The Concubine’s Children
Encyclopedia
The Concubine's Children is Denise Chong
's first novel. It was published in 1994 by Penguin Books in Toronto. It documents the life of Denise Chong’s grandfather, Chan Sam, grandmother, May-ying, her mother, Hing (or Winnie, as she was known outside of Chinatown), her mother’s siblings, Ping, Nan, Gok-leng and half sibling, Yuen. As Chan Sam had two wives, May-ying in Canada and Huangbo in China, the family became divided between Canada and China and Chong’s mother Hing only knew one of her siblings, Gok-leng, while growing up. The Concubine’s Children documents the story of this family which spanned two continents as well as the political, social, and cultural tensions in China and Canada between 1848 (when Chan Sam’s father, Chong’s great grandfather, first came to "Gold Mountain
”, the nickname by which Chinese people knew North America) and 1987 when Chong and Hing first met the "China family".
Chong was inspired to work on this family history–historical semi-fictional novel after moving to Beijing
in 1985 with her companion and later husband, CTV
correspondent Roger Smith.
While living in Peking, Denise Chong convinced her mother Hing/Winnie to join her on a three-week trip of China
, which would take them to the village of Chang Gar Bin. Chang Gar Bin was Chan Sam’s (Hing/Winnie’s father and Denise Chong’s grandfather) home town and the place where Hing’s sisters (Ping and Nan) and half-brother (Yueng), all of whom she had never met, had been raised. Before going to Chang Gar Bin, Denise contacted the Chinese foreign ministry in Canton and discovered that two of her mother’s siblings were still alive and living in Char Gar Bing. Hing's sister Nan had died when Hing was still a child and she had been aware of this passing. The Concubine’s Children ends with a chapter describing this trip and the first meeting between the then 57-year-old Hing/Winnie and her siblings.
Before being written and published as a novel, The Concubine’s Children appeared as an article in the magazine Saturday Night
. Indeed, the editor of this magazine, John Fraser, was instrumental in encouraging Denise Chong to produce her book. Since that time The Concubine’s Children has been converted into a stage play, by Chong herself. The play debuted at TheatreOne in Nanaimo, BC, where it was directed by Rick Scott in 2004.
The book has also won several awards including: The City of Vancouver Book Award
in 1994; The Edna Staebler Award
; and The VanCity Book Prize. It was on the bestseller list of The Globe and Mail
for 93 weeks, was shortlisted for the Governor-General's Literary Non-Fiction Award
, and has been translated into several languages.
Denise Chong
- Early life and schooling :A third generation Chinese Canadian, Chong was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 9 June 1953, and was raised in Prince George. She studied economy at the University of British Columbia earning her bachelor degee in 1975...
's first novel. It was published in 1994 by Penguin Books in Toronto. It documents the life of Denise Chong’s grandfather, Chan Sam, grandmother, May-ying, her mother, Hing (or Winnie, as she was known outside of Chinatown), her mother’s siblings, Ping, Nan, Gok-leng and half sibling, Yuen. As Chan Sam had two wives, May-ying in Canada and Huangbo in China, the family became divided between Canada and China and Chong’s mother Hing only knew one of her siblings, Gok-leng, while growing up. The Concubine’s Children documents the story of this family which spanned two continents as well as the political, social, and cultural tensions in China and Canada between 1848 (when Chan Sam’s father, Chong’s great grandfather, first came to "Gold Mountain
Gold Mountain
Gold Mountain is the name given by the Chinese to western regions of North America, particularly California, USA and British Columbia, Canada. After gold was first discovered in the state of California in 1848, thousands of Chinese from Toisan in Guangdong , began to travel to California in search...
”, the nickname by which Chinese people knew North America) and 1987 when Chong and Hing first met the "China family".
Chong was inspired to work on this family history–historical semi-fictional novel after moving to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1985 with her companion and later husband, CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
correspondent Roger Smith.
While living in Peking, Denise Chong convinced her mother Hing/Winnie to join her on a three-week trip of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, which would take them to the village of Chang Gar Bin. Chang Gar Bin was Chan Sam’s (Hing/Winnie’s father and Denise Chong’s grandfather) home town and the place where Hing’s sisters (Ping and Nan) and half-brother (Yueng), all of whom she had never met, had been raised. Before going to Chang Gar Bin, Denise contacted the Chinese foreign ministry in Canton and discovered that two of her mother’s siblings were still alive and living in Char Gar Bing. Hing's sister Nan had died when Hing was still a child and she had been aware of this passing. The Concubine’s Children ends with a chapter describing this trip and the first meeting between the then 57-year-old Hing/Winnie and her siblings.
Before being written and published as a novel, The Concubine’s Children appeared as an article in the magazine Saturday Night
Saturday Night (magazine)
Saturday Night was a Canadian general interest magazine. It was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1887.The publication was first established as a weekly broadsheet newspaper about public affairs and the arts, which was later expanded into a general interest magazine. The editor, Edmund E. Sheppard,...
. Indeed, the editor of this magazine, John Fraser, was instrumental in encouraging Denise Chong to produce her book. Since that time The Concubine’s Children has been converted into a stage play, by Chong herself. The play debuted at TheatreOne in Nanaimo, BC, where it was directed by Rick Scott in 2004.
The book has also won several awards including: The City of Vancouver Book Award
City of Vancouver Book Award
The City of Vancouver Book Award is a Canadian literary award, that has been presented annually by the city of Vancouver, British Columbia to one or more works of literature judged as the year's best fiction, non-fiction, poetry or drama work about the city....
in 1994; The Edna Staebler Award
Edna Staebler Award
The Edna Staebler Award is an annual Canadian literary award, presented to the year's best work of creative nonfiction. The award was established in 1991 by writer Edna Staebler, and is administered by Wilfrid Laurier University.-Winners:...
; and The VanCity Book Prize. It was on the bestseller list of The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
for 93 weeks, was shortlisted for the Governor-General's Literary Non-Fiction Award
Governor General's Award
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor...
, and has been translated into several languages.