The idea of writing The Wang Family Letters has been on my mind for many years. If I can complete this book in my lifetime, recording the origins of our family, the footsteps of our ancestors, and the struggles of our descendants, then my lifelong wish will be fulfilled.

In order to trace the history of the Wang family, I have spared no effort over the decades, travelling thousands of kilometres, visiting fellow townsfolk and elders, and returning to our ancestral homeland multiple times to seek our roots. I have gathered historical materials and explored every detail left by our ancestors. Along the way, I have received the selfless assistance of many seniors, relatives, and friends, for which I am deeply grateful and will never forget.

Family and Upbringing

First and foremost, I must thank my loving mother, Madam Xu. During my childhood, my mother often told me about the culture, customs, and local anecdotes of Chaozhou Prefecture, which enabled me to not only learn the Teochew dialect but also sing some Teochew songs. Every year on the birthday of the Qing Shui Ancestor, my mother would take me to watch the Teochew operas performed by the troupes offering thanks to the deities. Classic plays such as Xue Dingshan Conquers the West, Mulian Rescues His Mother, and Guo Ziyi’s Birthday Banquet still echo clearly in my mind today.

My mother was literate and reasonable, capable of chanting sutras and worshipping Buddha. She was a devout follower of Guanyin Bodhisattva and Da Bo Gong, strictly observing a vegetarian diet on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month. She educated her children with the virtues of loving-kindness, goodness, and thrift, serving as my earliest life teacher. Although my mother has now passed away, her voice and smiling face remain as vivid as if it were yesterday, constantly lingering in my heart. Whenever I think of this, I cannot help but sigh at the saying, “The child wishes to care for their parents, but they are no longer around” – my heart is filled with endless longing, helplessness, and regret.

Oral History and Ancestral Roots

Furthermore, my elder sister Yuzhi has a profound memory of our family’s past, recounting both large and small details with eloquence, providing many valuable materials for this book. My eldest brother Yuguang also shared with me the details of past life in Gaoming Village, Longwei, giving me a deeper understanding of our ancestors’ living environment.

At the same time, the elder Mr Ali and my fellow townsman, the elder Mr Aqian from Guang Chenglong, always patiently answered my many questions, sharing precious oral history and adding many rare, first-hand materials to this book.

In our ancestral hometown of Jieyang, my cousin Wang Zhida and his wife warmly received my brother Yuxing and me on several occasions when we returned to visit relatives and trace our roots, allowing us to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of our ancestral home. Although the old ancestral house has been demolished and rebuilt due to changing times, losing its original appearance, the hometown sentiment remains strong. My cousins not only offered us generous hospitality but also lent me a precious volume of the family genealogy, enabling me to have a deeper understanding of the life story of my late father, Wang Tingbao, and our family history.

Research and Production

I must also extend special thanks to my son-in-law, Travis. As an engineer, he contributed immensely by building the website for this book, an effort for which he deserves great credit. Additionally, Xiao Li from Yunnan, as well as Yuxin, a doctoral candidate at the University of Western Australia, generously assisted with data collation and research. The numerous clan members and relatives also spared no effort and responded to every request, deeply moving me, and I offer them all my most sincere gratitude here.

To all the elders, relatives, friends, and clan members who have helped, encouraged, and supported me in completing this book, I offer my deepest gratitude. If there are any whose names I have failed to list individually, it is truly not an intentional omission, and I beg your forgiveness.

A Note on the Text

Approximately forty percent of this book’s content is derived from oral history, recording the life stories and family memories personally experienced by our ancestors, while the other sixty percent was compiled based on the Wang family genealogy, relevant literature, and academic research findings. Due to my limited ability and knowledge, if there are any omissions, errors, or areas where the historical verification is imperfect, I respectfully ask clan elders, experts, scholars, and readers to generously offer their guidance and corrections. I will accept them with an open mind and do my best to correct them in future revisions, striving to restore the true face of history, pass down our family culture, and preserve it for the reference of future generations.

I dedicate this book to all the ancestors and descendants who have devoted their efforts to our family’s heritage.

Respectfully written by a descendant of the Wang clan.

王裕和 (Andrew)