{"id":2152,"date":"2021-05-27T09:58:09","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T08:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.mychinaroots.com\/?p=2152"},"modified":"2022-11-08T06:06:45","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T06:06:45","slug":"4-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-interviewing-chinese-relatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mychinaroots.com\/blog\/genealogy\/4-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-interviewing-chinese-relatives\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Interviewing Chinese Relatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When it comes to tracing your Chinese family history, written records don\u2019t always tell the full story. Between the exclusion of women from traditional family tree books (known as zupus), and the fabrication of family ties to sponsor \u201cpaper sons\u201d entering the United States, there may be more to your family tree than meets the eye. If you are lucky enough to have living elders, make it a top priority to interview them while you still have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what if my Chinese isn\u2019t good enough to do an interview? What if they don\u2019t feel comfortable opening up to me? What if\u2026 \u201d Yep, I\u2019ve been there. Curiosity is a beautiful thing, but it\u2019s not always welcome or rewarded in Chinese culture. Interviewing your Chinese-speaking relatives takes great patience, cultural sensitivity, and historical awareness. Most importantly, it takes a combined team effort with your family to navigate language and cultural barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you interview your Chinese-speaking relatives, ask yourself these four essential questions to make the most of your conversations. Taking the time to prepare in advance will help you unearth the stories of your ancestors with wisdom and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Rally Your Tribe: Whose stories are you most curious about?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s begin with the storytellers who already pique your interest. Who intrigues you? Who would you like to get to know better in your family tree? If you could share a meal with one ancestor, who would you pick? Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write down any names that come to mind. If you don\u2019t know their name, write their familial role or relationship to you. If they are no longer around, who might be able to tell you more about them? Jot down their names too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If your family is anything like mine, you may have relatives spread out all over the world. Before you start worrying about travel or language barriers, remember that you don\u2019t have to enter these conversations alone. Within your own family, look for one of these relatives to help you get global and local:<\/p>\n\n\n\n