Marysville was at one time a flowering Chinese community. But now, only the Bok Kai Temple, with its suggestions of Chinese fashion, and its annual temple festival, allow people to link together Chinese with this place.
Chinese who came in the 1850's and thereafter were mostly railroad workers, gold miners, and, in a few cases, businessmen. At first San Francisco served as the main point of entry and exit; thereafter they spread to all areas. One main route went from San Francisco northward along the Sacramento River, and toward Oregon and Washington State.
Because Chinese people congregated together, there sprung up Chinese communities in each area. Around the end of the nineteenth century, Marysville was considered the third largest Chinese community after San Francisco and Sacramento. The several thousand residents were spread around Marysville on farms and along rail lines to a radius of 100 miles. On holidays, they came together in the city for rest and recreation. The itinerary always included a stop at the Bok Kai Temple to burn incense or to beseech the assistance of the gods.
For Chinese, wherever they go, whenever they establish a foothold, they will combine resources to dedicate a temple to thank the spirits for their protection. For immigrants to the U.S., after a one- or two-month voyage at sea, to safely reach the new world was a welcome event. After their arrival, in the mines or cutting railroads through the mountains, there was a high possibility of accidents. But temples also served as a meeting place. Therefore the construction of a temple has always been a major mark of Chinese communities. Before 1900, there were at least 60 temples scattered through the U.S. Most have unfortunately fallen victim to manmade or natural disaster.
The first Marysville temple was built in 1865--or rather rebuilt--from materials brought over from China. Not long thereafter it was razed by fire. It was renovated twice--in 1880 and 1947.
The temple is devoted to seven different gods, including Bok Eye (also known as the "god of the North"). Because Marysville is located at the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers, and the area is subject to heavy rains, Bok Eye was recruited to help avert floods. It is an historical fact that between 1825 and 1862, Marysville suffered three floods, each resulting in hundreds of deaths. After the construction of Bok Kai, no matter how large the flood,the waters never reached Marysville, though surrounding towns were inundated.
Inside the temple, people can seek the favor of the gods or divine their fortunes. Those who come to pray or to express thanks for prayers answered will donate incense money for the daily upkeep and management of the temple.
Because most Chinese have already left Marysville, few believers come to the temples regularly. It is only during the temple festival on the first weekend of the second lunar month that the temple becomes invigorated. Chinese return from as far away as Texas to participate.
The two major activities are the parade and "Bomb Day."
You would think that at the festivities for a Chinese temple, Chinese would have the main role. Not so. In last February's parade, of the more than 100 groups, non-Chinese outnumbered the Chinese.
All those participating had a theme. Because this year is the year of the snake, that theme was adopted by many teams. Non-Chinese contributions had a rich Western flavor, with unicycles, firemen, or Indians. But even some traditionally Chinese groups were not always Chinese in personnel. For example, with the dragon dance, the rhythm of the drums and the bobbing of the dragon's head were thoroughly Chinese. But a closer look at the team revealed a patchwork of yellow, white, black, red, and brown. Further, the committee in charge of the celebration was mostly non-Chinese. Why would foreigners participate so enthusiastically in a Chinese holiday? Ms. Lee Burrows, in charge of the arts, answered that this is to commemorate the contributions of Chinese and also to express gratitude that the Bok Kai Temple saved the city from flooding.
The only activity purely for Chinese is the bombs--axis of the temple festival. According to Jim Pon, who constructs the fireworks, every one sent skyward includes a ring. When the fireworks explode, the ring comes back to earth. Whoever is first to claim it owns it, and its luck follows the person for a year. There are ground rules to avoid chaos, and fire and police units are on standby in case of accident.
Whoever claims the ring is then led by the lion dance to the temple where the achievement is recorded. Early on, the fireworks were purchased from China; later the residents made them themselves. Of the 100 rings, most Chinese believe the number-four ring is most auspicious, and everyone races for it. In the past, people called out the ring number before it was launched--as a result, people scrambled for the popular numbers, leaving the also-rans untouched. This practice has been discontinued to increase competitiveness.
Businessmen most covet the fourth ring. But they do not come in person but rather buy it. Last year it went for US$2,000, and this year for $2,300. It seems it does bring fortune after all. There is another story about the fourth ring. For many years it was purchased by the Golden Dragon Restaurant in San Francisco. But in 1979 it went to another bidder. Within the year, the restaurant became the scene of fights between Chinese gangs, and business suffered greatly. Some people believe that if the restaurant had only gotten that ring....
Besides warding off floods, the power of the gods has also protected the festivities from rain. Only in 1890 did it rain on their parade. One year it was pouring right up until ten minutes before parade time, and the rain set in again as soon as the pageant was over. This year there was a deluge the day before the event, but all the hotels were full. No one believed it would rain on the day of the procession. You know the rest.
It seems that Chinese gods don't lose any of their power, even though the people they watch over aren't quite the same.
[Picture Caption]
Chinese actors on a foreign stage, and in front of a foreign audience, add up to a temple festival abroad.
With two young Americans holding up a "Bok Kai Festival" sign leading the way, the parade is one of the central features of the festival.
A snake painting competition for the year of the snake: the little ones rack their brains and each of the snakes comes out different.
Do you have to have Chinese for the dragon dance? Obviously not!
Parade teams organized by Americans.
Chinese who have scatteled in a new land will come together at Marysville.
A lion dance to celebrate the day.
The structure behind the people climbing the dike is the Bok Kai Temple. The dikes were built several decades later than the temple.
The Chinese yen for fortune telling can be satisfied in the Bok Kai Temple.
Gifts presented to Bok Eye, the main temple god, and other deities.
An exterior view of the main entrance to Bok Kai Temple.
The custom of "the bombs" has been with the temple for over 100 years. The temple also has a records book dating from the Kuang-hsu era (1875-1908) of the Ching dynasty.
The tablet of the god Bok Eye is brought out prior to the fireworks.
The "bombs" are the centerpiece of the temple festival.
He who gets the number-four ring is in line for a small fortune.
With two young Americans holding up a "Bok Kai Festival" sign leading the way, the parade is one of the central features of the festival.
Parade teams organized by Americans.
A snake painting competition for the year of the snake: the little ones rack their brains and each of the snakes comes out different.
A snake painting competition for the year of the snake: the little ones rack their brains and each of the snakes comes out different.
A snake painting competition for the year of the snake: the little ones rack their brains and each of the snakes comes out different.
A snake painting competition for the year of the snake: the little ones rack their brains and each of the snakes comes out different.
Do you have to have Chinese for the dragon dance? Obviously not!
Chinese who have scatteled in a new land will come together at Marysville.
A lion dance to celebrate the day.
The structure behind the people climbing the dike is the Bok Kai Temple. The dikes were built several decades later than the temple.
The Chinese yen for fortune telling can be satisfied in the Bok Kai Temple.
Gifts presented to Bok Eye, the main temple god, and other deities.
An exterior view of the main entrance to Bok Kai Temple.
The custom of "the bombs" has been with the temple for over 100 years. The temple also has a records book dating from the Kuang-hsu era （1875-1908） of the Ching dynasty.
The tablet of the god Bok Eye is brought out prior to the fireworks.
The "bombs" are the centerpiece of the temple festival.
He who gets the number-four ring is in line for a small fortune.
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