Yatang Notes

Author: Lian Heng
Publisher:
Publish Date: July 1, 2005
Features: Lian Heng was a renowned modern historian and poet in Taiwan, the grandfather of Lian Chan, the chairman of the Kuomintang, and was hailed as Taiwan's "Thucydides" and "pioneer of Taiwanese historiography." This book is the first publication in mainland China! Grandfather once told my father that there would be a war between China and Japan, and the liberation of Taiwan would follow. Therefore, he told my parents that if they had a son, they should name him Lian Chan, as it carries the meaning of perseverance and also embodies the hope of overcoming enemies, liberating the homeland, and rebuilding the home. Many friends have asked me about the reason behind my name, and I have always shared my grandfather's decision with them. Throughout my life, using this name has been my personal way of honoring my grandfather.
—Lian Chan (Chairman of the Kuomintang, grandson of Lian Heng)
This is a hero with lofty aspirations.
—Zhang Taiyan (Master of Chinese classics)
My great-grandfather, Mr. Yongjing, passed away in June of the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign, when my maternal grandfather (Lian Heng) was only 18 years old. At that time, he was full of youthful ambition. He took advantage of his time in mourning to begin learning poetry and even manually copied the Complete Works of Shao Ding. Amidst the pain of losing his homeland, he studied late into the night, and the poetry of the Sage of Poetry must have deeply resonated with his heart!
—Lin Wen Yue (Professor at National Taiwan University, granddaughter of Lian Heng)
A wise person once said that writing history requires the three virtues of talent, learning, and insight. Master Yatai was indeed talented and knowledgeable, but his insight was even greater.
—Xu Ke (A renowned scholar of the modern era)
Who is Lian Heng? Lian Heng, styled Wu Gong, was also known as Yatai and Jianhua. Some scholars on the mainland may still be unfamiliar with him, let alone ordinary people. In May of this year, during the visit of Lian Chan, the chairman of the Kuomintang, to mainland China, one of the gifts he brought was a family heirloom—the monumental History of Taiwan, written by his grandfather, Lian Heng. In Taiwan, Lian Heng is a household name. His preface to the History of Taiwan was included in the national literature curriculum for middle schools in Taiwan, making his name well-known to all who had completed their secondary education. Such posthumous fame is rare among scholars of the old era. If the History of Taiwan is his masterpiece, then the Notes of Master Yatai is his work of true character.
The History of Taiwan is a monumental work, for "history is the spirit of a nation and a mirror for the people." However, the Notes of Master Yatai is different. Its contents are divided into seven volumes: Miscellaneous Essays and Prefaces, Poetic Remains, Tea-Drinking Records, Random Notes on Taiwan, Records of Historical Sites in Taiwan, Records of Ancient Sites in Tainan, and Folklore of the Aborigines. Master Yatai's historical notes take geography as the longitude and history as the latitude, interspersed with discussions, covering a wide range of topics—geography, mountains and rivers, people, customs, human emotions, cultural evolution, and even passionate laments under foreign rule. Reading his notes naturally evokes the feeling of "a deep longing for the homeland, not just in the elegance of the writing."
The prefaces and poetic critiques are sometimes passionate and inspiring, and sometimes melancholic and profound. "Whenever he had an epiphany, he would slap the table in satisfaction, clearly finding joy in his own reflections"—this truly reflects his authentic character.