Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-05-12 22:50
The 6th most common Chinese surname YANG 楊 (006)
Yang means: poplar; aspen.
The surname Yang is about 2,600 years old.
The surname Yang originated in an area referred to during the Han Dynasty
(漢朝 206BC to 220AD) as the Hongnong Prefecture (弘農郡). The present day
location of Hongnong Prefecture is in an area about 40 kilometers south
of Lingbao county (靈寶縣 112.9 degree East and 35.2 degree North on the
world map) in Henan province (河南省).
The second King of the Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC) was Zhou King
Cheng (周成王) who reigned from 1115BC to 1078BC. Zhou King Cheng gave his
younger brother, Tang Shuyu (唐叔虞), the authority to rule a district called
Jin (晉 present day Yicheng county 翼城縣 in Shanxi province 山西省). Zhou
King Cheng also bested upon his brother the heritable title of Hou (侯)
or Marquis. After the death of Tang Shuyu his eldest son called Ji Xie (姬
燮) succeeded him and inherited the title Hou.
During the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時間 722BC to 481BC), there was
a civil war in the State of Jin (晉國), which lasted for twenty years from
727BC to 716BC. When the civil war was over Ji Chengdai (姬稱代) became
the ruler of the State of Jin. He ruled the Stat of Jin until 676BC. He
appointed one of his sons named Bo Qiao (伯僑) as the administrator of a
district called Yang (楊 present day in the area southeast of the village
of Fan 范 in Hongdong county 洪洞縣 in Shanxi province). Bo Qiao, the administrator
of the district of Yang, came to be known as Yang Bo Qiao (楊伯僑).Yang
Bo Qiao fathered Wen (文) and Wen had a son by the name of Tu (突).
In 636BC, Ji Zhonger (姬重耳) was installed as the ruler of the State of
Jin and he ruled Jin until 628BC. It was during the period when Ji Zhonger
was the ruler that the district of Yang was absorbed by the State of Jin.
A few years later Ji Zhonger rewarded his highly respected official Yang-Shexi
(羊-舌肸) as the administrator of the district of Yang.
The children of Tu were unhappy over the whole affair and they adopted YANG
(楊) not Yang (羊) as their surname, in remembrance of their beloved former
district that their ancestors once ruled.
The couplet for surname Yang by using the two radicals Mu (木) and Yi (易
).
木蘭花馥三春瑞,---Mu4 lan2 hua fu4 san chun rui4,
易俗移風萬戶新.---Yi4 su2 yi2 feng wan4 hu4 xin.
The fragrance of lily magnolia flower will last a long time,
The flower growing in the gardens make the houses look like new ones.
The couplet for surname Yang is,
四 知 世 澤
三 相 家 聲
-----------------------------------------
The prominent persons produced by the Yang clan:
四知清操慚貪吏, Si4 zhi qing cao can2 tan li4, (*1)
千古文壇重草玄. Qian gu3 wen2 tan2 zhong4 cao3 xuan2 (**2)
The 1st line was about Yang Zhen, known as Mr Four Knows
Those corrupted officials would be ashamed in knowing that Yang Zhen was
so clean and honest.
(1) 楊震 (Yang Zhen 50AD to 124AD)
Yang Zhen was born in the present day county of Huayang (華陽縣) in Shaanxi
province (陜西省). He was a great scholar and people nicknamed him the Confucius
of Guanxi (關西孔子). He was an official during the Eatern Han Dynasty (
Mr. Four Knows (四知先生)
Yang Zhen (楊震 AD 50 to 124) was born during the Eastern Han Dynasty (東
漢朝 AD 25 to 220) in the present day county of Hua Yang (華陽縣) in Shaanxi
province (陜西省). His father, Yang Bao (楊寶), was a great scholar but
he did not become an official because according to him officialdom was like
a graveyard and the corrupted official's paradise. Yang Bao never gave up
studying and he referred to be a teacher rather than an official.
Yang Zhen's grandfather was Yang Yun (楊惲) who was a high official during
the reign of Emperor Xuan Liu Xun (宣皇帝劉詢 BC 73 to 49). Many Court officials
were jealous of his position and they made many slanderous remarks about
him. Eventually the remaks were carried to the Emperor who treated them
as the true facts. One day, there was a minor earthquake in the capital,
Changan (長安 present Xian 西安 in Shaanxi province 陜西省). The officials
advised the Emperor that the calamity happened because there was a bad official
in the Court. They indirectly blamed it on Yang Yun and the Emperor believed
them and had Yang Yun executed and banished his family to Longxi (隴西).
In 9AD Wang Mang (王莽) usurped the throne of the Han Dynasty and established
his own dynasty called Xin Dynasty (新朝). However, in 25AD, Xin Dynasty
was overthrew by Liu Xiu (劉秀), an offspring of Liu Bang (劉邦), the founder
of Han Dynasty. Liu Xiu was crowned Emperor Guang Wu (光武皇帝 AD 25 to
57) and he . proclaimed the establishment of the new dynasty, Eastern Han
(東漢朝 AD 25 to 220)
Yang Zhen became a great scholar and was renowned throughout the region.
People nicknamed him the Confucius of Guanxi (關西孔子). Although he was
greatly influenced by his father and grandfather, however, the new Han Court
(漢室) was clean and uncorrupted. Eventually, in 100AD, when he was 50 years
old, he became an official. Several years later, he was appointed the magistrate
of Donglai Precture (東萊郡) in Shandong province (山東省). While on his
way to take up his new position he passed through the county of Channgyi
(昌邑縣) in Shandong province. The District Officer of Changyi county was
Wang Mi (王密). Previously Yang Zhen had recommended Wang Mi to the government
to appoint Wang Mi as an official. Later Wang Mi was appointed the Distrct
Officer of Changyi county.
In order to show his respect and gratitude towards Yang Zhen, one evening,
Wang Mi brought ten taels of gold to see his mentor. On seeing that the
gold was for him Yang Zhen was unhappy and he told Wang Mi off for bribing
him. Yang Zhen reminded Wang Mi that he was a clean and uncorrupted magistrate.
Wang Mi told Yang Zhen quietly that it was in the middle of the night and
no one knew what they were doing. On hearing this, Yang Zhen was so angry
that he screamed at Wang Mi saying: "In this matter, You know, I know, Heaven
knows and Earth knows, 你知﹐我知, 天知, 地知. How come you say that no one
knows!" Wang Mi was frightened and he went off with his gold.
To respect his honesty and an uncorrupted magistrate, people called Yang
Zhen "Mr Four Knows or 四知先生". Years later, the offspring of Yang Zhen
named their clan the Yang of "Four Knows Clan 四知堂", after the honesty
of their ancestor Yang Zhen. Even nowadays, many of the Yangs called themselves
"The Four Knows Yang 四知楊". If you are a Yang you should be proud of him
and there is a possibility that you are his descendant.
----------------------------------------
(2) Yang Xiong (楊雄 53BC to 18AD)
Yang Xiong, a scholar cum philosopher, was born in the present day city
of Chengdu (成都市) during the Han Dynasty (漢朝 206BC to 220AD). He was
a stagger but he studied diligently and became a scholar. His inability
to speak clearly did not stop him from writing. For forty years he had written
many books on philosophy. He went touring and arrived at the capital and
was asked to have an audience with Emperor Cheng Liu Ao (成皇帝劉驁 32BC
to 7BC). After the audience Yang Xiong was appointed an official. After he
had retired he spent all his time in writing philosophy until he died at
the age of 72.
------------------------------------------------
(3) 楊貴妃 (Yang Guifei)
In 713AD, Li Longji (李隆基) was crowned Emperor Xuan Zong (玄宗皇帝 713AD
to 755AD) of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝 618AD to 907AD). The period of his rule
was regarded as the second golden age of the Tang Dynasty.
Emperor Xuan Zong had a passion for young and beautiful girls. Since his
coronation he had been searching, but without success, for the most beautiful
girl in the land.
There was a family in his empire by the surname of Yang (楊) which was to
play a ominous role during his rule. The Yang family had a very beautiful
teenage daughter, Yang Yuhuan (楊玉環), a fact not known to many people.
Since she was not about to be betrothed to any young man her father sent
her to work as a lady-in-waiting in the Emperor's Palace. She was the most
beautiful girl ever to step foot inside the palace. One of the many sons
of Emperor Xuan Zong soon married her.
Many years later, one day, Emperor Xuan Zong accidentally met his daughter-in-
law in the palace. At that time the Emperor was already 61 years old and
Yang Yuhuan was only 26. He was immediately enamored to her and snatched
her away from his son. He adored her so much that he made her a Guifei (貴
妃), first class concubine, and Yang Yuhuan was come to be known as Yang
Guifei (楊貴妃).
Just a smile from her was said to be enough to enchant and enrapture the
Emperor. He loved her dearly and more than anything else in the world. He
built her a natural warm spring pool so that she could take her bath at
Spring time. After her bath in the pool her body, reputedly, would look
as smooth as jade.
溫泉水滑洗凝脂﹐侍兒扶起嬌無力。
During Spring time court officials were made to wait lengthy periods to
get an audience with the Emperor as Yang Guifei took up almost all his time
and attention.
Yang Guifei's brothers and sisters were appointed to high offices by the
decree of the Emperor. Gradually members of her family gained enormous power
in the Tang Court. Her first cousin elder brother, Yang Guozhong (楊國忠
), became the Prime Minister and held more than forty portfolios. However,
he was very corrupted and amassed great fortunes. People envied the Yang
family for producing such a beautiful daughter. Due to the glory and wealth
that Yang Guifei had brought to her family many families preferred to have
baby girls than baby boys. They hoped that one day their daughters could
follow Yang Guifei's footsteps and became the favourite concubine of an
Emperor.
The Emperor's excesses and obsessions with his beloved concubine brought
about the gross neglect of affairs of the state.
An Lushan (安祿山), the non-Han Chinese commander-in-chief and governor
of Fanyang (范陽 present day Beijing 北京 city in Hebei province 河北省)
had the occasion to visit the capital, Changan (長安 present day Xian 西
安 city in Shaanxi province 陜西省). An Lushan could clearly observe the
corruption among the Emperor's officials, especially the Prime Minister
and the decay of the Tang Court. He reported the matters to the Emperor who,
however, refused to believe him. The Prime Minister came to know about this.
An Lushan shortly went back to Fanyang but he had made a formidable enemy,
Yang Guozhong, who vowed to destroy him.
One day, to instigate a rebellion by An Lushan against the Tang Court, Yang
Guozhong, the Prime Minister sent troops to ransack a house that belonged
An Lushan. In the process the soldiers also killed a few of An Lushan's
friends. That enraged An Lushan who was left with no option but to retaliate.
With 170,000 troops under his command An Lushan marched west to the Tang
capital, to take punitive action against Yang Guozhong who thought that
he could take this opportunity to get rid of An Lushan. However, it seemed
that An Lushan and his forces were unstoppable. They crossed the Yellow
River, overran Luoyang (洛陽) and turned west marching towards Changan.
The Tang Court fled in panic as Emperor Xuan Zong ordered a mass evacuation.
Soon after, An Lushan occupied the capital and razed it to the ground.
Emperor Xuan Zong and his Court, together with thousands upon thousands
of residents from the capital, fled southwest towards Chengdu (成都 the
present day city of Chengdu in Sichuan province 四川省).
Arriving at a place called Maweipo (馬嵬坡 present day Xingping county 興
平縣 in Shaanxi province) about 100 kilometers from the capital, the retreating
army and the mass of people stopped and refused to go any further. They
demanded the death of the Emperor's concubine, Yang Guifei and her elder
brother Yang Guozhong, the Prime Minister. Under such extreme circumstances
Emperor Xuan Zong had no alternative but to issue an order to have them
executed.
The execution of the Prime Minister was carried out instantly. Yang Guifei
was to be executed by hanging from a tree in a nearby hill. While being
led up the hill Yang Gufei cried and begged,
"Save me, save me, Your Majesty! Save me, save me, Your Majesty!"
However, the exodus shouted,
"Hang her! Hang her! Hang her!"
There was a big commotion and the great multitude were looking at the Emperor,
awaiting for his reaction. The Emperor was powerless to help his Guifei
and very reluctantly he gave the order to proceed. Suddenly the crowd were
quiet. Not a sound was heard when the noose was placed around her neck.
Emperor Xuan Zong hung his head and buried his face in his dragon robes.
He dared not look at the execution and tears welled in his eyes.
君王掩面救不得﹐回看血淚相和流.
As soon as Yang Guifei had kicked her bucket the crowd roar. Her jewelry
was scattered all over but no one bothered to pick them up. The people had
condemned her as well as the jewelry she wore.
While the Tang Court took refuge in Chengdu the lovelorn Emperor was pining
away. At times he could not bear to look at the full moon as it reminded
him of the joyous occasions he shared with his Gufei. He lost his vitality
to continue as Emperor.
In 756AD, Emperor Xuan Zong abdicated the throne and his third son, Li Heng
(李亨), was installed as Emperor Su Zong (肅宗皇帝 756AD to 762AD).
The rebellions were eventually crushed and the Tang Court began to move
back to Changan. On the way back to the capital at the spot where Yang Guifei
was hung, the ex-Emperor stopped and lingered for what seemed like eternity.
He seemed to be searching for his beautiful Guifei. He could not find the
place where she was buried. He recited the secret phrases which no one knew
except her and him,
[在天願作比翼鳥﹐ 在地願為連理枝。
Up above the sky we wish we were a pair of birds
On earth we wish we were the two branches of a tree.]
Finally when the time came to be moving on, the ex-Emperor left behind his
tears but not his sadness.
春風桃李花開日﹐秋雨梧桐葉落時。
Back at the capital, the natural warm spring pool was still there and intact,
as were the flowers and trees. It was as if he had not left the palace
at all. But reality soon hit home. His beautiful Guifei was no more. He
grieved and longed for her and he was losing his will to live. He wished
he could see her in his dreams every night. He engaged a soothsayer to search
for her spirit but appear it did not, not even just once.
天長地久有時盡﹐ 此恨綿棉無絕期。
A translation from the Tang poem
"Chang Hen Ge 長恨歌" by Bai Juyi (白居易)
--------------------------------------------------
Posted to Overseas Chinese Forum at asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved
|
|
The Asiawind forums are provided to you by
InTechTra Inc.
