Here appear occasional jottings of my random musings. Profound or jejune, they reveal the contours of my mental universe, with world history, intellectual history, civilizations, philosophy, religion, society, knowledge, and books as some major themes. Since May 2011, this blog has been exclusively focused on Singapore. All my other reflections are now posted in "Notes from Noosphere" (see link under "Miscellany" on the right margin).
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Visit to Oxford by the first Chinese ambassador to UK
In a Chinese book, From China to Oxford, can be found the travel diary of Guo Songtao (郭嵩焘 1818-91), the first Chinese ambassador to the UK (1877-79) (and the first ever Chinese ambassador) when he visited Oxford on Nov 28-29, 1877. He visited Magdalen, All Souls, Christ Church, and the Bodleian Library. He also attended a lecture by James Legge (1815-97), since 1876 the first Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Oxford, at the Sheldonian Theatre. The diary showed that Guo knew almost nothing about British universities before the visit, and probably learned little of any depth after. All that he recorded are the most mundane and superficial of factoids. (I did not find any indication that Guo ever learned any foreign language.)
The Turl Cash, Thornton's, and my lost youth
My intellectual development has been greatly influenced by Oxford’s venerable bookshops. I have particularly fond memories of The Turl Cash, Thornton's, and Blackwell's (of course). I am gratified to discover an old essay, "Oxford Bookshops" by William Ridler, of July 1963, when the original Parker's building had been demolished, and the new one (that I knew in 1974) was yet only on the drawing board. The essay has a particularly rare (I think) and delightful description of The Turl Cash.
ps. Exeter College demolished the old Parker’s bookshop at Nos. 26–27, Broad Street, Oxford and built its Thomas Wood Building (1964) on the corner of the Broad and the Turl. (source) The new building housed Parker's at the old spot from 1964 until c. 1993 when Blackwell's Art and Poster Shop moved in.
ps. Exeter College demolished the old Parker’s bookshop at Nos. 26–27, Broad Street, Oxford and built its Thomas Wood Building (1964) on the corner of the Broad and the Turl. (source) The new building housed Parker's at the old spot from 1964 until c. 1993 when Blackwell's Art and Poster Shop moved in.
THE top engineering schools 2010-11 (complete list)
UK Times Higher Education (THE) ranks engineering schools:
1 California Institute of Technology --United States
2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology --United States
3 Stanford University --United States
4 Princeton University --United States
5 University of California Berkeley --United States
6 University of Cambridge --United Kingdom
7 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich --Switzerland
8 University of Oxford --United Kingdom
9 Imperial College London --United Kingdom
10 Georgia Institute of Technology --United States
11 Carnegie Mellon University --United States
12 Cornell University --United States
13 University of Toronto --Canada
14 University of Michigan --United States
15 University of Illinois - Urbana --United States
16 National University of Singapore --Singapore
17 University of California Santa Barbara --United States
18 Northwestern University --United States
19 University of Hong Kong --Hong Kong
20= Tsinghua University --China
20= Hong Kong University of Science and Technology --Hong Kong
22= University of Tokyo --Japan
22= Ecole Polytechnique --France
24 École Polytechnique Federale of Lausanne --Switzerland
25 Peking University --China
26 University of Massachusetts --United States
27 University of Minnesota --United States
28 Pohang University of Science and Technology --South Korea
29 Brown University --United States
30 University of Melbourne --Australia
31 University of California San Diego --United States
32 Rice University --United States
33 Delft University of Technology --Netherlands
34= Purdue University --United States
34= University of Wisconsin --United States
34= Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris --France
37 University of Queensland Australia --Australia
38= University of British Columbia --Canada
38= University of Freiburg --Germany
40 University of Sydney --Australia
41 University of Southern California --United States
42 University of California Davis --United States
43 Birkbeck, University of London --United Kingdom
44 Australian National University --Australia
45 University of Science and Technology of China --China
46 National Taiwan University --Taiwan
47 University of Notre Dame --United States
48 Nanjing University --China
49 Bielefeld University --Germany
50 Ohio State University --United States
1 California Institute of Technology --United States
2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology --United States
3 Stanford University --United States
4 Princeton University --United States
5 University of California Berkeley --United States
6 University of Cambridge --United Kingdom
7 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich --Switzerland
8 University of Oxford --United Kingdom
9 Imperial College London --United Kingdom
10 Georgia Institute of Technology --United States
11 Carnegie Mellon University --United States
12 Cornell University --United States
13 University of Toronto --Canada
14 University of Michigan --United States
15 University of Illinois - Urbana --United States
16 National University of Singapore --Singapore
17 University of California Santa Barbara --United States
18 Northwestern University --United States
19 University of Hong Kong --Hong Kong
20= Tsinghua University --China
20= Hong Kong University of Science and Technology --Hong Kong
22= University of Tokyo --Japan
22= Ecole Polytechnique --France
24 École Polytechnique Federale of Lausanne --Switzerland
25 Peking University --China
26 University of Massachusetts --United States
27 University of Minnesota --United States
28 Pohang University of Science and Technology --South Korea
29 Brown University --United States
30 University of Melbourne --Australia
31 University of California San Diego --United States
32 Rice University --United States
33 Delft University of Technology --Netherlands
34= Purdue University --United States
34= University of Wisconsin --United States
34= Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris --France
37 University of Queensland Australia --Australia
38= University of British Columbia --Canada
38= University of Freiburg --Germany
40 University of Sydney --Australia
41 University of Southern California --United States
42 University of California Davis --United States
43 Birkbeck, University of London --United Kingdom
44 Australian National University --Australia
45 University of Science and Technology of China --China
46 National Taiwan University --Taiwan
47 University of Notre Dame --United States
48 Nanjing University --China
49 Bielefeld University --Germany
50 Ohio State University --United States
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Lincoln, Dartmouth, and Dr Seuss
I had not been nourished in my childhood by the works of Dr Seuss (1904-91), and have only been aware of him since about 1996.
He is the only prominent person that I know of who studied at both Oxford and Dartmouth. He was an undergraduate at Dartmouth (1921-25), and studied for D.Phil in English Literature at Lincoln College, Oxford, without taking the degree.
He is the only prominent person that I know of who studied at both Oxford and Dartmouth. He was an undergraduate at Dartmouth (1921-25), and studied for D.Phil in English Literature at Lincoln College, Oxford, without taking the degree.
Oxonians of 1974-77: a Parade of the Notables
Prominent Oxford Students in 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977
In 1974, there had been 23 Oxonian British PMs, besides numerous other eminent Oxonians.
And there were at least three future PMs amongst the Oxonians of 1974-77: Tony Blair, Benazir Bhutto, and Theresa May.
Tony Blair (born 6 May 1953), UK's PM from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007, read Jurisprudence at St John's, Oxford in 1972-75, and graduated with a 2nd class in 1975.
Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) read PPE at LMH and St Catherine's in 1973-77, and was elected the president of Oxford Union in Dec 1976.
Theresa May (born October 1, 1956), UK's PM since 13 July 2016, read Geography at St. Hugh's (1974-77), graduating with a 2nd class.
On the Oxford romance of Theresa and Philip May: here
Dominic Grieve (born May 24, 1956), Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland from May 2010 to July 2014, read Modern History at Magdalen College, graduating in 1978.
Kim Beazley (born December 14, 1948), Deputy PM of Australia (June 1995 - March 1996) and Australia's Labor Party Leader (1996-2001, 2005-2006), earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Arts degrees at the University of Western Australia and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship in 1973. He completed a Master’s of Philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford, writing his thesis on Soviet and American naval competition in the Indian Ocean. (source)
Peter Millican (born March 1, 1958), philosopher at Hertford College, Oxford, read for his BA and BPhil at Lincoln College, Oxford 1976-1982. His lectures on General Philosophy can be seen here.
Andrew Motion (born 26 October 1952), the British Poet Laureate 1999-2009, read English at Univ and graduated with BA (first class) in 1974. He then stayed on and earned his M.Litt. in 1976 (presumably at Univ, though not confirmed),
Rajiva Wijesinha (see below) on Vikram Seth's Romanticism: here
Pico Iyer. travel writer and essayist, was probably at Oxford from the autumn of 1976, according to his birth year (1957).
Pico Iyer was born in Oxford, England, to parents from India, in 1957, grew up in California and currently lives in Japan. He won a King's Scholarship to Eton and then a Demyship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where, graduating with a Congratulatory Double First in English, he received the highest marks of any student in the university. He went on to acquire a second Master's degree in literature at Harvard, where he taught literature and writing for two years. (source)
David Profumo (born Oct 20, 1955), novelist and son of John Profumo (the disgraced Secretary of State for War in the Macmillan government (The Profumo Affair)), read English at Magdalen College in 1974-77, graduating with a First.
Val McDermid (born June 4, 1955), Scottish crime writer, read English at St Hilda's College in 1972 (aged 17)-1975 (here).
Artemis Cooper (born 22 April 1953), British writer and biographer, read English at St Hugh's College in 1972 - 1975, graduating with a BA (here).
Peter Tasker (bio), Japan watcher, author of Inside Japan (1987) and Japan in Play (1999), and financial expert, read English Literature, then Law, at Balliol College, beginning in 1973.
Rowan Atkinson (born January 6, 1955), the renowned Mr Bean and Blackadder, graduated with a BSc from Newcastle University (UK). He then entered The Queen's College, Oxford in 1975 to read Electrical Engineering, graduating with a MSc in Electrical Engineering in 1979. Mr Bean was conceived in Oxford.
***********************************************************
Rajiva Wijesinha (born May 16, 1954), MA(Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), is a Sri Lankan writer in English, distinguished for his political analysis as well as creative and critical work. An academic by profession for much of his working career, he was most recently Senior Professor of Languages at the University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka.
He belongs to the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka, and has served as its President and Leader, and also as a Vice-President of Liberal International. He is currently Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.
He read Classics as an undergraduate at University College (1970-74), and English Literature as a graduate student at Corpus Christi.
Tan Jee Say (born February 12, 1954), candadate in the 2011 Singapore General Elections and the 2011 Presidential Election, read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at University College during 1973-76.
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M (Muhammad) Athar Tahir (here, here), Pakistani writer, painter and civil servant (Federal Secretary (of) Education), was a Rhodes scholar (beginning in 1974, source) reading English Literature at Oriel College.
***************************************************
Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. (born September 13, 1957), widely known as Bongbong Marcos, is a Filipino politician and senator in the 16th Congress of the Philippines. He is the second child and only son of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the former president of the Philippines(1965–1986), and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. He read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at St Edmund Hall in 1975-78 (here).
**********************************************
In 1974, there had been 23 Oxonian British PMs, besides numerous other eminent Oxonians.
And there were at least three future PMs amongst the Oxonians of 1974-77: Tony Blair, Benazir Bhutto, and Theresa May.
 |
| Tony Blair (with boater) at Oxford |
Tony Blair (born 6 May 1953), UK's PM from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007, read Jurisprudence at St John's, Oxford in 1972-75, and graduated with a 2nd class in 1975.
 |
| Benazir Bhutto at Oxford |
Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) read PPE at LMH and St Catherine's in 1973-77, and was elected the president of Oxford Union in Dec 1976.
 |
| Theresa May's wedding in 1980 (source) |
 |
| Philip and Theresa May at a friend's wedding in the early 1980s (source) |
 |
| Theresa May |
Theresa May (born October 1, 1956), UK's PM since 13 July 2016, read Geography at St. Hugh's (1974-77), graduating with a 2nd class.
On the Oxford romance of Theresa and Philip May: here
 |
| Dominic Grieve |
 |
| Kim Beazley |
Kim Beazley (born December 14, 1948), Deputy PM of Australia (June 1995 - March 1996) and Australia's Labor Party Leader (1996-2001, 2005-2006), earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Arts degrees at the University of Western Australia and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship in 1973. He completed a Master’s of Philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford, writing his thesis on Soviet and American naval competition in the Indian Ocean. (source)
 |
| Peter Millican |
Peter Millican (born March 1, 1958), philosopher at Hertford College, Oxford, read for his BA and BPhil at Lincoln College, Oxford 1976-1982. His lectures on General Philosophy can be seen here.
 |
| Andrew Motion |
 |
| Andrew Motion |
Andrew Motion (born 26 October 1952), the British Poet Laureate 1999-2009, read English at Univ and graduated with BA (first class) in 1974. He then stayed on and earned his M.Litt. in 1976 (presumably at Univ, though not confirmed),
 |
| Alan Hollinghurst |
Alan Hollinghurst (born 26 May 1954), the notable novelist and winner of the 2004 Man Booker Prize (see The Observer profile), read English at Magdalen College from 1972 to 1979, graduating with BA in 1975, and MLitt in 1979. (The friendship of Andrew Motion, Alan Hollinghurst, Stephen Pickles and Hugh Grant is described in "Iris Murdoch as I knew her", by A.N. Wilson.)
 |
| Vikram Seth |
 |
| Vikram Seth |
Vikram Seth (born June 20, 1952, Calcutta, India), Indian poet, novelist, and travel writer, is well known for his verse novel The Golden Gate (1986) and his epic novel A Suitable Boy (1993).
The son of a judge and a businessman, Seth was raised in London and India. He attended exclusive Indian schools and entered Corpus Christi College, Oxford to read English (which he later changed to Philosophy, Politics and Economics) in 1971, graduating with a BA in 1975, having taken the year 1973-74 off in India. He received a master’s degree in economics from Stanford University in 1978 and later studied at Nanking (China) University. In 1987 he returned to India to live with his family in New Delhi. (source)
 |
| Pico Iyer |
Pico Iyer was born in Oxford, England, to parents from India, in 1957, grew up in California and currently lives in Japan. He won a King's Scholarship to Eton and then a Demyship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where, graduating with a Congratulatory Double First in English, he received the highest marks of any student in the university. He went on to acquire a second Master's degree in literature at Harvard, where he taught literature and writing for two years. (source)
 |
| David Profumo |
 |
| Val McDermid in 1975 (source) |
Val McDermid (born June 4, 1955), Scottish crime writer, read English at St Hilda's College in 1972 (aged 17)-1975 (here).
 |
| Artemis Cooper (source) |
Artemis Cooper (born 22 April 1953), British writer and biographer, read English at St Hugh's College in 1972 - 1975, graduating with a BA (here).
 |
| Peter Tasker |
Peter Tasker (bio), Japan watcher, author of Inside Japan (1987) and Japan in Play (1999), and financial expert, read English Literature, then Law, at Balliol College, beginning in 1973.
 |
| Rowan Atkinson |
Rowan Atkinson (born January 6, 1955), the renowned Mr Bean and Blackadder, graduated with a BSc from Newcastle University (UK). He then entered The Queen's College, Oxford in 1975 to read Electrical Engineering, graduating with a MSc in Electrical Engineering in 1979. Mr Bean was conceived in Oxford.
***********************************************************
Tan Jee Say, and Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, on 3 Nov 2011
Rajiva Wijesinha (born May 16, 1954), MA(Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), is a Sri Lankan writer in English, distinguished for his political analysis as well as creative and critical work. An academic by profession for much of his working career, he was most recently Senior Professor of Languages at the University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka.
He belongs to the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka, and has served as its President and Leader, and also as a Vice-President of Liberal International. He is currently Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.
He read Classics as an undergraduate at University College (1970-74), and English Literature as a graduate student at Corpus Christi.
Tan Jee Say (born February 12, 1954), candadate in the 2011 Singapore General Elections and the 2011 Presidential Election, read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at University College during 1973-76.
***************************************************
 |
| M Athar Tahir (source) |
M (Muhammad) Athar Tahir (here, here), Pakistani writer, painter and civil servant (Federal Secretary (of) Education), was a Rhodes scholar (beginning in 1974, source) reading English Literature at Oriel College.
 |
| Punjab Portraits by M Athar Tahir |
***************************************************
 |
| Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. |
Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. (born September 13, 1957), widely known as Bongbong Marcos, is a Filipino politician and senator in the 16th Congress of the Philippines. He is the second child and only son of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the former president of the Philippines(1965–1986), and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. He read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at St Edmund Hall in 1975-78 (here).
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Paternoster lift and Thom Building
I did not know that the type of antiquated lift in the Thom Building (housing the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford) is called the paternoster from its resemblance to rosary beads.
As I posted my notes on Facebook, my chain of thoughts thus proceeded from the sound of world languages (comparative linguistics being one of my interests), to the Pater Noster (The Lord's Prayer), and amazingly to the Engineering Science building at Oxford, and thus to engineering school rankings (global ranking of universities being another of my interests). Nice connectivity. Three degrees of seperation from comparative linguistics to comparative higher education, via Christianity and civil engineering.
As I posted my notes on Facebook, my chain of thoughts thus proceeded from the sound of world languages (comparative linguistics being one of my interests), to the Pater Noster (The Lord's Prayer), and amazingly to the Engineering Science building at Oxford, and thus to engineering school rankings (global ranking of universities being another of my interests). Nice connectivity. Three degrees of seperation from comparative linguistics to comparative higher education, via Christianity and civil engineering.
The days of wine and roses
Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incohare Longam
(The brevity of life forbids us to entertain hopes of long duration- Horace)
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
Ernest Dowson
(http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/dowson01.html)
(The brevity of life forbids us to entertain hopes of long duration- Horace)
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
Ernest Dowson
(http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/dowson01.html)
Wife disguised as sister, and the parting of waters
LH pointed out that there were three parallel narratives in the Bible of miraculous crossing of bodies of water, once with Moses, leading Joshua and the Israelite nation, parting the Red Sea, once with Joshua crossing the dry Jordan, and finally with Elijah and Elisha also crossing the dry Jordan.
The Jordan miracles are certainly less well known than the Red Sea parting. I suppose that the reason is that the Jordan was never mighty, like the Mississippi, and that its parting is a less impressive feat than parting the Red Sea.
The parallel narratives reminded me of the three parallel narratives of “wife disguised as sister” in Genesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife%E2%80%93sister_narratives_in_Genesis). A patriach arrived with his wife in a strange land. To save his own skin, he lied that his wife was his sister, so that the local chief could take her for himself, without killing the patriach. The story is told thrice, twice of Abraham and once of Issac.
The non-religious explanation of this is that the motif (theme) of “wife disguised as sister” had been popular in the oral transmission of the Jewish tribal myths. Different story tellers at different times had attached the same motif to different stories. When the oral stories came to be written and compiled, without any single editor being in the position to exercise editorial control to ensure plausibility and consistency, we get the strange and implausible parallel narratives.
The same process of a popular “miraculous parting of the sea/river” motif being orally attached to multiple stories also accounts for the three similar miracles of parting of waters.
The Jordan miracles are certainly less well known than the Red Sea parting. I suppose that the reason is that the Jordan was never mighty, like the Mississippi, and that its parting is a less impressive feat than parting the Red Sea.
The parallel narratives reminded me of the three parallel narratives of “wife disguised as sister” in Genesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife%E2%80%93sister_narratives_in_Genesis). A patriach arrived with his wife in a strange land. To save his own skin, he lied that his wife was his sister, so that the local chief could take her for himself, without killing the patriach. The story is told thrice, twice of Abraham and once of Issac.
The non-religious explanation of this is that the motif (theme) of “wife disguised as sister” had been popular in the oral transmission of the Jewish tribal myths. Different story tellers at different times had attached the same motif to different stories. When the oral stories came to be written and compiled, without any single editor being in the position to exercise editorial control to ensure plausibility and consistency, we get the strange and implausible parallel narratives.
The same process of a popular “miraculous parting of the sea/river” motif being orally attached to multiple stories also accounts for the three similar miracles of parting of waters.
Moses or a mighty wind?
Defenders of biblical inerrancy has a new, impressively high-tech arrow in their quiver: The Red Sea could have parted for Moses. (https://www2.ucar.edu/news/parting-waters-computer-modeling-applies-physics-red-sea-escape-route ) The exodus could have been historical.
Ironically, the miracle is no longer one: purely physical causes suffice. Ascribing the parting of the Red Sea to the supernatural (and the power of Moses' action) is therefore erroneous, and the Bible is errant. (Of course, the retort would be that the miracle was that God caused the mighty wind in the first place.)
Of course, if the exodus never happened, the issue is moot.
Ironically, the miracle is no longer one: purely physical causes suffice. Ascribing the parting of the Red Sea to the supernatural (and the power of Moses' action) is therefore erroneous, and the Bible is errant. (Of course, the retort would be that the miracle was that God caused the mighty wind in the first place.)
Of course, if the exodus never happened, the issue is moot.
琵琶行 -- another poem of forty years ago
琵琶行, composed by Bai Juyi (772-846) in AD 817, aged 45. Another much-loved Tang poem from forty years ago.
( http://baike.baidu.com/view/33438.htm )
琵琶行 -- 白居易
浔阳江头夜送客，枫叶荻花秋瑟瑟。
主人下马客在船，举酒欲饮无管弦。
醉不成欢惨将别，别时茫茫江浸月。
忽闻水上琵琶声，主人忘归客不发。
寻声暗问弹者谁？琵琶声停欲语迟。
移船相近邀相见，添酒回灯重开宴。
千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面。
转轴拨弦三两声，未成曲调先有情。
弦弦掩抑声声思，似诉平生不得志。
低眉信手续续弹，说尽心中无限事。
轻拢慢捻抹复挑，初为《霓裳》后《六幺》
大弦嘈嘈如急雨，小弦切切如私语。
嘈嘈切切错杂弹，大珠小珠落玉盘。
间关莺语花底滑，幽咽泉流冰下难。
冰泉冷涩弦凝绝，凝绝不通声暂歇。
别有幽愁暗恨生，此时无声胜有声。
银瓶乍破水浆迸，铁骑突出刀枪鸣。
曲终收拨当心画，四弦一声如裂帛。
东船西舫悄无言，唯见江心秋月白。
沉吟放拨插弦中，整顿衣裳起敛容。
自言本是京城女，家在虾蟆陵下住。[虾蟆(há má)陵]
十三学得琵琶成，名属教坊第一部。
曲罢曾教善才服，妆成每被秋娘妒。
五陵年少争缠头，一曲红绡不知数。
钿头银篦击节碎，血色罗裙翻酒污。
今年欢笑复明年，秋月春风等闲度。
弟走从军阿姨死，暮去朝来颜色故。
门前冷落鞍马稀，老大嫁作商人妇。
商人重利轻别离，前月浮梁买茶去。
去来江口守空船，绕船月明江水寒。
夜深忽梦少年事，梦啼妆泪红阑干。
我闻琵琶已叹息，又闻此语重唧唧。
同是天涯沦落人，相逢何必曾相识！
我从去年辞帝京，谪居卧病浔阳城。
浔阳地僻无音乐，终岁不闻丝竹声。
住近湓江地低湿，黄芦苦竹绕宅生。
其间旦暮闻何物？杜鹃啼血猿哀鸣。
春江花朝秋月夜，往往取酒还独倾。
岂无山歌与村笛，呕哑嘲哳难为听。
今夜闻君琵琶语，如听仙乐耳暂明。
莫辞更坐弹一曲，为君翻作《琵琶行》。
感我此言良久立，却坐促弦弦转急。
凄凄不似向前声，满座重闻皆掩泣。
座中泣下谁最多? 江州司马青衫湿。
( http://baike.baidu.com/view/33438.htm )
琵琶行 -- 白居易
浔阳江头夜送客，枫叶荻花秋瑟瑟。
主人下马客在船，举酒欲饮无管弦。
醉不成欢惨将别，别时茫茫江浸月。
忽闻水上琵琶声，主人忘归客不发。
寻声暗问弹者谁？琵琶声停欲语迟。
移船相近邀相见，添酒回灯重开宴。
千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面。
转轴拨弦三两声，未成曲调先有情。
弦弦掩抑声声思，似诉平生不得志。
低眉信手续续弹，说尽心中无限事。
轻拢慢捻抹复挑，初为《霓裳》后《六幺》
大弦嘈嘈如急雨，小弦切切如私语。
嘈嘈切切错杂弹，大珠小珠落玉盘。
间关莺语花底滑，幽咽泉流冰下难。
冰泉冷涩弦凝绝，凝绝不通声暂歇。
别有幽愁暗恨生，此时无声胜有声。
银瓶乍破水浆迸，铁骑突出刀枪鸣。
曲终收拨当心画，四弦一声如裂帛。
东船西舫悄无言，唯见江心秋月白。
沉吟放拨插弦中，整顿衣裳起敛容。
自言本是京城女，家在虾蟆陵下住。[虾蟆(há má)陵]
十三学得琵琶成，名属教坊第一部。
曲罢曾教善才服，妆成每被秋娘妒。
五陵年少争缠头，一曲红绡不知数。
钿头银篦击节碎，血色罗裙翻酒污。
今年欢笑复明年，秋月春风等闲度。
弟走从军阿姨死，暮去朝来颜色故。
门前冷落鞍马稀，老大嫁作商人妇。
商人重利轻别离，前月浮梁买茶去。
去来江口守空船，绕船月明江水寒。
夜深忽梦少年事，梦啼妆泪红阑干。
我闻琵琶已叹息，又闻此语重唧唧。
同是天涯沦落人，相逢何必曾相识！
我从去年辞帝京，谪居卧病浔阳城。
浔阳地僻无音乐，终岁不闻丝竹声。
住近湓江地低湿，黄芦苦竹绕宅生。
其间旦暮闻何物？杜鹃啼血猿哀鸣。
春江花朝秋月夜，往往取酒还独倾。
岂无山歌与村笛，呕哑嘲哳难为听。
今夜闻君琵琶语，如听仙乐耳暂明。
莫辞更坐弹一曲，为君翻作《琵琶行》。
感我此言良久立，却坐促弦弦转急。
凄凄不似向前声，满座重闻皆掩泣。
座中泣下谁最多? 江州司马青衫湿。
將進酒 -- A poem for the ages
A great Tang Dynasty poem composed by Li Bai in AD 752 when he was 51.
What else happened at that time? The Abbasid Caliphate was founded in AD 750, and defeated the Tang forces in the battle of Talas in AD 751. This battle was crucial in deciding the border between the Sinic and the Islamic civilizations, and the limits of the Sinic civilization.
Charles Martel halted the advance of Islam into Europe by defeating the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate in the Battle of Poitiers on October 10, 732. This battle was also crucial in determining the boundary between the Christian and the Islamic civilizations.
I probably first came across the poem in 1970. Forty years on, I am now older than the poet when he composed it.
Indeed this is a poem for the ages -- an everlasting literary masterpiece. In essence:
Bibo ergo sum (I drink, therefore I am) -- Li Bai
Cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) -- Descarte
將進酒 --李白
君不見黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回？
君不見高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪？
人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。
天生我才必有用，千金散盡還復來。
烹羊宰牛且為樂，會須一飲三百杯。
岑夫子，丹丘生，將進酒，杯莫停。
與君歌一曲，請君為我傾耳聽：
鍾鼓饌玉不足貴，但願長醉不願醒。
古來聖賢皆寂寞，唯有飲者留其名。
陳王昔時宴平樂，斗酒十千恣讙謔。
主人為何言少錢？徑須沽取對君酌。
五花馬、千金裘。
呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同銷萬古愁。
(http://baike.baidu.com/view/31478.htm)
What else happened at that time? The Abbasid Caliphate was founded in AD 750, and defeated the Tang forces in the battle of Talas in AD 751. This battle was crucial in deciding the border between the Sinic and the Islamic civilizations, and the limits of the Sinic civilization.
Charles Martel halted the advance of Islam into Europe by defeating the forces of the Umayyad Caliphate in the Battle of Poitiers on October 10, 732. This battle was also crucial in determining the boundary between the Christian and the Islamic civilizations.
I probably first came across the poem in 1970. Forty years on, I am now older than the poet when he composed it.
Indeed this is a poem for the ages -- an everlasting literary masterpiece. In essence:
Bibo ergo sum (I drink, therefore I am) -- Li Bai
Cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) -- Descarte
將進酒 --李白
君不見黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回？
君不見高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪？
人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。
天生我才必有用，千金散盡還復來。
烹羊宰牛且為樂，會須一飲三百杯。
岑夫子，丹丘生，將進酒，杯莫停。
與君歌一曲，請君為我傾耳聽：
鍾鼓饌玉不足貴，但願長醉不願醒。
古來聖賢皆寂寞，唯有飲者留其名。
陳王昔時宴平樂，斗酒十千恣讙謔。
主人為何言少錢？徑須沽取對君酌。
五花馬、千金裘。
呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同銷萬古愁。
(http://baike.baidu.com/view/31478.htm)
The romance of Africa
Just in case I find myself travelling to Africa, the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/section/the-ibrahim-index/scores-and-ranking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Index_of_African_Governance ) is a new, relatively unknown database for a deeper understanding of African nations.
2010 QS University rankings -- by academic peer review
2010 QS University rankings -- by academic peer review
1. Cambridge
2. Harvard
3. Oxford
4. Berkeley
5. Stanford
6. MIT
7. UCLA
8. U Tokyo
9. Princeton
10. Yale
11. Toronto
12. NUS
13. Chicago
14. Columbia
15. Cornell
16. Imperial College
22. Peking
30. Tsinghua (PRC)
34. U Hong Kong
76. NTU
78. Birmingham
Ranking by academic peer review(http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010/indicator-rankings/academic-peer-review)
Overall ranking(http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010/results)
1. Cambridge
2. Harvard
3. Oxford
4. Berkeley
5. Stanford
6. MIT
7. UCLA
8. U Tokyo
9. Princeton
10. Yale
11. Toronto
12. NUS
13. Chicago
14. Columbia
15. Cornell
16. Imperial College
22. Peking
30. Tsinghua (PRC)
34. U Hong Kong
76. NTU
78. Birmingham
Ranking by academic peer review(http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010/indicator-rankings/academic-peer-review)
Overall ranking(http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2010/results)
金砂寨 (Jinshazhai, Jinsha), our ancestral home (Part 1)
According to our family genealogy, my 19th generation ancestor (great*17 grandfather) 陈盘隐 (1368-1448) settled in Jinshazhai (Jinsha) village(金砂寨), Caitang Town (彩塘镇), Chao'an County (潮安县), Chaozhou City (Prefecture)(潮州), Guangdong Province, PRC ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao%27an_County), 15 km from the centre of Shantou (汕頭, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantou ), soon after AD 1390. The Jinsha Tan clan, of Teochew dialect, is still there.
My grandfather was the first in my family to settle in Singapore (in 1937).
Tan Yeok Nee (Tan Hiok Nee, 陈旭年, 1827-1902) (Wikipedia, Infopedia), whose mansion, House of Tan Yeok Nee (陈旭年宅第 or 陈旭年大厦, Wikipedia) at the corner of Penang Road and Clemenceau Avenue in Singapore is a national monument, is the most prominent son of the clan in Southease Asia.
******** Postscript *********
Grand Mansions, Bungalows and Villas of the Past (here) describes the House of Tan Yeok Nee and the River House, also known as Ripple House (涟漪楼), both built by Tan.
Early Teochew businessman Tan Yeok Nee 陈旭年 (1827 – 1902) came from China at an young age and made his fortune through gambier, pepper, alcohol and opium trades. On very good terms with the Johor Sultan, Tan Yeok Nee would later become Malaya’s biggest kangchu (港主, lord of the river settlements) at the age of 39. By 1868, the sultanate bestowed on Tan Yeok Nee the status of the kapitan (representative of the Chinese enclaves), and presented him with the title of “Advisor to Government” (资政).
**************************************
Independent confirmation of the information on 陈盘隐:
陈坦六世孙陈惺斋裔孙陈盘隐从福建省漳州府莆田县家东桥乡宰辅巷迁居潮州市彩塘镇金砂寨。陈盘隐七世孙陈宽裕于明景五年 (1454)迁创于潮阳举练都港后村 (今属陈店镇)，裔分小南塘（今属城南街道）与贵屿巷尾。陈盘隐九世孙陈瑚流迁居汕头市潮阳区贵屿镇贵屿乡。另有金砂陈氏裔孙分居潮安县浮洋镇新安村。
(http://cszqlt.5d6d.com/archiver/tid-502.html )
金砂村在廣東省潮州市潮安縣城庵埠西北3千米，彩塘鎮政府駐地南3.5千米。金砂一、二、三、四、南方、金東6個管理區駐地。屬彩塘鎮。人口21503人。原名砂隴。南宋紹興廿八年(1158年)建寨于松嶺，元末明初移居平川，明嘉靖四十年(1561年)築寨，設四門三關，曆稱金砂寨。金砂寨西門遺址尚存。聚落呈塊狀分布，建築爲磚木結構平房。有耕地5376畝，農業主種水稻。盛産淡水魚。有村辦企業75家。主要有五金、服裝、采石等。有中學1所，小學5所，幼兒園6所。村西桑浦山麓有海蝕地貌，斜角頭從熙公祠爲市級重點文物保護單位。有村道通潮汕公路。(王朝網絡 wangchao.net.cn)
(http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/baike/detail_1496036.html )
Part 2: here
My grandfather was the first in my family to settle in Singapore (in 1937).
Tan Yeok Nee (Tan Hiok Nee, 陈旭年, 1827-1902) (Wikipedia, Infopedia), whose mansion, House of Tan Yeok Nee (陈旭年宅第 or 陈旭年大厦, Wikipedia) at the corner of Penang Road and Clemenceau Avenue in Singapore is a national monument, is the most prominent son of the clan in Southease Asia.
******** Postscript *********
Grand Mansions, Bungalows and Villas of the Past (here) describes the House of Tan Yeok Nee and the River House, also known as Ripple House (涟漪楼), both built by Tan.
Early Teochew businessman Tan Yeok Nee 陈旭年 (1827 – 1902) came from China at an young age and made his fortune through gambier, pepper, alcohol and opium trades. On very good terms with the Johor Sultan, Tan Yeok Nee would later become Malaya’s biggest kangchu (港主, lord of the river settlements) at the age of 39. By 1868, the sultanate bestowed on Tan Yeok Nee the status of the kapitan (representative of the Chinese enclaves), and presented him with the title of “Advisor to Government” (资政).
Currently leased to the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, this century-old house was originally known as Government Advisor's Mansion (资政第). Together with the River House, they are the last remaining Chinese-styled mansions in Singapore.
The House of Tan Yeok Nee is also the only surviving house of the famous “Four Big Mansions” (四大厝) built by Teochew tycoons in the late 19th century, the other three being the House of Tan Seng Poh (located at the junction of Loke Yew Street and Hill Street), the House of Seah Eu Chin (located at the northern Boat Quay) and the House of Wee Ah Hood (also known as 大夫第 and demolished in 1961).
Conserved as a national monument in 1974, the house has witnessed dramatic events in its history. It was acquired in the early 20th century when the first railway was constructed. The house became home for the Tank Road Station master.
It was sold to the Anglican Church in 1912, which set up St Mary’s Home and School for the Eurasian girls. In 1938, the Salvation Army took over the site as their headquarters but it was bombed and occupied by the Japanese forces during the Second World War. After the war, extensive repairs were carried out and when the Salvation Army was relocated to Bishan in 1991, the house was sold to Cockpit Hotel and subsequently Wing Tai Group.
**************************************
Independent confirmation of the information on 陈盘隐:
陈坦六世孙陈惺斋裔孙陈盘隐从福建省漳州府莆田县家东桥乡宰辅巷迁居潮州市彩塘镇金砂寨。陈盘隐七世孙陈宽裕于明景五年 (1454)迁创于潮阳举练都港后村 (今属陈店镇)，裔分小南塘（今属城南街道）与贵屿巷尾。陈盘隐九世孙陈瑚流迁居汕头市潮阳区贵屿镇贵屿乡。另有金砂陈氏裔孙分居潮安县浮洋镇新安村。
(http://cszqlt.5d6d.com/archiver/tid-502.html )
金砂村在廣東省潮州市潮安縣城庵埠西北3千米，彩塘鎮政府駐地南3.5千米。金砂一、二、三、四、南方、金東6個管理區駐地。屬彩塘鎮。人口21503人。原名砂隴。南宋紹興廿八年(1158年)建寨于松嶺，元末明初移居平川，明嘉靖四十年(1561年)築寨，設四門三關，曆稱金砂寨。金砂寨西門遺址尚存。聚落呈塊狀分布，建築爲磚木結構平房。有耕地5376畝，農業主種水稻。盛産淡水魚。有村辦企業75家。主要有五金、服裝、采石等。有中學1所，小學5所，幼兒園6所。村西桑浦山麓有海蝕地貌，斜角頭從熙公祠爲市級重點文物保護單位。有村道通潮汕公路。(王朝網絡 wangchao.net.cn)
(http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/baike/detail_1496036.html )
Part 2: here
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