Ye4gong1hao4long2/Yab6gong1hau4liung2

[Lau Chunfat <96981339r@polyu.edu.hk>]

Dear Hakka Friends,

I would like to tell you a very ancient fable first. Many people who
received their education in Chinese should know about it.

Once upon a time there was a man called "Ye4gong1". He liked dragon very
much. He like talk about dragon with everyone. Everything in his house are
made in the shape of dragons, and he brought different picutres of dragon
for decoration. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that.

A dragon who lived not far away heard of this and was very interested to
know who this man was. He flew to Ye4gong1's house and wanted to talk to
him. But Ye4gong1 was very frightened by the real dragon and got sick.

Ye4gong1's neighbors began to laugh at him because he only like to talk
about dragon, hanged pictures of dragon, and let furnitures, window frames,
tools, etc. made in forms of dragons. However, he did not really have, nor
did he want to have contact with dragon's. This fable is the famous proverb
"Ye4gong1hao4long2" to describe some people who wants to talk only but
doesn't want to act.

Here you see, most Hakka people are actually "pure" descendants of
Ye4gong1. Most of us like to TALK only about Hakka, but become afraid when
asked to DO anything for Hakka. This is a sad picture of Hakka, and I am
now dead sure that Hakka cannot last for 200 years more.

Oi4 hang2tung4, m1hau3 qiang4gong3. Qiu4son4 ngi2 qiang4voi4 gong3, du1oi4
yung4 Hag5fa4 gong3.
Act, don't just talk. Even if you only know to talk, talk in HAKKA.


Liu Zinfad