Re: HGN: Hakka Origin (fwd)

[sllee <sllee@mail.asiawind.com>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:13:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: sllee <sllee@mail.asiawind.com>
To: Kai-hsu Tai <kaihsu@ugcs.caltech.edu>
Cc: teoh@cs.utk.edu
Subject: Re: HGN: Hakka Origin


Kai-hsu,

Please don't be mistaken. I am NOT against that Hakka may have Hun(Xiongnu)
blood. Having Xiongnu blood does not make a Hakka inferior or superior
to other ZhonghuaMinzu. In fact it is very likely that some Hakka may have
Xiongnu blood. A lot of Hakkas have wavy hair which is not found in the 
most Chinese.  As I mentioned over and over, there is no pure Han blood 
and even having pure Han blood is not something anyone should be proud of 
as God's gift. (I guess you have not read my latest on Hakka and Xiongnu). 
During the migration from central China in Jin dynasty, there were Xiongnu
servants who migrated with the Han aristocrat families too, and interethnic
marriage is bound to occur.  By the time Hakka have settled in the 
south for hundreds of years, there are also Miao, Yao, She, Yue and other 
southern ethnic components in Hakkas.  

What I do believe are:

1. Hakka originated from the north and they were not indigenous to the 
south. 
2. Hakka culture reflect ancient Han culture and not Hun (Xiongnu) 
culture.
3. Hakka language may be modified by southern dialects and include 
southern words, but essentially it was the ancient Han language spoken 
in cnetral China. 
4. Hakka as a Han (in the broad sense) may include many types of ethnic 
geneotypes it picked up along the migration path.

What I am not convinced yet are:

1. Hakka are ALL from Xiongnu, and thus are non-Chinese, non-Han.
2. Hakka culture is distinct from Han culture.
(Particularly, I found so many other erroneous remarks in the 
book which theorizes Hakka=Xiongnu, that even the truth got blurred.)

I am a scientist (bio-organic chemist), not a historian or anthropologist.
History is only my hobby. I hope this clarifies my stand.

Other facts that might have indication on Hakka as Han derivatives: many 
battles against northern intruders (Hu) were initiated or operated by 
Hakka. 

Song (Yue Fei)		agasint Jin1 ("gold")
Song (Wen Tian Xiang)	against Yuan
Taiping (Hong Xiu Quan)	against Qing

(There is no substantial historical document that I have seen 
referring Yue Fei and Wen Tian Xiang as Hakka, but as a legend, they were 
classified as Hakka.  Hong Xiu Quan was Hakka is unquestionable.)

All their slogans were to protect Han. It would be quite amazing that if 
they were actually "Hu" fighting their own tribes.

In fact, it really does not make any difference even if all Hakkas were 
Xiongnu and non-Han by blood. The key of our discussion is the CULTURE
itself rather than bloodtyping. 

I think the bloodtyping should be accompanied by a census of a statistically
significant population of Hakka and non-Hakkas to draw a conclusion. Just
typing a small number of Hakkas from one locale is not suffiicient 
support. Let's put it that way. 

Close to all scientists report on findings. Findings and interpretations cane
be two different things.  It is certainly also true that sometimes science
can be politicized. Not too many people know Lysenko, but all should know
Hitler and "some German science" in that era. And Japanaese text books 
still deny responsibility of Nanjing massacre. Don't get me wrong that I am
prejudiced against Japanese, or Taiwanese or anyone.  I have some very good
Japanese friends and friends from Taiwan. As scientists, we are all seeking
facts and the nearest truth. 

SL Lee

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