Re: Language change and poem

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.joinet.net.au>]

Dear SL Lee, 

The World Hakka Association, which held its 15th World Hakka Convention in
Malaysia from 4/11/1999 to 7/11/1999, has identified 119 famous Hakka
people ranging from the dynasty of East Jin (東晉 317AD to 420AD) to
People's Republic of China (1949AD to ?). As you are talking about Tang
poems I want to let you know that the World Hakka Association identifies
the famous Tang statesman and poet Zhang Jiu Ling (張九齡) a Hakka.

Zhang Jiu Ling was born in 678AD in Qu Jiang county (曲江縣) in present day
Guangdong Province (廣東省). In 733AD he was appointed as Prime Minister
by Emperor Xuan Zong (玄宗皇帝), your ancestor Li Long Ji (李隆基), the
famous Tang Ming Huang (唐明皇) , grandson of Empress Wu or Wu Ze Tian
(武則天). However, some high-ranking officials wheedled Emperor Xuan Zong
into having Zhang Jiu Ling  dismissed as PM in 736AD. The Emperor had 
Zhang Jiu Ling banished back to his hometown. Zhang Jiu Ling died
in 740AD.

In the book "300 Tang Poems" there are five poems by Zhang Jiu Ling.
There are definitely rhyme in Hakka. 

In Ming Dynasty (明朝 1368AD to 1644AD) during the reign of Zhu Hou Zhao 
(朱厚照) or Emperor Wu Zong (武宗皇帝) the people of Qu Jiang erected a 
memorial hall called "Qu Jiang Feng Du Lou 曲江風度樓" in honour of Zhang 
Jiu Ling. The couplet on the front door was written by Hai Ru
(海瑞 1514AD to 1587AD), the contemporary statesman and scholar at that 
time. Here is the the couplet:

當今皇室雙士﹐
Dang Jin Huang Shi Wu Shuang Shi

自古天南第一人。
Zi Gu Tian Nan Di Yi Ren.

On 10th November 1965 an article, published by the People's Daily in
Shanghai, criticized a play written by Wu Han (吳含), the deputy Mayor of
Beijing city, called "Hai Jui (Rui) Dismissed From Office 海瑞罷官."
Nobody took notice about this article, but Peng Zhen (彭真) the mayor of
Beijing was annoyed. Peng Zhen asked the Shanghai branch of the People's
Daily who authorised that article to be published. Zhang Chun Qiao
(張春橋) replied that the authority was given by Chairman Mao who wrote
that article. That was the first shot of the "Red Guard Movement."  

Yoon-Ngan.