioned that my 1st ancestor migrated to 新会. Five generations later, one of my ancestor migrated to 新兴. Thereafter, we became 新兴人 for 600 years.
Attached is "Soo Family Ancestors Migration Route Re-Visit Album (Part 2)". It shows my 1st visit to my ancestor's home town 新兴.
Regards
Kok Thai
Hi! 国泰,
Thank you for sharing with us your root tracing experience.
I admire your will and determination in accomplishing the mission. Though I made numerous visits to China, never once crossed my mind to have the intention of doing the same as you did, "pie sei lah". I assume you must have imbued with strong primeval urge to perform this holy trip of "Tracing of Roots".
Good documentation, I enjoy going through it, kudos to your efforts. Looking forward to the many more instalments.
Cheers,
浩 明
Dear all,
Almost everyone in 新兴 pray to 六祖. Why?
Please view "Soo Family Ancestors Migration Route Re-Visit Album (Part 3)".
If you feel bored viewing it, please let me know how bored you are.
Regards
Kok Thai
Kok Thai,
Thanks for your wonderful family root tracing report. Though I haven’t talked to you for a long time, it’s fantastic to see this from you.
You probably always wanted to do it and never had a chance or time
before. I hope we will do something interested to ourselves when we are getting older. Are you 客家人?
I saw your Guangdong map and my father’s village is near高州. May be I can visit there in the future. I didn’t go to China yet, hopefully, I can make it in October to go to Shenzhen. It also depends on swine flu situation. Ha…
I documented your activities and some portions of classmates’ emails
in our blog.
http://foon-yew.blogspot.com/
Keep in touch and hope for more coming
wee-yong
Dear Sally, Li Lung and Wee Yong,
Thank you for your encouraging comments. At least 3 persons are interested in my story, not too bad. Nowadays, very few people are interested in this type of ancient things.
Li Lung, if I go to that area again, I certainly will pay you a visit there.By the way, is Zhong Shan your ancestor's home town?
Wee Yong, you ask me whether I am 客家人. No, I am Cantonese. My 1st ancestor migrated to 新会, Then one of my ancestor migrated to 新兴. Thereafter, we become 新兴人. 六祖惠能大师 was also 新兴人. I will talk about him in part 3 of my album.
I am glad to hear that you have intention to visit your ancestor's home town 高州. I think you should also visit 南雄 珠玑巷. Most of the Cantonese's ancestors came from there. It has become a popular tracing of roots spot now. I'll talk about it in part 5 of my album.
Regards
Kok Thai
茂辉，
难得有知音，你的评语给我莫大的鼓励。谢谢！ I think it's better to write in English. It is so slow to key in Chinese. Sometimes have to struggle for haft a day and still cannot find the right pinyin for the character that I want.
Regarding the front cover picture that you like, it was taken at a tourist attraction called 盘龙峡瀑布群 in 广东, 德庆县. About 3 hours travel from 新兴. There are so many waterfalls, from the top of the hill to the foot of the hill. The one in the front cover is a very small one. There are also very large one, much nicer then the one in Kota Tinggi. It is a place worth visiting.
You said my album is nice. Actually the photo itself has nothing special. It is the sequence and the commentary that make it "alive". You can try it out with your photos. Arrange it in an interesting sequence, then add in some 李大傻讲古. I am sure the effect will be totally different.
Regards
Kok Thai
Kok Thai,
Your second part of the pictures are so typical of the southern part villages.I had help located a village near Poon Yu another one near He San they all look just like yours. To answer your question I am not from Zhong Shan.In fact one of my relative just did our Loh(father side) family three.All I know my grad father was not Han people,he was Jing Ren(I think in Mongolia)but my grand mother was Han so were my mother side parents.I had seen my grand father picture he did not look like Han ,very tall with long pig tail(late Qing period),they were located in Fu Chow,my mother side also near Fu Chow.I did visit Fu Chow 2 years ago for business trip,did not have time to search for my relatives,but I know some of them are still in Fu Chow I have to find time to do just that!When I arrived in Zhong Shan 2003 I had great difficult to understand the local dialect ,good thing I still know how to write chinese!
Li Lung
Li Lung
Thank you for your comment.
You said your grandfather was Jing Ren(金人). From my understanding, before 清兵入关, their country was called 金国. So, if I am not wrong, he should be 满州人 and not Mongolian. I think 罗 may not be his original surname. Could it be the short form of 爱新觉罗, the Ching dynasty emperor's surname? It will be interesting to do a research on this.
Regards
Kok Thai
Hi 爱芳，浩明，
Thank you for your encouraging comments. Originally it was just a simple trip to pray to ancestors in my home town in China. As it was my 1st time going there, also because I seldom travel, so I just tried to make the most out of this trip. So finally it became an adventure to explore every place that my ancestors have lived. We actually have never thought of doing this before.
The biggest reward for this trip is the discovery of my 1st ancestor's tomb. It is a big surprise for us.
I am glad that you are interested in my story. Thank you.
Regards
Kok Thai
Kok Thai,
Thank you so much for your suggestion, I think you are right about my grandfather, too bad both my parents passed away almost 10 years ago, I have no chance to ask them, but I will have to visit my grandfather village to do more research and some of the Loh members might know more about this. I only heard about my grandfather story from my parents and other relatives when I was young, but I do remember my parents did visit my grandfather village before 1980, in fact my father donated a bridge, a bus to the area school, and some other things. You are very knowledgeable in Chinese history and culture, most commanding is the way of your research. May I ask you about your profession after your academic years? I left JB since 1968 to Canada, first 3 years I was in Ontario then by 1971 moved to Quebec Motreal city to work. I managed to obtain my B.Sc. in chemistry and work for Schering US from 1974 till 1982, then moved to BC Vancouver for Schering Germany as a medical representative till 1996. After that my husband drafted me into the family business involving Biotech. We run a fermentation of making baker yeast factory, one located in Vancouver outskirt area(since 1986), and another one in Zhong Shan(2003), we were the first Canadian company in that area at that time(sole ownership without local partner) Thank God!China is not a easy place to have business, this project almost ruin my health, I am taking easy now to catch up!
Li Lung
Hi Li Lung,
Congratulations! Royal blood may be flowing in your body. My daughter has done a search on the internet and obtained the following info. Please read item No. 5:
罗姓
维基百科，自由的百科全书 (Wikipedia)
罗姓是中国的一个姓氏。在《百家姓》中排第75位。望族居豫章郡（江西南昌）。
历史来源 “罗”源出：
一：出自“妘”姓，以国名为氏。据《通志．氏族略．以国为氏》所载，周代有罗国，初封宜城（湖北宜城县），徙枝江。春秋时被楚国所灭。周末居长沙，国人以原国名“罗”为氏。
二：相传古帝祝融的后代。
三：唐朝西突厥可汗斛瑟罗入中国，其后以斛瑟罗为氏，后改姓“罗”氏。
四：为鲜卑族复姓所改。据《魏书．官氏志》所载，南北朝时，北魏有代北复姓“破多罗”氏，随魏孝文帝南迁洛阳后，定居中原，代为汉姓“罗”氏。
五：清代皇族爱新觉罗氏中有改姓“罗”，后代亦称罗氏。
六：据《后汉书．南蛮传》及《华阳国志》载“板楯七姓”有罗氏。
七：赖罗傅宗亲会则据说前揭一、赖姓出自赖国，也为楚国并吞；部份赖国人民为逃难，赖姓改姓为罗姓、傅姓。
My wild guess is correct. Wow! You may really be a descendant of the royal family of the Qing dynasty. Now, it is your turn to verify it.
You said I am knowledgeable in Chinese history and culture. Actually I am not. I obtained my B.Sc. in Physics. I do not know much about Chinese history and culture. I only learn about the Qing emperor's surname from watching TV series. I know nothing much beside this. Most of the info regarding our trip were obtained from the internet by my daughter.
Regarding my profession, after my academic years, I worked in the after-sale technical support area with a couple of companies. I switched line 13 years ago and worked as a real estate agent until now.
Regards,
Kok Thai
Dear all,
Most Cantonese's ancestors came from 南雄 珠玑巷, but not everyone lived in the "town centre" of 珠玑巷. My ancestors lived in a village called 牛田村 in the vicinity of 珠玑巷. Not only the Soo family lived in 牛田村. There were many families of other surnames who lived there during that period. Your ancestors could be one of them.
Please view "Soo Family Ancestors Migration Route Re-Visit Album Part 4".
Regards,
Kok Thai
国泰同学，
多谢你与我们分享了你们苏氏家族寻根录， 对此我想大家都很感动与欣赏，只是因为忙碌或其他因素而没有个别给你回应吧了。
同时也要感谢茂辉，伟荣与妙珠不断的电邮了我们许多好文章，各类常识与笑话等等，令我们得益不浅。
在此祝大家安康与辛福，同时大家一起“GANBATTE ! " 。
燕燕
19 July 2009。
Dear Kok Thai,
Very interesting !!!
What a pity only one left.
God bless !!!
Sally
Hello all,
It is very interesting to me in reading Kok Thai’s trip report. The
information is valuable for me. I don’t have any idea where my
ancestors came from. Kok Thai mentioned that most Cantonese's
ancestors came from 南雄 珠玑巷. This was the first time I heard of it.
That is only 700+ years. What happened before that? Did they
originally come from中原? My college classmate wrote an article
about方言與官語 (客家語, 河洛語 etc.) traced back to 中原. For those interested,
click below.
http://physics-arts.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_14.html
Ha, Li Lung may be from 愛新覺羅, a royal blood.
「愛新」是族名，滿語「金」的意思.
「覺羅」是姓氏.
女真族打敗契丹(遼國), 建立金國, 建都北京, 滿洲人自稱為女真人(Jurchens)後代.
In English, Cathay（國泰） is from 契丹, 為中國的別稱.
Kok Thai, check your email addresses compared to mines above.Wee-yong
Dear all,
The attached Part 5A shows our visit to 南雄 珠玑巷. As mentioned earlier, most Cantonese's ancestors came from there.
I think not many of our classmates are Cantonese.
玉仙, you are Cantonese. Are you viewing the album?
伟荣, are you also Cantonese? I think you are a bit doubtful of what I said. Yes, most Cantonese's ancestors came from 珠玑巷. But they did not originate from there. They were all from 中原. We are all descendants of 炎帝 and 黄帝 (炎黄子孙也). Soo families are descendants of 黄帝. 黄帝's original surname is 公孙. The 1st person who adopted Soo as his surname was the 8th generation descendant of 黄帝, about 4,300 years ago.
When the 中原 people migrated to the south and entered Guangdong, 珠玑巷 was the 1st stop where they lived. Thereafter, they further migrated to various parts of Guangdong, in order to avoid war and disasters. 珠玑巷's history is definitely more than 700+ years. It dates back to 晋汉时代. I always mention 700+ years because my ancestors migrated from 珠玑巷 about 700+ years ago. I have yet to find out how long they had lived in 珠玑巷 before that. 珠玑巷 has now become a popular "tracing of roots" tourist spot for Cantonese.
Regards,
Kok Thai
Dear Kok Thai,
It is a fantastic presentation indeed, short and sweet. Thank you so much for sharing.
God bless you all !!!
Sally
国泰：
你的寻根录不仅把我们带入你寻根的旅途并分享其中的乐趣，同时也把我们带入历史的行踪：由淸朝的爱新觉罗氏伸延至炎、黄两帝。其精采处，值得赞赏！
由于你的分享，也让多位同学有机会在网上多交流。谢谢！
祝健康快乐！
茂辉
21/7/2009
新山
Dear all,
The northern border of Guangdong is protected by numerous mountains. However, there is a narrow passage way that cuts through the mountains and provides an access for people to enter Guangdong.
In ancient times, this was the only route from the north that everyone took to enter Guangdong, which my ancestors also travelled through. This ancient route has now become a tourist attraction spot.
So we cannot miss out this important ancient route in our tracing of roots journey.
Please enjoy Part 5B, the last episode of "Soo Family Ancestors Migration Route Re-Visit Album".
Regards,
Kok Thai
Hello Kok Thai,
I want to congratulate you for the mission accomplished on your family
root tracing. You got all the way back to 南雄 and 珠玑巷 more than 700 years ago. What happened before this time? Will you go on?
I may go to Shenzhen in October and may visit some places you
mentioned. I don’t know what to do yet. Did you have a tour guide
taking you around? If you have some useful information, please send me.
Actually, I am getting side-tracked to find my father’s hometown in China. I thought he just came from 高州. However, I remembered one time he mentioned the name Baishi (白石) and I never knew what it was. Only recently I could find Baishi on the map, like Google map. His hometown is actually 信宜市 白石鎮.
Also, I found a website with very good pictures put out by a Baishi
photographer. I was totally surprised by the natural beauty of these remote places. So, this is my online family root tracing. Ha ... I will get online and talk to some local poeple there soon.
Below is the website I made with many beautiful pictures. You can
click inside pictures to see larger pictures. Pay attention to the Lichee pictures and some historic information at lower right side. I hope you will enjoy it.
http://xinyi-baishi.blogspot.com/
wee-yong
Kok Thai,
Thank you for your final report. You have done it well. Hope you will go on and do more. Ha… it’s not easy. Even you needed to spend a lot of efforts writing this email in Chinese. Will you consider putting your 寻根 trip on a website? I think you can do it. I uploaded your materials on our site:
http://foon-yew.blogspot.com/
For me, with much less information you had, I got very friendly helps from local people. Even they are not sure and need to do researches. I do not know my father’s village yet. It’s a mystery when my father said he came from 扶龍白石. For sometime, I thought he said 芙蓉白石, because there is a 芙蓉 city in Malaysia.
Nowadays there is 白石镇扶龙村 which is not quite exactly what my father said. I documented this controversy and discussions in my 2nd post [Looking for my father's village 扶龍白石]. For those who are interested, please see below:
http://xinyi-baishi.blogspot.com/
Have a nice day,
Wee-yong
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