Chinese American Cemetery

History and Establishment

The Chinese Historic Cemetery stands not merely as a place of rest but as a profound testament to the enduring spirit of the Chinese American pioneers. It is a chronicle of both sorrow and strength, a place where the whispers of the past echo with tales of struggle, hope, and unity.

In an era shadowed by exclusion, the Chinese American community faced barriers that extended beyond the realm of the living, into the silence of death itself. Denied a place in “American” cemeteries, they were thrust into the margins, their existence marginalized even in death.

Notable or Famous People Buried:

These souls, many of whom journeyed through life solitary or severed from their kin, found a place of eternal rest among their community in San Jose. From Lee Quong Hong, whose passage into eternity on July 24, 1900, marked the beginning of this sacred trust, to Lee Chi On, whose burial on June 15, 1964, closed a chapter yet left an indelible mark on the tapestry of memory.

While there may not be well-known “famous” figures like those in other famous cemeteries, many of the individuals buried here played significant roles in the development of San Jose and the surrounding areas. Early Chinese immigrants were critical to the agricultural economy, particularly in farming, railroad construction, and trade. Many of the people buried at this cemetery were part of the working-class Chinese community, including laborers, merchants, and farmers who made significant contributions to local development.

One of the most notable individuals interred here was Tung Hing, a successful merchant in San Jose who was active in helping establish the cemetery. He was part of a group of Chinese American leaders who ensured that there was a final resting place for their community in a time of discrimination.

Acquisition of the Property

A parcel of land, granted by Oak Hill Cemetery in 1900 to the 8 Chinese Companies in San Francisco, emerged as a sanctuary for those who had been voiceless.

This modest plot, measuring 140 by 160 feet, became the final haven for approximately 300 pioneers.

Memorializing this Location

The Memorial Reads:

南湾歷吏福地

Historic Chinese American Cemetery

In the late 1890s, the Eight Chinese Companies in San Francisco, bought the land for the Chinese Cemetery. Before 1950, Chinese Americans were not allowed to be buried in American cemeteries. About 300 pioneers are buried in this 140’ by 160’ plot, and it is believed that most
were single or had no relatives in the area. The first burial was Lee Quong Hong on July 24, 1900. The last burial was Lee Chi On on June 15, 1964.

Since 1900, this land has been passed down within the community to those who wish to honor these early pioneers. In 1979, the South Bay Historic Chinese American Cemetery Corporate was established to maintain the land and continue honoring the dead in the annual Ching Ming Jie or Grave Sweeping Day.

Every Spring, they gather as a community to clean the tombstone, burn offerings for the dead, and offer and eat food. A Taoist priest leads a commemoration to those buried, and the community recites their names in remembrance.

Click image to Enlarge

Names list on the Memorial

Historic Chinese American Cemetery
Chu Lee	Ah Yun	Ah Sun	Lee Ken	Ung She	Lee Kang Sing
Wong Wong or Fung Joe	Lee Kee	Ah Leon	Loy Choy Sing	Chung Sho	Chin Hoo (infant)
Chung Sho	Kim Fung	Ah Sing	Long Fong	Yong Why	Fong Gee
Le Gong	Le Hi Wah	Lo Di Fouk	Loy Soy Sing	Leon Kom	Lo Ki Jonk
Lew Sin	Sing Look	Hong Wong	Leang Cheow	Yip Lund Lun	Lee Sing Chuk
Ah Leong Ng	Infant of Leo Chow	Dang Wan	Ling Jung	Dong Sing Soon	Jung Lee
Young Lin	Gin Gunn Moon	Ye Ah Lung	Woo Hing	Infant of Chin Hung Lee	Kim Song
Jim Hay Leong	Go Gin	Lee Chon	Low Gee	Jue Bon	Infant of Chun Hong Gon
Ah Wing	Chin Gow Wuh	Gee Wing Po	Sang Chung Lee (Lee Gee interred)	Chin Let	Jue Hock Ng
Lom Kum Los	Ching Low	Lee Hong	Tung Shang	Lillie J. Chow	Wong Jat
Jung Gan	Chin Jew	Ah Sing or Hong Sing	Gey Quay	Gee Ping	Lee Young
How Ng	Ie How Ng	Toy Fong	Chin Ah Mow	Chin Chow	Ah Fook
Tom Jung	Lee Yin	Ng Yong Pong Sing	Lee Yin	Chin Francis	Chey Goo (Sing Leang interred)
Jew Ming Bow	Oon Mun	Leong Chong	Choy Edward	Wing Gee	Ng May
Ng Pok	Lin Ng	Chin Jew	Ida. Com Oye Kee	Ng Pay	Nu Hai
Lee Chung	Lin Fook How	Wong Yip Gein	Chung Ying Poo	Chin Keong	Chin Con
Say You	Ying Ming Lum	Jue Do	Chin Dew	Hing Hay Yee	Weh Hong
Hong Wey	Ng Ki Hong	Ah Fung	Bing Fook	Yong Kuk	Lee Jew (interred Lim How Kam)
Fue Ah	Duck Wong	Lee L Gee	Sai Lin Wong	Joe How	Wong Sam
Wong Hock Young	You Toy	Hong Wong Ung	Chin Fluck	Suey Pong	Lee Lung Quong
Yee Plu Ng	Ah Kum	Kong How	Chin Poy	Lew Hang	How Kam Lim
Chow Leong	Gee Wong Ying	Ah Woon	See Kun	Duck Ng	Hoy James
Wing Jung Ng	Long Kue	Hao Tung	Wong Wing	Lee Sue Bin	Leong Lin Sing
See Yen	Wong Chin	Chin Tung Lung	Jo Leng Sing	Lim Gow	Ah Kum (interred Ah Heim)
Lee Wau	Dong Foon	Lee Jung	Soo Ho Tai	Jue Yu	Yu Gue
Chan Dan	Lee Soon	Ku Gubg Yung	Ku Gubg Yung	Quong Low	Infant of Kee Chow
Sin Din Wah	Lee Sing	Lee Chung	Chan Snow	Li Soon Toy	Gung Yum
Chew Suy Jung	Chew Hing Bam	Yi[ Rue Yu	Lim Toy	Fook Gee	Chin Soon
Hong Wong	Chi Hong	Lee Luey Wong	Chew Ah Gans	Tong Chuck	Ng Woo
Lee Mon Quong	Duck Yee	Lew Chin	Wong Bo	Qumm Pang Wong	Sam Ywe Jew
Ah Ling	Lung Go	Yet Gown Yong	Ching Lung	Wong Gee	Infant of Ng. & Lee Tom
E.H. Long	Lee Yin	Lew Chaw	Wong Yu	Le Hangme	Kim Foo
Lee Yin	Ark Yuen Wang	Loo San	Young Hung	Lee Quang Duck	Ah Sing
Lee Chung	How Yee	Lee Kah	Lee Fong	Good Oy Chin	Mrs. Ah Toy
Ah Shin	See Lin	Qui Lum	Toy Wong	Tom Fong	Long Chueng
Ng Goon	Ha King Wah	Chin Ling	Mar Quey	Oh Fee Hung	Inoch Chew
Ng Long You	Lee Shee	Jim Wue	Chin	Ling Six	Chow Wing
Lee Long Tom	Sam Kee	Lee Tom	Yen Kee Tom	Ching Jung	Chew Loy
Ng Yuen	Lem Soo	Chew Waly	Young To	Ching Quong Gin	Long Mow Hong
Infant Ng	Chew Waey	Ah Sing	Quong Him	Long Chew	Infant Chin Wee
Anna Mock	Jach Chinn	Mary Chen	Lee Yan	Woo Hing	Willis Jeong or Lay Jeong
Wong Yon	Ah Ho	Sai Yun	Ng Chung	Wong Sung	Ching Yang Yoon
Ah Joe Chew	Yee Ming	Yeong Kee	Alan Wong	Chew Yook	Swen Chew Yung
Sing Ching	Won Onn	Yum Chung	Wong Yee	Yee Yen	Choi Quang Sung
Leong Ah Way	Wai Leong	Chaues Moy	Leung Ung	Lee Chi On	Yuk Kay Yee

Ching Ming Jie

The annual Ching Ming Jie, or Grave Sweeping Day, transforms this place of rest into a vibrant tableau of life, memory, and communal bonds. On the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, the air is filled with the melody of reverence and remembrance, as the community gathers to pay homage to their ancestors. This ritual, steeped in tradition, weaves a tapestry of continuity, linking the past with the present, and bequeathing its rich legacy to future generations.

The Chinese Historic Cemetery stands as a monument to the resilience, courage, and unity of the Chinese American pioneers. It is a place where silence speaks volumes, where every stone and every name etched upon it tells a story of perseverance in the face of adversity. As we walk among these markers, we are reminded of the indomitable spirit of those who laid the foundations of our community with their dreams and their toil. In honoring their memory, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of dignity, respect, and inclusivity, ensuring that the legacy of these pioneers will continue to inspire generations to come.