Illustrated Explanation of the Chen Clan of Yining

Author: Chen Xiacong
Author Country: China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: The Chen family of Yining has left a brilliant mark in the history of modern Chinese literature, art, and academia. The late Chen Sanli, known for his poetry, Chen Hengke as a renowned painter, and Chen Yinque as not only a towering historian but also a spiritual pillar for generations of scholars. This book is compiled from old photographs preserved in the Chen family collection, primarily showcasing domestic life. It includes images of young Chen Yinque with his grandfather and photographs of the late Chen Sanli, presenting the lingering legacy of one of the most important families in the history of modern Chinese culture.
Excerpt: The photograph titled "Childhood Shadows in Xiangjiang" was likely taken in 1896 at "Another Village," the rear garden of the Hunan Provincial Governor's Residence in Changsha. The family had recently moved from Wuchang, Hubei, to Changsha about a year prior. There were eight siblings in the parental generation, and five are visible in the photo, arranged from left to right as follows: Kang Kanghui (four years old), father Longke (nine years old), ninth aunt Xinwu (three years old), seventh uncle Fangge (six years old), and sixth brother Yinque (seven years old). The late Master Zeng and Aunt Anli were not included, and Denggequan had not yet been born. Meanwhile, his Fengke (the eldest son of Master Zeng) had just been born, hence his nickname "Village Child."
"Another Village" was the rear garden of the provincial governor's residence, spacious and adorned with springs, rocks, and lush flora. My late father's life in the Changsha residence has been described in several poems in the "Records of Court Conversations" in the form of narrative verses, recounting anecdotes of our ancestors a century ago. Here, I will share two more stories:
One time, seventh uncle Fangge suddenly burst into tears and tantrums. When asked why, he replied, "If 'I' is lost, I must find 'I' again!" Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. The custom of foot-binding, which persisted for several dynasties, subjected girls to this special "punishment" around the ages of four or five, and the "executioner" was often their own loving mother. Failure to do so meant they could never achieve the ideal "golden lotus" feet and would struggle to find a husband later in life. My grandfather opposed foot-binding, but my grandmother was still reluctant to change her ways and secretly bound the feet of her eldest daughter, Kanghui, when she was five. However, this stubborn girl refused to cooperate, crying and screaming for two days before her grandfather discovered the practice and finally "liberated" her.
All three Chen sisters grew up with "natural feet," which was quite progressive for a bureaucratic family at the time.