Ching Annual Get Together

Ching Lum Shee

From Shanghai to Hawaii

with "Golden Lotus" Feet

1887-1968

Ching Lum Shee, Ching Chow's wife, whose maiden name was Lum Yuk Ip, was born in Namlong Village, Dai Chay Hamlet in Kwangtung Province, China. Her father, Lum Tai Gung, had a steel factory in Shanghai and was a prosperous ship merchant.

He had three wives.

1. The first wife had no children and died young.
2. The second wife had two sons and four daughters, the fourth being Lum Yuk Ip (Ching Lum Shee).
3. He married a third wife to take care of his mother when his father died. She had two boys.

The family lived in Shanghai but her mother commuted to the village in Namlong whenever she gave birth so that she would have adequate help. Additionally, new mothers were placed on a strict diet of chicken soup cooked with wood fungus, ginger root, and rice wine and sweet-sour pigs' feet with sweet black vinegar and ginger root. With this she had rice but absolutely no vegetables for one month.

Ching Lum Shee's mother was the second wife of her father. Ching Lum Shee was conceived in Shanghai as were her siblings. She was born in Dai Chay Hamlet and later mother and baby returned to Shanghai to rejoin the rest of the family who had many servants and cooks to care for them.

Ching Lum Shee grew up in Shanghai and as was customary in well-to-do families had her feet bound resulting in "golden-lotus" feet. Her feet were bound when she was about eight years old.

Although binding the feet normally began when the girls were about six years old, the binding of Ching Lum Shee's feet was delayed because of the death of her father.

The extremely painful process began with long narrow strips of cloth wrapped tightly around the heel and four smaller toes which were folded under the sole. The bandages were tightened almost daily. The pressure of the bandages pulled the big toe and heel of the foot close together resulting in a very high arch.

Although Ching Lum Shee's bound feet measured about three and one half inches each, her two older sisters had smaller feet For them the binding began when they were only six years old resulting in feet that were barely two or three inches. When her eldest sister married her feet were the smallest of all the brides at that time. Having the smallest feet was an honor so her shoes were hung on display at the market place.

Specially made shoes were needed for these tiny feet. Colorful cotton and brocade material were used and beads and embroidery adorned the shoes. The girls themselves learned how to make these little shoes with intricate patterns and fancy designs. As they had ladies-in-waiting to care for them, the girls spent most of the day making shoes and doing embroidery. Many patterns were passed around and the girls were also free to make their own designs. Beads and Pearls were used for party shoes.

"Golden Lotus" feet were considered erotic, graceful, and feminine. Well-to-do and refined girls were expected to endure the pain and crippling effects. As the toes were bent under into the flesh of the soles, toenails had to be clipped regularly. As Ching Lum Shee grew into adulthood her feet were unbound and measured nearly six inches. Small black leather shoes with a buttoned strap at the top of each were ordered from Shanghai. Satin shoes were made for dress wear. Because of the disfigurement she walked around very daintily swaying from side to side.

In K. S. Tom's "Echoes from Old China", he theorizes that this custom of foot-binding probably began during the Tang dynasty around A.D. 900. It was not until the late 1800's and the emancipation of women in China that this painful practice began to disappear.

P. Q. and Blanche Ching noted that, amazingly, in Hawaii, some Chinese families continued the custom of binding their daughters’ feet. A prominent kamaaina matriarch noticed how painful the procedure was and considered this custom unnecessary cruelty. Through her efforts, a law was enacted making it illegal for Chinese families in Hawaii to bind their daughters’ feet.

Ching Lum Shee and her sisters remained in Shanghai until they became teenagers. Her eldest sister, Jade, had a private tutor to teach her to read, write, and use the abacus. At sixteen she returned to Dai Chay in Southern China where a Chinese herb doctor, Dr. K. C. Lee, who had spent 10 years in San Francisco had come back to the village and asked to marry her. The wealthy ship merchant provided a beautiful trousseau consisting of beautiful clothing of silk and brocade for eight seasons, elaborate cloaks and shoes decorated with beads and pearls for birds' eyes. Her hairdo made up by the hairdresser included in the dowry had pearls and jade ornaments dangling.

Ching Lum Shee nearly went with her sister as she left to make her home in San Francisco. Instead she remained in Shanghai. At about 15 years of age she returned to Dai Chay Hamlet in Southern China. She was soon matched to Ching Chow of Hung Mee Hamlet who had just returned from Hawaii in 1903. An elaborate wedding ceremony followed but her trousseau was not quite as great as that of her sister because her father had died.

Nevertheless her dowry included four seasons of elegant clothing made of silks, satin and brocade. The dangling pearls and jade ornaments for her hairdo were included as well as her private hairdresser. Of course there were shoes for her "golden-lotus" feet.

Ching Lum Shee was now a member of her husband's Hung Mee Hamlet in Namlong village. It was not long before Ching Chow's strict and practical mother sent the hairdresser back considering her an unnecessary luxury.

In 1904, the day before the August moon Festival their first child, a daughter was born. She was named Kwai Sim (Bernice) by her father who claimed that her birth brought prosperity to him.

He returned to Hawaii in late 1904. Ching Lum Shee and Bernice followed later.

Ching Lum Shee and her siblings were as follows:

1. Her eldest sister, Jade Yuk Sun Lum Lee married an herb-doctor, Dr. Gam Chin Lee, and made their home in San Francisco. They had nine children.

1. Chester Wah Kit (dentist)

Wife—Grace

(one son)

2. Wah Ching Lee (actor)
3. Edwar Wah Jun Lee (minister)

Second wife—Moonbeam

(one daughter)

4. Wah King Lee
5. Agnes Lee

(three boys and one girl)

6. Horace Lee
7. Cora Ah Gin Lee Chan

Husband—William Chan

(children—Curtis and Laurie)

8. Marion Lee

Husband—Bill Eng

(two sons)

9. Elmer Wah Hon Lee

Wife—Gerry

2. Her second sister, Yuk Tong Lum Lee, married Mr. Ing, a merchant in Hankow. They had two children.

1. Son—Robert Ing
2. Daughter—Ah Gew Ing

3. Her third sister died as a very young child.
4. Lum Yuk Ip, Ching Lum Shee, was Lum Tai Gung’s fourth daughter. She was matched to Ching Chow at about fifteen years of age. Her marriage to Ching Chow and their journey to Hawaii is included in the story of Ching Chow’s life.
5. Her first brother was Hon Wah Lum who went to Peru after stopping off in Honolulu. He left his wife in China, returned later but married another woman and had seven children. He later was shot by a Japanese during World War II.
6. Her second brother, Hon Cheong Lum, married and went to Chile and was not heard from.

Besides her eldest sister, Jade Lee, Ching Lum Shee had another sister who married a merchant in Hankow. Their son, Robert seemed close to Ching Lum Shee as she mentioned him quite often.

Ching Lum Shee's father married a third wife to take care of his mother when his father died. Ching Lum Shee had two step brothers. Hon Wah went to Peru and Hon Cheong went to Chile. As time went on all records of them have disappeared.

Jade Lee and her herb doctor husband had nine children most of whom have made their homes in San Francisco or thereabouts. These are the closest relatives of Ching Lum Shee:

Changwah and his wife Grace

Chingwah

Edwar Wah Jun and second wife Moonbeam

Wah King

Agnes

Horace

Cora and husband Bill Chan

Marion and husband Bill Eng

Elmer and wife Gerry