Tracing the origins of Chinese guild halls and hometown associations

> Tracing the origins of Chinese guild halls and hometown associations Zhang Zhaohong Since the discovery of gold mines in California, a large number of Chinese began to enter the United States. By 1852, the number of Chinese in San Francisco had reached...

The Origin of Chinese Guild Halls and Hometown Associations Zhang Zhaohong Since the discovery of gold mines in California, a large number of Chinese began to enter the United States. By 1852, the number of Chinese in San Francisco had reached 3,000. In the following thirty years, the number of Chinese coming to the United States increased to 100,000. But since the Chinese set foot in the United States, they have also faced strong hostility and suspicion. In order to adapt to the environment, especially in places where people and land are unfamiliar, the Chinese naturally lived in groups, so Chinatown was born. Because immigrants come from different hometowns and speak different dialects, Chinatown has various local guilds, hometown associations, clan associations and other community organizations. These organizations provide assistance to the needs of their fellow citizens, and some also set up guesthouses for new members to bring members closer together. It is important for new immigrants to come to a group that shares a common dialect and culture, so that they can communicate with each other about their homeland and find safety and mutual support in sharing weal and woe. Chinatown is closer to fellow townspeople and allows new immigrants to make an immediate and indelible contribution. Chinese shops, Chinese restaurants, traditional customs, and familiar words also give new immigrants a sense of peace of mind. In December 1849, the first Chinese Guild Hall was established in San Francisco. By 1851, it was divided into two groups, one of which was the "Siyi Guild Hall" from Taishan, Xinhui, Kaiping, and Enping, and the other was the "Sanyi Guild Hall" from Zhongshan, Heshan, and Gaoyao. In 1852, Zhongshan people formed the "Yanghe Guild Hall"; Its guilds also include the "Zhaoqing guild hall", "Hopewell guild hall" and "Gangzhou guild hall". The Hakkas also form the "Rhehe guild hall". The largest guild hall, the "Ningyang guild hall", is branched off from the "Siyi Township Association". Xinning people (Taishan people) account for the majority of the Chinese in California, so the "Ningyang guild hall" has considerable influence. By 1854, the Chinese Association and the Chinese Association formed the "Seven Assembly Halls", which were later collectively referred to as "CHINESE. CONSOLTDATED. BENVOLENT. ASSOCIATION". The Chung Hwa Association represents the vast majority of Chinese immigrants from more than 20 regions in Guangdong. At this time, the leadership position of the guild hall has been established. For immigrants who have just arrived in a strange place, it is a great comfort to have an organization with a local accent that they are familiar with. The Chung Hwa Association is an unofficial spokesperson for the Chinese. It promotes the welfare of the Chinese, mediates disputes between individuals and groups, and provides help with Chinese education for Chinese children. The association is also an organization that presides over funeral affairs, responsible for the burial of dead Chinese and transporting the bones back to their hometowns. The early Chinese Association sent people to maintain law and order in Chinatown and litigated to protect the rights and interests of the Chinese, sometimes reaching the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chinese Association is also responsible for welcoming and assisting diplomatic envoys awaiting the imperial court. In the fourth year of Guangxu's reign (1878), Chen Lanbin, China's first minister to the United States, arrived in San Francisco. At that time, Liang Nan, the general manager of the Sanyi Guild Hall, led more than 200 business directors from the six major halls to welcome him. After that, Chen Shutang, the first consul, established the Jinshan Consulate in San Francisco. Domestic affairs in Chinatown were handled by the Chinese Association, major matters were sought from the consul, and external affairs were handled by the consul. The imperial court's orders could reach the overseas Chinese in Chinatown directly. When envoys or dignitaries are passing through or visiting, the Chinese Association will welcome them and provide them with special hospitality on behalf of the overseas Chinese. In 1886, Minister Zhang Yinhuan arrived in San Francisco, where the overseas Chinese delegation held a banquet that was almost full. There was also a visit from the Chinese fleet, and the overseas Chinese were very excited and warmly welcomed them. Such a patriotic and enthusiastic move will become a regular practice in the future. Most Chinese in major cities in the United States have organizations similar to the Chinese Association. The "China Office" in New York was established in 1883 and was composed of 60 groups representing all aspects of New York. Organizations in various places also have corresponding connections. After the U.S. Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in Washington, D.C., anti-China sentiment in the United States reached its climax, and Chinese associations in various places united into a "National Chinese Association" to coordinate various activities carried out by Chinese associations in various places to safeguard the rights and interests of the Chinese. Chinese people settled in Arizona in the 19th century. In the 1880s, the state's railway project was completed, and Chinese people worked in the mines, but most of them entered the city's Chinatown, which further promoted its prosperity. In early 1890, the city's Chinatown population exceeded 200. Among the early Chinese cultural relics in Alberta, there are two written records of Chinese SINO. Most of the Chinese organizations in this town are named after clan groups, such as the "Deng Gaomi Office" of the Deng clan, the "Yu Fengcaitang" of the Yu clan, the "Huangjiang Xia Yunshan Office" of the Huang clan (now the Huang clan association), and the "Longgang Office" composed of the four surnames Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, etc. Although there is no Chinese Association in this city, the Chinese Overseas Chinese Association in Phoenix City established the "Fenian Overseas Chinese Association" in 1968, which has the same functions and status as the Chinese offices and Chinese Associations in various places. Kaiping, the hometown of overseas Chinese in Guangdong, has been a distribution center for people and goods in the Siyi area since ancient times. In the early years, many people from Kaiping came to the United States to make a living. In the 1850s, people from Kaiping, Taishan, Xinhui and Enping established the "Siyi Guild Hall" in San Francisco. In 1862, people surnamed Deng and Hu from Kaiping and Yu from Taishan broke away from the Siyi Guild Hall to form the "Hehe Guild Hall". In 1898, people from Kaiping and Enping formed the "Enkai Guild Hall", which was later merged into the "Zhaoqing Guild Hall" in 1909. In 1911, the "Kaiping Association of Chinese Residents in the United States" was established in San Francisco. This year is the 100th anniversary celebration, and representatives from Kaiping in Phoenix City were invited to participate in the celebration. To this day, there are still many organizations of Kaiping folks across the United States, such as the "Kaiping Tanjiang Association of Southern California, USA" and so on. The hometown associations in Phoenix include the Alberta Taiwan Association, the Alberta Sichuan-Chongqing Association, etc. The Kaiping Mutual Aid Association of Alberta was established in Phoenix in 2011. The association stated that it will work hard to provide mutual aid and services to the Kaiping folks in Alberta in the future.