This was actually what Matthew presented during a communion way back in Sept 2007. I was truly impressed that our Lord God was able to strike the heart of someone with a stature like the Emperor of China and used him to pen these beautiful poems!
Background - Kangxi (康熙)
- Emperor of China from 1661-1722
- Became Emperor at age 6
- Four regents ruled on his behalf until he was 13 and took over the throne
- He ruled 61 years, the longest reigning emperor in history
- He was also considered one of the best, most virtuous Emperors of China’s history
生命之宝 The Treasures of Life
天上宝日月星晨 Heaven’s treasures are the sun, moon and stars
地上宝五谷金银 Earth’s treasures are grain, gold and silver
国需宝正直忠臣 A kingdom’s treasures are righteous officials
家需宝孝子贤孙 A family’s treasures are filial off-springs
黄金白玉非为宝 Gold and jade are not real treasures
只有生命一世闲 Only a life of tranquility is
百岁三万六千日 To live to a hundred is only 36,000 days
若无生命最可怜 Without purpose life is abject misery
来时糊涂去时亡 We come confused and we leave dying
空渡人生梦一场 An empty life is meaningless as a dream
口中吃尽百和味 I have tasted a best of a hundred flavours
身上穿成朝服衣 I have worn only the finest court clothes
五湖四海为上客 My guests are the most esteemed in all the world
如何落在帝王家 How is it that I am born as an emperor?
世间最大为生死 The greatest event in the world is life and death
白玉黄金也枉然 Gold and jade are meaningless then
淡饭清粥充一饥 Even plain rice and porridge can satisfy
锦衣那着几千年 But the finest clothes can’t last a thousand years
天门久为初人闭 Long has heaven’s doors been shut by the first man
福路全是圣子通 The blessed way is opened by the sacred Son
我愿结受神圣子 I am willing to receive the Sacred Son of God
儿子明分得永生 To have the birthright of a son to eternal life
基督死 The Death of Jesus
功成十字血成溪 When the work of the cross is done, blood flowed like a river,
千丈恩流分自西 Grace from the west flowed a thousand yards deep,
身列四衙半夜路 On the midnight road he was subjected to four trials,
徒方三背兩番鸡 Before the rooster crowed twice, three times betrayed by disciple.
五百鞭达寸肌裂 Five hundred lashes tore every inch of skin,
六尺悬垂二盜齐 Two thieves hung on either side, six feet high,
慘恸八垓惊九品 Sadness greater than any had ever known,
七言一毕万灵啼 Seven words, one completed task, ten thousand spirits weep.
This is my favourite poem. It is an unique style which uses 7 characters in each line/sentence. A total of 56 characters fully described how Jesus was put on trial, betrayed by Peter, lashed, crucified alongside 2 thieves, uttered his last 7 words, and was mourned by thousands. This is definitely the Chinese language at its most precise!
Interestingly the poem also contains all the numerals: 1 completed task, 2 thieves, 3 denials, 4 trials, 5 hundred lashes, 6 feet high, 7 last words, “8 graves and 9 officials” (八垓,九品), 10 representing the cross, as well as the measurements: “inch”, “yard” and “feet”.
As Kangxi said, we need to find our purpose since "an empty life is meaningless as a dream". We need to be ready and willing to receive the Sacred Son of God, who died on the cross so that our sins may be washed away.
~~~~~~
Love, INC
YBIC Adrian NG
1 comment:
Very beautiful poems in deed, and surprise, by one of the greatest Qing emperor. History showed that he was a believer of Christ, and was well-versed with the bible and church history. Unfortunately, controversy over the Chinese practices of ancestor worship and Confucianism stopped Christianity from spreading further during that time. What a pity!
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