A Tale from the Isle of Ancestors - Chinese "Gypsies"

The Hakka are called the Gypsies of China because they are migratory tribes, now scattered all over Asia and the rest of the world. Many Chinese scholars believe them to be descendents of the Han people who fled the Mongols during the Yuan dynasty.

The name Hakka means `sojourner’, and among the traits they have in common with European and Middle eastern Gypies are their fierce pride and strong belief in family.
In the 19th Century, the Hakka started to flee persecution in China and spread over the world. Hakka travelled as far as the USA and Australia where they continued to follow their own unique culture.

The women of Hakka were never subjected to restrictive Chinese customs such as foot-binding. The women were strong and self sufficient, able to work and fight along the men.

The Hakka did not live in mobile dwellings – they settled in the areas they moved to and built circular mud brick fort houses with three foot thick walls to protect themselves against the locals, who were often hostile to the sojourners. Each house would hold around 20 families, with a courtyard in the centre where they kept their livestock. The Hakka, a hard working people, built complex drainage systems so that the entire fort could be closed off and the families remain self sufficient when under siege.

The Hakka keenly observe Chinese New Year, and other festivals, practice ancestor worship, and love to sing their own complex folk songs. Song is very important to the Hakka, and they have a variety of styles of songs and singing for every ocassion. They have special dishes for Chinese New Year such as Fried Pork with fermented bean curd. In this two stage dish, the pork is first marinated, then deep fried. Then it is stewed with wild mushrooms. Like their songs, Hakka recipes are very complex.

Today, the widespread Hakka are in danger of losing their unique culture, so a website has been launched to help preserve Hakka customs and lore. The China based Hakka welcome tourists to their roundhouse villages such as Chu Xi, where 200 inhabitants all share the same surname.
One of their most popular crafts is paper umbrella that they make from oiled paper and bamboo. These are highly prized by tourists as local craftsmen can only make two a day.