No Subject

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>]

   Hello Soon Loong,

   This is the answer of part of your question (a). 

>   a)How did the surname "yap" originate? Why isn't it unique to the Hakkas?
>   b)Is it true that many Hakkas once held high post in the the imperial courts 
>     many hundred of years ago, like what my relatives said?
>   c)Are there any Hakka audio tapes in Singapore for beginners like me?
>   d)Is Hakka the major dialect group of all the Chinese (hua qiao)?

Chinese surname No.257 Ye4 
Ye4 means : leaf; a period; page.
e.g. Ye4 Bing3 means : leaf stalk.
Surname Ye4 is more than 2500 years old.

Abstract: Surname Ye4 was originated in an area which was called the 
          Nan2 Yang2 Prefecture during the Qin2 Dynasty (221BC to 207BC).
          Nan2 means : south
          Yang2 means : the sun; bright; clear; masculine; positive.
          The present day location of Nan2 Yang2 Prefecture is 
          in Nan2 Yang2 county in Henan province. 

   There was a powerful Miao2 tribe living in the region of the middle
Yangtze River (present day  Zi3 Gui county in Hubei province). Later 
they shifted to Dan Yang2 (present day Zhi Jiang county in Hubei 
province). They expanded their domain across to Han4 Shui3 River and 
later to Huai2 Shui3 River in the east. They conquered and annexed
many small States. In 704BC its leader called Mei Xiong2 proclaimed the
formation of a Kingdom which was called Chu3.

  During the Spring and Autumn Period (722BC to 481BC) in 613BC the ruler
of the Kingdom of Chu3 was King Zhuang. One of his great grandsons was
called Shen Zhu Liang2 who was bestowed with the title of Gong (Duke) by
his cousin brother King Hui. Later Shen Zhu Liang2 was delegated with
authority to rule a district called Ye4 (present day Ye4 Xian4 in Henan
province). He was known as Ye4 Gong.

   In 479BC Bai3 Sheng, a prince, gathered a band of armed followers,
and staged a revolt. Bai3 Sheng killed two officials while they were
having an audience with King Hui in the palace. Later he held the King as
a hostage. Bai3 Sheng wanted to dethroned him and install his cousin
Zi Lu as the King of Chu3. But Zi Lu refused to accept the offer and Bai3
Sheng had him executed.

   On hearing of the rebellion against King Hui Ye4 Gong congregated an
army and marched to the capital. In a battle near the capital Ye4
Gong defeated Bai3 Sheng who fled to the hills and committed suicide
there. Ye4 Gong was greatly honoured by King Hui for saving his life.

   After the death of Ye4 Gong his children adopted YE4 as their surname
in remembrance of him.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan.