Japan oldest written histories are the KOJIKI, AD712 and
NIHONGI, AD720, But origins of the Jap remain largely a mystery.
Scientists believe as early as 4500 BC there were ppl living in the
islands. It is believed that by AD100 the ppl living throughout the
islands closely resembled the present day Jap, in language and
appearance. Chinese, Korean and a group of ppl called Ainu made up
the largest minority group.
Chinese influence in Japan came at late 400's, among other things,
system of writing, advanced method of calculating the calendar,
confucianism and by 552, Buddhism came in from China.
Scientists believe the Korean people were in korea 30,000 yrs
ago.
did japan started out as manchurians?? Not likely.
japanese were never linked to china. in fact, japanese are the most
conservative ppl. While their way of life may be very americanized,
their heritage, their language, their culture remain very much
similar to what it was centuries ago.
World mass immigration happened between 1700-1820, mainly to
America, three fifth of the immigrants were of english origin,
hence English was the dominant language. The greatest immigration
happened between 1820 to 1830 'cos of the Great Famine in Europe.
These europeans moved to south america, africa and Australia. That
explains why in these places, many european languages are spoken
even up till today.
What it says here is that the immigrants brought their languages
and culture to where they went. They did not go and assimilate with
the locals, and it was because they were proud of their heritage
and culture!!
Chinese immigrants left China in much later dates and where they
landed they were already local languages and culture . China towns
were established in places where the chinese wanted to retain their
heritage, especially in places where they were visibly different,
from the whites or the black.
Most European immigrants were able to migrate because they were
rich, to pay for the trip out of Europe to places like america and
australia. Many Chinese immigrants left China because they were
poor, many were sold as labourers.
The rich were educated and the poor were not educated. In new
settlements, schools, like hospitals were built by westerners.
Chinese who can afford send their children back to china for
education, otherwise stay locals. In British colonies like
singapore, most took up studied english, easy to find job. So where
is our culture and heritage..... if our parents did not pass on to
us?
It is not anybody's fault that some of us do not feel the link with
China. To put it correctly, mainland China, especially when under
the communists, was not a place we would like to have link with.
Finding root is to explain why we are what we are today. Singapore
is too young a nation to develop our own culture and heritage,
yet.
HK, have come under the british for 150 yrs have not lost their
chineseness and the ability to speak cantonese. The jews around the
world can be citizens for generations in many countries outside
Isreal but they are jews and their heritage remains, since the time
of Abraham.
Why? Looking at the history of the jewist people, there were
persecuted left right centre so there is nothing to shout about,
but they remain jews as a people.
I was born in Singapore, but was not born an indian, malay or
angmoh, but chinese, like my father and mother. I thus was born
with their heritage. In singapore, I am glad I have the opportunity
to learn about Chinese, language and culture to be more of a
chinese. At the same time, as a Singaporean, my life with the
different races here in Singapore add on to my heritage as a
singaporean. This chinese singaporean heritage will be passed on to
my children...until such days when my descendents married indian or
angmoh in Singapore and they cannot call them chinese anymore but
only Singaporean, but if they migrate to another country, then they
cannot call themselve Singaporean anymore, but they remain
Chinese.
Just to share with you about my feeling, sorry a bit long
winded.
have a good evening.
