Home is Not Here

Memoirs of Wang Gungwu 王賡武回憶錄 #1

by Wang Gungwu

As someone who has studied history for much of my life, I have found the past fascinating. But it has always been some grand and even intimidating universe that I wanted to unpick and explain to myself. Wang Gungwu is one of Asia’s most important public intellectuals. He is best-known for his explorations of Chinese history in the long view, and for his writings on the Chinese diaspora. With Home is Not Here, the historian of grand themes turns to a single life history: his own. In this volume, Wang talks about his multicultural upbringing and life under British rule. He was born in Surabaya, Java, but his parents’ orientation was always to China. Wang grew up in the plural, multi-ethnic town of Ipoh, Malaya (now Malaysia). He learned English in colonial schools and was taught the Confucian classics at home. After the end of WWII and Japanese occupation, he left for the National Central University in Nanjing to study alongside some of the finest of his generation of Chinese undergraduates. The victory of Mao Zedong’s Communist Party interrupted his education, and he ends this volume with his return to Malaya. Wise and moving, this is a fascinating reflection on family, identity, and belonging, and on the ability of the individual to find a place amid the historical currents that have shaped Asia and the world.

Genres: China, Memoir, Nonfiction, Asia, Biography

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2018

About the author

Wang Gungwu is an academic who has studied and written about the Chinese diaspora, although he has objected to the use of the word diaspora to describe the migration of Chinese from China, because it is inaccurate and has been used to perpetuate fears of a "Chinese threat". He was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, and grew up in Ipoh, Malaysia. He completed his secondary education in Anderson School, Ipoh before going to the university.

He studied history in the University of Malaya, Singapore, where he received both his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1957) for his thesis on The structure of power in North China during the Five Dynasties. He taught at the University of Malaya (in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) before going to Canberra in 1968 to become Professor of Far Eastern History in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS) at Australian National University. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995. In 2007, Wang became the third person to be named University Professor by the National University of Singapore.

Reviews

[Kenny Leck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chance to get a peek at Prof Wang's personal life, from childhood to adulthood is a most valuable exercise for a reader of Singapore history. It charts the years of him growing up in Ipoh, experiencing what it feels to be an "outsider" as his family was one of the few 'immigrants' from China that had set their heart and timeline to return back to China. It charts also the turbulent years and growing pains that China was going through at the last days of the Qing empire, shortlived Nationalist government, and the rise of the CCP under Mao. Love the inclusion of Prof Wang's mother's own memoir as it lent a certain amount of contrast to the autobiography. Looking forward to the 2nd volume.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some ways, this story of a childhood 'misled' by one's parents' belief that "home is not here; that one's real home lies somewhere else and will be returned to one day" is the story we could have anticipated in a time when so many have been displaced wilfully or not--by wars, by love, by hatred, by careers, by happenstance. Many parents in today's world still share this nostalgic dream. But their children do not. Where we are from seems to matter less and less than where we are now.

An entire literary genre has emerged since the 20th century of displaced persons (South Indians in the UK, Pakistanis in Norway, Vietnamese in America--the list is a long one). We are familiar with the genre, so I did not expect to be so captivated by this particular story as I was. But, if you are a lover of Chinese history, or someone with special interests in Southeast Asia or the Chinese diaspora, you will probably find this autobiography of a childhood a page-turner, as I did. Professor Wang Gungwu's story of his childhood growing up Chinese in Southeast Asia with the dream of his 'real' home being China, followed by the move back at the peak of a civil war, the reality, and his return to Southeast Asia to mature into the region's foremost scholar on the Chinese diaspora, is history recounted as it actually played out in one child's life. And he has done something few authors achieve--he tells the story as he lived it with all its innocence through the now-knowing eyes of an adult and a scholar. Like all children, his parents filled him with their dreams and their histories (and it is clear he was a 'good son'), yet the failure of their dream to be able to return to the world they cherished, is what has driven him to be who he is today. In searching for the reasons behind his own childhood experiences, he has laid bare some of the big stories of the 20th century--and not just immigration, but also the dragon we know as China. It is a fascinating story and a book I will share.

[Joshua Sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

By reading the book, one will get a better insider view to why Wang Gungwu was so drawn to studying the Chinese diaspora despite his upbringing at home in Chinese classics, and his education at an English school in Ipoh. The part that clinched it for me was his experience studying at National Central University in China. His naivety about national issues, and a certain ambivalence to the tense and tough conditions in Nanjing (despite the deep friendships he made), while putting him on a path of curiosity to understand modern China more, was also indicative of his 'outsideness' amongst young Chinese intellectuals who were patriotic, well-read, and intimately concerned about the fate of China. Wang was concerned, but still exuded the views of an outsider.

[Pak Sun Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prof Wang biography provides an emotional insights on experiences growing up in both Malaya and China that I could still emotionally related to as a Malaysian of Chinese descent. A great book to read if you're also on the journey to find your sense of belongings.

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Wang Gungwu, you must realise that this is an account for his family. And this covers his younger years, so the more interesting observations are hopefully in the next book.

[Yuen Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine having a learned family elder who come over for a short stay, someone who has been though the pre-war Malaya and had a stint in China before CCP took power from KMT. Reading this book feels a bit like that ...

This is a book that perhaps will resonate better with overseas chinese (especially those in Malaysia). It is highly personal to the author, and a lot of names were mentioned, more as to commemorate the author’s memories. I do not recognize many of those. One exception, Shen Moyu, the education hero for the development of chinese education in Malaysia.

I wish it dwells a bit deeper on the conflicting views and how to reconcile an overseas chinese many backgrounds, the Confucius upbringing, the colonial and western values, affection to motherland and loyalty to brith country. For example, observations like “Chinese students were more intellectually more mature than colonials like me, whose Chinese was limited and who studied English for its usefulness rather as a key to European civilization” ... we can probably say the same about how younger generation of overseas chinese treat Chinese as a subject.

“I have lived nearly seventeen years in a Malay state and either months in China. Yet it seemed sometimes that I cared for both in equal parts. The pull of a plural society was great, but the cultural attraction of China in all its dimensions was deep and irresistible” - something that resonates with me too.

On living under Japanese rules during WW2 “ thus I encountered my first experience of being with people who saw collective amnesia as something forward looking and positive. This was quite different from the people I knew in Ipoh where those who wanted to forget the war were children for not reporting every wartime wrongdoing.

[Baozi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wang tells his story of growing up in one place, yet always preparing to take flight to another. The story is told from the words of his mother who deems home as China, and from his own experience as a growing boy who works hard to find a sense of belonging to the place he is living in. His observations that his spoken language was not that of those who lived around him, and that the nationalistic slogans did not truly appeal to him displayed the confusion and perhaps painful recognition that he was in part, still an outsider. While consolation to a young boy came through realizing that he was not alone in such a dilemma, this did not keep a maturing mind from wondering about what he was convicted to, and where home was. 'Home is Not Here' is written in a straight forward manner, with a good balance of sentimentality and clear narration. It is a good read for those who seek a window into the mind of a child who grew up with immigrant parents, in a colonised society which saw the growth of nationalistic overtones.

[YP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Prof Wang Gungwu's account of his parents' family and early years provide an illuminating lense into the lives of those who lived in the late 19th to early 20th century. I think what makes this autobiography a more insightful read than the usual autobiography is his training as a historian adds additional context and framing to what he lived through.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply written story of a turbulent period in the life of a great historian. Vignettes of life in Ipoh during the Occupation and life in Nanjing after the war could both be the foundation for great novels.

[Steven Deng · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Home is not here" by Wang Gungwu is a poignant and insightful memoir that chronicles the author's personal journey of identity, migration, and belonging. Born in China and raised in British Malaya, Gungwu provides a unique perspective on the complex interplay between East and West, as well as the enduring tensions between tradition and modernity.

The book is divided into two parts, with the first section delving into Gungwu's childhood experiences in Malaya, his education in Singapore and the UK, and his eventual career as an academic in Australia. Gungwu's writing is elegant and evocative, painting a vivid picture of his upbringing and the cultural influences that shaped his worldview. His reflections on colonialism, nationalism, and the role of education in society are particularly insightful.

The second part of the book is more personal, focusing on Gungwu's family history and his own sense of identity as a Chinese diaspora. He shares candidly about his struggles with homesickness, his experiences with racism and discrimination, and his complex relationship with China. These reflections are both deeply personal and historically informed, offering a nuanced perspective on the challenges faced by those who straddle multiple cultures.

Throughout the book, Gungwu's voice is measured and reflective, never losing sight of the complexities and contradictions that define our understanding of home and belonging. The book is a testament to the power of memoir to bridge divides and build empathy, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Asia, migration, or identity. Overall, "Home is not here" is a beautifully written and deeply moving book that will leave a lasting impression on readers.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Home Is Not Here is a memoire by Dr. Wang Gungwu of his life from birth till his return to Ipoh after a short period of study in Nanjing. Dr. Wang's experience overseas rests mainly in South East Asia where he was born, spent much of his childhood, then later into adulthood. Dr. Wang's youth is pockmarked by waves upon waves of historical upheavals that threw Asia into continual turmoil. Unlike most immigration stories, Dr. Wang's family story is unique in that his father and mother, though ventured abroad, had always thought of themselves as temporary sojourners in South East Asia, one day to return to China. Dr. Wang's personal journey lead us through the eyes of an literati overseas Chinese family, that despite the distant geography, had raised Dr. Wang to be Chinese, yet also provided room for him to develop excellent skills in English. Besides the author's personal accounts, voices from the mother was also inserted into this book, creating an interesting dialog between the mother and son. While readers may appreciate the detailed accounts of the schools Dr. Wang's father taught at, the families they came into contact with, the scholarly lineage of his family, the literary works admired by Dr. Wang's father and later himself, as well as detailed introduction of Dr. Wang's many brilliant friends met during his stay in Nanjing, what I yearn for that felt somewhat missing was pathos, deeper reflections by the author, about what much of these events that occurred to him throughout his meandering childhood into young adulthood meant, how it shaped his identity as an overseas Chinese.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book isn’t for everyone, but those who can come to appreciate this valuable piece of personal history will find it a precious proxy to understanding how our Chinese forefathers, grandfathers, fathers come to be ‘less (China) Chinese’. (A dilutive process? By what?) One that came about as an outcome of a series of individual circumstance and choices against the larger backdrop of the 1940-70s. The idea of being a Chinese (or choosing to be) has always been political. Whether it was in the 1930s, or now, where racial politics is rampant. The storytelling sags slightly two thirds in, but this book’s primary intention is less to entertain than to enrich, and simply to tell.

[mei gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a brilliant book to pick up, not just as someone interested in the notions of identity politics, but just as a Malaysian. It made me question what I knew about my own identity and the concept of "home", allowing me to realise that the intersections of identity have always been part of the human experience, especially in a Malaysian context. Wang Gungwu paints a colourful picture of the lives of overseas Chinese in South East Asia during a time of much conflict and chaos, both externally and internally.

[Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

In his and his mother’s voices, Wang Gungwu wrote this book to document his earlier life, giving the readers a glimpse into colonial and post colonial Malaya, and pre-Communist China.

An average book with some historical facts, but this is also a memoir that is aimed to be passed down to Wang’s descendants, hence the book is dense with lists of names that Wang knew or heard of in his early formation years.

[lukoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been so long before I take up this memoir. I bought the book after the attending one of Wang's seminars three years ago, when he is already one of the most prestigious intellectuals and historians in China and SEA studies. But it is not till after reading his memor, I realize that a great scholar/intellectual-in-the-making has gone through so much turbulences, and that to become a scholar you first need to become a man, a person who listens and is willing to look into the world with compassion.

[N. N. Santiago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stilted writing, questionable inclusions of material (better to have incorporated his mother's letters in to narrative; as they are it underscores the feeling that the book is an amateur's job for his children), somehow makes important and dramatic historical and life events flat and dull.

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not what expected, still enjoyable and gave me some insight of my own growth and interest. Sincere and modest.

[Wan Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse of the Chinese diaspora. Rich in history. Always love to visit Ipoh. Lots of fond memories. Great friends, good food.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A tender and heartfelt autobiography by Prof. Wang, taking us at the very core of WWII in South East Asia and what those events meant for a boy trying to find his way.

[B & A & F · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s amazing to read a snippet that life went on as normal during civil war in the outskirt areas and some of the port cities. I think last time I read such similar shocking scenes, the everyday mundane and normality amid catastrophic war, was in Orwell’s description of Barcelona during Spain civil war

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

读的是中文版，上部比下部更加有趣些。

[Harith Raduwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Cpen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I have a very brief understanding on Prof Wang's background apart from his being ex-Vice-chancellor of HKU and a historian renowned in the study of overseas Chinese. Maybe his academic career is also