Emergent Chinese Diasporic Identity and Culture: Chinese Grave Markers and Mortuary Rituals in Newfoundland

This article investigates the grave markers and associated mortuary rituals of Newfoundland's Chinese immigrants, especially those who came before 1949, in order to understand them in the religious context of Newfoundland. The goals of this article are, firstly, to demonstrate emergent creolized diasporic identity and culture by presenting how early Chinese immigrants used Christianity to gradually gain social acceptance and, secondly, to challenge the popular idea that conversion by Chinese immigrants was only strategic.