James Poy Wong's Fiction

In addition to the 30 pieces of short stories and 1 novella written in the 1940s, James P. Wong also published 25 pieces of short fiction between 1975 to 1976. All fiction written in the 40s was translated and included on this page, and only a few of the 70s were selected. More of the 70s may be included in the future, including possibly a translation of the prologue of the novella Songs of Immigrant Sons and Daughters 儿女之歌 may be included in the future.

In brief view, stories in the 40s reflect singly and through intertextual discourse the following subjects and themes: separation from motherland, life of diaspora, hardship of immigration, life and revolution in China, sexual repression and bachelor’s society in Chinatown America, overseas marriage, cultural conflicts in post WWII Chinese-American marriage, immigration education, fatherhood, patriarchy, feminist thoughts, social and occupational discrimination, wars, generation gap, et cetera. The pieces written in the 70s shift subjects to life changes from the old era to the new generation. It is my long-term plan to include formal literary criticism of Wong’s work to be collected under the Criticism page of this site.

Title	Summary
	"Going Abroad"	A teenage boy bids farewell to his mother as he boards a ship to America by himself and onto a life of diaspora during wartime China.
	"To Mother"	A young Chinese man’s remorseful confession letter to his mom reveals the causes of depravation in his life that are leading to his impending death and the intricate discontents towards the ills of society.
	"Letter from Home"	A short narrative centers on the anxiety of receiving a letter from home meaningfully captures sentiments of life in diaspora and concern of death during wartime.
	"Watchful Waiting"	From the perspective of a young man, this short short story represents personal struggles of Chinese males living in the era of “bachelor society” as a direct result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the varied exclusion laws.
	"Happy Family"	A short short story providing a brief look into marital conflicts between Chinese American men and their Chinese wives who were brought to America but have yet to be assimilated into American cultures.
	"After the Break Up"	This short short story centers on the impact marriage has on a formally revolutionary woman who made choices of life between personal aspiration and economic security.
	"Fleeing"	Captured in this short short story may arguably be considered as representative conflicts between Chinese American veteran men and their Chinese wives brought over by the War Brides Act of 1945.
	"After Marriage"	An encounter at the bar between two men unfolds a love triangle with a humorous twist at the end of this short short story, one of a few examples of Wong’s writings on subjects for entertainment purposes.
	"Forgive Me"	A couple - wife living in wartime China and husband in diasporic America - struggles to reveal a known secret each has held from the other, only to find another unexpected turn of tragedy.
	"On Board	A dialogue between a young man and a seaman on a ship sailing to San Francisco expresses differing views about ways of and choices in life, as well as the question of meritocracy in the face of social oppression.
	"The Unnecessary Father"	With probing questions of manhood and masculinity, this short short story narrates a man who chooses to indulge himself into a lifestyle of unsustainable generosity towards others while failing to fulfill his responsiblity as a father, husband, and son.
	"Bloodstains	A young man having a post-death conversation with his soul-receiving angel, followed by a brief viewing tour into the ills of the human world before his final departure.
	"What Fire Cannot Destroy"	A couple finds themselves losing most of their valuables after a residential fire and reflects upon what is most important since their struggling past.
	"A Journey to Saudi Arabia"	A short short story depicting how racial discrimination is bluntly practiced in society and poignantly experienced by people when economic competition is involved.
	"An Ordinary Story"	By a young narrator’s reflection upon his memories of an elderly man with whom he had shared a few years of living together in a cubed one-room apartment in Chinatown, this short short story portrays common thoughts and ways of life of overseas Chinese.
	"The Receding Waves of South Sea"	Centering on a secret brought back by a young veteran returning home, this short story focuses on impacts brought by the war on individuals and their families and serves as a narrative account of Chinese Americans in World War II.
	"Fire over the Prairie"	Set against the historical background of WWII about a young man embarking on a journey to search for the deceased sun, this short story embeds symbolism with social commentaries and implications for cultural revolution.
	"First Round"	A subject unique to this generation of Chinese American experience, this short short story is similar to “Fleeing” in its focus on marital conflicts between a Chinese American U.S. WWII veteran and his Chinese wife brought over by the War Brides Act.
	"Who"	Through an unexpected encounter with his reader, a young writer expresses his views on the sources of motivation for writing, entailing practice of fulfilling personal responsibility towards social injustice.
	"Christmas Gift"	With part of the narrative resembling the renowned farewell letter of the late Qing martyr Lin Juemin 林觉民 to his wife, Chen Yiying 陈意映 (1888—1913), this short story presents theme of sacrifice with unique focus on the perspective of the martyr’s wife in the revolutionary era of modern China.
	"Supervisor Zhao"	Through elements of caricature of a high school pharmacist, this short story taking place in southern China provides glimpses of commoners’ lives and sentiments in wartime China in the 1940s.
	"Wooden Legs Duk"	Set in the background of a small town in southern China, this short story about a young servant boy and his fate expresses values of Humanism and critiques of social class and injustice.
	"A Published Letter: The voice of An Infantry"	Best to be read as a short fiction written in the form of a letter, this piece vividly reflects the life of foot soldiers, common war activities in Europe, and meaningful thoughts about war in general.
	"Elder Auntie"	Could be considered as a “success story” of the myth of "model minority", this short story depicts how one Chinese family living through the Great Depression achieved social mobility through mingling into local mainstream society, while confronting with altering traditional values of immigrant family in the post-1965 period.
	"Generation Gap"	A short story dramatizing conflicts between a third generation overseas Chinese and his native born American son that reflects changing perspectives of identity and ways of life among young generations of Chinese Americans in the 1970s.

Title

Summary

"Going Abroad"

A teenage boy bids farewell to his mother as he boards a ship to America by himself and onto a life of diaspora during wartime China.

"To Mother"

A young Chinese man’s remorseful confession letter to his mom reveals the causes of depravation in his life that are leading to his impending death and the intricate discontents towards the ills of society.

"Letter from Home"

A short narrative centers on the anxiety of receiving a letter from home meaningfully captures sentiments of life in diaspora and concern of death during wartime.

"Watchful Waiting"

From the perspective of a young man, this short short story represents personal struggles of Chinese males living in the era of “bachelor society” as a direct result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the varied exclusion laws.

"Happy Family"

A short short story providing a brief look into marital conflicts between Chinese American men and their Chinese wives who were brought to America but have yet to be assimilated into American cultures.

"After the Break Up"

This short short story centers on the impact marriage has on a formally revolutionary woman who made choices of life between personal aspiration and economic security.

"Fleeing"

Captured in this short short story may arguably be considered as representative conflicts between Chinese American veteran men and their Chinese wives brought over by the War Brides Act of 1945.

"After Marriage"

An encounter at the bar between two men unfolds a love triangle with a humorous twist at the end of this short short story, one of a few examples of Wong’s writings on subjects for entertainment purposes.

"Forgive Me"

A couple - wife living in wartime China and husband in diasporic America - struggles to reveal a known secret each has held from the other, only to find another unexpected turn of tragedy.

"On Board

A dialogue between a young man and a seaman on a ship sailing to San Francisco expresses differing views about ways of and choices in life, as well as the question of meritocracy in the face of social oppression.

"The Unnecessary Father"

With probing questions of manhood and masculinity, this short short story narrates a man who chooses to indulge himself into a lifestyle of unsustainable generosity towards others while failing to fulfill his responsiblity as a father, husband, and son.

"Bloodstains

A young man having a post-death conversation with his soul-receiving angel, followed by a brief viewing tour into the ills of the human world before his final departure.

"What Fire Cannot Destroy"

A couple finds themselves losing most of their valuables after a residential fire and reflects upon what is most important since their struggling past.

"A Journey to Saudi Arabia"

A short short story depicting how racial discrimination is bluntly practiced in society and poignantly experienced by people when economic competition is involved.

"An Ordinary Story"

By a young narrator’s reflection upon his memories of an elderly man with whom he had shared a few years of living together in a cubed one-room apartment in Chinatown, this short short story portrays common thoughts and ways of life of overseas Chinese.

"The Receding Waves of South Sea"

Centering on a secret brought back by a young veteran returning home, this short story focuses on impacts brought by the war on individuals and their families and serves as a narrative account of Chinese Americans in World War II.

"Fire over the Prairie"

Set against the historical background of WWII about a young man embarking on a journey to search for the deceased sun, this short story embeds symbolism with social commentaries and implications for cultural revolution.

"First Round"

A subject unique to this generation of Chinese American experience, this short short story is similar to “Fleeing” in its focus on marital conflicts between a Chinese American U.S. WWII veteran and his Chinese wife brought over by the War Brides Act.

"Who"

Through an unexpected encounter with his reader, a young writer expresses his views on the sources of motivation for writing, entailing practice of fulfilling personal responsibility towards social injustice.

"Christmas Gift"

With part of the narrative resembling the renowned farewell letter of the late Qing martyr Lin Juemin 林觉民 to his wife, Chen Yiying 陈意映 (1888—1913), this short story presents theme of sacrifice with unique focus on the perspective of the martyr’s wife in the revolutionary era of modern China.

"Supervisor Zhao"

Through elements of caricature of a high school pharmacist, this short story taking place in southern China provides glimpses of commoners’ lives and sentiments in wartime China in the 1940s.

"Wooden Legs Duk"

Set in the background of a small town in southern China, this short story about a young servant boy and his fate expresses values of Humanism and critiques of social class and injustice.

"A Published Letter: The voice of An Infantry"

Best to be read as a short fiction written in the form of a letter, this piece vividly reflects the life of foot soldiers, common war activities in Europe, and meaningful thoughts about war in general.

"Elder Auntie"

Could be considered as a “success story” of the myth of "model minority", this short story depicts how one Chinese family living through the Great Depression achieved social mobility through mingling into local mainstream society, while confronting with altering traditional values of immigrant family in the post-1965 period.

"Generation Gap"

A short story dramatizing conflicts between a third generation overseas Chinese and his native born American son that reflects changing perspectives of identity and ways of life among young generations of Chinese Americans in the 1970s.

James Poy Wong 黃培正

Selected (Short) Short Stories Published in 1940s and 1970s

Title

Summary