On Saturday, September 2, the event “Dialogue: The Chinese in the Pacific War” was held at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) given by Professor Heidi Tinsman of the University of California at Irvine and moderated by Millenium Nucleus ICLAC Researchers María Montt, Alternate Director and Carol Chan.
Tinsman addressed in her presentation the strategic alliance that existed in the Pacific War between Chinese workers and Chilean soldiers, explaining the origin of this link that has historically been understood by Chilean sources as an act of heroism and salvation, but, according to Prof. Tinsman, this suits the Chilean army's interests in justifying the Chilean invasion of Lima.
During the 19th century, nearly 100,000 Chinese migrants came to Peru to work in conditions of semi-slavery on sugar plantations as replacements for African slaves under an abusive labor system, which consisted of a long-term servitude contract that lasted for eight years.
“The image of civilized Chinese subjected to slavery reinforced the idea that Peru was a despotic country, and that Chile had the moral obligation to emancipate the slaves and bring freedom to Peru,” she commented.
The incorporation of the Chinese community into the Chilean military forces occurred in January 1881 in Lurín, south of Lima, following a Chinese oath of loyalty: “This ceremony involved the Chinese god Guan Gong, a figure here found in the museum, although we do not know if it is precisely this statue that was used in the oath, we do know that the Chileans who brought it to Chile in 1882 did know about this ceremony”.
Unlike how this story has been popularized and considered a Chilean heroic act, the researcher points out that for the Chinese community it was not an oath of loyalty to Chile, but rather an oath of loyalty from the Chinese towards their own compatriots who sought to fight against the labor system.
“The Chilean army did not free the Chinese slaves. Chinese workers and merchants took advantage of the Chilean invasion to accelerate a process of struggle and negotiation of labor contracts that was already underway before,” she asserted.
The talk ended with a discussion between Heidi Tinsman and those attending the event, moderated by ICLAC researchers María Montt and Carol Chan.
The exhibition “The Journey of Guan Gong” at the MNHN is open to the public until September 27 of this year. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.