Translating chinese genealogy scroll

[basel]

Hi,

I have a chinese family/genealogy scroll which dates back to Jin Dynasty era to 20th century. It is written in traditional Chinese. I would like to get it translated into English, especially to put the occurrences into the context of its individual region and era.

Can anyone recommend genealogists who provide such a service? I am from Australia.

June

[lachinatown]

Can you post on line here? Maybe someone can translate it for you.

[basel]

HI,

I have extracted the first two pages - available from this link:http://1drv.ms/1IxI9D7.
There are 21 pages in total.

If anyone can assist or recommend someone who is able to translate, please pm me and I will forward the full doc.

[liuyao]

The first page is the generation poem, which dictates one of the two characters of all the male-line descendants for 40 generations. (The last, i.e. leftmost, line of the page has some actual names, which probably are important persons in the family lineage.)

The second page starts the narrative, that the surname 賀 was originally 慶 (a synonym, both mean to celebrate or to congratulate), descended from the Grand Duke Jiang (nothing to do with the European grand duke, though), more prominent in the folklore than as a historical figure en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Ziya . After Han and Jin dynasties, the interesting name comes up in Tang dynasty: a poet by the name of 賀知章, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Zhizhang . His most famous poem is known by all school children in China, and here's a translation by Victor Mair: (one of two poems under the title) Written impromptu upon returning to my hometown

I left home as a yourth and am returning as an old man --
The sounds of my hometown have not changed,
    yet the hair on my temples is receding;
The children look at me but do not recognize me --
Laughing, they ask, "Guest, where have you come from?"

(Incidentally, the Chinese version of Who Do You Think You Are is actually called 客從何處來 "Guest, where [have you] come from?", a direct quote of this poem.)

Though the language is not overly ornate as some other genealogical records, this would still be pretty hard to translate (with proper annotations). You might try if the East Asian department in a nearby university has some graduate student who could help.

PS. The early lineage is also reconstructed here zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%9A%E7%A8%BD%E8%B4%BA%E6%B0%8F%E4%B8%96%E7%B3%BB%E5%9B%BE

[fonny]

Dear June,
       My name is Fonny. My Email address : [e-mail]. If you like you can email me the first 5 pages (scan it and email). If you like the way I translate, then you can hire me to translate.
Good luck. 
       Fonny

[fonny]

June, 
    Hi, I was able to down load the 2 page of chinese genealogy scroll. Here is page 1 and its translation

千萬則澄 , 陞安古有 ,敬昆振遇

祥维志宏, 蘭康柏芳, 鴻文鳳章

汝其寿德, 天鍚宜長, 傳家继统

奕世永昌



通蘭公 康奐公 柏逢公 榮芳





Ten million rules clarified that promoting peace existed since ancient time.



Honor our brothers by rising with force and spirit when we meet. Preserve our grand aspirations



and fortune .Fragrant orchid & healthy cedar, great writing in excellent chapters signify longevity and virtue



will continue in our family tradition through generations abundant prosperity



Tong Lan Gong(通蘭公) Kang Huan Gong(康奐公), Bai Feng Gong(柏逢公) Rong Fang(榮芳)

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Page 1 looks a Generation poem--- The sequence of generation is typically prescribed and kept in record by a generation poem(banci lian班次聯 or paizi ge派字歌 in chinese)specific to each lineage.

          Fonny

[fonny]

Hi June, 
    I just translate page 2
  
         粵稽吾(From Guangdong and Guangxi provinces)



         賀姓廣平郡,在北京廣平府, 本姓慶 齊公族姜太公之苗裔也, 漢慶纯避安帝父, 清河王
之名曰賀迺慶氏, 帝賜姓改作賀

        晋朝賀循, 字彥先, 山陰(今浙江紹興)人, 節操清勵, 元帝渡江凡典礼皆循所定, 為當世儒, 居舍僅避風雨,‧帝嘗至循家, 嘆曰清貧致此乎, 賜以簟, 為江東五俊之第一也, 故曰五俊才高, 當世儒宗重望.

        唐朝賀知章, 字季真, 翰林十八學士中人, 陸象先嘗曰, 季真德韻風流吾一日不得見則鄙各生矣,官習賢學士善行草書, 天寶初,夢游,帝居數日,寤乞歸,賜鑑太剡川一典,治令候帳都門百僚祖餞
,帝作詩


        In Beijing(北京)Guang Ping Fu (廣平府), surname He(賀)was known as Guang Pingjun(廣平郡).
Originally Qing(慶)was the surname, they were the descendent of Jiang Tai Gong(姜太公) of Qi State(齊).


        During Han Dynasty ,Qing Chun( 慶纯) to avoid offending the Emperor An's (安帝) father, Prince of QingHe (清河王78Ad-106AD)who was Liu Qing(劉慶), he was granted a new surname He(賀).


        In Jin(晋317AD-402AD) Dynasty there was He Xun(賀循)courtesy name Yan Xian(彥先),from Shanyin(山陰, present Shaoxing紹興 Zhejiang浙江province). He was known for his high moral integrity and noble ethics.When Emperor Yuan(元帝) of Jin晋cross the Yangtze River & settling the capital in the southern part of China, all the ceremony ritual and protocols were set up by He Xun(賀循). He was the famous Confucian at his time. When Emperor Yuan visited his home, finding it so poor, just barely sheltering rain and wind, he gifted He Xun(賀循)with bed, mattress, and money. He Xun(賀循)was known as the 1st of the Five Noble Scholar of Southern China(江東, east of the Yangtze River ). Hence it was said these five noble and talented scholars representing the important Confucians at that period.


       
In Tang Dynasty(唐朝), a famous poet He Zhizhang(賀知章695AD) , courtesy name (Ji Zhen季真). He was one of the 18 Hanlin(翰林, Imperial College) Academy Scholars. LuXian said he(賀知章) was so talented and inspiring. If he did'nt see him賀知章 that day, his thought became rustic . He Zhizhang(賀知章 )was official scholar at Ji Xian Yuan(習賢院學士)and he was very good in cursive official script writing. During early Tianbao(天寶744AD) era , he sleepwalked. He sent in his resignation and bagged the Emperor to release him to go home. Hisresignation was accepted, the Emperor gifted him with a song , Yan Chuan(剡川一曲)and wrote an Imperial reign poem for him.
The Royal Prince and 100s of officials gave him a big farewell .

     
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Please let me know.
      Fonny

[basel]

Thank you Liuyao for your response and construction of the early lineage. It gave us some ideas to look up further information.

Fonny, that is great. I have sent you an email to discuss further.

Most appreciative to both of you.