THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN
IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By
Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN
IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By
Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
2008
ASarjana PendidikanThesis on
THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN
IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE
Prepared and Presented by Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038
Approved by:
Date
Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum. 29 August 2008
Sponsor
THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN
IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE
By
Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038
Defended before the Board of Examiners On 22 September 2008
and Declared Acceptable
Board of Examiners
Chairperson : A. Hardi Prasetyo, S.Pd., M.A. ______________ Secretary : Made Frida Yulia, S.Pd., M.Pd. ______________ Member : Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum. ______________
Member : Dr. A. Herujiyanto, M.A. ______________
Member : Triprihatmini, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A. ______________
Yogyakarta, 22 September 2008
Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University
Dean,
Drs. Tarsisius Sarkim, M.Ed., Ph.D.
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that the thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the works or parts of the works of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 29 August 2008 The Writer,
Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038
Dao ren shan, ji shi shan
Ren zhi zhi, yu si mian
Praising the good values is honorable behavior
People being praised will be more motivated
(Anonymous)Let us create the harmony of life by
respecting others, the nature, and God. God bless us with luck and prosperity.
Amen.
Dedicated with love and gratitude to: My Lord Jesus, Mother Mary, and St. Tarcicius My beloved family and my great lecturers My friends s
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am sure that I would not have been able to write this thesis and to finish it without the help and the support of others. First of all, I would like to convey my greatest gratitude to my Lord,Jesus ChristandMother Mary, that due Their blessing, I could finally finish writing this thesis. Their blessing has been the greatest power to cope with my hard times.
I would like to sincerely express my deepest gratitude to my sponsor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum., who had supported me and given me great assistance. Thank you very much for her patience, advice, and beneficial suggestions for my thesis. May God bless her and her family with great happiness. My gratitude would also go to my lecturers in Sanata Dharma University who shared their precious knowledge. I would like to express my great gratitude to Triprihatmini, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A., who had shared her knowledge in teaching and Dr. A. Herujiyanto, M.A.,who had helped me to gain the pleasure of reading a novel. I will always do my best and learn more to be a better teacher.
I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my beloved father, Am. Suwardono and my wonderfull mother, Alphonsa Suharyanti for their endless love, patience, and prayer. The same appreciation also goes to my brother and my sister,HariandRatri, for their great affection.
I am greatly indebted to Mr. Tjia Tjek Su from Tjen Ling Kiong Miao and my friends from Hok An Kiong Miao, who shared their knowledge on Chinese Beliefs and all its aspects.
My gratitude also goes to my best friends; Poli, Wida, Anas, Sinta, Ajeng, Heni, Titis, Santi, Ponco, Sigit, Edi, and Dito for the joke that they shared with me, I will never forget them all. Thank you for Dias, Patrice, and Fajar, who become my thesis reader. My gratitude also goes to my friends in Cantus Firmus Choir, my beloved kids in Sunday school,Mr. Anton Jemadi, and the Karawitan Community in Boro.
Finally, I thank all of 2004 PBI students with whom I have struggled to gain the knowledge and my friends whose names I cannot mention one by one.
May God bless them for their kindness and contributions that they had shared in my life.
Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W
TABLE ON CONTENTS 1.1 Background of Study ... 1
1.2 Problem Formulation ... 6
1.3 Objectives of the Study ... 6
1.4 Benefits of the Study... 6
1.5 Definition of Terms... 7
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Theory of Critical Approach to Literature ... 10
2.1.1 The Sociocultural-Historical Approach to literature... 13
2.1.2 The Psychological Approach to Literature ... 14
2.2 Theory of Motivation ... 14
2.3 Chinese Beliefs …... 20
2.3.1 Cosmology ... 20
2.3.2 Divination... 21
2.3.3 Ancestor Worship... 23
2.4. Chinese-American in United States ... 24
2.5 Theoretical Framework ... 25
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Subject Matter ... 28
3.2 Approach ... 30
3.3 Research Procedures ... 31
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS 4.1 Winnie Louie’s Ways of Preserving Chinese Beliefs ... 33
4.1.1 Passing Down the Understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants... 35
4.1.1.1 Chinese Beliefs are the Symbol of Identity... 35
4.1.1.2 Chinese Beliefs are the Ways of Respecting the Ancestors... 36
4.1.1.3 Chinese Beliefs Bring about the Harmony ofYin andYang... 38
4.1.2 Transferring Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants ... 40
4.1.2.1 Worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife ... 41
4.1.2.2 Naming their Places Based on Chinese Beliefs’ Concepts ... 44
4.1.3 Strengthening her Family Relationship... 45
4.1.3.1 Having some Annual Meetings with other Families ... 46
4.1.3.2 Having a Shop that Provides Chinese Beliefs’ Equipments ... 48
4.1.3.3 Celebrating their Chinese New Year Celebration. 50 4.2 Winnie Louie’s Motivation as a Chinese-American in Preserving Chinese Beliefs... 52
4.2.1 The Self-Actualization Need of Winnie Louie... 53
4.2.1.1 Showing the Chinese Identity ... 53
4.2.1.2 Expressing her Spirituality ... 55
4.2.2 The Aesthetic Need of Winnie Louie... 56
4.2.2.1 Maintaining the Harmony ofYinandYang... 58
4.2.2.2 The Continuity of Blessing ... 59
4.2.3 The Cognitive Need of Winnie Louie... 61
4.2.3.1 Understanding the Concept of Chinese Beliefs .... 62
4.2.3.2 Exploring the Implementation of Chinese Beliefs 63 4.2.4 The Self Esteem of Winnie Louie... 65
4.2.4.1 Showing off the Knowledge of Chinese Beliefs ... 65
4.2.4.2 Expressing her Pride as Chinese-American ... 67
4.2.5 The Belongingness and Love Need of Winnie Louie ... 69
4.2.5.1 The Implementation of her Belongingness to Chinese Beliefs ... 69
4.2.5.2 Maintaining the Kitchen God’s Blessing for her Descendants ... 71
4.2.6 The Safety Need of Winnie Louie ... 73
4.2.6.1 Maintaining the Minority of Chinese-Americans . 73 4.2.6.2 Feeling Secure in the Community... 74
4.2.7 The Physiological Need of Winnie Louie ... 76
4.2.7.1 Maintaining Winnie Louie’s Business ... 77
4.2.7.2 The Way of Surviving in America ... 79
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusions ... 81
5.2 Suggestions ... 85
5.2.1 Suggestions for the Future Researchers ... 85
5.2.2 Suggestions for English Teachers ... 86
BIBLIOGRAPHY... 89
APPENDICES... 92
Appendix 1 Lesson Plan for Teaching Intensive Reading II... 93
Appendix 2 Syllabus of Intensive Reading II... 97
Appendix 3 Teaching Material... 99
Appendix 5 The Biography of Amy Tan... 110 Appendix 6 The Pictures of Chinese-Americans’ Activities in
Chinatown, San Francisco... 112
ABSTRACT
Prasetya, Tarsisius Joni W. (2008). The Preservation of Chinese Beliefs by a Chinese-American in Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This study analyzes Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. One of the significant topics in the novel is the preservation of Chinese Beliefs in America. Chinese Beliefs are parts of Chinese Culture which are preserved by Chinese-American. Having great motivation, they preserve Chinese Beliefs in some ways continuously.
The aim of the study is to answer the two questions in the problem formulation. The first is the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves Chinese Beliefs. The second is what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American to preserve Chinese Beliefs.
The thesis employed the library research. There were two kinds of sources used in this study, primary and secondary sources. The primary source was obtained from the novel, The Kitchen God’s Wife. The secondary sources were gained from theory of the critical approach by Rohrberger and Wood, theory of motivation known as the Need Theory by Maslow, and theory of Chinese Beliefs by Hook. The writer applied two kinds of critical approaches. The writer chose two different approaches, since there were two different aspects of questions. The sociocultural-historical approach was the approach for the first question related to the culture, whereas the psychological approach was the approach for the second question related to one’s motivation.
There are two findings based on the analysis. The first finding states that Winnie Louie applies three major ways of preserving Chinese Beliefs. She begins with passing down the understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the descendants. It is the symbol of identity and the ways of respecting the ancestors. She continues transferring its implementations to the descendants by worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife and naming the places. Then, she strengthens the family relationship to unite them in the community of preserving Chinese Beliefs in togetherness.
The second finding reveals Winnie Louie’s motivation in preserving Chinese Beliefs. There are some motivations directed by seven kinds of needs. The physiological needs are the basic motivation. Luck and prosperity motivates her to preserve Chinese Beliefs. Being the member of a minority group, who has the same beliefs, she feels secure in the community fulfilling her safety needs. Maintaining the Kitchen God’s blessing for the descendants and implementing her belongingness of Chinese Beliefs are the belongingness and love needs. Preserving Chinese Beliefs is also the expression of her proud of being a Chinese-American who receives Chinese Beliefs as heritages and life guidelines. Winnie Louie’s thinking capacity motivates her to understand and explore Chinese Beliefs, whereas the harmony ofYinandYangfulfills her aesthetic needs. Finally, the self-actualization need in term of expressing her spirituality and respecting Chinese Beliefs as the identity answers her question about her existence in America which is applied by preserving Chinese Beliefs.
ABSTRAK
Prasetya, Tarsisius Joni W. (2008). The Preservation of Chinese Beliefs by a Chinese-American in Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas tentang sebuah novel karya Amy Tan, The Kitchen God’s Wife. Salah satu topik yang penting adalah pelestarian kepercayaan-kepercayaan China di Amerika. Kepercayaan-kepercayaan-kepercayaan China merupakan bagian dari kebudayaan China yang dilestarikan oleh orang Amerika keturunan China. Dengan motivasi yang besar, mereka melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China dalam beberapa cara secara berkelanjutan.
Tujuan dari skripsi ini adalah menjawab dua pertanyaan dalam rumusan masalah, yang pertama bagaimana cara Winnie Louie sebagai orang Amerika keturunan China melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China, sedangkan yang kedua, apa yang memotivasi Winnie Louie untuk melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut.
Studi ini menggunakan studi pustaka. Ada 2 macam sumber yang digunakan yakni sumber utama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama didapat dari novel, The Kitchen God’s Wife sedangkan sumber kedua didapat dari beberapa teori, diantaranya; pendekatan kritik sastra oleh Rohrberger dan Wood, teori motivasi lebih dikenal dengan teori kebutuhan oleh Maslow, dan teori mengenai kepercayaan-kepercayaan China oleh Hook. Penulis memilih dua macam pendekatan yang digunakan untuk dua aspek yang berbeda. Pendekatan sejarah dan budaya masyarakat untuk menjawab pertayaan pertama tentang budaya, sedangkan pendekatan psikologi digunakan untuk menjawab pertayaan kedua mengenai motivasi seseorang.
Ada 2 hasil analisa berdasarkan analisis yang dilakukan. Hasil analisa pertama menunjukkan bahwa Winnie Louie menggunakan tiga cara pokok dalam melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China. Bermula dengan memberikan pemahaman tentang kepercayaan-kepercayaan China sebagai simbol identitas dan cara untuk menghormati leluhur, berlanjut dengan mewariskan penerapannya pada keturunan. Penerapan kepercayaan tersebut diterapkan dengan menghormati Istri Dewa Dapur dan memberi nama pada tempat-tempat mereka. Selanjutnya, dia mempererat hubungan kekeluargaan, untuk menyatukan mereka dalam komunitas yang melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China dalam kebersamaan.
Hasil analisa kedua menunjukkan motivasi Winnie Louie dalam melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China. Ada beberapa motivasi didorong oleh tujuh macam kebutuhan. Kebutuhan badaniah merupakan kebutuhan dasar. Keberuntungan dan kemakmuran memotivasi dia untuk melestarikan kepercayaan – kepercayaan tersebut. Sebagai anggota dari kelompok minoritas, sebuah komunitas telah memenuhi kebutuhannya akan keamanan.
Menjaga adanya berkat dari Dewa Dapur untuk keturunan dan menerapkan rasa memilikinya pada kepercayaan-kepercayaan China merupakan bagian dari kebutuhannya akan rasa memiliki dan mengasihi. Melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China juga merupakan ekspresi rasa bangga sebagai seorang
Amerika keturunan China yang menerima kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut sebagai warisan dan panduan hidup. Kemampuan berpikir yang dimiliki Winnie Louie memotivasi dirinya untuk mengerti dan mempelajari lebih lanjut tentang kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut, sedangkan harmoni antara Yin dan Yang memenuhi kebutuhannya akan keindahan dalam harmoni hidup. Pada akhirnya, kebutuhan akan aktualisasi diri diterapkan pada pengekspresian kehidupan rohani dan penghormatan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China, sebagai identitas yang menjawab pertanyaan mengenai keberadaannya di Amerika, dan diwujud-nyatakan dengan melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the background of the study, problem formulation, the objectives of the study, the benefits of the study, and the definition of terms used in this study. The background of the study describes the reasons why the writer chooses the topic of the study and literary works as the study. The objective of the study includes the writer aims of finding the answers to the questions stated in the problem formulation. The writer formulates two questions that become the focus discussed in this study. The next part, which is the benefits of the study, contains some advantages from this study. The last part of this chapter gives the description of some terms in order to avoid misconception in analyzing this study.
1.1 Background of the Study
Craig Storti in his book, Figuring Foreigners Out: A Practical Guide(7) defines that culture is the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in characteristic behaviors. Culture consists of two essential aspects; the invisible dimension (assumptions, value, and beliefs) and the visible dimension (behavior). There are a lot of media that can be used as the transformation tools and accelerate the culture transformation such as the internet, television, and magazines. There are two mainstreams of culture based on the regional aspects; western culture and eastern culture. Each culture has some different characteristics.
Recently, the western culture has evolved and has been widespread in the world. The western culture is gained and adapted more easily by people through the media transformation and technology. Undeniably, the western culture starts changing and shifting the eastern culture. It is a tragedy when our descendants tend to learn western culture than their own culture. How they can transfer their culture to their next generation if they do not know about their own culture deeply.
The United State of America is a multicultural country with many ethnic groups and races. Most of the citizens in the country are immigrants. They come from many different countries. Although they come from different countries, races and ethnics, they can live together. Their main purpose to come to America is to get a better life in the country. Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations have stayed for centuries in America. They are called Chinese-American.
Nevertheless America is a multicultural country. American Culture is categorized as Western Culture which takes a great influence in some aspects of life including the human characteristics. Americans tend to be individualistic. Self-reliance and independence are stressed and valued. Personal freedom is highly desired. They believe that people can alter nature and determine their life, not the destiny. They tend to be more concerned with material than spiritual matters.
the collectivist principles to live in the primary group. Family is the smallest unit of survival. The survival and success of the group ensure the well – being of the individual. They regard other’s needs and feeling. Harmony and interdependence of group are stressed and valued. Tradition must be preserved in the beliefs, rituals and customs. They believe in the destiny as the result of their attitude in life. Therefore, spiritualism is very important to guide the people to the good destiny.
While the American Culture is widespread and influences other cultures, the Chinese Culture can still exist. Some Chinese, who become the immigrants in other countries, bring their culture. They can still preserve their culture even though they live in America as Chinese-Americans.
Belief as one of the culture’s invisible dimensions should also be preserved to support the preservation of Chinese Culture. Belief is a concept of a way of life and work, which people feel obliged to follow for the sake of proving their worth. It guides people to organize their life. Belief is applied in the visible dimension (behavior). Belief that contains universal behavior is easier to be preserved rather than particular behavior. When the behavior can be conducted for every generation in the group of people, it becomes a tradition. Preserving the Chinese Belief means preserving the Chinese Culture.
One of the literary works that can portrait the values of culture in life is The Kitchen God’s Wife. This is a novel written by Amy Tan that wants to tell
about a Chinese immigrant who lives in America, who brings her identity and culture along her life. The novel was written in 1900s. It was the era of pre-communism. The Communist party in China expanded their authority. The story told that some Chinese had to go to the Formosa Island. They stayed under the democratic authority that was led by Chiang Kai Sek. In 1949 the communist party attacked the democratic authority. The Democratic could not stand against the communist expansion. Finally, they had no choice and had to flee from the communist party authority. It was stated in the Winnie Louie’s conversation obviously.
Eh,Mrs. Chiang Kai Sek, your husband finally knows how to solve all our problems. So simple, get foreign help. Hey, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr.Chuchill, here is my begging bowl. (Amy Tan 334)
When the Communists came in 1949. He was too scared to run away, too scared to stay. He became so confused he walked with his own two feet all the way to the port at the north edge of the island, and there he sat down to think about his choices. (Amy Tan 72).
life, Winnie Louie believed in Chinese traditions and beliefs. She used the principles of Chinese Culture in deciding what she should do in her life.
My mother and Auntie Helen co-own Ding Ho flower Shop on the Ross Alley in Chinatown (Amy Tan 7).
She traces her finger down one, then the other. “Iye shiang ru yi”. The first word is “luck” this other is an other kind of luck, and these two mean’all that you wish.”All kinds of luck, all that you wish (Amy Tan 58).
Based on the novel, it was revealed obviously that Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American could still preserve Chinese Beliefs as a part of Chinese Culture in the States. The valuable things that can be observed are the ways of how Winnie Louie preserves Chinese Beliefs as a Chinese-American. Having finished analyzing the question about the ways of how Winnie Louie preserves Chinese Beliefs, it can be used as a basis for analyzing the aims of this study to find out what motivates Winnie Louie to preserve Chinese Culture as a Chinese American.
1.2 Problem Formulation
In analyzing Amy Tan’s novel, the writer focuses on Winnie Louie’s motivation to preserve the Chinese Culture as a Chinese American. Therefore, the writer formulates two problems of this study that are stated as follows:
1. How does Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserve the Chinese Beliefs? 2. What motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American to preserve the Chinese
Beliefs?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
Based on problem formulation stated above, the objectives of this study are: 1. To find out how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves the Chinese
Beliefs.
2. To find out what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves the Chinese Beliefs.
1.4 Benefits of the Study
The study is expected to be able to give some benefits for the readers, students and researchers. The benefits of the study are formulated as follow: 1. For the readers
globalization era. Through the literary works, they can adapt the concepts relied on the novel to be practiced in their real life.
2. For the students
The writer hopes that this study will also be useful for the students. Reading this study, the students will gain a lot of information related to the way how the major character preserves the Chinese Beliefs. It can help the students analyze some extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of the novel.
3. For the researchers
This study will give an important contribution to the future research related to sociocultural-historical and psychological approach. Hence, the researcher can observe and analyze some aspects of the novel with applying sociocultural-historical psychological approach. The writer hopes that this study will also inspire other researchers to analyzing this remarkable novel.
1.5 Definition of Terms
In the last part of this chapter, I will explain some significant terms used in this study. The definition of terms is aimed at avoiding misconception about this study.
1. Preservation
2. Culture
Craig Storti in his book, Figuring Foreigners out: a Practical Guide (7), describes that culture is the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in characteristic behaviors. Culture consists of two essential aspects namely the invisible dimension (assumptions, value, and beliefs) and the visible dimension (behavior). Understanding the relations between the two dimensions is the key to preserving the culture. In this study, the writer focuses on beliefs as one of the invisible dimension of culture.
3. Beliefs
According to Craig Storti (8) Beliefs are concepts of a way of life and work which people feel obliged to follow for the sake of proving their worth. It guides people to organize their life so that individual can be typed of person. Belief is applied in the visible dimension (behavior). In this study, the writer focuses on Chinese Beliefs.
4. Chinese Beliefs
5. Chinese-American
Based on Microsoft Encarta 2004, Chinese-American is the term for Chinese immigrants who lived in America since 1848 until their descendants now. The Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations have stayed for centuries in America. According to America cencus, there are about 2.4 million Americans lived in America. Many Chinese-Americans lived in the ethnic community known as Chinatown. Some business and tradition could be found in these Chinatown. The largest Chinatowns are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.
6. Motivation
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of four parts. Those are the theory of critical approach to literature, the theory of motivation, the theory of Chinese Beliefs, and theoretical framework. The theory of critical approach to literature discusses the psychological approach to literature and the sociocultural-historical approach to literature. Theory of motivation explains the psychological aspects of human related to the character’s motivation in the novel. After that the writer employs the theory of Chinese Beliefs that are obeyed by the Chinese-American. In this study, the writer also provides some data on Chinese-American in United States. The last is the theoretical framework which the writer reveals the application of the theory to answer the research questions stated in problem formulation.
2.1. Theory of Critical Approach to Literature
The reading process of literary works produces within the readers an array of responses, taking the form of questions, statements, opinions, and feelings evoked by text. This process will lead to the discussion process in literary works. However, the readers need to comprehend the objective analysis in the form of formal literary criticism. By mastering the concepts of formal literary criticism, the readers can become critical readers who are able to understand and articulate their own reactions and those of others to any text (Bressler 4).
According to Rohrberger and Woods (3–15), there are two kinds of approach to literary works. The first approach is impressionist approach. It refers to subjective responses to literary works. The readers response based on their feeling. The second approach is the critical approach. It refers to objective responses to literary works. In the literary research, the researcher applies critical approach to comprehend the literary works deeply. The critical approach is categorized into five approaches.
The first is The Formalist Approach. This approach focuses on the importance to comprehend the total integrity of the literary object. The esthetic value is the main concern. This approach tries to demonstrate the harmonious involvement of all the parts to the whole by pointing out how meaning is derived from structure and how matters of technique determine structure. The extreme formalist critics merely the literary work without reference to the fact of the author’s life, the genre of the places in which the literary object was created, and reference to its social milieu.
The third approach is The Sociocultural-Historical Approach This approach believes that it is necessary to investigate the social milieu in which a literary work was created and which is necessarily reflects. They assert two things that literature is not created in a vacuum and the literature embodies ideas significant to the culture that produce it. The examination is not only the literary works of art itself but also the work in relation to others by the same authors in the same periods. This knowledge might enrich the experience of reading.
The fourth approach is The Mythpoeic Approach. This approach is used to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thought, which they believe that they find some expression insignificant works of literary. The recurrent pattern, they assert are those that found first expression in ancient myths and folks rites and basic to human thought that they have meaning for all them.
The fifth approach is The Psychological Approach. This approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. Unlike the mythpoeic, the psychological approach draws on a different body of knowledge. Sigmund Freud’s exploration area of the human mind came to a result. It is an area of the wellspring of man’s rich imagination. His capacity for the creation, the complexity of his thought, behavior, and the contents of this region of the mind found expression in symbolic words, thoughts and actions.
like to use the sociocultural-historical approach and the psychological approach to analyze the Amy Tan’s NovelThe Kitchen God’s Wife.
2.1.1. The Sociocultural-Historical Approach to Literature
According to Welleck (94-109), Literature is really not only a reaction of the social process but also the essence in the abridgment and summary of all history. It represents life and a social institution which uses language as medium presenting a social creation.
Literature also has a social function to describe the influence of society, prescribe and judge the position of literature in society. It is an expression of society. It means that literature depicts some aspects of social reality. An author conveys historical and social truth through literary works.
However, the author is not only influenced by society. The author can influence the society. People may model their lives upon the patterns of character relied on the literary work. The characters of novel afford interesting indications of such social attitudes. Basically, literature occurs in a social context as part of a culture in a milieu.
2.1.2. The Psychological Approach to Literature
The theories and practices of Sigmund Freud provide the foundation for psychoanalytic criticism. He believes that a work of literature is the external expression of the author’s unconscious mind. The literary works must be treated like a dream, applying psychoanalytic techniques to the text to uncover the author’s hidden motivation and repressed desires (Bressler 149–153).
According to Freud, an author’s chief motivation for writing any story is to gratify some secret desire; some forbidden wish that probably developed during the author was suppressed and dumped in the unconscious. By using Freud’s psychoanalytic techniques as they are used in dream therapy, psychoanalytic critics believe the reader can unlock the hidden meanings contained within the story. Then the reader can have an accurate interpretation of the text (Bressler 159–160).
Basically, psychoanalytic criticism deals with a work literature primarily as an expression, in fictional form, of the state of mind and the structure of personality of the individual author. The work of literature is correlated with its author’s distinctive mental and emotional traits: (1) reference to author’s personality in order to explain and interpret a literary work; (2) reference to literary works in order to establish, biographically, the personality of the author; (3) the mode of reading a literary work specifically as a way of experiencing the distinctive subjectivity, or consciousness, of its author (Murphy 263).
the study of the psychological types and laws present within works of literature. It is also the study in the literature effect upon its readers.
Psychology obviously can illuminate the creative process. For some conscious artist, psychology may have tightened their sense of reality, sharpened their powers of observation or allowed them to fall into hitherto undiscovered pattern. Psychology help to uncover the author’s do with the literary works (Welleck 90–93).
2.2. Theory of Motivation
Amy Tan’s novel The Kitchen God’s Wife reveals Winnie Louie’s motivation as a Chinese-American to preserve her Chinese Culture. This part will describe the meaning of motivation based on some theories proposed by psychologists.
the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior. The concept of motivation is also used to explain differences in the intensity of behavior. Additionally, we often use the concept of motivation to indicate the direction of behavior (Petri 4).
Human are continually interpreting the complex pattern of behaviors they observe in others as well as in themselves. We try to explain our actions in terms of motives that are regarded as causes of behavior. Similarly we try to infer the underlying motivational causes of the behaviors of others.
In the field of industrial psychology, a distinction is commonly made between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic rewards. The intrinsic motivation refers to factors that make certain activities rewarding in and of them. Almost anything could potentially be intrinsically motivating for some individuals. Extrinsic rewards refer generally to the kinds of reinforcement situations. It is reinforced by some external agents. Other psychologist states that extrinsic reward is commonly called extrinsic motivation (Weiner 257). The concept of intrinsic motivation is defined as the value or pleasure associated with an activity as opposed to the goal toward which the activity is directed. The extrinsic motivation emphasizes the external goals toward which the activity is directed. It is possible two kinds of motivation interact such that extrinsic motivation reduces the degree of intrinsic motivation for a task (Jung 140).
and desirable. On the other hand, if the individual sees his rewards as being dependent on someone else, the activities necessary to get those rewards will be intrinsically motivating. Weiner (257) also prove that there is a growing literature documenting that children with initial interest in a task (intrinsic motivation) lose some of that interest when an external reward (extrinsic motivation) is promised for performing that task. Since most human activity is affected by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, it would be difficult to study the effects of each type of motivation separately (Jung 140).
According to Rogers and Maslow written in the motivational principles, the core tendency of a person is to actualize individual potential. There is an internal, biological pressure to develop fully the capacities and the talents that have been inherited; the central of motivation of the individuals is to grow and to enhance the basic self (Weiner 409).
Motivation theories start with the assumption that there is a cause for every behavior. The goal is to identify the causes. Psychologists distinguish between approach causes and avoidant causes. In approach behavior, people do thing because of something they want, desire, or need. In avoidant behavior, people do things to avoid something. From a biological perspective, two primary goals of behavior are to survive and reproduce. If anything poses a threat to our survival, we need to deal with it immediately.
theorists have also pointed out that we are socially motivated. Social situations have a large influence on our behavior because the presence of others alters our motivation (Petri 5-6).
Related to the approach of motivation, the psychologists propose some theories. One of the theory that is widely used in supporting the motivation approach is Need Theory. Need Theory grow out of the idea that the energy, direction, and persistence of behavior are due to the existence of needs. Abraham Maslow is perhaps one of the best- known need theory. He argues that the basic psychological needs are associated with deficiency and higher-order needs with growth. This is consistent with the distinction between approach and avoidant motivation. In Maslow’s view, needs can be grouped in categories, which are arranged in a hierarchical fashion (Franken 15–16).
Self-actualizati onneeds
Aesthetic needs:symmetry, order and beauty
Cognitive needs: to know, understand and explore
Esteem needs: to achieve, be competent, and gain approval and recognition
Belongingness and love needs: to affiliate with others, be accepted, and belong
Safety needs: to feel secure, and out of danger
Physiological needs: hunger, thirst, and so forth
These needs above can be strengthened through rewards. By coupling the concept of need and reward, it becomes possible to incorporate the idea that environment is important in shaping human motivation.
Rogers quoted in Franken’s book, Human Motivation (17) discusses the growth motivation in relation to the fully functioning individual, while Maslow uses the term self-actualization to describe the motivation to strive for personal fulfillment. Related to the environment, the psychologist uses growth motivation as the major construct the motivation. One aspect of growth motivation is the need to control or have an effect on our environment. It is called effectance motivation by some andpersonal causationby others.
2.3. Chinese Beliefs
According to the Hook (288) stated in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of China, Chinese Beliefs divided into three categories namely Cosmology, Divination, and Ancestor Worship. The Chinese Beliefs are based on Sanjiao’s philosophies.Sanjiao (Three Dharma) is the unity of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. It was applied in the era of Han dynasty up to now (Matrisia Komda Jateng 8-11).
2.3.1. Cosmology
China had one of the most highly developed cosmological systems in the world until the Communist Revolution in 1949. There is more than one fraction of systems. However, the most important of the many elements in the Chinese Cosmological system was TheYingandYangdichotomy (Hook 288).
2.3.2. Divination
It was practiced in China from about 1700 BC. It was intended to discover the answers of occult powers to simple questions that concerned matters of everyday life or the immediate outcome of a proposed action. For example; the changes of a good harvest, the choices of times for religious services, and the success in the hunt of battle.
It was felt that only by taking such precautions could it be ensured that the outcome of the proposed plan would be successful. There are three means in pronouncing the results of divination (Hook 289-290):
a.Scapulimancy
It was the earliest method of divination. It was applied by heating the shoulder bones (scapulae) of animals or the shells (plastra) of turtles to induce random cracks in the material. The diviner could determine the outcome of a proposed plan of action.
This method was applied in the Sang dynasty and used to ascertain their future or answer their practical problems. The record of each act of divination was inscribed on the bone and shells. They chose turtles; of regarding turtles were the longest-lived animal represented the eternal truths. Divination by turtle shell was practiced at least until the beginning of the 1stcentury AD.
b.Yijing(The Book of Changes)
The text provided a title for each of the 64 figures which guided to its character and situations occur in the universe and repeat in cyclical fashion. Divination with Yijing moved from an attempt to answer a specific problem to a means of ascertaining in which the 64 situations the inquirer chanced to be placed. The enlarged The Book of Change reached its present form at about the start of first century AD. It was invoked both by diviners who intuitively sought clarification to problems from its highly esoteric text and by scientist, who saw in it a universal scheme of being means in comprehending the mysteries of creation (Hook 290).
c. Geomancy
Geomancy is known as Fengshui. It is a means of divination intended to find the most suitable sites establishing a city, house and tomb. The Chinese have regarded the earth as a living organism, comparable with other organisms such as the human body.
Geomancy has depended on combining intuition with sophisticated intellectual theories. The intellectual elements spring from the belief that man’s fortune depends on accommodating himself to his natural surroundings and to the eternal rhythms that regulate the movements of heaven, earth and man. In assessing the value or quality of a site, a geomancer uses a highly intricate compass, which shows how an individual’s circumstances (for example, date and time of birth) coincide with such relationships and their influences.
Since the 11th century, geomancers have used a compass fitted with a magnetic needle, but the antecedents of these instruments without such a device date from 2ndcentury BC. By applying the geomancy, the building may be sited to suit the major rhythms of earth and heaven (Hook 290-291).
2.1.3. Ancestor Worship
Reciprocity between living and dead is the key to this system of beliefs which draws together many elements of cosmology and divination. For example: the flow of good “winter and water” (fengshui) influences through the bones of the ancestor is thought to bring prosperity to his descendants. The livings have the awesome responsibility of sustaining the spirits of the ancestors and protecting their graves. As long as the reciprocal relationships is maintained both the living and dead benefited.
become ‘hungry ghost’, a general term for spirit of dead people who did not have any reciprocal relationship with the living.
There are two sides to Chinese ancestor worship; the domestic cult and the lineage cult. The domestic side known as ‘family cult’ is concerned with immediate ancestors who had died in the past five or six generations. The names of these people are written on a large paper sheet which is kept on the family altar. The list of names is the centre of all ritual activity in the family. On the other hand, the lineage cult focuses on a group of generalized ancestors, most of whom are no longer included on the domestic altars. In south China it consists of 40 generations. Ancestral hall are often magnificent buildings, ideally with three large chambers and elaborate decorations. These ancestral halls are the most visible symbol of lineage wealth and prestige.
For the majority of people throughout China, ancestor worship is restricted to domestic cult. After few generations, most Chinese have a little reason to be concerned with predecessors who had left only their memory (Hook 291-194).
2.4. Chinese-American in United States
Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations of them have stayed for centuries in America. According to America census, some 2.4 million Chinese-Americans live in America. Chinese immigrants in America began with the arrival of thousands of Chinese miners in California following the discovery of gold in 1848.
Many Chinese-Americans lived in the ethnic community known as Chinatown. Some business and traditions can be found in that place. The largest Chinatowns were in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. Chinese- Americas have contributed to America culture in many different aspects. Chinese martial arts, such asGongfuandTaijiquanhave become familiar to many Americans. Acupunture, the Chinese healing arts, is increasingly gaining acceptance by mainstream Western medicine. Many Chinese-Americans are Christians, but they still preserve their beliefs as traditions. They also celebrate the Chinese New Year Celebration in many cities with the roar of blazing firecrakers, lion dance, and traditional music (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2004).
2.5. Theoretical Framework
Theories are the basis for analyzing the novel. Based on the theories that have been explained in preceding section, the researcher would like to draw up the application of the theories in this theoretical framework.
second research question related to the psychology aspect, the researcher used the Psychological Approach to discuss it.
After deciding the approach, the approach is used as a base to choose the theories based on the approaches. The first question is related with the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves Chinese Beliefs. The researcher uses the portrait of Chinese-American life in America and the Chinese Beliefs principles which are obeyed by Chinese-American. Based on the portrait of Chinese-American and their Chinese Beliefs, the researcher uses it as a reference and base to analyze the problems in the novel.
Having finished in analyzing the first research question, the researcher goes to discuss the second research question. The researcher wants to get the answer what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese American to preserve Chinese Beliefs. Since the second research questions are related to the human motivation, the researcher applies the psychological approach. The psychological approach used in the literary work will sharpen the analysis in correlation between literature and psychology aspects. The researcher applies Welleck’s theory in the relation between literature and psychology.
someone to preserve his/her principles, values, and culture. Since beliefs are included in culture, the researcher uses self- actualization as main base to analyze the second research question.
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
This part contains three parts, namely the subject matter, approaches and research procedures. The subject matter explains the novel briefly and reviews of the object of the study. Approaches discuss the Psychological approach and Sociocultural-historical approach applied in analyzing the study. Research procedures describe the milestones of method which are applied to accomplish the analysis of the study.
3.1 Subject Matter
The primary subject of this study is Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. The novel used in this study was published by Ballatine Books in 1991. The novel is divided into 26 chapters. It contains 244 pages. It is a novel which is written by Chinese-American writer, Amy Tan.
Amy Tan presented the tension that Asian-American women experience in best-selling novels like The Kitchen God's Wife, which won the National Book Award in 1989. On the 9 July 1991, The Kitchen God's Wife crowned The New York Times best- seller list. The novel won enthusiastic reviews and spent eight months on the New York Times best-seller list.
Basically the main theme of the novel is the relationship between mother and daughter. The relationship is represented by Winnie Louie and Pearl’s life experiences. Winnie Louie is a mother who ever felt the Chinese civilization in
China and then immigrated to America as a Chinese-American. Pearl is a daughter who was born and grew up as Chinese-American in America. They have a different background of life but they also have a similarity that is a Chinese-American who lives in America.
However, the novel is not only about the relationship of mother and daughter. The novel can reflect the portrait of social life as Chinese-American in America. They live together in certain place called Chinatown. They do their business in the form of family business. Although they have lived in America, they still preserve their Chinese Culture. One of the culture dimensions they preserve is Chinese Beliefs. Generally, there are three main aspects of Chinese Spiritualism. They are Chinese Beliefs, Chinese Customs and Chinese Religions. The writer would focus on the Chinese Beliefs which are reflected in the novel obviously.
3.2 Approach
According to Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, There were five approaches could be applied in analyzing the literary works. However, there were two approaches applied in this study. The first approach was The Sociocultural-historical approach. This approach was used to analyze the first research question stated in the problem formulation. It was used to analyze the socio-cultural historical background relied on the novel. This approach guided us to analyze a novel in reference to the civilization that produced the novel. Civilization was defined as the attitudes and actions as its subject matter. It was necessary to investigate the social milieu, the cultural and historical background in which novel was created (Rohrberger and Woods 9). This approach was applied to investigate the social life related to the preservation of Chinese Beliefs in America.
3.3 Research Procedures
The writer used library research as the research method to gather the primary and secondary data. It meant that the data were gained from taking notes and analyzing the novel from the reliable data. The writer took some stages in order to accomplish the study.
The first stage was choosing the novel as the primary data of the study. The writer chose Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife as the primary data of the study. In order to understand the novel deeply, the writer read the novel for several times. During the understanding process of novel, the writer could observe the portrait of Chinese American social life in the novel. The main character of the novel, Winnie Louie applied the Chinese Beliefs in her daily life. It made the writer more focused on the Chinese Beliefs relied on the novel. After understanding the novel, the writer found out the problems which could be analyzed as it was formulated in the problem formulation. The writer was attracted to analyze the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese American preserved the Chinese Beliefs and what motives Winnie Louie to preserve the Chinese Beliefs.
In the third stage, the writer emphasized on the Chinese’ ways in preserving the Chinese Beliefs which was portrayed in the novel. The writer discussed it based on the socio-cultural-historical approach. This manner was applied in order to gather the accurate portrait of the Chinese American society related to the subject matter in the novel. This result of the analysis played important role in how the novel conducted Chinese Beliefs which was reflected in the Winnie Louie as Chinese American.
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS
This chapter is intended to answer the research problems. It consists of two parts. The first part is the discussion on Winnie Louie’s ways of preserving Chinese Beliefs. Then, the second part deals with Winnie Louie’s motivation in preserving Chinese Beliefs.
4.1 Winnie Louie’s Ways of Preserving Chinese Beliefs
The novel was written in the 1900s. It was the era of pre-communism. Based on the setting of time, we knew that the Communist party in China expanded their authority. The story tells us about the Chinese who remained in the democratic authority lead by Chiang Kai Sek. The communist party attacked the democratic authority in 1949. The Democratic could not stand against the communist’s expansion, so they had to flee to other countries. It is stated in the Winnie Louie’s conversation.
Eh,Mrs. Chiang Kai Sek, your husband finally knows how to solve all our problems. So simple, get foreign hel Hey, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr.Chuchill, here is my begging bowl (334).
When the Communists came in 1949, he was too scared to run away, too scared to stay. He became so confused he walked with his own two feet all the way to the port at the north edge of the island, and there he sat down to think about his choices (72).
Most of them went to the Formosa or Taiwan Island. The rest immigrated to other democratic countries, like America. In that era, the Chinese struggled to get a better life in America as immigrants. Winnie Louie immigrated to America
together with Helen in 1953 (82). Winnie Louie chose America since she was married to James Louie, a Chinese-American (498).
Based on the novel, there are some ways of how the Chinese preserve their beliefs as immigrants in America. It is revealed clearly in the ways of Winnie Louis’s life.
I used to play with her altar, a miniature red temple containing framed picture of Chinese gods. In front of that was an imitation-brass urn filled with burnt incense sticks, and on the side were offering oranges (13-14) Phill said when he heard we had to go to San Fransisco, a hundred miles round-trip from our house in San Jose, made worsed by weekend football traffic (7).
Basically, there are three main kinds of Chinese Beliefs. They are Cosmology, Divination, and Ancestor Worship. Cosmology is known as The Yin and Yang dichotomy. Divination is related with the prediction system of occult powers. Then,Ancestor Worshipis a ritual in which the descendants sustained the spirit of the ancestors. However, the Yin and Yang dichotomy is the basic of Chinese Beliefs concepts. In fact, Cosmology is written in the novel extensively, more than Ancestor Worship and Divination. “My mother patted my hand. Oh I know what you are thinking, she said quietly. Of course every baby born withyin andyang. The yin comes from the women. The yang comes from the man. When you were born I tried to see whose yang you had” (511).
4.1.1 Passing Down the Understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants
Before doing something, it is very important to know the concept and to understand what one should do to carry out the concept. That principle is firmly held by Winnie Louie. She believes that her descendants will apply Chinese Beliefs if they have known its concept. “She walks me around to view her handiwork in other parts of the shop lining the walls are large funeral wreaths, propped on easel. My mother claims these banners are the reasons why Ding Ho Flower Shop has had success flowing through its door all these years” (18-19).
She explains the beliefs in their annual family gathering and teaches her descendants about the use of symbols and banners in Chinese Beliefs. She convinces her descendants that they will receive a lot of benefits by applying Chinese Beliefs. There are some understandings on the benefits and the purposes of Chinese Beliefs conveyed by Winnie Louie.
4.1.1.1 Chinese Beliefs are the Symbol of Identity
Chinese is one of the minority groups in San Francisco, America. Even though Winnie Louie is an American citizen, she is originally Chinese. Chinese is her identity and she is proud of it. Chinese Beliefs which are part of Chinese Culture build the identity of the Chinese.
She believes that Chinese Beliefs has become the symbol of identity. People cannot show and stand on their identity if they could not understand their own beliefs. Winnie Louie transfers her understandings to the descendants so that they will not loose their identity as Chinese people, even tough they live in America.
Winnie Louise also believes that Chinese Beliefs as a symbol of identity make the person who believes it receive luck from the Gods. Person who preserves Chinese Beliefs received the changes of her/his life from bad to luck “And now I will tell you when all my luck changed” (297). Definitely, she wants her descendants firmly hold the concept that they receive luck and achieve the success by respecting Chinese Beliefs as an identity wherever they live.
4.1.1.2 Chinese Beliefs are the Ways of Respecting the Ancestors
Ancestor worship is one of the traditions for Chinese-American. Even though the ancestor has passed away, they pray for them in the annual ceremony, known as ancestor worship. If they worship their ancestor, they would be blessed with prosperity. The harmony of life is implemented in the harmony of ancestors and descendants. The harmony is maintained through the tradition of ancestor worship which is the symbol of respecting the ancestors. The descendants hope that the ancestors bless them and convey their wishes to the Gods. Hopefully, the Gods will bless their life with a lot of luck.
Kitchen God flew back up the fireplace to report whose fate deserved to be changed, better for worse, or worse for better (61)
Chinese beliefs are implemented in the annual ceremony. There are many annual ceremonies for the ancestors which are portrayed in the Winnie Louie’s life. It is portrayed when she goes to the family’s event that is related to the ceremonies of ancestor worship.
At twenty minutes after two, the four of us walk into the reception area of funeral parlor. My cousin, Frank hands us black armbands to wear (40). The wooded clapper and the bell sound again, faster and faster. Suddenly the white banner tears away from the wall, and the family association whishes for lucky and long life spiral down and land draped across Grand Auntie’s chest like a beauty pageant banner (46).
Ceremonies which are conducted in Chinese Beliefs are the ways of respecting the ancestors. Ancestors’ blessing is the main purpose of worshiping their ancestors. The blessing will be gained, if they maintain the relationship with their ancestor. Maintaining the relationship with the ancestors can only be implemented through the annual ceremonies which show their respect to the ancestors.
He bows three times to Grand Auntie Du, then moves her casket, which glides forward easily on wheels. After another bow, the man ceremoniously plucks the banner off Grand Auntie’s chest and carries it in both arms as if it were holy vestments. Now Frank is passing out lit stick of incense to everyone. I look around, trying to figure out what to do (46-47).
ceremonies for praying. The descendants burn some spirit money for their ancestors. Even, they add some life equipments for the ancestors in the burial ceremony. It is portrayed in the Auntie Du’s funeral ceremony as follow; “He hands each of us a piece of foil-wrapped candy and a small red envelope of lucky money. “What are we supposed to do with these?”, Phil whispers. “Offer them to Grand Auntie Du?” He pulls out a quarter from lucky money envelope” (40).
All the things are implemented based on Chinese Beliefs. The Chinese Beliefs have become the ways of respecting the ancestors. When it is implemented in the annual ceremony, it shows their respect and maintains the relationship with the ancestors. Finally, they receive a lot of blessing and luck from the ancestors because they preserve their relationship with them and the heritages, Chinese Beliefs.
4.1.1.3 Chinese Beliefs Bring about the Harmony ofYinandYang
There is a cause and an effect for all aspects of life. From the definition of Yin andYang,it goes to the main definition of this concept. Basically, all aspects of life consist of two contrary powers, Yin and Yang. The goal of the concept is balancingYinandYangwhich leads to the harmony of life aspects. Therefore, the harmony of Yin and Yang is the main manner to harmonize life aspects. All the concepts including Chinese Beliefs are conducted to achieve the harmony. Basically, the harmony of Yin and Yang is achieved by three main harmonies. They are the harmony of human with nature, human with other human, and human with the Gods (59).
Chinese Beliefs which are implemented in the annual events are the ways of maintaining the harmony through good relationships. In the annual event, Chinese-Americans socialize with the others, respect the nature, and pray to the Gods. When the three main harmonies are maintained, the harmony of Yin and Yangis preserved well.Through the harmony of YinandYang,life goes well and brings luck and prosperity.
Running down the sides of wooden panels decorated with gold Chinese characters. What does that say?, I ask my mother. She traces her finger down one, then the other. “Iye shiang ru yi”. The first word is “luck” this other is another kind of luck, and these two mean’ all that you wish.” All kinds of luck, all that you wish (58)
4.1.2 Transferring Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants
Winnie Louie as a Chinese immigrant highly understands that Chinese Beliefs should be preserved by transferring the beliefs to the descendants. She transfers it by implementing the concepts in the traditions. Therefore, the descendants do not only understand the theories, but also they also practice it.
Before discussing the transfer of Chinese Beliefs, it is better to know about Winnie Louie’s descendants. Winnie Louie has two children named Pearl Louie and Samuel. It is cited in the novel as follow; “And these days “the Louies” really refers to my mother and me, since my father die and my brother, Samuel, lives in New Jersey” (3).
The novel only explains about the relationship between Winnie Louie and her lovely daughter, Pearl Louie. There is no information which is related to Samuel further. Pearl Louie was married to an American, Phil Brandt. Phil Brandt works as a doctor in San Jose.
“Sometimes I regret that I ever married into a Chinese family,” Phil said when he heard we had to go to San Francisco, a hundred miles round-trip from our house in San Jose, made worse by weekend football traffic. And a weekend with the extended family is definitely not his preferred way to spend his days off from the hospital (7).
Winnie Louie as a grandmother has a close relationship with her grandchildren. She always asks Pearl to take her daughters with her in family journey. Winnie Louie tries to transfer Chinese Beliefs to the descendants through her daughter, Pearl Louie. It cannot be denied that the process of transferring Chinese Beliefs can be done, since there is a good relationship between the Winnie Louie and her descendants, especially Pearl Louie. Winnie Louie introduces Chinese Beliefs from the simple concept. It is seen when Winnie asks the Pearl’s family to join in the Grand Auntie Du’s Funeral.
My mother left the house two hours ago with Auntie Helen so they could decorate the funeral parlor. And now Phil and I are going to be late for Grand Auntie’s service. Through the haze of the incense-blurred light, I can barely see my mother. She’s gesturing for us to come sit with her in the second row. Phil corrals the girls. As the camera continues to roll, we walk quickly down the aisle, past what must be only a dozen or so mourners, Mary, Doug, and their children (39-41).
Winnie Louie does not only pass down the understandings on Chinese Beliefs, but also transfers it to the descendants in some ways. At least, there are two ways of transferring Chinese Beliefs which are applied by Winnie Louie. First is by worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife. Second is by naming their places which is based on Chinese Belief.
4.1.2.1 Worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife
a pretty woman named Lady Li and brought her home to his house. He made Guo as a servant in that house, so she decided to leave him.
In China long time ago, I hear my mother say, there was a rich farmer named Zhang, such a lucky man. Fish jumped in his river, pigs grazed his land, ducks flew around his yard as thick as clouds. And that was because he was blessed with a hardworking wife named Guo. She caught his fish and herded his pigs. She fattened his ducks, doubled all his riches, year after year. But Zhang was not satisfied. He wanted to play with a pretty, carefree woman named Lady Li. One day he brought this pretty woman home to his house, made his good wife cook for her. When Lady Li later chased his wife out of the house, Zhang did not run and call to her (59).
After Guo left that house, Lady Li and Zhang spent the money doing something unwisely. Finally, Zhang became a beggar and Lady Li run off with another man. When he was fainted, a good lady helped him and brought him home to her house. Zhang woke up and found him sitting near the fireplace. He wanted to know the good lady who helped him. Surprisingly, he recognized that the lady is Guo, her wife.
Now he and lady Li were free to swim in each other’s arms. They threw money away like dirty water. They slaughtered ducks just to eat a plate of their tongues. And in two years’ time, all of Zhang’s land was empty, and so was his heart. His money was gone, and so was pretty Lady Li run off with another man. Zhang became beggar. One day, he fell over and faced the sky, ready to die….But when he sat up, he saw he was in a kitchen, near a warm fireplace. The girl tending the fire explained that the lady of the house had taken pity of him, she always did this, with all kinds of people, poor or old, sick or in trouble.” Where is she, so I can thank to her? The girl pointed to the window and the man saw a woman walking up the path. Aiya! That none other than his good wife, Guo (60).
Zhang was burned in that fireplace. For having the courage to admit that he was wrong, he was declared as the Kitchen God by the Jade Emperor (60-61).
Winnie Louie considers that the Kitchen God is very close to His wife. By worshipping the god’s wife, she hopes that she will be blessed much. Winnie Louie worships the Kitchen God’ Wife over generations (531). She introduces Her as the God for her family. She receives the tradition from Auntie Du who gives the worship’s equipments to her. It is seen in Auntie Du’s equipments as follow; “When I did go up to her apartment, I used to play with her altar, a miniature red temple containing a framed picture of a Chinese god. In the front of that was an imitation-brass urn filled with burnt incense sticks, and on the side were offerings of oranges” (13).
Winnie Louie buys a new statue of the God for her daughter (531). She also asks her daughter to worship the God every time. She convinces her daughter that the God will always listen to her wishes. The God sends the wishes to her husband, the Kitchen God, for giving luck and prosperity. “But sometimes, when you are afraid, you can talk to her. She will listen. She will use her stick to chase away everything bad. See her name; Lady of Sorrowfree, happiness winning over bitterness, no regrets in this world. Now help me to light sticks of incense” (532).
4.1.2.2 Naming their Places Based on Chinese Belief s’ Concepts
The name of places is an essential thing to be obeyed by Chinese-American. The purpose is luck and prosperity for their life through the name of the places. However, not all places are given the names. Generally, some business places are named by Chinese names. The names have some meanings which are focused on receiving luck and prosperity.
It’s Mr. Hong, the owner, waving me to come in. When I first met him, I thought his name was Sam Fook, like the shop I found out later that Sam Fook means “triple blessings” in old Cantonese. “I told him he shopuld change the name,” my mother had said. “Luckier that way. But he says he has too much business already (13).
From the citation above, it is cited clearly that Chinese-American believes that a good name is a name that has a good meaning and brings luck for them. Mr. Hong has a shop namedSam Fook. It means triple blessings. It can be concluded that he wants a lot of blessing through his shop. Having a good name for his shop, he has a lot of customers and succeeds in his business.
Winnie Louie also has a flower shop called Ding Ho. It is hoped that the shop can replace disaster to luck. It is cited as follow; “My mother and Auntie Helen co-own Ding Ho Flower Shop on Ross Alley in Chinatown. In some way, the flower shop becomes the dream that would replace the disasters” (7).
The divination which is the prediction of power through many life aspects is adapted in the naming the places. Winnie Louie chooses a name which implies a good meaning and predicts the occult power for her life. Of course, she wants a good power in the term of luck. Therefore, naming the places with Chinese names can preserve the concept of divination. When divination concept in Chinese names is preserved well, it means one of the Chinese Beliefs is preserved too.
4.1.3 Strengthening her Family Relationship
As a minority group in America, Winnie Louie realizes that there must be close relationships among Chinese-Americans. She can survive since she lives in the community called Chinatown. She opens the businesses there and helps each other in the community. Togetherness among Chinese-Americans is very important aspect for surviving there. Some of them have a family business jointly. “My mother and Auntie Helen co-own Ding HO Flower Shop on the Ross Alley in Chinatown” (7).
She respects Chinese-American in America as a big family. Even though some families do not have blood relationship, she respects others as family members. When some Chinese-Americans meet each other, they will try to relate the family relationship. Some families will be more proud of marrying the children with other Chinese.
known as “the whole family” for as long as I can remember, even though the Kwongs aren’t related to us by blood (3).
They do not only work in business together, but also in preserving the Chinese Beliefs. In the following years, some Chinese-American descendants live outside Chinatown. They are widespread in some regions in America. It is shown in Winnie Louie’s conversation as follow; “Mary is coming, husband and children too,” my mother said. Flying from Los Angeles next week” (4). Even though they live in different places, they still have good communication.
Winnie Louie’s children do not live with her in Chinatown. After getting married, her daughter lives with her husband in San Jose and her son lives in New Jersey. Even though they do not live together, her children usually visit her to San Francisco.
We had to go to San Francisco, a hundred miles round-trip from our house in San Jose, made worse by weekend football traffic (Amy Tan 7).And these days “the Louies” really refers only to my mother and me, since my father is dead and my brother, Samuel, lives in New Jersey (Amy Tan 3).
She also strengthens her relationship with her children and other families by applying some ways. There are three ways of maintaining the relationship among Chinese-American. The first way is by having some annual meetings with other families. The second way is by having a shop that provides Chinese Beliefs’ equipments. The third way is by celebrating their Chinese New Year.
4.1.3.1 Having some Annual Meetings with other Families
