Little is known about the Hakka way of life, a Han Chinese group of people living in Liverpool whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Hainan, Guizhou in China.
Liverpool Chinese Supplementary School in Upper Pitt Street, were funded by Awards for All and Austin Smith Foundation to create the Hakka Memories intergenerational event to pass down their heritage to younger generations. They held a day of reminiscence, dancing and sharing food.
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| Tai Tai is wearing a very old traditional sun hat for a lady. This hat is 50 years old. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
The word Hakka is pronounced 'Kejia' in Mandarin, meaning "Guest People" Hakka authors say that Hakka are embodied by the dandelion; a flower that will thrive under the most trying conditions.
In this sense, Hakka are those who were consistently willing to risk taking a change and strong enough to survive obstacles in their path.
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| Young people wearing unisex hats to protect from the sun and rain, the hats are made from natural materials: bamboo and leaves. These hats are used by farmers. The fan is for Tai Chi or Kung Fu. The water buffalo ornament is a traditional family keepsake. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Lisa demonstrating a traditional Yun Goh: a famous rice dance song. Lisa is holding Chinese handkerchiefs, they are spun in the hands along to the music. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Traditional sun hat to work in the fields in the hot sun Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Peggy is holding a traditional wedding candle symbolising 'Double Happiness' Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Paul is wearing a traditional farmers hat he is holding a fan. In Summer, the weather is very hot, the fan is used to keep cool and to keep mosquito's away. It can also be used when lighting a fire. The fan material is made of Liuistona Chinensis: a leaf split in 2. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Lan is demonstrating a Chinese calculator known as an Abacus. It is used to subtract, multiply and division. The Abacus was designed in China thousands of years ago. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Judy is holding a book that belonged to her dad, he would use the book daily looking for a lucky day or looking for fortune. This method using the book to look for the best dates for weddings or farming for example started 5000 years ago. Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Sue wearing the traditional Summer hat for a lady Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Lin demonstrating different uses for a hat while working in the sun Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Tai Tai passing her traditions down to her grandson Daniel Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Tai Tai Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Tai Tai Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Tai Tai Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |
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| Tai Tai holding her wedding candles Photo: Moira Kenny 2023 |