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Taiwan the Formosa
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Wikipedia article
"'Taiwan the Formosa'" (, 'peh-e-j': Ti-on Chhi-chhi), also "'Taiwan the Green'", is a poem written (conceived in 1977; finalized in 1993) by Taiwanese poet and clergyman T J-giok (; John Jyi-giokk Ti'n, Er-Yu Cheng),[http://blog.roodo.com/senghian/archives/35571928.html ---ah] set to music between 1988 and 1993 by neo-Romantic Taiwanese composer Tyzen Hsiao. An English metrical translation was provided by Boris and Clare Anderson. The text represents an early example of the popular verse that emerged from the Taiwanese literature movement in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1994 Hsiao used this hymn to conclude his '1947 Overture' for soprano, choir and orchestra.[http://www.answers.com/topic/1947-overture 1947 Overture]', Answers.com'
"Taiwan the Formosa" has been popular with pro-democracy activists and has been adopted by the Taiwan independence movement as a proposed national anthem for a future Republic of Taiwan.Shih Hsiu-chuan [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/05/18/2003308786 "Pro-independence supporters promote 'Taiwan the Green' for national anthem"], Taipei Times, 2006-05-18 The first stanza is secular. The second, written by popular demand and published in number 2364 of Taiwan Church News in 1997, has overt Christian references in keeping with the poet's vocation as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The second verse is intended only for performance in church settings or on similarly appropriate occasions.
Lyrics
The poem was originally written in 'peh-e-j'. It has subsequently been translated into other languages, such as Hakka (by clergyman Hi San-hing ).
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!Original in Taiwanese Hokkien ('peh-e-j')!!Chinese version!!English translation
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Once suffered under alien rule, free at last to be its own.
Heres the basis of our nation: four diverse groups in unity,
come to offer all their varied skills, for the good of all and a world at peace.Translated by Boris and Clare Anderson
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.)
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See also
*National Anthem of the Republic of China
*Proposed flags of Taiwan
*Taiwanese literature movement
*Taiwan independence
*Taiwanization
References
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