Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum: An in depth look at Bruce Lee’s life in Seattle

By Marilou Trias

In American history, Asian Pacific Islander immigrants in all walks of life have presented an astonishing role. Their contributions have carved a multi-faceted and rich tapestry of heritage to the United States.

At the International District of Seattle, also known as Seattle’s Chinatown, The Wing Luke Museum documents the struggles of these immigrants. A mosaic of people who did not endure unaltered lives or melt into society, instead they came together to create new lives in a new land. Bringing pieces of their culture from their native lands and melding them with pieces of the American culture. At a time when Pacific Northwest that was rapidly developing and growing. Restricted by discrimination and economic circumstances, immigrants often worked menial positions in perilous industries receiving little or no compensation.

The creation of community became necessary.  Immigrants depended on their communities to provide them with jobs, and the ambition to advance their interests. In resisting discrimination, they built communities and opportunities to claim a piece of American life.

We stepped back in time, into the Yick Fung Company, a small historic store filled with goods. The 1910 mercantile store that was the vibrant cultural hub in its time. Tall shelves extended into the mezzanine with dark wood railings. Baskets were used to transport goods from higher heights now frozen in time. The mercantile provided imported goods, jobs, tickets on a steamship to jobs, rooms, and a common goal to build prosperity.

The historic Freeman Hotel built in the early 1900’s provided living quarters for Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants. It had 100 small single occupancy rooms and one bathroom per floor. Antique wooden floors creaked as we walked across admiring original tin ceilings. Small widows facing another building’s exterior wall allow little light into the rooms. 

New arrivals would cram 2 or 3 per room, frequently bringing the building occupancy up to 300. Living frugally and working long hours, tenants gathered in the common kitchen to share meals. More importantly they shared stories of survival, struggle and hope. Most of these immigrants there were known as “Alaskeros” using Seattle’s International District as their refuge. It seemed, back then, these new immigrants’ rite of passage was to travel to Alaska and work at the canneries. 

Seattle’s Famous Son

Although born in the United States, Bruce had lived in Kowloon, Hong Kong from the time he was 3 months. Bruce Lee who came to Seattle in 1959 at age 18 to continue high school. He worked as a live-in waiter at Ruby Chow’s restaurant, who later became the first Asian King County council woman. In 1961 he enrolled at University of Washington where he met a fellow student and future wife. In a prepared statement, his wife, Linda Lee Caldwell stated that “Seattle was of primary importance to Bruce. Those were very formative times where he thought deeply about what he wanted to do in his life. This was a time he was developing his plans and dreaming his dreams of the future.”

The dreamer, artist, philosopher and innovator, Bruce Lee was embraced by Seattle’s Chinatown neighborhood. There he found his cultural foothold, a place to assert and gather strength from mutual ancestry and identity. Bruce formed bonds and relationships there. He taught his hybrid martial arts philosophy, Jeet Kune Do to whoever wanted to learn regardless of race or gender. A practice that believes in minimal effort with maximum effect with heavily influence of his philosophy and life experiences.

Wing Luke Museum is the only exhibition outside of Hong Kong that presents an in-depth look at Bruce Lee’s life. Bruce’s personal story and deep connection to Seattle are show cased here. Never before seen personal items, hand-written poems, boxing gloves, head gear, press kits from his top films are on exhibit.

Martial Arts

Bruce opened his first two martial arts school in Seattle’s International District. Chinatown had provided social support and venues for Bruce to demonstrate his talent and build his following. Before long, he moved his school to the University District near the University of Washington Campus. This would be his first formal martial arts school. Still, Bruce and his students frequently returned to Chinatown. They would purchase Chinese vegetables and fresh tofu, watch samurai movies and dine at the restaurants.

Tai Tung Restaurant was one of those institutions that still exists today. Still in the same location, with its original door, 5 generations of the Chan family continued to serve new generations. The oldest restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown that has served patrons since 1935. Bruce was a regular there. Today, his photos hang on their walls at his favorite booth which had been dedicated to him. 

The cultural and spiritual nourishment in Chinatown fortified Bruce’s interests in acupuncture and Eastern. The American culture had yet to understand and accept these principles. Bruce passed these ideologies onto his students by integrating them into his lessons.

Beginnings of Acting Career

Even before he became a universal phenomenon, Bruce was a child actor. Bruce’s father, Lee Hoi-Chuen, was a well-known Cantonese opera singer and actor in Hong Kong.  Lee Hoi-chuen had introduced Bruce to the film industry.

In 1966, the Green Hornet television show was aired. Based on a successful 1930’s American radio series, Bruce played the role as Kato, Green Hornet Vance Williams’ sidekick. Bruce dedicated himself to breaking deep-rooted Chinese stereotypes and allow his power to shine. It was the first time for American viewers witness the art of gung fu.  Bruce stood firm on speed and focused delivery. His action sequences were so rapid that often times he was asked to slow them down for the camera.

Bruce was one the lowest paid actors on the series and wrestled to uncover roles after the show cancelled. The production company for the Green Hornet did not provide Bruce with any royalties. However, dynamics changed when The Green Hornet was released in Hong Kong and the Chinese sidekick had overshadowed his lead. Hong Kong identified the show as the Kato Show and Bruce’s fan base grew overseas exponentially. A new image of Asian or Asian Americans would be captured on the screen. This galvanized a way for Bruce’s filming in Hong Kong. Creating a surge of martial arts interest in 1970’s in the West, Bruce’s prominence was growing. He had single handedly introduce more people to the Asian culture and inspired countless others to become educated in his ancestral homeland.

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”     –Bruce Lee.

Seattle was where Bruce Lee laid down his roots, open his first martial arts studios and build a community that would later expand throughout the city and worldwide. Considered as one of the most influential martial artists of all time, he bridged the gap between East and West. He impacted the world and continues to inspire generations.

His biggest hit and first Hollywood film only hit the screens after his untimely death at age 32. In 1973 Bruce was laid to rest at Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood at Lake View Cemetery. Visitors from all around the world are attracted there who pay tribute to the legacy of Bruce Lee.

It’s easy to find rain, coffee, wine, grunge music, big businesses, mountains and more in Seattle. Experience the path immigrants had taken during Seattle’s time of growth.  Connect to the nation’s only museum dedicated pan-Asian Pacific American experiences. The Wing Luke Museum presents experiences from authentic viewpoints of the American story. Understand what it was truly like to be an Asian American in the Pacific Northwest. 

If you, go:

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, 719 South King St., Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: (206) 623-5124

Web: www.wingluke.org 

All photos by Marilou Trias