The Hakkas: Patriots, Revolutionaries and Leaders

["Dixie" <Dixie@singnet.com.sg>]

The Hakkas: Patriots, Revolutionaries and Leaders   
  
Comprising less than 5 percent of the Chinese population, the Hakkas have
an influence on the course of Chinese and Asian history, totally
disproportionate to their numerical weight, especially in the field of
revolutionary and political leaders. 

In ancient China, the Hakkas had fought valiantly against the 'barbarians'
that invaded China in different periods of Chinese history. Amongst them,
the most famous were Yue Fei and Wen Tianxiang during the Song Dynasty.
Yue, known for his loyalty and bravery and one of the greatest generals of
China, fought against the Jurchens who invaded China in the 12th century.
However, Yue was betrayed at the end and was executed. At the time of his
death, he was only 38 years old.

When the Mongols invaded China in the 13th century, Wen led the Hakkas to
defend China but was defeated eventually. Wen died as a national hero after
being held in captive for many years. Till his death, he refused to submit
to his Mongol captors, even when he was offered the post of Prime Minister
by the Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan.

The defeat by the Mongols also resulted in the Hakkas migrating to many
parts of southern China. This is known as the Third Migration of the Hakkas
in Chinese history. Today, in China, the Hakkas are found in 8 of the 23
provinces: Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hainan and
Taiwan, 1 of the 5 autonomous regions: Guangxi as well as the Special
Administrative Region, Hong Kong.

Despite the setbacks, the heroic deeds of the Hakkas' forefathers live on
among the Hakkas' folk consciousness. This, together with the hardships
they faced living in the infertile, mountainous regions which they migrated
to, were some of the contributing factors that they were able to produce so
many outstanding men who later shaped China and Asia.

Prior to this, many Hakkas became officials in the Imperial Court during
the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, after doing exceptionally  well in
the Imperial Examinations. Besides Yue and Wen during the Song Dynasty,
other prominent Hakkas include Prime Minister Zhang Jiuling, Guo Ziyi and
Xue Rengui of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Yangming and Yuan Chonghuan of the
Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty, Zeng Guofan, Qiu Fengjia and
Zhang Zhenxun of the Qing Dynasty, all famous figures in Chinese history.

In modern history, the most prominent Chinese leaders are Hakkas:  
- Hong Xiuquan (Taiping Heavenly Kingdom)  
- Dr Sun Yatsen (Republic of China)  
- Mao Zedong (People's Republic of China)  
- Deng Xiaoping (People's Republic of China)  
- Lee Tenghui (Republic of China, Taiwan)   
- Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore)   
The Hakkas had the unique distinction of having 3 heads of states of world
stature at the same time: China's supreme leader Deng Xiaoping, Taiwan's
President Lee Tenghui and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. 
  
Other prominent Hakka leaders include:
- Low Lan Pak, who founded the Hakka republic of Lanfang (present Western
Kalimantan, now part of Indonesia), 1777-1884
- Yap Ah Loy, founder of Kuala Lumpur (now capital of Malaysia) in middle
of 19th century
- Song Qingling, wife of Dr Sun Yatsen and who became an influential
political figure after Sun's death in 1925
- Ne Win, military dictator of Myanmar (formerly Burma) from 1962 to 1988
- Li Peng, China's Premier from 1988 till todate