Taiwan the Formosa
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Taiwan the Formosa (Taiwanese: Tâi-oân Chhùi-chhiⁿ; Mandarin: 台灣翠青) is a poem written (conceived in 1977; finalized in 1993) by Taiwanese poet and clergyman Tīⁿ Jî-gio̍k (John Jyi-giokk Ti'n), set to music between 1988 and 1993 by Taiwanese composer of the Romantic school Tyzen Hsiao [zh-min-nan]. Later in 1994, Hsiao used the hymn to conclude his magnum opus, the 1947 Overture http://www.answers.com/topic/1947-overture.
This hymn is important in the Taiwan independence movement, usually named as the proposed national anthem for a future Republic of Taiwan. The first stanza is secular. The second has strong Christian references (the poet being a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan). It is meant to be sung only in appropriate settings, such as in a church.
Original text
The poem was originally written in Taiwanese. It has subsequently been translated into other languages, such as Hakka (by another clergyman Hiû San-hiùng).- Thài-pêng-iûⁿ se-lâm hái-piⁿ, bí-lē-tó Tâi-oân chhùi-chhiⁿ.
- Chá-chêng hō͘ gōa-pang thóng-tī, kiàn-kok taⁿ teh chhut-thâu-thiⁿ.
- Kiōng-hô-kok hiàn-hoat ê ki-chhó͘, sù-cho̍k-kûn pêng-téng saⁿ hia̍p-chō͘.
- Jîn-lūi bûn-hòa, sè-kài hô-pêng, kok-bîn hiòng-chêng kòng-hiàn châi-lêng.
- Choè goân-thaû Siōng-tè chhòng-chō, bí-lē-tó Tâi-oân choè-hó.
- Siúⁿ-sù hō͘ chó͘-sian khiā-khí, kiàn-kok taⁿ Siōng-chú liap-lí.
- Chú Ki-tok kok-ka ê kun-ông, lí-sióng-pang bo̍k-phiau ê kià-bōng.
- Lán beh kiàn-siat jîn-ài kong-gī, chó͘-kok moá-toē chhin-chhiūⁿ tī thiⁿ. (A-men.)
Non-metrical paraphrase in English
- On the southwestern edge of the Pacific Ocean stands the lush Taiwan, the beautiful island ("Formosa").
- Earlier it was ruled by foreign powers, but now it has achieved its nationhood.
- The republic being the basis of its constitution, the four ethnic groups are equal and co-operate with one another.
- Towards humanity, civilization, and peace, the people will come forward to contribute their talents.
- In the beginning, God created the beautiful island of Taiwan, our favourite.
- God gave it to our ancestors to inhabit and still looks over our nation.
- Christ being the Lord of our nation, the ideal state is our hope and aim.
- We will work towards love and justice, so that our motherland will become as heaven on earth. (Amen.)
References
External links
- [sheet music and mp3 audio file]
- [Hiû San-hiùng's translation into the Hakka language]
- ["Sing our national anthem: Taiwan the Formosa"]
- [a more Christian version with the additional second stanza]
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