The Road to Gan Ji Ding

Author: (USA) Chin, Frank (Chin, F) (Author); Zhao Wenshu, Kang Wenkai (Translators)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The novel's quirky title, "The Way of Gunga Din," is derived from a famous poem by the British writer Rudyard Kipling (1865—1936), "Gunga Din," which was later adapted into a renowned Hollywood film. The poem depicts an Indian water carrier serving the British colonial forces invading India. In Chin Frank's eyes, Gunga Din is a national traitor, making "The Way of Gunga Din" a path to hell. Embracing white mainstream culture and viewing American Chinese as inferior foreigners is a betrayal of the traditions and identity of American Chinese. The novel's section "Creation" primarily tells the life of the actor Kwan Longman, whose great desire is to portray the character Charlie Chan. Charlie Chan is a fictional American Chinese detective who appeared in fifty films between 1925 and 1949, becoming widely famous. Often played by white actors, Charlie Chan is exceptionally clever and always solves cases. He represents the stereotypical image of East Asians accepted by white mainstream society: obese, lacking sensuality, always submissive in the presence of whites, speaking unstandardized English, and distorting Confucius's sayings for comedic effect. Kwan Longman's single-minded pursuit of the role of Charlie Chan, which he cannot attain, reveals the fact that American Chinese cannot hope to play true heroes in Hollywood like white actors. Kwan Longman can only endlessly play subservient supporting roles for superior white protagonists. To Chin Frank, this represents the wrong myth about American Chinese, which must be exposed and destroyed.