Lai Clan Memorial Ceremony

[Charles Lai <arawak@pacific.net.sg>]

Hi - thanks for your reply. Here is something that you may find
interesting. My brother and I are trying to encourage a larger contingent
of young Lai's, particularly from Australia and the US, to join in the Lai
Clan activities. For example, I am particularly interested in finding out
about the Lai Clan Research Committee.

Most Lai people speak Hakka so these clan forums are also a good vehicle
for promoting Hakka.

Do you think you could help to generate interest in the upcoming Henan Lai
Clan meeting by propagating the message below via your web site and via the
Hakka association. We would very much appreciate that.

One other thing - I am currently researching some Chinese language
programmes at the moment and would like to take the opportunity to pursue
some Chinese cultural studies at the same time. Your web page mentioned
some Hakka courses at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Do you have any more
information on this? I have tried to contact the University by telephone
and web site from Sydney and have not had much success yet.

Here is the message regarding the Lai clan.

TO ALL LAIS (character for Lai composed of "Su" character on left hand side
and "Fu" character on right hand side and meaning "to rely")

The State of Lai was established 3,120 years ago by Suying Kung, a younger
brother of the founder emperor of Chau.  He was granted the territory for
his excellent service in the military campaign against the tyrant Emperor
of Shang.

In the later Chau Dynasty, the State of Lai was conquered by Chu State.
The descendents of Suying Kung took up the name of the state and left their
homes to escape persecution by Chu State.  Later on, some had resort to
changing the name Lai to Lo and Fu to hide their original identity to avoid
continuous persecution.  A large number of the Lais who had settled in the
South of China speak Hakka.

Several years ago, excavation carried out in Henan Province unearthed the
front gate of the palace of the State of Lai which had been buried under
several meters of silt from the Yellow River.  A museum was built to house
the relics that have since been recovered in the excavation process.

Since then, every year in April the Lais all over the world gather in Henan
for the memorial ceremony.  The event is jointly organized by Henan
Overseas Chinese Organizations and the Lai Research Committee in Seek
District.

The 1998 programme :

April 12   Arriving in Wuhan.  Guests will be taken to Seek District for
rest.  Seek District in Henan is 200 Km from Wuhan.

April 13   AM - Welcoming ceremony, briefing and Banquet.
                PM - Dinner with entertainment.

April 14   AM - Visiting the Lai Guo Museum.  Memorial ceremony.
                PM - Visiting the Lai Guo Ruin and more ceremonies followed
by an evening entertainment programme.

April 15   AM - Cultural and Economics Exchange Programme.
                PM - End of activities.


If you would like to know more about or participate in this event, you may
contact the following:

Telephone: (86 397) 5951054 ask to speak to Mr. Chang Chi Yun or Mr. Ho
Liog Ik
Fax: (86 397) 5951247 or 5351234

Or e-mail arawak@pacific.net.sg
This message is posted by Bernardine Lai Mu Ying a member of the ad hoc
committee of the Lai Clan Association of Australia.