By Brenda Hee Wong, 2020 CHCP Director

CHCP collaborated with the Chinese American Pioneer Heritage Committee on a conference held Feb. 22/23, 2020 to increase knowledge of the “LOST CHINATOWNS”, almost 100 communities abandoned because of Chinese Exclusion, discrimination, violence and economic displacement. The conference was held in historic Marysville Chinatown, once the second largest in the US, to honor the Chinese Americans’ role in building California—especially the railroads, roads, wineries, mines, delta levees, water and irrigation systems and agricultural farmlands. CHCP Director Brenda Hee Wong exhibited 24 panels and spoke of San Jose Chinatowns. CHCP Advisory Board Member Gerry Low Sabado did the same to recognize the Chinese of Pacific Grove/Monterey. Organized educational & cultural events were held in conjunction with the 140th Anniversary of the Bok Kai Parade, Bomb Festival, and Moo Lung, restored oldest parade dragon.

Bomb Day, or “Yee Yeut Yee” in Chinese, takes its name from the colorful firing of the bombs highlighting the celebration, which is in tribute to the Chinese Water God, The Bok Kai.  The video below shows one of 14 bombs set off that day along with thousands of firecrackers! A ring wrapped with red ribbon shoots out from the bomb which creates the mad dash to grab the ring which has a number attached for a special good fortune message.  The message is read to the owner of the ring back at the temple. The person able to grab the ring is rewarded with a big “li see”, a red envelope usually from a business that wants the good luck message.

By Alison Woolpert, Member of Yuki Teikei Haiku Society (YTHS)

Roger Abe set up a wonderful tour of the Chinese American Historical Museum in History Park San Jose. The museum building, a reconstruction of the original 1888 Ng Shing Gung Temple or “Temple of the Gods,” served the Chinese community as a cultural center.

Docents Brenda Hee Wong and Anita Wong Kwock explained that the two-story brick building was used not only as a meeting place, but also as a school where children could study calligraphy and the Chinese classics, a hostel, and a place to worship. The upstairs temple houses the original carved and gilded teak wood altar that has been lovingly restored. Along with the many artifacts of daily life and celebrations showcased downstairs, there is a pictorial timeline starting in 1850 to the present that shows what was going on in the USA, San Jose, and China.

Following the tour, members spent time in History Park and later gathered at the Markham House to share our haiku from the day.

Attendees: Roger Abe, Patricia Machmiller, Philip Hsieh, Linda Papanincolaou, Eleanor Carolan, Joan Zimmerman, Amy King, Carolyn Fitz, Marilyn Gehant, Noreen Brennan, Clysta Seney, Mimi Ahern, Carol Steele, Alison Woolpert

Haiku Poetry and Testimonials from YTHS Tour Members

It was a thrill to be in the haiku group with Roger Abe (YTHS) on our recent visit to your beautiful Ng Shing Gung temple museum. Your collection is so rich. I appreciate the splendor of the temple area. Downstairs I was especially intrigued by the schoolroom exhibit, the clothes, and the pottery, all of which give such a strong sense of lived lives. I can only imagine their joys and sorrows, but more clearly now, thanks to your museum.

You expressed an interest in the haiku that some of us wrote. You will have noticed that we write "modern" haiku as well as the classical 5-7-5 syllables. But we do try to include an indication of season. Below are the two haiku that I read. In the first one "blossom" suggests spring. In the second one, "first meal" suggests the New Year.

   broken blossoms
   the finger-length lotus shoes
   for bound feet

   first meal
   scratching his name
   on his new rice bowl

Best wishes,
(Joan) Zimmerman

Great presentation!

   two children
   board the winter trolley—
   double happiness

   a stranger finds rest
   at the feet of spring mountains
   Temple of Five Gods

Roger Abe

Very insightful tour of Ng Shing Gung, Temple of the Gods. My haiku:

   year of the rat
   we take the stairs to the Temple
   of the Five Gods

I look forward to returning to Ng Shing Gung in the future to spend more time.

Alison Woolpert

The Saturday tour was a very memorable event. The museum that you have created is certainly well done; what an asset to the San Jose community you have provided.

Here are some haiku that I wrote reflecting on the day:

   the colorful head
   of a paper lion—
   spring in a glass cage

   decorated staves
   of the Eight Immortals—
   grand majesty orchids

   red silk slippers
   handmade for the newborn—
   snow moon

Sincerely,
Patricia J. Machmiller

By Pinki Fung, 2019 CHCP Co-Vice President

This special annual event was held on May 2, 2019 in Milpitas, California. It honored community members who have dedicated their time, energy and efforts to improving the lives of those in California Assembly District 25.  Many people came together to support more than 80 community members who were recognized and given medals of honor for their dedication and hard work.

Thank you to our Advisory Board Member Vicki Young, for nominating CHCP as one of the Community Heroes honorees. CHCP was honored to be there at this very special event.

Attendees: CHCP Co-Founder Gerrye Wong, CHCP Co-President Dave Yick, CHCP Co-Vice President Pinki Fung, CHCP Directors Karyn Wong, Peter Young, Erwin Wong, Kelly Chew and Brenda Wong.

By Edith Gong, 2019 CHCP Director

CHCP was honored to be selected as Palo Alto Player's Gives Back Community Partner for the production of Flower Drum Song, which ran from April 26 - May 12.  CHCP provided part of its traveling exhibit, which was on display throughout the three week run, in the lobby of the Lucie Stern Community Theater.  CHCP Officers, Directors, Trustees, Advisory members and general members attended each performance, while doing double duty as ambassadors sharing CHCP's mission, programs and information about the Chinese American Historical Museum.

PA Players offered CHCP members a $10 discount on all performances and that sparked a great deal of interest in their 13+ performances.  The run was an incredible success with the final week selling out. PA Players received critical acclaim from multiple media outlets including the Mercury News and Broadway World.  The all Asian cast was from all over the Bay Area - the female lead was a Senior from Homestead High School.  PA Players Managing Director, Elizabeth Santana, mentioned that this was the highest attendance for any performance all season and was pleased with the community support for the show.  She was impressed by the traveling exhibit and the professionalism and support of the CHCP Board members.

As a Gives Back Community Partner, CHCP received half of the donations collected during the entire run of Flower Drum Song.  Thanks to the hard work of 20 CHCP volunteers, we received a check from Palo Alto Players for $2,557 – one of the highest amounts ever raised for a community partner!

Thanks to all the CHCP volunteers and friends of members who attended the performances and to the volunteers who shared information about CHCP before, during intermission and after the performances.  Without your support, we wouldn’t have been so successful!

Video Part 1 – American Society for Contemporary Chinese Painting:

Video Part 2 – CA Assemblyman Kansen Chu, Artists, and Author Tim Myers:

Video Part 3 – CA State Park Interpreter/Historian/Manager Phil Sexton:

Video Part 4 – CA State Park Interpreter/Historian/Manager Phil Sexton (cont.):

On September 23, 2017, CHCP celebrated its 30th anniversary at the fabulous Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. 500 strong attended coming from the community, its patrons, and volunteers to assure CHCP's legacy: educating the voices of tomorrow.