The Contribution of Tung Wah Hospital to the Repatriation of Deceased Chinese Expatriates in the Early Twentieth Century

Abstract

Since the late nineteenth century, millions of Chinese laborers have left their hometowns in search of better lives overseas; many died before returning home. those close to the deceased expatriates strived to repatriate their remains, believing that it would bring peace to their souls. Most repatriated remains were first transported to Tung Wah Hospital until their townsfolks or relatives claimed them. In 2020, Tung Wah published 300 letters it received between 1929 and 1936. With these new materials, this article reveals details in the daily operations of the hospital's coffin home and the motivations of overseas Chinese nationals to repatriate remains. Although some remains were lost or unclaimed for various reasons, Tung Wah Hospital generally fulfilled its mission as a benevolent association and facilitated the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of deceased compatriots. The hospital served as a critical node of the network connecting overseas Chinese nationals to their homelands.