Taiwan the Formosa
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Taiwan the Formosa (sometimes Taiwan the Green; pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-oân Chhùi-chhiⁿ; Chinese: 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 [1]. Later in 1994, Hsiao used this hymn to conclude his magnum opus, the 1947 Overture [2].
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.
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[edit] Original text
The poem was originally written in Taiwanese pe̍h-ōe-jī. 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.)
[edit] English version
(Translated by Boris and Clare Anderson)
- Taiwan the Green
- By Pacific’s western shore,
- Beauteous isle, our green Taiwan.
- Once suffered under alien rule,
- Free at last to be its own.
- Here’s 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.
[edit] 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 ("chhut-thâu-thiⁿ").
- 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.)
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