Chinese Transnationalism and the Creation of a Liberal Public Sphere
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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 2009 Chinese transnationalism and the creation of a liberal public sphere Lanelle Elizabeth Christman University of Nevada Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Cultural History Commons, and the Social History Commons Repository Citation Christman, Lanelle Elizabeth, "Chinese transnationalism and the creation of a liberal public sphere" (2009). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 144. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/1390909 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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CHINESE TRANSNATIONALISM AND THE CREATION OF A LIBERAL PUBLIC SPHERE by Lanelle Elizabeth Christman Associate of Arts Flathead Valley Community College 1998 Bachelor of Arts Montana State University – Billings 2002 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in History Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2009 Copyright by Lanelle Elizabeth Christman 2010 All Rights Reserved THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by Lanelle Elizabeth Christman entitled Chinese Transnationalism and the Creation of a Liberal Public Sphere be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts History Sue Fawn Chung, Committee Chair David Wrobel, Committee Member Raquel Casas, Committee Member Louisa McDonald, Graduate Faculty Representative Ronald Smith, Ph. D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate College December 2009 ii ABSTRACT Chinese Transnationalism and the Creation of a Liberal Public Sphere by Lanelle Elizabeth Christman Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of History University of Nevada, Las Vegas This thesis is a global comparative study tracing the functions and historical development of Chinese huiguan [“official organization”] and its leadership in China, Indochina, and San Francisco. Early Chinese immigration to America and Indochina involved the formation of huiguan , organizations based on dialect and native place, paralleling the functions and demography of merchant associations originating in China. The merchant elite representing its leadership were preeminent arbitrators of Chinese tradition and authority. French Indochina and America recognized their status as community leaders, further exalting the social standing of merchants and increasing their positions of authority. These organizations greatly influenced the lives of a majority of Chinese immigrants in an attempt to replicate, with varying degrees of fidelity, the social, religious, and networking environments of native-place regions. By providing material aid, financial connections, and charitable functions, huiguan existed within a framework of carefully-defined relationships essential to the very survival of Chinese communities. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1 RECONSIDERATIONS FOR THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF CHINESE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE AMERICAN WEST ................................................. 1 CHAPTER 2 FROM ZHONGGUO, ‘CHINA’ TO ‘BIG CITY’ AND ‘BIG MARKET’: HUIGUAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA ....................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 3 FROM ZHONGGUO TO BAZAR CHINOIS, CHOLON, ‘BIG MARKET’ : HUIGUAN DEVELOPMENT IN INDOCHINA ............................................................ 48 CHAPTER 4 FROM ZHONGGUO TO DADU, ‘BIG CITY’: HUIGUAN DEVELOPMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO ..................................................................... 104 CHAPTER 5 IN DADU, ‘BIG CITY’: CHARITY, EXCLUSION, AND THE RISE OF CHINESE NATIONALISM ........................................................................................... 153 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 229 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 234 VITA ............................................................................................................................... 281 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Pearl River Delta Region ................................................................................ 25 Figure 2. China's Agricultural Regions, 1986 ................................................................ 28 Figure 3. Historical Map of Guangzhou (Canton) and Town Plan, 1878 ...................... 32 Figure 4. China's Special Economic Zones, 1997 .......................................................... 47 Figure 5. French-Controlled Indochina and Chinese Communities ............................... 56 Figure 6. Map of Saigon and the Bazar Chinois, 1795 ................................................. 60 Figure 7. Chinese in Cochinchina, ca. 1909 ................................................................... 61 Figure 8. China-Vietnam Border .................................................................................... 65 Figure 9. Chinese from Guangxi (Quang-Si) in Tonkin ................................................ 73 Figure 10. Inside a Chinese Temple in Cholon ................................................................ 91 Figure 11. Chinese Funeral Procession in Haiphong ....................................................... 94 Figure 12. Chinese Imperial Mission Arriving in Saigon ................................................ 96 Figure 13. Chinese Dragon Procession in Cholon ........................................................... 98 Figure 14. Bazar Chinois, Di’an, Cholon, ‘Big Market’ ............................................... 103 Figure 15. “Marketing,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 .................................. 117 Figure 16. Pearl River Delta Administrative Regions, Early 1980s .............................. 118 Figure 17. Chinese Linguistic Groups ............................................................................ 123 Figure 18. “On Dupont Street,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 ........................ 142 Figure 19. Officers of the CCBA in 1890, Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA ................. 144 Figure 20. “Family From Consulate,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 .............. 151 Figure 21. “Tradesmen,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 .................................. 154 Figure 22. “Chinese Cook,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906.............................. 160 Figure 23. “A Merchant” in Chinatown, Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 .......... 164 Figure 24. Chinese “Death Ship” Sails, ca. 1858, San Francisco Maritime Museum ... 168 Figure 25. “New Year’s Day Before the Theatre,” Arnold Genthe, 1895-1906 ............ 170 Figure 26. “Children of High Class,” Arnold Genthe Collection, 1895-1906 ............... 174 Figure 27. "Certificate of Residence," 1892 ................................................................... 189 Figure 28. Nationalist Demonstration, ca. 1911, California State Library .................... 220 Figure 29. Guomindang Flag above CCBA Headquarters on Stockton Street .............. 226 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis could not have been completed without the unflagging patience, help, and support of my thesis committee. My Committee Chair, Dr. Sue Fawn Chung, and her constant kindness and endless supply of fascinating historical anecdotes in classes and during office hours helped to hone and energize my research. In addition to initiating me into the intricacies of Modern East Asian history and the study of Chinese in America though the courses she offered and from her own research and scholarship, she helped to facilitate my passion for Chinese and Vietnamese history through the comparative framework of this thesis, and she continues to offer valuable advice for both my research and professional aspirations. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and good cheer made her presence one of the most pleasant aspects of my graduate career. I owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Louisa McDonald who graciously accepted the post as Graduate College representative for my thesis committee after the departure of Dr. Guo-ou Zhuang in the Chinese Language Department. I would also like to thank Dr. David Wrobel for introducing me to the nuances and vagaries of the historiography