Questions about East and West · "Famous" traces on both sides of the Taiwan Strait | "Taiwan General History" author Lian Hengzu Dixing

　　China News Service, Zhangzhou, April 6th: Title: "General History of Taiwan" author Lian Hengzu Dixing

　　China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　At the end of February this year, a new book launch conference for the simplified Chinese version of "Taiwan General History" (translation and annotation) was held in Beijing. "General History of Taiwan" is a general history in classical Chinese written by Taiwan's famous patriotic poet and historian Lien Heng. It is the first to fully record the 1,290-year history of Taiwan from the Sui Dynasty to the period when it was occupied by Japan in 1895. It was praised by Zhang Taiyan, a master of Chinese studies, as "a national The spirit attached to it is a work that must be passed down.”

　　Lian Heng, whose courtesy name was Yatang, was born in Tainan in 1878. He was the grandfather of Lien Chan, the former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang. He wrote a lot of works throughout his life, including "Taiwan Dictionary", "Taiwan Poems", "Taiwan General History" and other works, and is known as "Taiwan's Grand Historian".

The picture shows the Lian Ancestral Hall located in Maqi Society, Changzhou Village, Bangshan Town, Longhai District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　Recently, reporters from China News Service visited Maqishe, Changzhou Village, Bangshan Town, Bangshan District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, where Lian Heng’s ancestral home was, to explore the historical origins of the same line on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the exchange stories of seeking roots and relatives, and feeling the "life of Lian Heng and his descendants" Rooted in Taiwan, with the mainland in mind, we uphold national justice and sincerely protect Chinese culture.

"Rooted in Taiwan, with the Mainland in mind"

　　The text and pictures of "Lien Chan seeks his roots and relatives" displayed in the Maqi Lian Clan Ancestral Hall show that in 1914, Lian Heng wrote in his petition requesting to secede from Japanese nationality and restore Chinese nationality: "The presenter, Lian Yatang, was originally from Longxi Township, Fujian Province. Ma Qi She... petitions for permission to resume membership..."

　　Lian Heng's petition for reinstatement and related documents are still preserved in the Second Historical Archives of China. The "Maqi Society, Longxi Township, Fujian Province" in the report is the current Maqi Society, Changzhou Village, Bangshan Town, Longhai District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. Between the lines, one can see the passionate feelings of this Taiwanese cultural philanthropist about his family and country.

The picture shows a photocopy of a fragment of the manuscript of Lian Heng's "General History of Taiwan". Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　During the decades-long Japanese occupation, Lian Heng saw that in order to destroy the national consciousness of the Taiwanese people, the colonists tried their best to destroy Taiwan's historical documents and deliberately fabricated false history to fool the local people. Adhering to the ancient adage that "a country can be destroyed but history cannot be destroyed" and with the patriotic feelings of "taking root in Taiwan and caring about the mainland", he finally wrote a "General History of Taiwan" with a total of 88 articles and more than 600,000 words after more than 10 years.

　　As Lien Chan said in his congratulatory letter to the new book launch of the simplified Chinese version of "Taiwan General History" (translation and annotation), "Taiwan General History" written by his ancestor Mr. Lian Heng reflects the historical origins of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and carries the deep feelings for his hometown of Taiwan. , and the lifelong ambition to safeguard the spirit of the Chinese nation.

Different versions of "General History of Taiwan" are on display at the Fujian Provincial Lianheng Cultural Research Institute, attracting attention. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　From November 1920 to April 1921, "General History of Taiwan" was published in Taiwan in three volumes. Over the next hundred years, more than a dozen versions of this historical work were widely circulated on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, providing important historical materials for today's comprehensive and true understanding of history and the study of cross-Strait relations.

　　Lian Mingfu, a representative of the Lien clan who was invited to attend the new book launch of the simplified Chinese version of "Taiwan General History" (translation and annotation), believes that "Taiwan General History" is a historical work that shines with patriotism. Deep emotions are integrated into the book, and the true history of Taiwan and the spirit of the Chinese nation are written into the book.

　　During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese invaders intensified the "imperialization" movement in Taiwan and banned Taiwan compatriots from using Chinese and Hokkien. Lian Heng was worried that the Hokkien dialect would disappear in Taiwan, so he spent three years compiling a four-volume "Taiwanese Dictionary" containing 1,176 entries. In his preface, he wrote, "The language of Taiwan comes from Zhangquan, and the language of Zhangquan comes from China." He analyzed the origin of Taiwanese in detail and convinced that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait "have the same roots and are inseparable."

　　After the September 18th Incident in 1931, Lian Heng sent his only son, Lian Zhendong, back to the mainland to work. Before leaving, he warned: "If you want to liberate Taiwan, you must first build the motherland. In order to preserve Taiwanese documents, I had to endure it." Here. Now that you have graduated and are proficient in Chinese literature, you should return to the motherland to serve." In 1933, Lian Heng returned to the mainland with his family and settled in Shanghai until his death in June 1936.

"Grandpa, I'm back"

　　Lien Heng returned to the mainland eight times in his life, but in the turbulent times, it was difficult to return to his ancestral home. In April 2006, Lien Chan was invited by the Maqi Lian clan to return to his hometown for the first time with his wife and children to trace his roots and worship his ancestors.

Lian Huinan, president of the Lian Clan Association in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, told reporters at the Lian Clan Ancestral Hall in Maqi about the scene when Lien Chan returned to his hometown to find his roots and visit relatives. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　"He said very emotionally, 'Grandpa, I'm back, I'm finally back.' We were all very moved at the scene." Recalling Lien Chan's true confession when he returned to his hometown to find his roots and visit relatives, the president of the Zhangzhou Lian Clan Association Lian Huinan was filled with emotion.

　　"I was very moved when I came to Maqi, my ancestral home. There are traces of the struggle and journey of my ancestors here." "My ancestor Lian Xingweigong moved from here to the Ma Barracks of Ningnanfang, Taiwan County, Taiwan Prefecture." "This shows that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait "We have the same roots and same blood"... In front of the Maqi Lian Clan Ancestral Hall, Lien Chan introduced himself to his family and life experience in Hokkien, with a friendly accent and deep affection.

　　The text and pictures displayed in the ancestral hall describe the blood and family ties of the exchanges and exchanges between clan members on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Lian Huinan told reporters that after the ancestor worship ceremony, Lien Chan wrote an inscription for the ancestral hall of his ancestors: "Know your mind and see your nature, teach your descendants, accumulate good deeds for the world, and inherit the virtues of your ancestors."

　　At the entrance of the ancestral hall, the plaque "Maqi Lian Clan Ancestral Hall Sicheng Hall" hangs high, which was inscribed by Lien Chan himself in 2013. To this day, the calligraphy treasure inscribed by Lien Zhan is still kept in the ancestral hall.

In the Maqi Lian Clan Ancestral Hall, the plaque "Maqi Lian Clan Ancestral Hall Sicheng Hall" inscribed by Lien Chan himself in 2013 still hangs high. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　According to the Maqi Lian clan, Lien Chan’s ancestral home is well documented in Maqishe, Changzhou Village, Bangshan Town, Longhai District. Lian Heng mentioned in his manuscript "Tainan Lian's Family Record" that "the twenty-seven capitals of Masongguan Maqi Society, Longxi County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province" are now Maqi Society, Changzhou Village, Bangshan Town. The "Ma Qi Lian Clan Genealogy" revised in 2006 included for the first time the "Tainan Ma Bingying Lien Clan Genealogy Map" of the Lien Chan family in Taiwan.

　　On April 8, 2016, the 10th anniversary of Lien Chan's return to his hometown to worship his ancestors, more than 300 Lien clan members from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Maqi to talk about their hometown and renew their friendship. This time, although Lien Chan had no time to come back, he still wrote an inscription "Promoting Clan Friendship" for his hometown and asked someone to bring it to Zhangzhou.

　　"After Lien Chan returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, Zhangzhou's relations with the Lian clan in Taiwan became increasingly close." Lian Huinan said that every year, the Lian clan from Zhangzhou goes to Taiwan, and the Lian clan from Taiwan also often come to trace their roots. Asking about ancestors, traveling and sightseeing, communicating and socializing.

Linking culture to both sides of the Taiwan Strait

　　In Fujian, the Lianheng Cultural Research Institute and the Lianheng Painting and Calligraphy Institute have been established one after another, dedicated to academic research on Lianheng’s life, thoughts, and works, as well as interactions with all walks of life in Taiwan, inheriting Lianheng’s patriotic spirit, and deepening cross-strait folk cultural exchanges. , carry forward traditional Chinese culture, and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Lian Mingfu, chairman of the Fujian Lianheng Cultural Research Institute, introduced Lianheng culture to visitors. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　In May 2023, the Fujian Provincial Lianheng Cultural Research Institute held a Fujian-Taiwan cultural exchange symposium with the theme of "Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have the same roots, Fujian and Taiwan are one family". Lien Chan's second son Lian Shengwu led a delegation to attend.

　　Over the years, the Fujian Provincial Lian Heng Cultural Research Institute has successively held a series of activities to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Lian Heng and the 100th anniversary of the publication of "General History of Taiwan". It has now become the "Fujian Province Exchange Base with Taiwan" and "Collaborative Innovation for the Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations" Central Teaching Practice Base" and "Cross-Strait Youth Study Base".

　　According to Lian Xinhao, director of the Fujian Lianheng Cultural Research Institute, both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected in history and flesh and blood.

The vernacular version of "General History of Taiwan" published by Mr. Lien Chen-tung Cultural and Educational Foundation of Taiwan. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　Faced with the Democratic Progressive Party's continuous promotion of "de-China" and "Taiwan independence" education, Lian Heng's great-granddaughter Lian Huixin said: "It is necessary and important to translate "General History of Taiwan" into vernacular to make it easier for the public to read and disseminate. We must Keep doing it and strive to hand over Chinese history to the next generation in its entirety."

　　"Draw your sword and sing wildly to test Luquan, Yanping's hegemony committee is in smoke. Swing your sword and expand Tianhengdao again, attack Qi Qi to pursue the ancestors' boat. Seeing the strength of the heroes, I hope that our party will promote civil rights. The moon in Xixiang is still shining in the wind yesterday, and the world Standing in front of the bronze bust of Lian Heng in the exhibition hall of the Fujian Lian Heng Culture Research Institute, the poem on the background wall behind the bronze statue of Lian Mingfu, who has studied Lian Heng culture for more than ten years, said, this poem It was written by Lian Heng next to the "Luquan" dug by Zheng Chenggong for stationing troops on Gulangyu Island, which fully demonstrates his heroic ambition of taking the rise and fall of the world as his own responsibility.

　　Lian Heng worshiped Zheng Chenggong throughout his life. When he was in Xiamen, he lingered among Zheng Chenggong's ruins and wrote many poems such as "Repassing Yiyuan and Meeting Lin Jingshang", "Wan Shiyan", and "Autumn Feelings on the Lujiang River". Lian Mingfu said that the strong patriotic sentiment conveyed by the quotations from scriptures in the poem are in the same vein as Zheng Chenggong's patriotic spirit. (over)