The preservation of chinese beliefs by a chinese - american in amy tan`s the kitchen god`s wife.

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ABSTRACT

Prasetya, Tarsisius Joni W. (2008). The Preservation of Chinese Beliefs by a Chinese-American in Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.

This study analyzes Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. One of the significant topics in the novel is the preservation of Chinese Beliefs in America. Chinese Beliefs are parts of Chinese Culture which are preserved by Chinese-American. Having great motivation, they preserve Chinese Beliefs in some ways continuously.

The aim of the study is to answer the two questions in the problem formulation. The first is the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves Chinese Beliefs. The second is what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American to preserve Chinese Beliefs.

The thesis employed the library research. There were two kinds of sources used in this study, primary and secondary sources. The primary source was obtained from the novel, The Kitchen God’s Wife. The secondary sources were gained from theory of the critical approach by Rohrberger and Wood, theory of motivation known as the Need Theory by Maslow, and theory of Chinese Beliefs by Hook. The writer applied two kinds of critical approaches. The writer chose two different approaches, since there were two different aspects of questions. The sociocultural-historical approach was the approach for the first question related to the culture, whereas the psychological approach was the approach for the second question related to one’s motivation.

There are two findings based on the analysis. The first finding states that Winnie Louie applies three major ways of preserving Chinese Beliefs. She begins with passing down the understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the descendants. It is the symbol of identity and the ways of respecting the ancestors. She continues transferring its implementations to the descendants by worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife and naming the places. Then, she strengthens the family relationship to unite them in the community of preserving Chinese Beliefs in togetherness.

The second finding reveals Winnie Louie’s motivation in preserving Chinese Beliefs. There are some motivations directed by seven kinds of needs. The physiological needs are the basic motivation. Luck and prosperity motivates her to preserve Chinese Beliefs. Being the member of a minority group, who has the same beliefs, she feels secure in the community fulfilling her safety needs. Maintaining the Kitchen God’s blessing for the descendants and implementing her belongingness of Chinese Beliefs are the belongingness and love needs. Preserving Chinese Beliefs is also the expression of her proud of being a Chinese-American who receives Chinese Beliefs as heritages and life guidelines. Winnie Louie’s thinking capacity motivates her to understand and explore Chinese Beliefs, whereas the harmony ofYinandYangfulfills her aesthetic needs. Finally, the self-actualization need in term of expressing her spirituality and respecting Chinese Beliefs as the identity answers her question about her existence in America which is applied by preserving Chinese Beliefs.

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ABSTRAK

Prasetya, Tarsisius Joni W. (2008). The Preservation of Chinese Beliefs by a Chinese-American in Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini membahas tentang sebuah novel karya Amy Tan, The Kitchen God’s Wife. Salah satu topik yang penting adalah pelestarian kepercayaan-kepercayaan China di Amerika. Kepercayaan-kepercayaan-kepercayaan China merupakan bagian dari kebudayaan China yang dilestarikan oleh orang Amerika keturunan China. Dengan motivasi yang besar, mereka melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China dalam beberapa cara secara berkelanjutan.

Tujuan dari skripsi ini adalah menjawab dua pertanyaan dalam rumusan masalah, yang pertama bagaimana cara Winnie Louie sebagai orang Amerika keturunan China melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China, sedangkan yang kedua, apa yang memotivasi Winnie Louie untuk melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut.

Studi ini menggunakan studi pustaka. Ada 2 macam sumber yang digunakan yakni sumber utama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama didapat dari novel, The Kitchen God’s Wife sedangkan sumber kedua didapat dari beberapa teori, diantaranya; pendekatan kritik sastra oleh Rohrberger dan Wood, teori motivasi lebih dikenal dengan teori kebutuhan oleh Maslow, dan teori mengenai kepercayaan-kepercayaan China oleh Hook. Penulis memilih dua macam pendekatan yang digunakan untuk dua aspek yang berbeda. Pendekatan sejarah dan budaya masyarakat untuk menjawab pertayaan pertama tentang budaya, sedangkan pendekatan psikologi digunakan untuk menjawab pertayaan kedua mengenai motivasi seseorang.

Ada 2 hasil analisa berdasarkan analisis yang dilakukan. Hasil analisa pertama menunjukkan bahwa Winnie Louie menggunakan tiga cara pokok dalam melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China. Bermula dengan memberikan pemahaman tentang kepercayaan-kepercayaan China sebagai simbol identitas dan cara untuk menghormati leluhur, berlanjut dengan mewariskan penerapannya pada keturunan. Penerapan kepercayaan tersebut diterapkan dengan menghormati Istri Dewa Dapur dan memberi nama pada tempat-tempat mereka. Selanjutnya, dia mempererat hubungan kekeluargaan, untuk menyatukan mereka dalam komunitas yang melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China dalam kebersamaan.

Hasil analisa kedua menunjukkan motivasi Winnie Louie dalam melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China. Ada beberapa motivasi didorong oleh tujuh macam kebutuhan. Kebutuhan badaniah merupakan kebutuhan dasar. Keberuntungan dan kemakmuran memotivasi dia untuk melestarikan kepercayaan – kepercayaan tersebut. Sebagai anggota dari kelompok minoritas, sebuah komunitas telah memenuhi kebutuhannya akan keamanan.

Menjaga adanya berkat dari Dewa Dapur untuk keturunan dan menerapkan rasa memilikinya pada kepercayaan-kepercayaan China merupakan bagian dari kebutuhannya akan rasa memiliki dan mengasihi. Melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China juga merupakan ekspresi rasa bangga sebagai seorang

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Amerika keturunan China yang menerima kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut sebagai warisan dan panduan hidup. Kemampuan berpikir yang dimiliki Winnie Louie memotivasi dirinya untuk mengerti dan mempelajari lebih lanjut tentang kepercayaan-kepercayaan tersebut, sedangkan harmoni antara Yin dan Yang memenuhi kebutuhannya akan keindahan dalam harmoni hidup. Pada akhirnya, kebutuhan akan aktualisasi diri diterapkan pada pengekspresian kehidupan rohani dan penghormatan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China, sebagai identitas yang menjawab pertanyaan mengenai keberadaannya di Amerika, dan diwujud-nyatakan dengan melestarikan kepercayaan-kepercayaan China.

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THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN

IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree

in English Language Education

Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

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THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN

IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree

in English Language Education

Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

2008

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ASarjana PendidikanThesis on

THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN

IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE

Prepared and Presented by Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038

Approved by:

Date Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum. 29 August 2008 Sponsor

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THE PRESERVATION OF CHINESE BELIEFS BY A CHINESE – AMERICAN

IN AMY TAN’S THE KITCHEN GOD’S WIFE

Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038

Defended before the Board of Examiners On 22 September 2008

and Declared Acceptable

Board of Examiners

Chairperson : A. Hardi Prasetyo, S.Pd., M.A. ______________ Secretary : Made Frida Yulia, S.Pd., M.Pd. ______________ Member : Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum. ______________ Member : Dr. A. Herujiyanto, M.A. ______________ Member : Triprihatmini, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A. ______________

Yogyakarta, 22 September 2008

Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University

Dean,

Drs. Tarsisius Sarkim, M.Ed., Ph.D.

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that the thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the works or parts of the works of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 29 August 2008 The Writer,

Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W Student Number: 041214038

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Dao ren shan, ji shi shan

Ren zhi zhi, yu si mian

Praising the good values is honorable behavior

People being praised will be more motivated

(Anonymous)

Let us create the harmony of life by

respecting others, the nature, and God. God bless us with luck and prosperity.

Amen.

Dedicated with love and gratitude to: My Lord Jesus, Mother Mary, and St. Tarcicius My beloved family and my great lecturers My friends s

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am sure that I would not have been able to write this thesis and to finish it without the help and the support of others. First of all, I would like to convey my greatest gratitude to my Lord,Jesus ChristandMother Mary, that due Their blessing, I could finally finish writing this thesis. Their blessing has been the greatest power to cope with my hard times.

I would like to sincerely express my deepest gratitude to my sponsor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum., who had supported me and given me great assistance. Thank you very much for her patience, advice, and beneficial suggestions for my thesis. May God bless her and her family with great happiness. My gratitude would also go to my lecturers in Sanata Dharma University who shared their precious knowledge. I would like to express my great gratitude to Triprihatmini, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A., who had shared her knowledge in teaching and Dr. A. Herujiyanto, M.A.,who had helped me to gain the pleasure of reading a novel. I will always do my best and learn more to be a better teacher.

I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my beloved father, Am. Suwardono and my wonderfull mother, Alphonsa Suharyanti for their endless love, patience, and prayer. The same appreciation also goes to my brother and my sister,HariandRatri, for their great affection.

I am greatly indebted to Mr. Tjia Tjek Su from Tjen Ling Kiong Miao and my friends from Hok An Kiong Miao, who shared their knowledge on Chinese Beliefs and all its aspects.

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My gratitude also goes to my best friends; Poli, Wida, Anas, Sinta, Ajeng, Heni, Titis, Santi, Ponco, Sigit, Edi, and Dito for the joke that they shared with me, I will never forget them all. Thank you for Dias, Patrice, and Fajar, who become my thesis reader. My gratitude also goes to my friends in Cantus Firmus Choir, my beloved kids in Sunday school,Mr. Anton Jemadi, and the Karawitan Community in Boro.

Finally, I thank all of 2004 PBI students with whom I have struggled to gain the knowledge and my friends whose names I cannot mention one by one.

May God bless them for their kindness and contributions that they had shared in my life.

Tarsisius Joni Prasetya W

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TABLE ON CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE... i

APPROVAL PAGES... ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS... viii

ABSTRACT... xii

ABSTRAK... xiii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Study ... 1

1.2 Problem Formulation ... 6

1.3 Objectives of the Study ... 6

1.4 Benefits of the Study... 6

1.5 Definition of Terms... 7

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Theory of Critical Approach to Literature ... 10

2.1.1 The Sociocultural-Historical Approach to literature... 13

2.1.2 The Psychological Approach to Literature ... 14

2.2 Theory of Motivation ... 14

2.3 Chinese Beliefs …... 20

2.3.1 Cosmology ... 20

2.3.2 Divination... 21

2.3.3 Ancestor Worship... 23

2.4. Chinese-American in United States ... 24

2.5 Theoretical Framework ... 25

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CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Subject Matter ... 28

3.2 Approach ... 30

3.3 Research Procedures ... 31

CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS 4.1 Winnie Louie’s Ways of Preserving Chinese Beliefs ... 33

4.1.1 Passing Down the Understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants... 35

4.1.1.1 Chinese Beliefs are the Symbol of Identity... 35

4.1.1.2 Chinese Beliefs are the Ways of Respecting the Ancestors... 36

4.1.1.3 Chinese Beliefs Bring about the Harmony ofYin andYang... 38

4.1.2 Transferring Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants ... 40

4.1.2.1 Worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife ... 41

4.1.2.2 Naming their Places Based on Chinese Beliefs’ Concepts ... 44

4.1.3 Strengthening her Family Relationship... 45

4.1.3.1 Having some Annual Meetings with other Families ... 46

4.1.3.2 Having a Shop that Provides Chinese Beliefs’ Equipments ... 48

4.1.3.3 Celebrating their Chinese New Year Celebration. 50 4.2 Winnie Louie’s Motivation as a Chinese-American in Preserving Chinese Beliefs... 52

4.2.1 The Self-Actualization Need of Winnie Louie... 53

4.2.1.1 Showing the Chinese Identity ... 53

4.2.1.2 Expressing her Spirituality ... 55

4.2.2 The Aesthetic Need of Winnie Louie... 56

4.2.2.1 Maintaining the Harmony ofYinandYang... 58 ix

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4.2.2.2 The Continuity of Blessing ... 59

4.2.3 The Cognitive Need of Winnie Louie... 61

4.2.3.1 Understanding the Concept of Chinese Beliefs .... 62

4.2.3.2 Exploring the Implementation of Chinese Beliefs 63 4.2.4 The Self Esteem of Winnie Louie... 65

4.2.4.1 Showing off the Knowledge of Chinese Beliefs ... 65

4.2.4.2 Expressing her Pride as Chinese-American ... 67

4.2.5 The Belongingness and Love Need of Winnie Louie ... 69

4.2.5.1 The Implementation of her Belongingness to Chinese Beliefs ... 69

4.2.5.2 Maintaining the Kitchen God’s Blessing for her Descendants ... 71

4.2.6 The Safety Need of Winnie Louie ... 73

4.2.6.1 Maintaining the Minority of Chinese-Americans . 73 4.2.6.2 Feeling Secure in the Community... 74

4.2.7 The Physiological Need of Winnie Louie ... 76

4.2.7.1 Maintaining Winnie Louie’s Business ... 77

4.2.7.2 The Way of Surviving in America ... 79

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusions ... 81

5.2 Suggestions ... 85

5.2.1 Suggestions for the Future Researchers ... 85

5.2.2 Suggestions for English Teachers ... 86

BIBLIOGRAPHY... 89

APPENDICES... 92

Appendix 1 Lesson Plan for Teaching Intensive Reading II... 93

Appendix 2 Syllabus of Intensive Reading II... 97

Appendix 3 Teaching Material... 99

Appendix 4 Summary of The Kitchen God’s Wife... 106 x

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Appendix 5 The Biography of Amy Tan... 110 Appendix 6 The Pictures of Chinese-Americans’ Activities in

Chinatown, San Francisco... 112

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ABSTRACT

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ABSTRAK

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter deals with the background of the study, problem formulation, the objectives of the study, the benefits of the study, and the definition of terms used in this study. The background of the study describes the reasons why the writer chooses the topic of the study and literary works as the study. The objective of the study includes the writer aims of finding the answers to the questions stated in the problem formulation. The writer formulates two questions that become the focus discussed in this study. The next part, which is the benefits of the study, contains some advantages from this study. The last part of this chapter gives the description of some terms in order to avoid misconception in analyzing this study.

1.1 Background of the Study

Craig Storti in his book, Figuring Foreigners Out: A Practical Guide (7) defines that culture is the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in characteristic behaviors. Culture consists of two essential aspects; the invisible dimension (assumptions, value, and beliefs) and the visible dimension (behavior). There are a lot of media that can be used as the transformation tools and accelerate the culture transformation such as the internet, television, and magazines. There are two mainstreams of culture based on the regional aspects; western culture and eastern culture. Each culture has some different characteristics.

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Recently, the western culture has evolved and has been widespread in the world. The western culture is gained and adapted more easily by people through the media transformation and technology. Undeniably, the western culture starts changing and shifting the eastern culture. It is a tragedy when our descendants tend to learn western culture than their own culture. How they can transfer their culture to their next generation if they do not know about their own culture deeply.

The United State of America is a multicultural country with many ethnic groups and races. Most of the citizens in the country are immigrants. They come from many different countries. Although they come from different countries, races and ethnics, they can live together. Their main purpose to come to America is to get a better life in the country. Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations have stayed for centuries in America. They are called Chinese-American.

Nevertheless America is a multicultural country. American Culture is categorized as Western Culture which takes a great influence in some aspects of life including the human characteristics. Americans tend to be individualistic. Self-reliance and independence are stressed and valued. Personal freedom is highly desired. They believe that people can alter nature and determine their life, not the destiny. They tend to be more concerned with material than spiritual matters.

Chinese Culture, which is categorized as Eastern Culture based on the geographic aspects, has different human characteristics. Chinese Culture applies

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the collectivist principles to live in the primary group. Family is the smallest unit of survival. The survival and success of the group ensure the well – being of the individual. They regard other’s needs and feeling. Harmony and interdependence of group are stressed and valued. Tradition must be preserved in the beliefs, rituals and customs. They believe in the destiny as the result of their attitude in life. Therefore, spiritualism is very important to guide the people to the good destiny.

While the American Culture is widespread and influences other cultures, the Chinese Culture can still exist. Some Chinese, who become the immigrants in other countries, bring their culture. They can still preserve their culture even though they live in America as Chinese-Americans.

Belief as one of the culture’s invisible dimensions should also be preserved to support the preservation of Chinese Culture. Belief is a concept of a way of life and work, which people feel obliged to follow for the sake of proving their worth. It guides people to organize their life. Belief is applied in the visible dimension (behavior). Belief that contains universal behavior is easier to be preserved rather than particular behavior. When the behavior can be conducted for every generation in the group of people, it becomes a tradition. Preserving the Chinese Belief means preserving the Chinese Culture.

Hockett quoted in Byrne’s book, English Teaching Extracts (22) points out that literature is undisputedly a vital part of a nation’s culture. According to the statement above, literature can be a solution in gaining to know the culture along with learning the language. In literature, we can also perceive a portrait of life, a portrait containing values of truth and a process with all its problems.

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One of the literary works that can portrait the values of culture in life is The Kitchen God’s Wife. This is a novel written by Amy Tan that wants to tell about a Chinese immigrant who lives in America, who brings her identity and culture along her life. The novel was written in 1900s. It was the era of pre-communism. The Communist party in China expanded their authority. The story told that some Chinese had to go to the Formosa Island. They stayed under the democratic authority that was led by Chiang Kai Sek. In 1949 the communist party attacked the democratic authority. The Democratic could not stand against the communist expansion. Finally, they had no choice and had to flee from the communist party authority. It was stated in the Winnie Louie’s conversation obviously.

Eh,Mrs. Chiang Kai Sek, your husband finally knows how to solve all our problems. So simple, get foreign help. Hey, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr.Chuchill, here is my begging bowl. (Amy Tan 334)

When the Communists came in 1949. He was too scared to run away, too scared to stay. He became so confused he walked with his own two feet all the way to the port at the north edge of the island, and there he sat down to think about his choices. (Amy Tan 72).

They had to go to the Formosa or Taiwan Island. Some of the Chinese went to other democratic countries, one of them was America. There were many Chinese immigrants who wanted to save their life from the communist. In that era, the Chinese still struggled to get a better life in America as immigrants. They lived in a community, called Chinatown. They built their business and kept their relation among other Chinese immigrants. Winnie Louie had also to go to America and opened a flower shop with her family in the Chinatown. In her daily

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life, Winnie Louie believed in Chinese traditions and beliefs. She used the principles of Chinese Culture in deciding what she should do in her life.

My mother and Auntie Helen co-own Ding Ho flower Shop on the Ross Alley in Chinatown (Amy Tan 7).

She traces her finger down one, then the other. “Iye shiang ru yi”. The first word is “luck” this other is an other kind of luck, and these two mean’all that you wish.”All kinds of luck, all that you wish (Amy Tan 58).

Based on the novel, it was revealed obviously that Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American could still preserve Chinese Beliefs as a part of Chinese Culture in the States. The valuable things that can be observed are the ways of how Winnie Louie preserves Chinese Beliefs as a Chinese-American. Having finished analyzing the question about the ways of how Winnie Louie preserves Chinese Beliefs, it can be used as a basis for analyzing the aims of this study to find out what motivates Winnie Louie to preserve Chinese Culture as a Chinese American.

As stated by Hockett quoted in Byrne’s book (22), we can learn the aspects of life including culture from the portrait of life revealed in the literary works. By conducting this study, we can learn and use this study to enrich our knowledge of how Chinese-Americans preserve their culture. Without any doubt, the globalization era is happened in this country. Our responsibility as the future generations is to preserve our culture as identity and heritage in our life. This study can also be used as a comparative study and guideline of our thought, behavior, and effort to preserve our valuable culture; Indonesian Culture.

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1.2 Problem Formulation

In analyzing Amy Tan’s novel, the writer focuses on Winnie Louie’s motivation to preserve the Chinese Culture as a Chinese American. Therefore, the writer formulates two problems of this study that are stated as follows:

1. How does Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserve the Chinese Beliefs? 2. What motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American to preserve the Chinese

Beliefs?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Based on problem formulation stated above, the objectives of this study are: 1. To find out how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves the Chinese

Beliefs.

2. To find out what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves the Chinese Beliefs.

1.4 Benefits of the Study

The study is expected to be able to give some benefits for the readers, students and researchers. The benefits of the study are formulated as follow: 1. For the readers

The analysis of this study will be beneficial for the readers in gaining a better understanding related to the novel. It is also help the readers to enrich their knowledge about how Chinese-Americans preserve their beliefs in the

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globalization era. Through the literary works, they can adapt the concepts relied on the novel to be practiced in their real life.

2. For the students

The writer hopes that this study will also be useful for the students. Reading this study, the students will gain a lot of information related to the way how the major character preserves the Chinese Beliefs. It can help the students analyze some extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of the novel.

3. For the researchers

This study will give an important contribution to the future research related to sociocultural-historical and psychological approach. Hence, the researcher can observe and analyze some aspects of the novel with applying sociocultural-historical psychological approach. The writer hopes that this study will also inspire other researchers to analyzing this remarkable novel.

1.5 Definition of Terms

In the last part of this chapter, I will explain some significant terms used in this study. The definition of terms is aimed at avoiding misconception about this study.

1. Preservation

According toWebster Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, preservation is to keep something alive or in existences. For example; we will preserve our liberties as free men. In this study, the significant things I want to preserve and keep the existence are Chinese Beliefs.

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2. Culture

Craig Storti in his book, Figuring Foreigners out: a Practical Guide (7), describes that culture is the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in characteristic behaviors. Culture consists of two essential aspects namely the invisible dimension (assumptions, value, and beliefs) and the visible dimension (behavior). Understanding the relations between the two dimensions is the key to preserving the culture. In this study, the writer focuses on beliefs as one of the invisible dimension of culture.

3. Beliefs

According to Craig Storti (8) Beliefs are concepts of a way of life and work which people feel obliged to follow for the sake of proving their worth. It guides people to organize their life so that individual can be typed of person. Belief is applied in the visible dimension (behavior). In this study, the writer focuses on Chinese Beliefs.

4. Chinese Beliefs

Eastern countries including China apply traditions in their life. Traditions have to be preserved in the beliefs, rituals, and customs. They believe in the destiny is the result of their attitude in life. That is the main principle of Chinese Beliefs. Therefore, spiritualism is very important to guide the people in the good destiny (Storti 19). There are three main concepts of Chinese Beliefs namely Cosmology, Divination, Ancestor Worship (Hook 288-294).

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5. Chinese-American

Based on Microsoft Encarta 2004, Chinese-American is the term for Chinese immigrants who lived in America since 1848 until their descendants now. The Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations have stayed for centuries in America. According to America cencus, there are about 2.4 million Americans lived in America. Many Chinese-Americans lived in the ethnic community known as Chinatown. Some business and tradition could be found in these Chinatown. The largest Chinatowns are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

6. Motivation

According to McConnel (259), motivation is defined in many ways. One of them is a series of questions that you ask about why people think, feel, and behave as they do. It stimulates one’s action. Motivation comes from human needs and desires. In this study, the researcher analyzes what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American, in her efforts to preserve Chinese Beliefs.

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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of four parts. Those are the theory of critical approach to literature, the theory of motivation, the theory of Chinese Beliefs, and theoretical framework. The theory of critical approach to literature discusses the psychological approach to literature and the sociocultural-historical approach to literature. Theory of motivation explains the psychological aspects of human related to the character’s motivation in the novel. After that the writer employs the theory of Chinese Beliefs that are obeyed by the Chinese-American. In this study, the writer also provides some data on Chinese-American in United States. The last is the theoretical framework which the writer reveals the application of the theory to answer the research questions stated in problem formulation.

2.1. Theory of Critical Approach to Literature

The reading process of literary works produces within the readers an array of responses, taking the form of questions, statements, opinions, and feelings evoked by text. This process will lead to the discussion process in literary works. However, the readers need to comprehend the objective analysis in the form of formal literary criticism. By mastering the concepts of formal literary criticism, the readers can become critical readers who are able to understand and articulate their own reactions and those of others to any text (Bressler 4).

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According to Rohrberger and Woods (3–15), there are two kinds of approach to literary works. The first approach is impressionist approach. It refers to subjective responses to literary works. The readers response based on their feeling. The second approach is the critical approach. It refers to objective responses to literary works. In the literary research, the researcher applies critical approach to comprehend the literary works deeply. The critical approach is categorized into five approaches.

The first is The Formalist Approach. This approach focuses on the importance to comprehend the total integrity of the literary object. The esthetic value is the main concern. This approach tries to demonstrate the harmonious involvement of all the parts to the whole by pointing out how meaning is derived from structure and how matters of technique determine structure. The extreme formalist critics merely the literary work without reference to the fact of the author’s life, the genre of the places in which the literary object was created, and reference to its social milieu.

The second approach is The Biographical Approach. This approach is used when we want an appreciation of the idea and personality of the author to an understanding the literary work. The critics of this approach emphasize that a work of art is a reflection of a personality. Therefore, they attempt to learn as much as possible about the life and development of the author and to apply the knowledge to understand the literary work. It can be denied that biographical material provides useful facts that could put the reader in a better position to understand and appreciate the literary work.

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The third approach is The Sociocultural-Historical Approach This approach believes that it is necessary to investigate the social milieu in which a literary work was created and which is necessarily reflects. They assert two things that literature is not created in a vacuum and the literature embodies ideas significant to the culture that produce it. The examination is not only the literary works of art itself but also the work in relation to others by the same authors in the same periods. This knowledge might enrich the experience of reading.

The fourth approach is The Mythpoeic Approach. This approach is used to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thought, which they believe that they find some expression insignificant works of literary. The recurrent pattern, they assert are those that found first expression in ancient myths and folks rites and basic to human thought that they have meaning for all them.

The fifth approach is The Psychological Approach. This approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. Unlike the mythpoeic, the psychological approach draws on a different body of knowledge. Sigmund Freud’s exploration area of the human mind came to a result. It is an area of the wellspring of man’s rich imagination. His capacity for the creation, the complexity of his thought, behavior, and the contents of this region of the mind found expression in symbolic words, thoughts and actions.

Since there are two aspects in my study; socioculture-historical and psychology aspect, the writer applies two different approaches in order to discuss the research question in the problem formulation. In this study, the writer would

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like to use the sociocultural-historical approach and the psychological approach to analyze the Amy Tan’s NovelThe Kitchen God’s Wife.

2.1.1. The Sociocultural-Historical Approach to Literature

According to Welleck (94-109), Literature is really not only a reaction of the social process but also the essence in the abridgment and summary of all history. It represents life and a social institution which uses language as medium presenting a social creation.

Literature also has a social function to describe the influence of society, prescribe and judge the position of literature in society. It is an expression of society. It means that literature depicts some aspects of social reality. An author conveys historical and social truth through literary works.

However, the author is not only influenced by society. The author can influence the society. People may model their lives upon the patterns of character relied on the literary work. The characters of novel afford interesting indications of such social attitudes. Basically, literature occurs in a social context as part of a culture in a milieu.

There are three classifications of the relation between literature and society. First, it is obvious that there is sociology of writer which is included in the literary works. Second, there is a problem in the social content of literary works. At last, the problems of the readers and social effects of literature. The social effects involves the cultural integration happened in the literary works.

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2.1.2. The Psychological Approach to Literature

The theories and practices of Sigmund Freud provide the foundation for psychoanalytic criticism. He believes that a work of literature is the external expression of the author’s unconscious mind. The literary works must be treated like a dream, applying psychoanalytic techniques to the text to uncover the author’s hidden motivation and repressed desires (Bressler 149–153).

According to Freud, an author’s chief motivation for writing any story is to gratify some secret desire; some forbidden wish that probably developed during the author was suppressed and dumped in the unconscious. By using Freud’s psychoanalytic techniques as they are used in dream therapy, psychoanalytic critics believe the reader can unlock the hidden meanings contained within the story. Then the reader can have an accurate interpretation of the text (Bressler 159–160).

Basically, psychoanalytic criticism deals with a work literature primarily as an expression, in fictional form, of the state of mind and the structure of personality of the individual author. The work of literature is correlated with its author’s distinctive mental and emotional traits: (1) reference to author’s personality in order to explain and interpret a literary work; (2) reference to literary works in order to establish, biographically, the personality of the author; (3) the mode of reading a literary work specifically as a way of experiencing the distinctive subjectivity, or consciousness, of its author (Murphy 263).

According to Welleck (81), psychology and literature is the psychological study of the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of creative process, or

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the study of the psychological types and laws present within works of literature. It is also the study in the literature effect upon its readers.

Psychology obviously can illuminate the creative process. For some conscious artist, psychology may have tightened their sense of reality, sharpened their powers of observation or allowed them to fall into hitherto undiscovered pattern. Psychology help to uncover the author’s do with the literary works (Welleck 90–93).

2.2. Theory of Motivation

Amy Tan’s novel The Kitchen God’s Wife reveals Winnie Louie’s motivation as a Chinese-American to preserve her Chinese Culture. This part will describe the meaning of motivation based on some theories proposed by psychologists.

According to Beck (24, 144-145) motivation is broadly concerned with the contemporary determinants of choice (direction), persistence, and vigor of directed behavior. Motivation is the grounds in characters’ temperament, desires, and moral nature for their speech and actions (Abrams 24). It comes from the wordmotiverefers to an inferred state of the organism which arouses activity and directs the organism’s behavior toward certain object or conditions called goals (Aiken 110–111). Other psychologist Jung (4-5) defines that motivation must be able to include terms such as desires, wishes, plans, goals, intents, impulses, and purposes. In general, when we speak of motives we are referring to the causes or reasons that underlie a given behavior. Motivation is the concept used to describe

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the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior. The concept of motivation is also used to explain differences in the intensity of behavior. Additionally, we often use the concept of motivation to indicate the direction of behavior (Petri 4).

Human are continually interpreting the complex pattern of behaviors they observe in others as well as in themselves. We try to explain our actions in terms of motives that are regarded as causes of behavior. Similarly we try to infer the underlying motivational causes of the behaviors of others.

In the field of industrial psychology, a distinction is commonly made between intrinsic motivation and extrinsic rewards. The intrinsic motivation refers to factors that make certain activities rewarding in and of them. Almost anything could potentially be intrinsically motivating for some individuals. Extrinsic rewards refer generally to the kinds of reinforcement situations. It is reinforced by some external agents. Other psychologist states that extrinsic reward is commonly called extrinsic motivation (Weiner 257). The concept of intrinsic motivation is defined as the value or pleasure associated with an activity as opposed to the goal toward which the activity is directed. The extrinsic motivation emphasizes the external goals toward which the activity is directed. It is possible two kinds of motivation interact such that extrinsic motivation reduces the degree of intrinsic motivation for a task (Jung 140).

Beck states that there should be an interaction of intrinsic motivation and external rewards. If the individual sees himself as the causal factor for desirable outcomes, then the behavior producing those outcomes is intrinsically motivating

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and desirable. On the other hand, if the individual sees his rewards as being dependent on someone else, the activities necessary to get those rewards will be intrinsically motivating. Weiner (257) also prove that there is a growing literature documenting that children with initial interest in a task (intrinsic motivation) lose some of that interest when an external reward (extrinsic motivation) is promised for performing that task. Since most human activity is affected by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, it would be difficult to study the effects of each type of motivation separately (Jung 140).

According to Rogers and Maslow written in the motivational principles, the core tendency of a person is to actualize individual potential. There is an internal, biological pressure to develop fully the capacities and the talents that have been inherited; the central of motivation of the individuals is to grow and to enhance the basic self (Weiner 409).

Motivation theories start with the assumption that there is a cause for every behavior. The goal is to identify the causes. Psychologists distinguish between approach causes and avoidant causes. In approach behavior, people do thing because of something they want, desire, or need. In avoidant behavior, people do things to avoid something. From a biological perspective, two primary goals of behavior are to survive and reproduce. If anything poses a threat to our survival, we need to deal with it immediately.

According to the basic themes of contemporary motivation theories, all behavior represents an attempt to adapt to the environment (Franken 3–5). Social interaction with others is one of the major, which constructs in motivation. Some

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theorists have also pointed out that we are socially motivated. Social situations have a large influence on our behavior because the presence of others alters our motivation (Petri 5-6).

Related to the approach of motivation, the psychologists propose some theories. One of the theory that is widely used in supporting the motivation approach is Need Theory. Need Theory grow out of the idea that the energy, direction, and persistence of behavior are due to the existence of needs. Abraham Maslow is perhaps one of the best- known need theory. He argues that the basic psychological needs are associated with deficiency and higher-order needs with growth. This is consistent with the distinction between approach and avoidant motivation. In Maslow’s view, needs can be grouped in categories, which are arranged in a hierarchical fashion (Franken 15–16).

Self-actualizati onneeds

Aesthetic needs:symmetry, order and beauty

Cognitive needs: to know, understand and explore

Esteem needs: to achieve, be competent, and gain approval and recognition

Belongingness and love needs: to affiliate with others, be accepted, and belong

Safety needs: to feel secure, and out of danger

Physiological needs: hunger, thirst, and so forth

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

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These needs above can be strengthened through rewards. By coupling the concept of need and reward, it becomes possible to incorporate the idea that environment is important in shaping human motivation.

Rogers quoted in Franken’s book, Human Motivation (17) discusses the growth motivation in relation to the fully functioning individual, while Maslow uses the term self-actualization to describe the motivation to strive for personal fulfillment. Related to the environment, the psychologist uses growth motivation as the major construct the motivation. One aspect of growth motivation is the need to control or have an effect on our environment. It is called effectance motivation by some andpersonal causationby others.

The hierarchy of needs is categorized into two major steps of motivation. The first four steps on Maslow’s hierarchy isdeprivation motivation.It constitutes the needs that must be satisfied before one reaches the final level, the level of self-actualization. In the self-actualization, the person is motivated by different conditions than at the lower levels. It is motivated to grow and become all that he or she is capable of becoming. Self- actualization constantly stimulates people to test their abilities and expand their horizons in their environment. People will actualize their principles that they believe in their society. It is the condition when the growth motivation has been achieved. Based on the hierarchy of need, the highest need’s concept; self-actualization concept will be used to observe the Winnie Louie’ motivation to preserve the Chinese Beliefs.

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2.3. Chinese Beliefs

According to the Hook (288) stated in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of China, Chinese Beliefs divided into three categories namely Cosmology, Divination, and Ancestor Worship. The Chinese Beliefs are based on Sanjiao’s philosophies.Sanjiao (Three Dharma) is the unity of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. It was applied in the era of Han dynasty up to now (Matrisia Komda Jateng 8-11).

2.3.1. Cosmology

China had one of the most highly developed cosmological systems in the world until the Communist Revolution in 1949. There is more than one fraction of systems. However, the most important of the many elements in the Chinese Cosmological system was TheYingandYangdichotomy (Hook 288).

Yin was normally seen as the collective representation of all forces in the universe that emanate from the darkness.Yangwas the representation of the light. The Yin and Yang dichotomy followed from the basic division that aspects of human experience were often conceptualized as opposites. For instance: day-light, life-death, good-evil, and male-female. The sexual dichotomy with its unambiguous connotation of male supremacy was often used to justify the suppression of women. In the traditional view of women are thought to be weak, emotional, and untrustworthy. The characteristics are related to Yin nature. Basically, the Yin and Yang dichotomy was the basic concept which influenced other aspects in Chinese-Beliefs.

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2.3.2. Divination

It was practiced in China from about 1700 BC. It was intended to discover the answers of occult powers to simple questions that concerned matters of everyday life or the immediate outcome of a proposed action. For example; the changes of a good harvest, the choices of times for religious services, and the success in the hunt of battle.

It was felt that only by taking such precautions could it be ensured that the outcome of the proposed plan would be successful. There are three means in pronouncing the results of divination (Hook 289-290):

a.Scapulimancy

It was the earliest method of divination. It was applied by heating the shoulder bones (scapulae) of animals or the shells (plastra) of turtles to induce random cracks in the material. The diviner could determine the outcome of a proposed plan of action.

This method was applied in the Sang dynasty and used to ascertain their future or answer their practical problems. The record of each act of divination was inscribed on the bone and shells. They chose turtles; of regarding turtles were the longest-lived animal represented the eternal truths. Divination by turtle shell was practiced at least until the beginning of the 1stcentury AD.

b.Yijing(The Book of Changes)

It was a book that guided the seer to determine the given answer intuitively. The book contained a wholly symbolical scheme of universal philosophy that linked intuitive divination with China’s intellectual development.

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The text provided a title for each of the 64 figures which guided to its character and situations occur in the universe and repeat in cyclical fashion. Divination with Yijing moved from an attempt to answer a specific problem to a means of ascertaining in which the 64 situations the inquirer chanced to be placed. The enlarged The Book of Change reached its present form at about the start of first century AD. It was invoked both by diviners who intuitively sought clarification to problems from its highly esoteric text and by scientist, who saw in it a universal scheme of being means in comprehending the mysteries of creation (Hook 290).

c. Geomancy

Geomancy is known as Fengshui. It is a means of divination intended to find the most suitable sites establishing a city, house and tomb. The Chinese have regarded the earth as a living organism, comparable with other organisms such as the human body.

The human body incorporates channels along which its life blood pulsates. Therefore, it is thought that the earth included similar channels. It is described as “the veins of the earth or “the veins of the dragon”. The parts of earth that are favorably sited lie at points where such channels converge, bringing with them natural blessings that enrich a living body. The benefits of channels are described as qi, natural energies and the channels along which they pass are invariably winding. Forces of an evil nature (sha) make a direct approach to a site along a straight, man-made line such as a ditch or roadway.

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Geomancy has depended on combining intuition with sophisticated intellectual theories. The intellectual elements spring from the belief that man’s fortune depends on accommodating himself to his natural surroundings and to the eternal rhythms that regulate the movements of heaven, earth and man. In assessing the value or quality of a site, a geomancer uses a highly intricate compass, which shows how an individual’s circumstances (for example, date and time of birth) coincide with such relationships and their influences.

Since the 11th century, geomancers have used a compass fitted with a magnetic needle, but the antecedents of these instruments without such a device date from 2ndcentury BC. By applying the geomancy, the building may be sited to suit the major rhythms of earth and heaven (Hook 290-291).

2.1.3. Ancestor Worship

Reciprocity between living and dead is the key to this system of beliefs which draws together many elements of cosmology and divination. For example: the flow of good “winter and water” (fengshui) influences through the bones of the ancestor is thought to bring prosperity to his descendants. The livings have the awesome responsibility of sustaining the spirits of the ancestors and protecting their graves. As long as the reciprocal relationships is maintained both the living and dead benefited.

However, if the descendants neglected the spirit of an ancestor by falling to make regular offerings at his grave, the ancestor would be cut adrift in the other-world and seek nourishment elsewhere. Ancestor abandons in this way

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become ‘hungry ghost’, a general term for spirit of dead people who did not have any reciprocal relationship with the living.

There are two sides to Chinese ancestor worship; the domestic cult and the lineage cult. The domestic side known as ‘family cult’ is concerned with immediate ancestors who had died in the past five or six generations. The names of these people are written on a large paper sheet which is kept on the family altar. The list of names is the centre of all ritual activity in the family. On the other hand, the lineage cult focuses on a group of generalized ancestors, most of whom are no longer included on the domestic altars. In south China it consists of 40 generations. Ancestral hall are often magnificent buildings, ideally with three large chambers and elaborate decorations. These ancestral halls are the most visible symbol of lineage wealth and prestige.

For the majority of people throughout China, ancestor worship is restricted to domestic cult. After few generations, most Chinese have a little reason to be concerned with predecessors who had left only their memory (Hook 291-194).

2.4. Chinese-American in United States

The United States of America is a multicultural country with many ethnic groups and races. Most of the citizens in the country are immigrants. The come from many different countries. Although they come from different countries, races and ethnics, they can live together. People come to America have a main purpose to get better living in the country.

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Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations of them have stayed for centuries in America. According to America census, some 2.4 million Chinese-Americans live in America. Chinese immigrants in America began with the arrival of thousands of Chinese miners in California following the discovery of gold in 1848.

Many Chinese-Americans lived in the ethnic community known as Chinatown. Some business and traditions can be found in that place. The largest Chinatowns were in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. Chinese- Americas have contributed to America culture in many different aspects. Chinese martial arts, such asGongfuandTaijiquanhave become familiar to many Americans. Acupunture, the Chinese healing arts, is increasingly gaining acceptance by mainstream Western medicine. Many Chinese-Americans are Christians, but they still preserve their beliefs as traditions. They also celebrate the Chinese New Year Celebration in many cities with the roar of blazing firecrakers, lion dance, and traditional music (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2004).

2.5. Theoretical Framework

Theories are the basis for analyzing the novel. Based on the theories that have been explained in preceding section, the researcher would like to draw up the application of the theories in this theoretical framework.

Basically, there are two research questions will be discussed in this study with different approach for each question. Since the first research question related to sociocultural-historical aspect, the approach which are used to analyze the question is the Sociocultural-Historical Approach. On the other hand, since the

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second research question related to the psychology aspect, the researcher used the Psychological Approach to discuss it.

After deciding the approach, the approach is used as a base to choose the theories based on the approaches. The first question is related with the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese-American preserves Chinese Beliefs. The researcher uses the portrait of Chinese-American life in America and the Chinese Beliefs principles which are obeyed by Chinese-American. Based on the portrait of Chinese-American and their Chinese Beliefs, the researcher uses it as a reference and base to analyze the problems in the novel.

Having finished in analyzing the first research question, the researcher goes to discuss the second research question. The researcher wants to get the answer what motivates Winnie Louie as a Chinese American to preserve Chinese Beliefs. Since the second research questions are related to the human motivation, the researcher applies the psychological approach. The psychological approach used in the literary work will sharpen the analysis in correlation between literature and psychology aspects. The researcher applies Welleck’s theory in the relation between literature and psychology.

Theory of motivation proposed by Maslow is highly used to discuss and analyze the second research question related to Winnie Louie’s motivation to preserve the Chinese-Culture in United States. Based on the theory of motivation, there are seventh stages of needs. Needs are the reason which motivates someone to do something. When someone has achieved the basic needs, he or she will go to the higher needs’ stage. Self-actualization is the highest stage that motivates

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someone to preserve his/her principles, values, and culture. Since beliefs are included in culture, the researcher uses self- actualization as main base to analyze the second research question.

Based on the theoretical framework provided above, the study will be guided to uncover the research questions in the problem formulation.

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CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

This part contains three parts, namely the subject matter, approaches and research procedures. The subject matter explains the novel briefly and reviews of the object of the study. Approaches discuss the Psychological approach and Sociocultural-historical approach applied in analyzing the study. Research procedures describe the milestones of method which are applied to accomplish the analysis of the study.

3.1 Subject Matter

The primary subject of this study is Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife. The novel used in this study was published by Ballatine Books in 1991. The novel is divided into 26 chapters. It contains 244 pages. It is a novel which is written by Chinese-American writer, Amy Tan.

Amy Tan presented the tension that Asian-American women experience in best-selling novels like The Kitchen God's Wife, which won the National Book Award in 1989. On the 9 July 1991, The Kitchen God's Wife crowned The New York Times best- seller list. The novel won enthusiastic reviews and spent eight months on the New York Times best-seller list.

Basically the main theme of the novel is the relationship between mother and daughter. The relationship is represented by Winnie Louie and Pearl’s life experiences. Winnie Louie is a mother who ever felt the Chinese civilization in

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China and then immigrated to America as a Chinese-American. Pearl is a daughter who was born and grew up as Chinese-American in America. They have a different background of life but they also have a similarity that is a Chinese-American who lives in America.

However, the novel is not only about the relationship of mother and daughter. The novel can reflect the portrait of social life as Chinese-American in America. They live together in certain place called Chinatown. They do their business in the form of family business. Although they have lived in America, they still preserve their Chinese Culture. One of the culture dimensions they preserve is Chinese Beliefs. Generally, there are three main aspects of Chinese Spiritualism. They are Chinese Beliefs, Chinese Customs and Chinese Religions. The writer would focus on the Chinese Beliefs which are reflected in the novel obviously.

Chinese beliefs contains of three aspects, namely Cosmology, Divination and Ancestor Worship. Those three aspects are mainly applied by Winnie Louie in the novel. Winnie Louie as a Chinese American always bring along Chinese Beliefs in her daily life. She also tried to introduce the Chinese Beliefs to her descendants. She has a great motivation to preserve the Chinese Beliefs as a Chinese American in America.

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3.2 Approach

According to Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, There were five approaches could be applied in analyzing the literary works. However, there were two approaches applied in this study. The first approach was The Sociocultural-historical approach. This approach was used to analyze the first research question stated in the problem formulation. It was used to analyze the socio-cultural historical background relied on the novel. This approach guided us to analyze a novel in reference to the civilization that produced the novel. Civilization was defined as the attitudes and actions as its subject matter. It was necessary to investigate the social milieu, the cultural and historical background in which novel was created (Rohrberger and Woods 9). This approach was applied to investigate the social life related to the preservation of Chinese Beliefs in America.

The second approach which was applied in this study was the Psychological Approach. The reason why the approach was used for analyzing the second research questions in the problem formulation since the second question was related to the theory of motivation, a branch of psychology theory. This approach brought us to analyze the novel from the psychological point of view of human beings (Rohrberger and Woods 9). The approach guided the writer in analyzing what was the motivation of Winnie Louie to preserve Chinese Beliefs as a Chinese American.

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3.3 Research Procedures

The writer used library research as the research method to gather the primary and secondary data. It meant that the data were gained from taking notes and analyzing the novel from the reliable data. The writer took some stages in order to accomplish the study.

The first stage was choosing the novel as the primary data of the study. The writer chose Amy Tan’s The Kitchen God’s Wife as the primary data of the study. In order to understand the novel deeply, the writer read the novel for several times. During the understanding process of novel, the writer could observe the portrait of Chinese American social life in the novel. The main character of the novel, Winnie Louie applied the Chinese Beliefs in her daily life. It made the writer more focused on the Chinese Beliefs relied on the novel. After understanding the novel, the writer found out the problems which could be analyzed as it was formulated in the problem formulation. The writer was attracted to analyze the way how Winnie Louie as a Chinese American preserved the Chinese Beliefs and what motives Winnie Louie to preserve the Chinese Beliefs.

The second stage was collecting some books and references supporting the analysis and answers of the research questions. Since the subject matters of the study were related to the culture and psychology, the writer collected some books of Chinese American Society, Chinese Culture and Chinese Beliefs. The writer also found some books explained about the psychology theory especially the theory of motivation in the self-actualization aspect.

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In the third stage, the writer emphasized on the Chinese’ ways in preserving the Chinese Beliefs which was portrayed in the novel. The writer discussed it based on the socio-cultural-historical approach. This manner was applied in order to gather the accurate portrait of the Chinese American society related to the subject matter in the novel. This result of the analysis played important role in how the novel conducted Chinese Beliefs which was reflected in the Winnie Louie as Chinese American.

In the following analysis process, the writer focused on the theory of motivation in order to analyze the Winnie Louie’s motivation to preserve the Chinese Beliefs. Based on the knowledge in the secondary data, the writer discussed the second research questions. Theory of motivation was the base that guided the analysis of the Winnie Louie happened in the novel precisely.

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CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS

This chapter is intended to answer the research problems. It consists of two parts. The first part is the discussion on Winnie Louie’s ways of preserving Chinese Beliefs. Then, the second part deals with Winnie Louie’s motivation in preserving Chinese Beliefs.

4.1 Winnie Louie’s Ways of Preserving Chinese Beliefs

The novel was written in the 1900s. It was the era of pre-communism. Based on the setting of time, we knew that the Communist party in China expanded their authority. The story tells us about the Chinese who remained in the democratic authority lead by Chiang Kai Sek. The communist party attacked the democratic authority in 1949. The Democratic could not stand against the communist’s expansion, so they had to flee to other countries. It is stated in the Winnie Louie’s conversation.

Eh,Mrs. Chiang Kai Sek, your husband finally knows how to solve all our problems. So simple, get foreign hel Hey, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr.Chuchill, here is my begging bowl (334).

When the Communists came in 1949, he was too scared to run away, too scared to stay. He became so confused he walked with his own two feet all the way to the port at the north edge of the island, and there he sat down to think about his choices (72).

Most of them went to the Formosa or Taiwan Island. The rest immigrated to other democratic countries, like America. In that era, the Chinese struggled to get a better life in America as immigrants. Winnie Louie immigrated to America

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together with Helen in 1953 (82). Winnie Louie chose America since she was married to James Louie, a Chinese-American (498).

Based on the novel, there are some ways of how the Chinese preserve their beliefs as immigrants in America. It is revealed clearly in the ways of Winnie Louis’s life.

I used to play with her altar, a miniature red temple containing framed picture of Chinese gods. In front of that was an imitation-brass urn filled with burnt incense sticks, and on the side were offering oranges (13-14) Phill said when he heard we had to go to San Fransisco, a hundred miles round-trip from our house in San Jose, made worsed by weekend football traffic (7).

Basically, there are three main kinds of Chinese Beliefs. They are Cosmology, Divination, and Ancestor Worship. Cosmology is known as The Yin and Yang dichotomy. Divination is related with the prediction system of occult powers. Then,Ancestor Worshipis a ritual in which the descendants sustained the spirit of the ancestors. However, the Yin and Yang dichotomy is the basic of Chinese Beliefs concepts. In fact, Cosmology is written in the novel extensively, more than Ancestor Worship and Divination. “My mother patted my hand. Oh I know what you are thinking, she said quietly. Of course every baby born withyin andyang. The yin comes from the women. The yang comes from the man. When you were born I tried to see whose yang you had” (511).

Winnie Louie tries to preserve the beliefs in three ways. First, she starts with passing down the understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the descendants. Then, she transfers the implementation of Chinese Beliefs to the descendants. The last, she strengthens the family relationships.

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4.1.1 Passing Down the Understandings on Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants

Before doing something, it is very important to know the concept and to understand what one should do to carry out the concept. That principle is firmly held by Winnie Louie. She believes that her descendants will apply Chinese Beliefs if they have known its concept. “She walks me around to view her handiwork in other parts of the shop lining the walls are large funeral wreaths, propped on easel. My mother claims these banners are the reasons why Ding Ho Flower Shop has had success flowing through its door all these years” (18-19).

She explains the beliefs in their annual family gathering and teaches her descendants about the use of symbols and banners in Chinese Beliefs. She convinces her descendants that they will receive a lot of benefits by applying Chinese Beliefs. There are some understandings on the benefits and the purposes of Chinese Beliefs conveyed by Winnie Louie.

4.1.1.1 Chinese Beliefs are the Symbol of Identity

Chinese is one of the minority groups in San Francisco, America. Even though Winnie Louie is an American citizen, she is originally Chinese. Chinese is her identity and she is proud of it. Chinese Beliefs which are part of Chinese Culture build the identity of the Chinese.

My mother has always been very proud of those red banners. She does not write the typical congratulatory sayings,” Good Luck” or “Prosperity and Long Life.” All the sayings, written in gold Chinese characters, are of own inspiration, her thoughts about life and death, luck and hope (18).

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She believes that Chinese Beliefs has become the symbol of identity. People cannot show and stand on their identity if they could not understand their own beliefs. Winnie Louie transfers her understandings to the descendants so that they will not loose their identity as Chinese people, even tough they live in America.

Winnie Louise also believes that Chinese Beliefs as a symbol of identity make the person who believes it receive luck from the Gods. Person who preserves Chinese Beliefs received the changes of her/his life from bad to luck “And now I will tell you when all my luck changed” (297). Definitely, she wants her descendants firmly hold the concept that they receive luck and achieve the success by respecting Chinese Beliefs as an identity wherever they live.

4.1.1.2 Chinese Beliefs are the Ways of Respecting the Ancestors

Ancestor worship is one of the traditions for Chinese-American. Even though the ancestor has passed away, they pray for them in the annual ceremony, known as ancestor worship. If they worship their ancestor, they would be blessed with prosperity. The harmony of life is implemented in the harmony of ancestors and descendants. The harmony is maintained through the tradition of ancestor worship which is the symbol of respecting the ancestors. The descendants hope that the ancestors bless them and convey their wishes to the Gods. Hopefully, the Gods will bless their life with a lot of luck.

From then on, the people in China knew Kitchen God was watching them. From his corner in every house and every shop, he saw all kinds of good and bad habits spill out, generosity or greediness, a harmonious of nature or complaining one. And once a year, seven days before the New Year,

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Kitchen God flew back up the fireplace to report whose fate deserved to be changed, better for worse, or worse for better (61)

Chinese beliefs are implemented in the annual ceremony. There are many annual ceremonies for the ancestors which are portrayed in the Winnie Louie’s life. It is portrayed when she goes to the family’s event that is related to the ceremonies of ancestor worship.

At twenty minutes after two, the four of us walk into the reception area of funeral parlor. My cousin, Frank hands us black armbands to wear (40). The wooded clapper and the bell sound again, faster and faster. Suddenly the white banner tears away from the wall, and the family association whishes for lucky and long life spiral down and land draped across Grand Auntie’s chest like a beauty pageant banner (46).

Ceremonies which are conducted in Chinese Beliefs are the ways of respecting the ancestors. Ancestors’ blessing is the main purpose of worshiping their ancestors. The blessing will be gained, if they maintain the relationship with their ancestor. Maintaining the relationship with the ancestors can only be implemented through the annual ceremonies which show their respect to the ancestors.

He bows three times to Grand Auntie Du, then moves her casket, which glides forward easily on wheels. After another bow, the man ceremoniously plucks the banner off Grand Auntie’s chest and carries it in both arms as if it were holy vestments. Now Frank is passing out lit stick of incense to everyone. I look around, trying to figure out what to do (46-47).

The relationship with ancestors has also to be maintained because they believe that the ancestors have a life in heaven. They can be reached by praying. The Americans have a basic belief related to dead people. The Chinese-Americans believe that the death continue their life in heaven. In the following life, they need some equipments. Therefore, it is essential to have annual

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ceremonies for praying. The descendants burn some spirit money for their ancestors. Even, they add some life equipments for the ancestors in the burial ceremony. It is portrayed in the Auntie Du’s funeral ceremony as follow; “He hands each of us a piece of foil-wrapped candy and a small red envelope of lucky money. “What are we supposed to do with these?”, Phil whispers. “Offer them to Grand Auntie Du?” He pulls out a quarter from lucky money envelope” (40).

All the things are implemented based on Chinese Beliefs. The Chinese Beliefs have become the ways of respecting the ancestors. When it is implemented in the annual ceremony, it shows their respect and maintains the relationship with the ancestors. Finally, they receive a lot of blessing and luck from the ancestors because they preserve their relationship with them and the heritages, Chinese Beliefs.

4.1.1.3 Chinese Beliefs Bring about the Harmony ofYinandYang

The basic principle of Chinese Beliefs is The Yin and Yang dichotomy. There are a lot of Chinese Concepts in Chinese Beliefs, but all the concepts are based on The Yin and Yang dichotomy. Yin is commonly known as negative power. On the other hand, Yang is the positive power. However, the meaning of Yin andYang dichotomy is not only related to negative and positive powers. It is applied based on the aspect of life, for example; in the gender aspect. Yin is known as women and Yang is known as men. It is shown in Winnie Louie’s conversation as follow; “The yin comes from the woman. The yang comes from the man” (511).

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There is a cause and an effect for all aspects of life. From the definition of Yin andYang,it goes to the main definition of this concept. Basically, all aspects of life consist of two contrary powers, Yin and Yang. The goal of the concept is balancingYinandYangwhich leads to the harmony of life aspects. Therefore, the harmony of Yin and Yang is the main manner to harmonize life aspects. All the concepts including Chinese Beliefs are conducted to achieve the harmony. Basically, the harmony of Yin and Yang is achieved by three main harmonies. They are the harmony of human with nature, human with other human, and human with the Gods (59).

Chinese Beliefs which are implemented in the annual events are the ways of maintaining the harmony through good relationships. In the annual event, Chinese-Americans socialize with the others, respect the nature, and pray to the Gods. When the three main harmonies are maintained, the harmony of Yin and Yangis preserved well.Through the harmony of YinandYang,life goes well and brings luck and prosperity.

Running down the sides of wooden panels decorated with gold Chinese characters. What does that say?, I ask my mother. She traces her finger down one, then the other. “Iye shiang ru yi”. The first word is “luck” this other is another kind of luck, and these two mean’ all that you wish.” All kinds of luck, all that you wish (58)

From the explanation above, it is explained obviously that Chinese Beliefs involve a great philosophy in the harmony of Yin and Yang. Therefore, Winnie Louie keeps the harmony of Yin and Yang to harmonize her life and to preserve Chinese Beliefs.

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4.1.2 Transferring Chinese Beliefs to the Descendants

Winnie Louie as a Chinese immigrant highly understands that Chinese Beliefs should be preserved by transferring the beliefs to the descendants. She transfers it by implementing the concepts in the traditions. Therefore, the descendants do not only understand the theories, but also they also practice it.

Before discussing the transfer of Chinese Beliefs, it is better to know about Winnie Louie’s descendants. Winnie Louie has two children named Pearl Louie and Samuel. It is cited in the novel as follow; “And these days “the Louies” really refers to my mother and me, since my father die and my brother, Samuel, lives in New Jersey” (3).

The novel only explains about the relationship between Winnie Louie and her lovely daughter, Pearl Louie. There is no information which is related to Samuel further. Pearl Louie was married to an American, Phil Brandt. Phil Brandt works as a doctor in San Jose.

“Sometimes I regret that I ever married into a Chinese family,” Phil said when he heard we had to go to San Francisco, a hundred miles round-trip from our house in San Jose, made worse by weekend football traffic. And a weekend with the extended family is definitely not his preferred way to spend his days off from the hospital (7).

Pearl Louie has two beautiful daughters namely Tessa and Cleo. Tessa is eight years old, whereas her sister is three years old. They always follow their parents in some activities which are related to their family. It is portrayed in Pearl’s activity as follow; “So now Phil is getting the girls settled in the room that once belonged to my younger brother. Phil has decided that Tessa, who is eight, will sleep on the twin bed, and three-year-old Cleo will get the hideaway cot” (8).

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Winnie Louie as a grandmother has a close relationship with her grandchildren. She always asks Pearl to take her daughters with her in family journey. Winnie Louie tries to transfer Chinese Beliefs to the descendants through her daughter, Pearl Louie. It cannot be denied that the process of transferring Chinese Beliefs can be done, since there is a good relationship between the Winnie Louie and her descendants, especially Pearl Louie. Winnie Louie introduces Chinese Beliefs from the simple concept. It is seen when Winnie asks the Pearl’s family to join in the Grand Auntie Du’s Funeral.

My mother left the house two hours ago with Auntie Helen so they could decorate the funeral parlor. And now Phil and I are going to be late for Grand Auntie’s service. Through the haze of the incense-blurred light, I can barely see my mother. She’s gesturing for us to come sit with her in the second row. Phil corrals the girls. As the camera continues to roll, we walk quickly down the aisle, past what must be only a dozen or so mourners, Mary, Doug, and their children (39-41).

Winnie Louie does not only pass down the understandings on Chinese Beliefs, but also transfers it to the descendants in some ways. At least, there are two ways of transferring Chinese Beliefs which are applied by Winnie Louie. First is by worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife. Second is by naming their places which is based on Chinese Belief.

4.1.2.1 Worshiping the Kitchen God’s Wife

Kitchen God is a god who has a duty to watch over human’s behavior in the world for a whole year. He decides whether the people deserve luck or not (61). The story of the Kitchen God began with a man named Zhang. He was a rich farmer and had a good wife named Guo. Unfortunately, he was attracted with

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surviving World War II. She loses many children along the way, some to early deaths and one that was stillborn. It is during the War that Winnie becomes friends with Helen, whose name in China was Hulan. By telling her daughter about this friendship, Winnie is revealing that Helen and Winnie are not really in-laws as the family in America believes, but only friends who have gone through much hardship together. Winnie had had to lie and say that Helen was her dead brother's first wife in order to bring Helen to the United States, after Winnie had already been in the United States for a while. Winnie lived her new husband Jimmy Louie, the man whom Pearl had always been told was her father. Jimmie Louie was a good husband, a good father, and a minister in the Chinese Baptist Church, but he had died when Pearl was a teenager.

Winnie had met Jimmy Louie in China, at an American dance. He was American born, though his background was Chinese, and he was extremely kind. The two fell in love, and Pearl escaped with him, after running away from Wen Fu. The biggest secret, however, that Winnie tells her daughter, is that before Winnie was able to escape her marriage, Wen Fu raped her and that Wen Fu is Pearl's real father. Winnie tells her daughter also that it is only now that she feels truly free from Wen Fu's wickedness and his threats, because she has received news of his death.

After Winnie tells her daughter about her past, Pearl reveals the secret of her own disease. By the time the wedding of Bao-Bao comes around, mother and daughter know each other better and are able to appreciate each other's positions,

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of a trip to China—a trip that Helen, Pearl, and Winnie will take together.

(Taken from http://www.sparknotes.com /lit/ kitchengods/summary.html, accessed on 1 August 2008 at 13 p.m.

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APPENDIX 5

THE BIOGRAPHY OF AMY TAN

Amy Tan was born on February 19, 1952 in Oakland, California. Her family lived in several communities in Northern California. Both of her parents were Chinese immigrants. Due to this fact, Tan grew in American society with her Chinese heritage.

Her father, John Tan was an electrical engineer and Baptist Minister. He came to America to escape the turmoil of Chinese Civil War. Her mother, Daisy, move to America because of political situation. Her mother’s anguish also inspired her work. Daisy had divorced an abusive husband and lost her three children in China. She was forced to leave them behind when escaping on the last boat to leave Shanghai before the Communist took over in 1949. Her marriage to John Tan produced three Children.Amy Tan attended and finished her high school in Switzerland. Finishing her high school, Amy went to eight different colleges until she finally settled in one college and receives her master degree. In 1974, she and

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Francisco.

She left the doctoral program in 1976 and took a job as a language development consultant to the Alameda association. She started a writing firm business with her partner. They produced speeches for Salesman for large company. Among her business, she produced twenty six chapter for IBM called” Telecommunications and You”.

Her first story” Endgame” won her admission to the Squaw valley writer workshop taught by Oakley Hall. A literary agent, Sandra Dijktra, was impressed with Tan’s Second story “Waiting Between the Trees”. On the basis of the completed chapters and synopsis of the other. Djikstra found publisher for the book, now called The Joy Luck Club. The book has been translated into 25 languages.

Successful inThe Joy Luck Club, Tan continually does her writing. her subsequent novels are; The Kitchen God’s Wife (1991),The Hundred Secret Sense( 1995), the Bonesetters Daughter (2001). She also wrote two books for children; The Moon Lady (1992) and The Chinese Siamese Cat (1994).

(Taken from : http://www.sparknotes.com /lit/Amy Tan/biography.html, accessed on 1 August 2008 at 13 p.m.)

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APPENDIX 6

THE PICTURES OF CHINESE-AMERICANS’ ACTIVITIES IN CHINATOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

The Map of Chinatown in San Francisco

Chinatown Merchandise

Chinatown Shop Chinatown Market

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(Taken from: http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/events/ communityfair.html and http://www.inetours.com /Tours/Chinatown _walkinghtml,accessed on 8 August 2008 at 15 p.m Making fortune cookies Shopping for silk flowers

Chinese New Year Performance Chinese Traditional Costumes

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