Our Mother’s Memorial
I woke up today thinking it would be fitting time to post this next story as today is the 3rd year anniversary of my mother, Gayook Wong (Liou)’s passing. Although the grief of her passing has softened, her absence is still keenly felt in our day to day lives. And although her wisdom and compassion remain with us always, we are still discovering how the space she has left affects us all.
So it was with reverence and honor that we brought her ashes along with personal belongings of her mother and father to be buried in my grandfather’s hometown of Xin Ning where our ancestors have been laid to rest.
Part 3: Xin Ning – Our Hometown
We left Guangzhou to take a 2 hour high speed railroad trip and an hour long car ride to Xingning, where Liu Jipiao was born. Xingning is a county-level city, under the jurisdiction of Meizhou City, Guangdong Province. Some of the highlights of our trip (and there were many) was meeting the Liu Clan Leader who gave us a personal tour of the Liu Ancestral Hall built in 1776 which houses the names and chronicles of all our Hakka ancestors. (LJP is 24th generation , Gayook 25th, Matthew and I are the 26th generation of Liu’s) We learned that the first emperor of the Han Dynasty was a Liu.
Emperor Gaozu of Han (Chinese: 漢高祖; 256 – 1 June 195 BC), also known by his given name Liu Bang (劉邦), was the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning from 202 to 195 BC.
But the most moving part of the trip was meeting family for the first (not the last) time when we brought Mom’s ashes to be buried alongside her paternal grandfather.
Gayook Wong (Liou)’s ashes, her mother’s brooch and a vial of paint pigment powder used by her father, LJP were placed in the memorial tomb pictured above. A chanter sent her spirit into our ancestor’s care and we sealed the memorial. We all lit 3 incense sticks and bowed 3 times to show our respect and honor for the departed. Then firecrackers were shot off to see her on her journey. It was a touching ceremony that brought tears to my eyes knowing that my mother would have wanted to be on this trip to bring her father home and she certainly was as we brought her spirit home as well.
This is dedicated with love to our dear mother and all the ancestors that came before us…
Coming Up Next… Part 4: Xin Ning – Liu Jipiao’s Birth and Childhood
Gayook would be so happy that you guys are doing this. Thanks so much for sharing. We miss her a lot also and are really glad that you are doing this tribute to her. Just wish we could be with you.
This is so beautiful. And we miss your mother dearly. Thank you for continuing to share you family’s story. How cool that your the 26th generation from the first in the Han Dynasty!