Tuesday, May 29, 2012

[Book] The Encyclopedia of Taoism (2008) (2 Vols) edited by Fabrizio Pregadio




1. From Amazon's Book Description:

http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Taoism-2-Volume-Set/dp/0700712003

The Encyclopedia of Taoism provides comprehensive coverage of Taoist religion, thought and history, reflecting the current state of Taoist scholarship. Taoist studies have progressed beyond any expectation in recent years. Researchers in a number of languages have investigated topics virtually unknown only a few years previously, while others have surveyed for the first time textual, doctrinal and ritual corpora. The Encyclopedia presents the full gamut of this new research.

The work contains approximately 1,750 entries, which fall into the following broad categories: surveys of general topics; schools and traditions; persons; texts; terms; deities; immortals; temples and other sacred sites. Terms are given in their original characters, transliterated and translated. Entries are thoroughly cross-referenced and, in addition, 'see also' listings are given at the foot of many entries. Attached to each entry are references taking the reader to a master bibliography at the end of the work. There is chronology of Taoism and the whole is thoroughly indexed.

There is no reference work comparable to the Encyclopedia of Taoism in scope and focus. Authored by an international body of experts, the Encyclopedia will be an essential addition to libraries serving students and scholars in the fields of religious studies, philosophy and religion, and Asian history and culture.


2. Taoism (or Daoism) is indigenous to China.

Traditionally, Taoism is divided into philosophical Taoism (daojia) and religious Taoism (daojiao).

Both have their roots in the writings Daodejing and Zhuangzi.

Religious Taoism has its ups and downs.

As an organized religion, Taoism began in the Eastern Han (25 - 220 CE) at 142 CE by Zhang Daoling in what is today's Sichuan Province.

Religious Taoism steadily developed during the next few centuries and sprouted many branches.

It was favored by the Emperors of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE), whom sharing a common last name (Li) with the author of Daodejing, claimed him as an ancestor.

And quite a few Emperors of Sung Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE) were also enamored with Taoism, with its promise of immortality and sexual potency.

Religious Taoism probably reached the pinnacle of its influence in China during the latter part of the Sung Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1367 CE) under the Mongol.

A branch of Taoism founded by Wang Chongyang called Quanzhen in the latter part of the Sung Dynasty is still the most influential form of Taoism in China today.

Taoism went into decline in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 CE) and the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912 CE).

In 1980, there were approximately 20,000 registered Taoist priests in mainland China.

But since many Taoist ideas have become part of the daily lives of the Chinese peoples, the influence of Taoism cannot be measured by the number of registered Taoist priests.


3. For the last half a millennium, western scholarships on Taoism has been very weak.

It is only in the last 30 to 40 years that western scholarships on Taoism began to mature.

The Encyclopedia of Taoism (2008) edited by Fabrizio Pregadio is the first fruits of the harvest of that scholarships.

Besides the many features of this Encyclopedia, I find the 17 pages Synoptic Table of Contents especially helpful.

After browsing through the two volumes set and reading some of the entries, I concur with what T.H. Barrett has written in the forward (Pregadio 2008a, viii):

"Even so the unprecedented large-scale collaborative effort required, calling on the expertise right across the globe, would probably have been expended in vain were it not for the Herculean labours of the editor. ... For all the minor shortcomings that may be discovered in this compilation, and for all the scholarship it may contain that may one day appear outdated and in need of revision, he at least should be absolved from any blame and indeed allowed a full measure of self-congratulation, for he has worked as hard and as meticulously as anyone could."

Although the price is very stiff (USD 272 at Amazon), The Encyclopedia of Taoism (2008) (2 Vols) is a must for anyone interested in Taoism.



3a. Added later on Tuesday, May 29, 2012: Amazon has a paperback set that is more reasonably priced at USD 87.77.


4. Book details:

Hardcover: 1551 pages

Publisher: Routledge (January 10, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0700712003

ISBN-13: 978-0700712007


5. Names, Words and Phrases:

Daodejing (Traditional Chinese: 道德經; Simplified Chinese: 道德经).

Daojia (Traditional: 道家; Simplified: 道家).

Daojiao (Traditional: 道教; Simplified: 道教).

Eastern Han (Traditional: 東漢; Simplified: 东汉).

Li (Traditional: 李; Simplified: 李).

Ming Dynasty (Traditional: 明朝; Simplified: 明朝).

Mongol (Traditional: 蒙古; Simplified: 蒙古).

Quanzhen (Traditional: 全真; Simplified: 全真).

Qing Dynasty (Traditional: 清朝; Simplified: 清朝).

Sichuan Province (Traditional: 四川省; Simplified: 四川省).

Sung Dynasty (Traditional: 宋朝; Simplified: 宋朝).

Tang Dynasty (Traditional: 唐朝; Simplified: 唐朝).

Wang Chongyang (Traditional: 王重陽; Simplified: 王重阳).

Yuan Dynasty (Traditional: 元朝; Simplified: 元朝).

Zhang Daoling (Traditional: 張道陵; Simplified: 张道陵).

Zhuangzi (Traditional: 莊子; Simplified: 庄子).


References:

Pregadio, Fabrizio, ed. 2008a. The Encyclopedia of Taoism, I. New York: Routledge.

Pregadio, Fabrizio, ed. 2008b. The Encyclopedia of Taoism, II. New York: Routledge.

End.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

[Music] The Charm of those Scattered Blood by WANG Hong




Peace



1. The Charm of those Scattered Blood ("血染的風采") was originally written in 1985 to commemorate those Chinese soldiers who died or were wounded in the Sino–Vietnamese War of the 1970s.

It has since become the unofficial theme song for commemoratig the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

In this Memorial Day weekend for our neighbor to the south, I would like to remember all the people whom have died for their country.

Two sentences from the lyrics:

"共和國的旗幟上, 有我們血染的風采";
(The flag of the Republic is charmed with the blood we have scattered for her.)

"共和國的土壤上, 有我們付出的愛".
(The soil of the Republic possesses the love we have given out for her.)


2. I have seen the following two English translations of the song title in YouTube:

(a) "Bloodstained Glory"; and

(b) "Glory of Blood".

Even Wikipedia translated the song title as "Bloodstained Glory".

However, I think it is inappropriate to translate "風采" as "glory"; I have opted for the more restrained "charm".

The lyrics of this song were written with a restrained and sad undertone; and so it is sung by the various singers of this song - even in the high notes.

The song title reminds me of the traditional Chinese funeral ritual of scattering alcohol before the grave of a dead person.

But instead of scattering alcohol over a grave, blood is scattered over the flag of the Republic.

Picture the scattering in slow motion and the droplets of blood floating towards the flag with the spirits of the dead persons smiling towards the flag.

Can you see the "charm" of the one who has scattered blood for his country?


3. For a description of the history of this song in Chinese, please see the comments by this uploader:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMii5_ebqI


4. A version sung by Wang Hong (female), the original singer of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynh9h5D2rws

Another one by Wang Hong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUwzaH2pEyU


5. A 1987 version by Wang Hong and the Sino–Vietnamese War veteran Xu Liang (male):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ka-zqQ5vHI


6. A version by Hong Kong singer Anita Mui:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oto5ZzLVo8U

Another one by Anita Mui:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NIJ9orgWks


7. A version by Hong Kong singer Roman Tam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NIqDv6a0II


8. A version by Hong Kong singer Jenny Tseng:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXXqoPA1ahY

Jenny Tseng should not have tempered the lyrics.


9. The music video is consisted of scenes from the 2007 Chinese movie Assembly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKziKwFH9CA

The singer is Dong Wen Hua (female).


10. The uploader is a veteran of the Sino–Vietnamese War:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvMnHy7LuPE


11. I think the English translation of the lyrics in this version is a bit off:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBDeyu1Bz4


12. The English translation in this version is better, but still off:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iTQjejY-4Y


13. This song is sung annually in the commemorative gatherings for the Tiananmen Square protests in Hong Kong.

The 18th Anniversary gathering in 2007 in Victoria Park, Hong Kong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_gRBPmj350

The 20th Anniversary commemorative march in Hong Kong in 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDrE6qQ8Kko


14. This song is not a love song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hf57xA6GGE

The arrangement and singing are completely inappropriate for so solemn a song.


15. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


血染的風采  --  王虹

也許我告別   將不再回來
你是否理解   你是否明白
也許我倒下   再不能起來
你是否還要   永久的期待

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采

也許我的眼睛   再不能睜開
你是否理解   我沉默的情懷
也許我長眠   將不能醒來
你是否相信   我化作了山脈

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的土壤裡有我們付出的愛
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的土壤裡有我們付出的愛

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
血染的風采


16. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


血染的風采 -- 王虹

也許我告別   將不再回來
你是否理解   你是否明白
也許我倒下   再不能起來
你是否還要   永久的期待

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采

也許我的眼睛   再不能睜開
你是否理解   我沉默的情懷
也許我長眠   將不能醒來
你是否相信   我化作了山脈

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的土壤裡有我們付出的愛
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的土壤裡有我們付出的愛

如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
如果是這樣   你不要悲哀
共和國的旗幟上有我們血染的風采
血染的風采


17. Names, Words and Phrases:

Wang Hong (Traditional Chinese: 王虹; Simplified Chinese: 王虹).

Anita Mui (Traditional: 梅艷芳; Simplified: 梅艳芳).

Assembly (Traditional: 集結號; Simplified: 集结号).

Dong Wen Hua (Traditional: 董文華; Simplified: 董文华).

Jenny Tseng (Traditional: 甄妮; Simplified: 甄妮).

Roman Tam (Traditional: 羅文; Simplified: 罗文).

Xu Liang (Traditional: 徐良; Simplified: 徐良).


References:

"Bloodstained Glory", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodstained_Glory
(accessed 2012-05-26).

"血染的风采", Baidu,
http://baike.baidu.com/view/169602.htm
(accessed 2012-05-26).

"集结号", Baidu,
http://baike.baidu.com/view/776916.htm
(accessed 2012-05-26).

End.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

[Music] Half-Moon Serenade by Hacken LEE


Hacken Lee



1. According to Wikipedia, Hacken Lee has the honor of being the only artist who has won Hong Kong musical awards in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

I have always thought that Hacken Lee has one of the better vocals among Hong Kong singers.

My impression was that Hacken Lee was always near, but never at, the top of the Hong Kong music scene.

But after reading the two Wikipedia articles about him, I see that I was wrong.

Like a sine wave, Hacken Lee has multiple peaks in his performing career.

Hacken Lee has probably reached his pinnacle in the mid-2000s.


2. Hacken Lee was born in 1967 in Hong Kong and began his musical career in 1985 by winning the 2nd Hong Kong 18 Districts Singing Contest.

(The winner of the 1st Hong Kong 18 Districts Singing Contest was Jacky Cheung.)

Although recognized for his talent, it took Hacken Lee some years before he reached the top-tier of the Hong Kong music scene; I always thought it has something to do with looks - he was not as handsome as some of the idol-type singers.

But in compensation, after a marathon 13 years courtship, Hacken Lee married Emily Lo, Miss Hong Kong (1992), in 2006.

They have two sons born in 2007 and 2010.


3. Half-Moon Serenade ("月半小夜曲") was originally a Japanese song composed and sung by Naoko Kawai:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpgpvrBte_g

So very touching.


4. Naoko Kawai performing in Hong Kong in the 1980s (?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXPFS93GPis

Talented composer and singer, and beautiful to boot.

But alas, she stopped performing after marriage.


5. The Cantonese cover Half-Moon Serenade by Hacken Lee came out in 1987.

But according to a comment in YouTube, the first recording did not have market acceptance.

This is the second recording done in 1989:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcLdMhz_mnI

The lyrics were hard subbed into the video.


6. Hacken Lee in concert in 2006:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaJhDmtRH9Y

The accompanying flute, violin and piano are all very good.

Very nice version of this song.


7. Hacken Lee and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwC639V0Vjk

The conductor was Yip Wing-Sie.

Very nicely done.


8. Hacken Lee and Alan Tam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGUYdUGRKr8

The title said this was Gigi Leung; the title was wrong.


9. Hacken Lee and Gigi Leung:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g-0c1cZRiE

Some YouTube comments are not that complementary towards Gigi Leung.


10. Hacken Lee and Joey Yung:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9YeO5vFlc0

Not bad.


11. Hacken Lee and Andy Hui:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukZfHfOL-q0


12. An ok sidewalk karaoke version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRM7gBg_Sg


13. Heywood Tam of Caltech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR-eFB0Jl84

I wonder if Dr. Sheldon Cooper (B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D.) was in attendance. : - )


14. A piano cover by the young Felix:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnieB29ksUI


15. Another piano cover by a young pianist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPpOWnCYqYo


16. A very beautiful piano cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRfbRkBGCU


17. A pretty good violin cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X28hGysDhd8


18. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


月半小夜曲 -- 李克勤

* 仍然倚在失眠夜   望天邊星宿
仍然聽見小提琴   如泣似訴再挑逗
為何只剩一彎月   留在我的天空
這晚以後音訊隔絕

# 人如天上的明月   是不可擁有
情如曲過只遺留   無可挽救再分別
為何只是失望   填密我的空虛
這晚夜沒有吻別

@ 仍在說永久   想不到是藉口
從未意會要分手
但我的心每分每刻仍然被她佔有
她似這月兒仍然是不開口
提琴獨奏獨奏著:「明月半倚深秋」
我的牽掛   我的渴望   直至以後

Repeat *, #, @, @


19. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


月半小夜曲 -- 李克勤

* 仍然倚在失眠夜   望天边星宿
仍然听见小提琴   如泣似诉再挑逗
为何只剩一弯月   留在我的天空
这晚以后音频隔绝

# 人如天上的明月   是不可拥有
情如曲过只遗留   无可挽救再分别
为何只是失望   填密我的空虚
这晚夜没有吻别

@ 仍在说永久   想不到是借口
从未意会要分手
但我的心每分每刻仍然被她占有
她似这月儿仍然是不开口
提琴独奏独奏着:「明月半倚深秋」
我的牵挂   我的渴望   直至以后

Repeat *, #, @, @


20. Names, Words and Phrases:

Hacken Lee (Traditional Chinese: 李克勤; Simplified Chinese: 李克勤).

Alan Tam (Traditional: 譚詠麟; Simplified: 谭咏麟).

Andy Hui (Traditional: 許志安; Simplified: 许志安).

Emily Lo (Traditional: 盧淑儀; Simplified: 卢淑仪).

Gigi Leung (Traditional: 梁詠琪; Simplified: 梁咏琪).

Hong Kong's 18 Districts Singing Contest (Traditional: 全港十八區業餘歌唱比賽; Simplified: 全港十八区业余歌唱比赛).

Hong Kong Sinfonietta (Traditional: 香港小交響樂團; Simplified: 香港小交响乐团).

Jacky Cheung (Traditional: 張學友; Simplified: 张学友).

Joey Yung (Traditional: 容祖兒; Simplified: 容祖儿).

Naoko Kawai (Traditional: 河合奈保子; Simplified: 河合奈保子).

Yip Wing-Sie (Traditional: 葉詠詩; Simplified: 叶咏诗).


References:

"Hacken Lee", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacken_Lee
(accessed 2012-05-24).

"Hong Kong Sinfonietta", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Sinfonietta
(accessed 2012-05-24).

"Sheldon Cooper", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Cooper
(accessed 2012-05-24).

"李克勤", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E6%9D%8E%E5%85%8B%E5%8B%A4
(accessed 2012-05-24).

End.

Friday, May 18, 2012

[Book] The Truth about the Qin's Terracotta by Chen Jingyuan





Chen Jingyuan



1. The Wikipedia entry "Terracotta Army" started off with these two sentences:
 
"The Terracotta Army or the 'Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses', is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife, and to make sure that he had people to rule over."

But what if this claim is false?

What if the Terracotta Army is not depicting an army of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China?

What if the Terracotta Army is funerary art belonging to one of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's ancestor?

Until I read the book The Truth about the Qin's Terracotta ("秦俑真相") by Chen Jingyuan, I was not aware that there is a minority opinion among Chinese scholars that the Terracotta Army does not belong to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.


2. While Chen Jingyuan is a Chinese architect working in mainland China, The Truth about the Qin's Terracotta was first published in 2008 by a small publisher in Hong Kong.

Given the controversial nature of his claims, was Chen Jingyuan having difficulties finding a publisher in China?

It was only after his book was published in Hong Kong was an edition come out in China.


3. This book is consisted of 65 chapters giving 65 reasons why Chen Jingyuan thinks the Terracotta Army might not belong to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

(The Table of Content of the book is available here:
 
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_49f20db70100anea.html )

As the 65 reasons are not unrelated, they might better be grouped under 8 to 10 chapters.

And the reasons given by Chen Jingyuan are quite easy to follow.

That Chen Jingyuan gave simple and easy to follow reasons for his views contributed to the persuasiveness of his arguments.

One does not have to be an expert in Chinese history or archeology to follow Chen Jingyuan arguments.

And although Chen Jingyuan quoted from some rather obscure Chinese historical sources a few times, most of his quotations are common enough that one can look it up if one so desires; and that contributes to the persuasiveness of his arguments too.


4. Not wanting to be too much of a spoiler, the following are only three of the evidences adduced by Chen Jingyuan for his views:

(a) Has anyone noticed that the hairdo of the terra-cotta warriors were not centered, but were towards one side?



 
According to Chen Jingyuan, whom quoted Chinese historical sources, this kind of hairdo was unique to the state Chu ("楚") and was not in vogue in the state Qin ("秦").

(Chu and Qin are members of the Seven Warring States:
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Warring_States )

(b) After unifying China, Emperor Qin Shi Huang embarked on a series of standardization as were necessary for the administration of a vast empire.

Besides standardizing weights and measures, Qin also standardized on the color black.

The Qin army wore black uniforms after Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China.

Yet the uniforms of the Terracotta Army were multi-colored - typical of the army uniforms of the state Chu ("楚").

Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BCE and he reigned as Emperor for 11 years until his death in 210 BCE.

If the Terracotta Army was funerary art buried with the emperor, then their uniforms should have been black.

(c) Do you know that the Terracotta Army was discovered in pits that were 2 kilometers from the funeral mount of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and 1.5 kilometers outside the eastern outer wall of the funerary complex?

If the Terracotta Army was funerary art buried with the emperor, then why were they located outside the outer wall of the funerary complex?

Additional information: the plain on which the funerary complex of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is located is littered with burial sites of royalties and nobilities from China's Qin and Han Dynasties.

Upwards of 600 such burial sites have so far been identified on that plain.


5. If the Terracotta Army was not funerary art for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, then what were they?

Chen Jingyuan has built a preliminary and interesting case that the Terracotta Army belonged to Empress Xuan of Qin.

Empress Xuan ("秦宣太后") was the mother of the great-grandfather of Emperor Qin Shi Huang ("秦始皇").

秦宣太后 (mother-of) ==> 秦昭襄王 (father-of) ==> 秦孝文王 (father-of)==> 秦莊襄王 (father-of) ==> 秦始皇.

Empress Xuan was one of the most powerful woman in Chinese history and the de facto ruler of the state of Qin for 41 years.

Empress Xuan was from the state of Chu and her last name was Mi ("芈").


6. The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974.

Yet before all the archaeological details were in, Jiang Qing, the wife of Chairman Mao Zedong, decided that the Terracotta Army belonged to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Since that time, the Terracotta Army has become a major tourist attraction for China.

So there are both political and economic reasons not to rock the boat
that the Terracotta Army belonged to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Yet as academics, the primary obligation of Chinese archeologists is to pursue the truth.

For any academic pursuing any theory, they have the obligation to:
(a) positively, give reasons for their theory; and
(b) negatively, rebut criticisms of their theory.

Although I am able to follow the arguments of Chen Jingyuan's book, I do not know enough about Chinese history and archeology to judge the merit of his arguments.

I look forward to someone from the Chinese archeological establishment rebutting Chen Jingyuan's criticisms of their theory that the Terracotta Army is part of the funerary art for Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

As it is, Chen Jingyuan has raised enough doubts in my mind that I am withholding judgment as to whom the Terracotta Army belonged.


7. Book details in Traditional Chinese:

書名:秦俑真相
 
副標題:一個跨世紀的考古奇案
 
作者:陳景元
 
出版社:時代國際出版有限公司
 
出版年:2008
 
頁數:268
 
定價:HK$89.00
 
裝幀:平裝
 
ISBN:978-988-17265-3-7


8. Names, Words and Phrases:

Chen Jingyuan (Traditional Chinese: 陳景元; Simplified Chinese: 陈景元).

Jiang Qing (Traditional: 江青; Simplified: 江青).

Mao Zedong (Traditional: 毛澤東; Simplified: 毛泽东).

Qin Shi Huang (Traditional: 秦始皇; Simplified: 秦始皇).
 
Terracotta Army (Traditional: 兵馬俑; Simplified: 兵马俑).


References:

"Seven Warring States", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Warring_States
(accessed 2012-05-18).

"Terracotta Army", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
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(accessed 2012-05-18).

End.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

[Music] Zhang Ming-min -- My Chinese Heart




1. What does it mean to be a Chinese?

There are at least 4 answers:
(a) A person of Chinese ancestry.
(b) A native or inhabitant of China.
(c) A Chinese Citizen.
(d) A person identifying with certain aspects of Chinese culture.

My family immigrated to Canada many years ago and I have been a Canadian citizen since the 1970s.

If I am asked whether I am a "Chinese", the answer would be "It depends."
 

(a) I am of Chinese ancestry;
(b) I am not an inhabitant of China;
(c) I am not a Chinese Citizen; but
(d) I do, however, identify with certain aspects of Chinese culture.

What does that makes me?

Since Canada promotes multi-culturalism, I am quite comfortable with the label "Chinese Canadian".

 

2. But there is another answer.

Since the 1990s, a group of oversea Chinese scholars have been promoting the idea of a "Cultural China".

The idea is that a person:
(a) need not be of Chinese ancestry;
(b) need not be an inhabitant of China; or
(c) need not be a Chinese Citizen
to be considered "Chinese".

A person's "Chineseness" consists in his or her identifying with and inheriting certain aspects of Chinese culture.

I find the ideas of "Cultural China" and "Cultural Chinese" liberating.

The idea of "Cultural China" has freed me from having to identify with the political powers in either Beijing or Taipei to be "Chinese".

Politically, I identify myself with Canada.

In becoming a Canadian citizen, I have sworn allegiance to the Queen of Canada and her successors.

But within the confine of the ideas of "multi-culturalism" and "Cultural China", I am comfortable with the label of being a "Cultural Chinese".


3. The current Chinese economic reform was initiated by Deng Xiaoping back in 1978.

Because of the economic reform, many mainland Chinese discovered the "outside" world during the 1980s.

With discovery of the outside world came reflection of their own Chinese identity - What does it mean to be a Chinese?

This reflection on their identity by many Chinese has resulted in some songs with a "patriotic" theme in the 1980s.

"My Chinese Heart" ("我的中国心") by Zhang Ming-min is one of those songs.


4. A 1984 version of "My Chinese Heart" by Zhang Ming-min:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6qOTKWpA0E


5. This version of the song has the flag of the People's Republic of China as the background:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaEOfSxi6jI

But as a cultural Chinese, I need not identify with the power in Beijing to resonate with this song.


6. I would consider Andrew a fellow cultural Chinese:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtOjpnx-VDo


7. Another fellow cultural Chinese from Sweden:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-aHfGF6LFY


8. A very good cover by Zhuang Xue Zhong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBl1OW5kBG8


9. Ms. Zhou is a Beijing Opera performer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79HC7U2RcTg

Another one by the pretty Ms. Zhou:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQzuZdUgvy0

Interesting arrangement.

It is not unusual for a Beijing Opera or Cantonese Opera singer to perform both the male and female parts.


10. A cover by a Chinese American in a music competition in China:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkwX6uywg3g


11. According to the uploader, the occasion is the 9th Changchun International Film Festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp0RBZp6JhE

The 9th Changchun International Film Festival was held in 2008.


12. According to the uploader, the video is from May 4, 2008 in New York City:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK8wogYkij0

If indeed the occasion was to commemorate the May 4 Movement, then it would be nice to see some Republic of China's flag too.

The May 4 Movement is the common heritage of both the mainland and Taiwan.


13. The song covers by an Oversea Chinese Choir in France:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AIPK_FsYp4

The recording could be better.


14. Zhang Ming-min in New Year Festival Celebration in 1984:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAH7rEOVHxU


15. Judging from how Zhang Ming-min looks, this video must be quite recent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8imbGkjEWw


16. Another recent performance by Zhang Ming-min:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQcpQJt5wgA


17. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:

 

我的中國心 -- 張明敏

河山只在我夢裡
祖國已多年未清靜
可是不管怎樣也改變不了
我的中國心

洋裝雖然穿在身
我心依然是中國心
我的祖先早已把我的一切
烙上中國印

* 長江長城
黃山黃河
在我心中重千斤

# 無論何時
無論何地
心中一樣親

@ 流在心裡的血
澎湃著中華的聲音
就算生在他鄉也改變不了
我的中國心

Repeat *, #, @


18. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:

 

我的中国心 -- 张明敏

河山只在我梦里
祖国已多年未清静
可是不管怎样也改变不了
我的中国心

洋装虽然穿在身
我心依然是中国心
我的祖先早已把我的一切
烙上中国印

* 长江长城
黄山黄河
在我心中重千斤

# 无论何时
无论何地
心中一样亲

@ 流在心里的血
澎湃着中华的声音
就算生在他乡也改变不了
我的中国心

Repeat *, #, @


19. Names, Words and Phrases:

Zhang Ming-min (Traditional Chinese: 張明敏; Simplified Chinese: 张明敏).

Beijing Opera (Traditional: 京劇; Simplified: 京剧).

Cantonese Opera (Traditional: 粵劇; Simplified: 粤剧).

Changchun International Film Festival (Traditional: 長春國際電影節; Simplified: 长春国际电影节).

Cultural China (Traditional: 文化中國; Simplified: 文化中国).


Deng Xiaoping (Traditional: 鄧小平; Simplified: 邓小平).

May Fourth Movement (Traditional: 五四運動; Simplified: 五四运动).

Zhuang Xue Zhong (Traditional: 莊學忠; Simplified: 庄学忠).


References:

"張明敏", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/%E5%BC%B5%E6%98%8E%E6%95%8F
(accessed 2012-05-17).

"May Fourth Movement", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Fourth_Movement
(accessed 2012-05-17).

End.