Ching
Chow
Ching
Joong Wah (formal name)
1877-1953
Ching
Chow was born on April 10, 1877 in Hung Mee Hamlet, Nam Long Village,
Chung Shan District, Kwangtung Province, China.
His
grandfather, Ching Chaap Mun, was very wealthy with lichee farms and
merchandise stores. He was conferred the title rank of “Assistant
Official” to rule in the civil service system. He was blessed with
nine children—eight sons and one daughter. Ching Lui Jeong, Ching
Chow’s father, was his fourth son. This fourth son had four sons
and a daughter.
Son
No. 1—Ching Hoy (Ching Gaam Wah) was adopted over to his father’s
second
brother,
Ching Wung Jeong. Ching Hoy arrived in Honolulu in 1901. He was the
first Chinese plumber here. His son, Ah Hin, came in 1918 and worked
for Ching Chow until Wing Hong Yuen finally closed. Ah Hin was Ching
Chow’s only nephew here.
Son
No. 2—Chin Cheong (Ching Sut Wah) was never married. He fell in
love with
a
girl in On Nam but died of a broken heart at 27 years of age. Donald
Bung Chock, Ching Chow’s third son was adopted over to this uncle
who had no children to carry on his name. Donald was three or four
years old and very ill at the time but he recovered.
Son
No. 3—Ching Kin (Ching Haang Wah) had two daughters. Hung Choy was
engaged
to be married but died. Hung Lau was the younger. She married and
had a son. Ping Quon (Ching Chow’s second son) was adopted by
Ching Kin because he had no sons.
Son
No. 4—Ching Chow (Ching Joong Wah) had four sons and four
daughters. The
story
of his life follows.
Daughter—Hee
Ching Shee married Hee Kwun Jeong from Pun Sah Village. They
had
a son, Chung Jui, who was a spend thrift. He had four sons.
Note
from “The Ching Family Chronicles” by H. Ching and D. Chong
It
was common practice, where a man had no son, for a brother to give up
a son for adoption.
Although
the “Gwo Gai” practice was a legal form of adoption, the degree
to which a child moved physically varied.
As
in the case of Ching Chow’s sons, they were transferred in name
only as recorded in the “Ching Family Ancestral Register.” They
remained with their parents.
Ching
Chow was only eleven when his father died. Since farming was the way
of life, the Ching family continued to farm their land and produced
so much rice that a room was set aside to store the many bags of rice
which was their staple and means of exchange. His mother, Ching Ing
Shee, took in sewing to enhance their living.
Ching
Chow grew restless in this restricted farming environment. He saw no
future working on a farm. His pioneering spirit was set on fire and
off he went on a crowded ship that sailed the Pacific Ocean for
nearly a month before arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 30,
1892.
Ching
Chow was then only fifteen years old. Because he was the shortest
and smallest on board the ship, he paid only half fare. With only
two dollars in his pocket he roamed the streets of China Town in
Honolulu. He parted with 25 cents to buy a book which was so
important to him.
He
met Mr. Young Hoong who hired him to work in his merchandise store on
Aala Street. He did cooking, cleaning and sales work for five years.
Because he was so honest and reliable, Young Hoong relied on Ching
Chow to manage his store while he went to China to get married.
Young Hoong married M. C. Lum’s sister and returned. Ching Chow
continued working for him and saved as much as he could until 1902
when he opened a general merchandise store, Wing Hong Yuen.
Initially there were three share holders—Ching Chow, Young Hoong
and M. C. Lum who had been working for him.
Later
Young Hoong decided to return to China and relinquished his share.
For many years Ching Chow insisted on sending him a bonus yearly.
As
was customary, Ching Chow decided to go to china to get married in
1903. Arrangements had already been made for him to marry Lum Yuk Ip
from Dai Chay village. Born on May 4, 1887, she was ten years
younger than Ching Chow. Being from a wealthy family who spent much
of their time in Shanghai, she dressed impeccably and her face was
always well made up. As was the custom for well-brought up girls,
her feet were bound at an early age and her “Golden Lotus Feet”
made her life distinctive.
Soon
Ching Lum Shee became pregnant and was left in Hung Mee hamlet under
the care of Ching Chow’s mother while he returned to Hawaii in
1904. Their first child, a girl, was born the day before “The
fifteenth day of the Eighth Moon” Festival in 1904. The name Ngit
Chau (August Moon) was suggested but Ching Chow preferred the name
Kwai Sim. Kwai Sim brought prosperity to him, he claimed. Father’s
mother was 61 years old when Bernice was born.
Ching
Lum Shee and her infant daughter Kwai Sim came home to Hawaii to join
Ching Chow and made their home in a cottage in Palama.
Wing
Hong Yuen Co. was founded in 1905. The store prospered despite
disagreements with M. C. Lum and became one of the most prominent
merchandise stores in Chinatown dealing with goods from China, San
Francisco, and island products. A large variety of Chinese goods and
local groceries were available.
It
became a meeting place for many well-known and active Chinese. For a
short period Dr. Sun Yat-sen lived upstairs of the store. Ching Chow
was a faithful follower of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s principles and was a
Kuomingtang member for many years.
For
Ching Chow idleness was almost a sin. He never took a day off. For
many years the hired help also worked all day so a cook was hired to
prepare meals for all. Some of this food also went home to the
family. As time went on cooking at the store was discontinued.
In
1914 Ching Chow was able to send money home to his village in China
to build a home for his mother. This home was still standing when
Donald and his wife made a trip to check his roots in 1987. No close
relatives were living there but Ching Chow’s sons were the
registered owners. Some photos of his family were still hanging on
the walls.
Ching
Chow, Li Mui Sung and Mr. Ho, Chinn Ho’s father were three partners
in an export business in Hongkong in 1914. Some years later the
business was dissolved because of some problems with Mr. Li.
Problems
with M. C. Lum persisted for many years until a lawyer was called to
intervene. As a result Ching Chow finally had full control of Wing
Hong Yuen. In 1934 Ching Chow became president and general manager
upon the incorporation of the Wing Hong Yuen Co.
Wing
Hong Yuen Co. thrived for many years at a location near the fish
market on King Street close to River Street. Ching Chow’s nephew,
Bung Hin Ching, continued working there. Ping Quon and later Bernice
were also employed at Wing Hong Yuen Co. Ching Chow passed away in
1953. A year after his death the store was moved to Nuuanu Street
because of leasing problems and continued for a few years until it
finally closed in 1956.
In
addition to managing his store, Ching Chow became involved in
numerous business and civic affairs and succeeded in becoming
president of Liberty Bank of Honolulu in June 1935.
His
accomplishments were many and varied as noted in the following
article from the 1936 publication of “The Chinese of Hawaii.”
Judging
from this article one can not help but marvel at his many
achievements. This rare individual also kept his family well
provided for and managed to purchase whatever was needed for dinner
everyday since he was so close to the market. Thus he practically
planned the dinner menu and often found time to assist with the
cooking. His morals were impeccable and he expected the same of his
children. He was a man of integrity whose high standards of conduct
and honesty were ingrained in his family. He was also a true
philanthropist.
Meanwhile
he and Mrs. Ching Lum Shee had four sons and four daughters. In
September 1924 their eldest daughter, Bernice, married Tai Chun Lum
and a gala wedding and reception was held. Since Ching Chow’s
mother was still living in the family home in Hung Mee, Ching Chow
and Tai Chun Lum both sent her money to purchase traditional Chinese
wedding cakes to distribute to the whole village. Ching Chow’s
mother was proud indeed. She died at 80 years of age.
In
1929 a large two story dwelling was constructed at 1428 Piikoi
Street. The Ching family moved from Palama to Makiki and enjoyed the
luxury of this large home.
The
following is a list of the four sons and four daughters of Ching Chow
and Ching Lum Shee. Their Spouses are included.
The
29th
Generation
Birthdate
9-24-1904
12-24-1909
12-2-1912
5-1-1914
9-1-1916
Bernice
Kwai Sim Ching
Married
to Tai Chun Lum
Thomas
Bung Hee Ching
Married
Hazel Sau Mee Yee
2nd
wife Iris Wong
Dorothy
Kwai Pung Ching
Married
Walter Wong
Ping
Quon Ching
Married
Blanche Sau Sim Yee
Donald
Wah Chock Ching
Married
Beatrice Yuen Oi Liu
8-3-1919
2-9-1922
4-5-1924
Francis
Ping Yuk Ching
Married
Cynthia Kui Yin Chun
Sadie
Kwai Mung Ching
Married
Dr. Donald I-Chung Sun
Lillian
Kwai Yung Ching
Married
Edward Tim Ching
Note:
More information about the 29th
Generation may be found in the Ching Genealogy—29th
Generation Plus – compiled by Blanche and Ping Quon Ching.
Ching
Chow passed away on May 22, 1953 and because of his prominence the
funeral was quite impressive with many dignitaries attending. Cloth
funeral scrolls received from relatives and friends decorated the
walls of the mortuary. A Taoist priest conducted the ceremonies.
Traditional Chinese Taoist customs prevailed with family mourners in
sackcloth robes. Women, in addition, wore sackcloth hoods over their
heads. Men tied white cotton sashes around their heads and around
their waists.
At
the mortuary and cemetery incense sticks, candles and paper money
offerings were burned. There were paper replicas of a house, an
automobile and two servants. These were burned at the cemetery in
the belief that they would accompany the deceased. Food offerings
included a boiled chicken, boiled pork, duck eggs, rice as well as
tea and wine. The Taoist priest supervised whatever needed to be
done and there was much.
Note:
For more details of a traditional Chinese funeral such as Ching
Chow’s refer to K. S. Tom’s “Echoes from Old China” pp.
88-93.
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