Re: Looking at history

["Dylan Sung" <dylanwhs@ukgateway.net>]

Dear Siu-Leung,

Thank you for your comments, but let me say that Hakka issues have been
furthered by having this Hakka Forum to disseminate the ideas and thoughts of
all comers from corners of the world. We have much to thank you for, in making
this so, and our friends who read and contribute here will agree that you have
provided an excellent service to everyone.


Historical records are notorious for their creative interpretation of events
from the eyes of the conquerors. This is because it is politically motivated to
show the succeeding dynasts in a good light. Where there is political pressure
from an executive on their subjects such as in feudal China, you can appreciate
that if you do not skew the facts you may well face some unfortunate fate.

This does not mean that every single published article and work may be
influenced by political means. For instance the herbal and medicinal
publications, the classics, and dictionaries. Some works may have come about
from initial imperial instigation, such as compilation of Chinese characters
like KangXi's dictionary. However, in respects to this area of life,
dictionaries, in particular pronouncing dictionaries, are hard to skew like
politically influential views of history.

Readers will also appreciate that modern criteria for writing accounts of things
are vastly different from what it was. There are now more rigorous methods of
investigating an issue that is repeatable anywhere in the world. This
repeatability is itself a test of the integrity of the methods used, the results
gained, and the conclusions drawn from the investigations made. When it has been
published and vetted, it becomes open to public scrutiny by all members of that
community, and moreover, from all disciplines affected or otherwise affected by
it. Granted, this is not a scientific forum. However, if one makes inaccurate or
debatable points, it should be answered honestly so that we can build upon a
framework of consolidated and indisputable fact.

Otherwise, we risk being open to ridicule, which is the last thing I want to see
for Hakka or Chinese issues. This is what prompted my initial comment which
cascaded this discussion.

Cheers,
Dylan.

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