Forgive the long list of words. I considered taking them out but left them in because they were interesting. Who knew that our ancient ancestors had insurance?
Ancient Imperial Language of China - 2,000 Years Ago
What did it sound like? (*Mind you, it's no way similar to Mandarin*)
Has this ancient language survived?
Who speaks it today?
You'll be Surprised. You have heard it. You, your parents, or grandparents
may still be speaking this ancient, archaic language!
Yes, it's HOKKIEN (Fujian/Minnan Hua)
Hokkien is:
1. The surviving language of the *Tang dynasty*<http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Tang_dynasty>(618-907AD), China's Golden Age of Culture.
Note: *The Hokkien we hear today may have "evolved" from its original form 2,000 years ago, but it still retains the main elements of the Tang Dynasty Language.*
2. Hokkiens are the surviving descendants of the Tang Dynasty -- When the Tang Dynasty collapsed, the people of the Tang Dynasty fled South and sought refuge in the Hokkien ( Fujian ) province. Hence, Hokkien called themselves Tng-lang (*Tang Ren or People of the Tang Dynasty*) instead of Hua Lang (*Hua Ren*).
3. Hokkien has 8 tones instead of Mandarin's 4. Linguists claim that ancient languages tend to have more complex tones.
4. Hokkien retains the ancient Chinese pronunciation of "K-sounding " endings (for instance, Ha*k* Seng (student), Tua O*k* (university) , Tha*k* Che*k* (read a book/study) -- the "k" sounding ending is not found in Mandarin.
5. The collection of the famous "Three Hundred Tang Dynasty Poems" sound better when recited in Hokkien/Teochew if compared to Mandarin.
6. Consider this for a moment: Today, the Hokkien Nam Yim ochestral performance still has its roots in ancient Tang dynasty music. Here's the proof: The formation of today Nam Yim ensemble is typically seen in ancient Tang dynasty paintings of musicians.
More Astonishingly:
Although not genetically- related, Hokkiens, Koreans and Japanese share many similar words (which are different from Mandarin).
That's because Hokkien was the official language of the powerful Tang Dynasty whose influence and language spread to Japan and Korea (just like Latin - where many words were borrowed by the English, French, Italian, etc). Here are just a few words in Hokkien, Japanese & Korean for your comparison:
Hokkien Korean Japanese
Sin Boon (news) Sin Mun Shinbun - newspaper
Cheng Hu (government) Chong Bu
Pang (room) Pang
Chhia (car/vehicle) Ch'a
Mui/M'ng (door) Mun
P'hio (ticket) P'yo
Eng Wan (eternal) Yong Won
Chaek (book) Ch'ae
Ki (flag) Ki Ki
Kang (river) Gang/kang
Poh Hiam (insurance) Poh Ham
Sio Sim (caution) Cho sim
Mo Kui (demon) Ma gui
Cham (attend/join/ mix) Ch'am sok
Kantan (simple) Gan Dan
Sin Sei Kai (new world) Shin Sae Gae
Kok Ka (nation) Kuk Kka
Hya (elder brother) Hyaeng
Choon Pi (prepare) Jun Bi
Si Kan (time) Si Kan
Kam tong (emotion, feeling) Kam Jong Kanjoo
Si Kan (time) Si Kan
Kam tong (emotion, feeling) Kam Jong Kanjoo
Kamsia (gratitude, thanks) Kam Sa Kansha
Keat Hoon (marriage) Kyol Hon Kekkon
Oon Tong (exercise) Un Dong Undoo
Tua Ok (university) Tae Hak Daigaku
Aun Chuan (safety) An Jon An Zen
Mua Chiok(satisfaction) Man Jok Manzoku
Mua Chiok(satisfaction) Man Jok Manzoku
Ai Lang (lover) Ae In Aijin
Seng Kong (success) Song Kong Seikoo
Chhiu Sat (suicide) Cha sal Jisatsu
Pu Do (grapes) P'o d'o Budoo
Chin Por (progress) Chin bo ShinpoTo all 49 Million Hokkien Speakers:
Be Proud of Your Ancient Hokkien Heritage & Language! Speak it Loud and Clear. Teach Your Future Generation this Imperial Language, Less it Fades Away. * Be Proud Children of the Tang Emperors.*
To all Mandarin-speaking friends out there -- do not look down on your other Chinese friends who do not speak Mandarin - whom you guys fondly refer to as "Bananas". In fact, they are speaking a language which is much more ancient & linguistically complicated than Mandarin.
Keep in mind that Mandarin is just:
1. A Northern Chinese dialect (heavily influenced by non Han Chinese) that was elevated to the status of National Language by Sun Yat Sen for the sake of China's national unity.
2. Mandarin was never spoken by your proud, imperial Tang Dynasty ancestors. It was probably spoken by the Northern (Non-Han) Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu minority. *Start speaking the language of your ancestors today.*
Other interesting links: *
http://www.famousch inese.com/ virtual/Penang_ Hokkien*<http://www.famousch inese.com/ virtual/Penang_ Hokkien>
4 comments:
I knew our respective schools got it all wrong, I knew it.
Oh, yeah!
I knew that something was fishy when I was learning Japanese and some words sounded closer to Hokkien than to Mandarin! Wow... I'm a Tang descendent???
To be accurate, some of the words are closer to Cantonese or Mandarin. You got to realise the Japanese On'yomi pronunciations borrowed from many Chinese languages down the centuries.
Still, it's a fascinating subject. I, too, was piqued to notice many Hokkien-like words when watching jdramas and anime.
It's high time Hokkiens learn about our heritage and stop buying into the ignorant idea that our language is low class. Hokkien is one of the Old Chinese languages. Mandarin speakers should respect their "elders"!
However, I read in Wiki that the Tang descent theory is still a subject of debate. wish I could find the article but as best I remember, it said that not all Hokkiens are descendents of the Tang court. With the passage of time, some native southerners also took on Hokkien ethnicity.
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