GUANGDONG CHINA Research Visit November 2006
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HOME AGAIN: DEVELOPING HISTORICAL LINKS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND CHINA GUANGDONG CHINA Research Visit November 2006 Gordon Grimwade GUANGDONG CHINA Research Visit November 2006 Gordon Grimwade CONTENTS Executive Summary..................................... i Background ................................................ 1 Acknowledgements .................................... 2 Diary ........................................................... 3 Meetings .................................................... 4 Site Visits .................................................... 6 Conclusion ................................................. 14 References ................................................. 15 Copyright: Gordon Grimwade and National Trust of Queensland. 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preliminary research in Guandong Province, China Sung Goong, Cairns, and Innisfail collections. was undertaken in November 2006. It was made Initial assessment suggests that Queensland possible with assistance from the Brisbane has some collections of exceptional significance, Consulate of the Peoples’ Republic of China, the both in intactness and quality. Guangdong Provincial Government (Overseas • The Cultural Revolution took a toll in many parts Chinese Affairs Office), the Australia China Council of China but the Chinese are resourceful and and the National Trust of Queensland. many antique artefacts have now reappeared in It provided opportunities to: once desecrated temples. While the quantity of material that has been restored is commendable • establish the potential for cooperative it constantly strengthens the view that the north development of displays on Overseas Chinese Australian collections are highly significant. that could mutually assist with trade and tourism opportunites in the longer term; • Provide small, comprehensive collections and data to the Overseas Chinese Museum, • assess and acquire information in respect of Jiangmen and to the Commercial Museum, comparative temple studies and their associated Zhongshan to reflect the material culture and the material culture; history of Overseas Chinese in north Australia. • gain a far understanding of contemporary and • Consider more comprehensive research into historical settings; village temples and a comparison with temples • acquire sufficient information to produce in western areas. Research should focus on photographic displays and technical papers. structural form, modifications of form to suit local circumstances, source of artefacts and the • to enhance international linkages in studies diversity of them. being undertaken into the Chinese diaspora – particularly in archaeological and historical • Undertake comprehensive recording of the issues. various crafts associated with temples such as woodcarving, drum making, metal casting Displays in two museums (the Commercial and ceramics. Some of these crafts are at Museum in Zhongshan and the Overseas Chinese risk as China modernizes and would also Museum in Jiangmen) and in the proposed add fascinating dimensions to displays that museum at the headquarters of the OCAO might travel between China and the western in Guangzhou offer fascinating opportunities world. Production of a joint China/ Australia for improved co-operation between China and documentary film/s would provide an invaluable Australia (there are also opportunities to assist record of these ‘at risk’ crafts. New Zealand Chinese to gain recognition). • Further research into the origins of the stone pig Future directions should focus on (in order ovens associated with many Chinese settlements of priority): in Australia and New Zealand is justified. The • Contributing to the planning and development best examples appear to be in north Queensland of display content for the OCAO Museum in and Tasmania. There were no examples still Guangzhou. It offers considerable opportunity to evident at sites visited in China. One informant showcase the contribution of Overseas Chinese suggested they may still exist in some parts to the development of Australasia (which is under of rural Guangdong. This aspect of research represented elsewhere in Overseas Chinese into Overseas Chinese has been focused on displays in Guangdong). It would strengthen settlements in Australia, New Zealand and the the socio-economic linkages between China, USA in the past. Research in China could shed Australia and New Zealand. At present North more light on regional differences and technology America dominates any presentations in transfer among migrant groups. Guangdong Province on the Overseas Chinese. • Genealogical research opportunities exist for • Provide photographs and cataloguing data in families seeking to trace their Chinese ancestry. respect of the Hou Wang Temple collection The OCAO is willing to assist descendants in this to OCAO officers for more comprehensive regard, but needs details of village name, clan evaluation. It would be well worth this being names, preferably in Chinese characters due to complemented by photographs from the Lit the bastardizations that are often evident. This report provides details of a visit BACKGROUND The National Trust of Queensland owns both to Guangdong Province, People’s property and collections associated with early Chinese settlement in Queensland. In recognition Republic of China from 4 to 13 November of the significance of this the Trust has adopted a 2006 by Gordon Grimwade. The visit major research initiative, ‘Home Again: developing the historical links between Australia and China‘. was undertaken as a guest of the Australian based research has progressed opportunistically for some time. The offer to visit Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO), China was a major step in expanding the research Guangdong Provincial Government. The base. It arose from a visit by Madam Liu Fei, (then) the Consul and Head of Post of the People’s visit was supported by an Australia China Republic of China, Brisbane, to open Queensland Heritage Week 2006 and to launch ‘Along the Council grant and the National Trust Silk Road’, a photographic exhibition by Gordon Grimwade. The venue was the Hou Wang Temple of Queensland. and Museum, Atherton. Madam Liu was impressed by the conservation and presentation of the temple, The aim was to establish the (built 1903, restored 2000) with its rare examples of Chinese temple woodcarvings, and the Trust’s opportunities for greater collaborative overall work of promoting Chinese influences on Australia’s development. research leading to wide ranging publications and exhibitions. This initiative of the National Trust of Queensland is part of a larger project: ‘Home Again’ focusing on developing the links between Australia and China. It was developed to value add to Queensland’s heritage tourism potential and to aid in strengthening bilateral cultural and economic relationships. Fig 1 Hou Wang Temple, Atherton, built 1903, is the last surviving timber and iron temple in Australasia. This report provides a brief background Gordon Grimwade has undertaken research into the to the project, a diary, describes the archaeology and material culture of the Overseas Chinese in Australia for the past twenty years. He has published various venues inspected and meetings widely on this topic and on related management issues. Development of the first stage of a national database of undertaken as a prelude to providing Chinese Australian sites, in conjunction with Austral Archaeology, was undertaken in the 1990s. Gordon was project manager and concept planner for the $100,000 recommendations on which to build. Croydon Chinatown, north Queensland heritage walk in 2000. He was subsequently engaged as Project Manager/ Interpretation Planner for the $1,300,000 conservation and presentation of the Hou Wang Temple, Atherton, Queensland. AcKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research visit was made possible by the In addition to the many staff of the Overseas generous assistance of the Australia China Chinese Affairs Office in regional Guangdong I am Council (travel expenses); the Overseas particularly grateful to my intepreter/guides Rocky Chinese Affairs Office (interpreter/guide, Shi Jin and Lily. driver and programme); the National I met with so many individuals and small groups Trust of Queensland (secretarial and part that to name everyone would be a challenge of accommodation costs) and the Consul some magnitude. They include Wu Xing Ci, James and staff of the Consulate of the Peoples’ Zheng, Mr Wang, Seto Liang, Yu Jin Lian, Jacky Republic of China, Brisbane, Queensland. Deng, Rachael Yu, Chen, Huang Yu Bing, Fan Zhi The assistance provided by these organizations Hao, Wu Yimin, Cherry, He De Bin, Huang Ying facilitated a study tour par excellence. Qing, Deng Jian Qiang, Si Tu Hao, Chen Jing Shu, During the visit to Guangdong many people Mei Wei Qang, Zhai Yan Yan, Susan Huang, Selia gave freely of their time making me most Jinhua Tan, Tang Zhen Quan and Huang Miao welcome and provided opportunity for Zhang. To those I have omitted I apologise. Their many interesting conversations. Their warm assistance is no less appreciated. hearted willingness to give of their time is reflected in the number of people with whom I have subsequently been in direct contact over mutual interests in temples and Chinese migration. Fig 2 Interior of the Hou Wang Temple, Atherton with the temple ding in the foreground. It was returned to the temple, in 2006, after an absence of 70 or more years. DIARY 4 November 8 November Arrive Guangzhou – Meeting with officials of Visit Zhongshan Commercial