Photos on the Wall : Traces of History

 I have always loved to look at the old ceramic photos of our ancestors in Sibu in relatives' houses.

Most of the pioneer Foochow families had them made in the past for one or two reasons. One of the most significant reasons for having a ceramic photo made was for a 60th birthday commemoration.

It was a "done thing" in the olden days to have a ceramic photo made, usually by order. A travelling salesman from Singapore would take the orders (a photo for example), collect a deposit and write a receipt. A few months later, the ceramic photo would arrive in Sibu. The ceramic photos were at first made in Shanxi before the war, but later, two shops in Sibu had skilled artists to make the ceramic photos. In Foochow the art is called Siew, or burn. That is the image is burnt onto the ceramic plate.

A set of sons in law would gift the birthday parent who was celebrating her 60th birthday a ceramic photo. The words and names would be inscribed on the photo.

The 60th birthday is a very significant birthday for a Foochow (or any Chinese) for it would mean that she has lived ONE full cycle of the zodiac. In Foochow one full cycle is called Suoh Loong.

Now this photo would also be used for the funeral. The photo would be bordered with a white mourning cloth to the wake and then the cemetery. On the return journey the photo would be bordered by red cloth.

After the funeral, the photo would be placed at the rightful position on a wall for all to see. And for every Chinese New Year thereafter, a new year red paper would be pasted on the wall to show New Year Greetings.

This was the usual practice in the past. I wonder if it is still done.

It of significance to many Foochow pioneers to relate to a story of how or why Rev James Hoover spoke with a Kutien accent when the majority of the Foochows in Sibu was Minqing, for Wong Nai Siong himself was from Minqing, and 6Du too for that matter.

Would you know why James M. Hoover spoke Foochow with a Kutien accent? The photos on the wall will tell the story. 

Wong Meng Lei shared the story not long ago. Ding Liong Tiew, second from right on the wall was Rev Hoover's Foochow teacher. Liong Tiew's grandson, Ding Bik Shii related and reaffirmed the story. 

Interestingly, the Dings do not live with other Kutien people in Kwong Hua and the Sg. Sadit area for they live in Nang Chong., or South Village, a village dominated by t he Minqing .

Mrs. Hoover spoke Minqing dialect.

陈必赐(中)的祖父陈良调(墙上相片右二)是百年前为砂卫理第一位教士富雅各的中文老师。当时应该是学讲福州话，由于陈祖籍古田，所以富雅各讲古田话的。