Emergent Chinese Diasporic Identity and Culture: Chinese Grave Markers and Mortuary Rituals in Newfoundland

Abstract This article investigates the grave markers and associated mortuary rituals of Newfoundland’s Chinese immigrants, especially those who came before 1949, in order to understand them in the religious context of Newfoundland. The goals of this article are, firstly, to demonstrate emergent creo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of American Folklore
Main Author: Li, Mu
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: University of Illinois Press 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.5406/jamerfolk.131.519.0053
https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/jaf/article-pdf/131/519/53/1169539/jamerfolk.131.519.0053.pdf
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Summary:Abstract This article investigates the grave markers and associated mortuary rituals of Newfoundland’s Chinese immigrants, especially those who came before 1949, in order to understand them in the religious context of Newfoundland. The goals of this article are, firstly, to demonstrate emergent creolized diasporic identity and culture by presenting how early Chinese immigrants used Christianity to gradually gain social acceptance and, secondly, to challenge the popular idea that conversion by Chinese immigrants was only strategic.