Museum of Overseas Chinese in Wuyi

　　Jiangmen is known as the “No. 1 Hometown of Overseas Chinese in China.” As an important initiative to showcase the history and culture of Wuyi overseas Chinese and to promote the city’s cultural development, the Museum of Overseas Chinese has garnered widespread attention from all sectors of society. Once completed, it will be the only large-scale overseas Chinese museum in the Wuyi region, comprehensively displaying the history, local customs, economic development, social progress, and folk art of the overseas Chinese hometown. The Jiangmen municipal government has identified the Museum of Overseas Chinese in Wuyi as a key cultural project, striving for a high domestic standard in both its architectural design and cultural content. After multiple discussions and research sessions, the Museum of Overseas Chinese in Wuyi was ultimately located in three small exhibition halls to the east of the Wuyi Overseas Chinese Plaza Convention and Exhibition Center, covering a construction area of approximately 9,000 square meters.

　　Within this year, Jiangmen will first renovate one of these small halls, with a total project cost of about 5 million yuan, serving as the first phase of the Museum of Overseas Chinese. The design emphasizes a classical style. According to Engineer Mo from the Jiangmen Construction Management Center, as a museum dedicated to overseas Chinese, to align with its theme, the overall design will highlight a classical aesthetic — “with dark colors as the main tone, surrounded by blue glass walls, and each hall topped with a spherical dome that echoes the design of the adjacent Wuyi Overseas Chinese Plaza Convention and Exhibition Center.” “The three small halls are all three stories high, with each exhibition hall spanning 3,000 square meters. The first and second floors are mainly used for exhibit displays, while the third floor is designated for office use. Upon entering the first floor of the Museum of Overseas Chinese, visitors are first greeted by a spacious introductory hall and a thematic wall.” “Behind the introductory hall lies the museum’s central exhibition hall, approximately 300 square meters in size, used for exhibiting collections.

　　Since many exhibits are extremely valuable, the exhibition hall is equipped with island-style movable display cases and double-sided display panels. Letters, calligraphy, and paintings will be displayed within the panels, while antiques and ceramics will be placed in the display cases. The structure of the second floor is largely similar to the first floor, though the content of the exhibits differs.” The museum houses two national-level cultural relics. The person in charge of the Museum of Overseas Chinese introduced that the exhibits on display include documents and relics related to overseas Chinese emigration, as well as various typical tools and daily utensils used by overseas Chinese at home and abroad. “The types of exhibits are diverse and rich in content. From what has been collected so far, there are many high-quality items. These include production tools used by overseas Chinese in their host countries, such as cement buckets, hoes, irons, axes, Southeast Asian saws, and a relatively complete set of Western carpentry and barber tools; daily utensils such as ‘Gold Mountain’ trunks, grandfather clocks, kettles, rattan baskets, thermoses, and food containers; publications such as Ming Pao and overseas Chinese journals.” “There are also special materials about famous patriotic overseas Chinese and physical objects they brought back when returning to settle in China, such as sewing machines, rattan baskets, kettles, washbasins, and canvas bags.” The preparatory office of the Museum of Overseas Chinese in Wuyi has displayed two recently donated cultural relics — a cloth bag and a garment. Surprisingly, both items are classified as national-level relics earmarked for collection by the National Museum.

　　According to reports, in 1937, when Japanese imperialism aggressively invaded China, overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, under the leadership of Tan Kah Kee, initiated fundraising efforts for the national salvation cause. Zheng Chaojun, who lived in Southeast Asia and was only a small vendor with basic literacy, was determined to contribute in his own way to support the nation. To rally fellow overseas Chinese in fundraising, Zheng Chaojun used his street-vending skills — carrying his son Zheng Shexin on his back, wearing the very clothes now donated to his hometown, and shouldering a cloth bag, he embarked on a long journey of charitable sales for the war effort.

　　To support the resistance against Japan, Zheng Chaojun even sold the child his wife was carrying, receiving 80 yuan, which he donated in full to the relief fund. “Upon learning that Jiangmen City was establishing the ‘Museum of Overseas Chinese,’ Zheng Chaojun’s son immediately discussed the donation with his mother and ultimately decided to donate these items to the Jiangmen ‘Museum of Overseas Chinese,’ as a gesture of support and contribution to their hometown’s museum project.”