1902: Not cold

Quatrain by Song dynasty monk Zi Nan

Old wood, in the shade, tie up small boat,
Stick cane, supporting me, cross the bridge east.
Drops on clothes, barely damp, apricot blossom rain,
Blows on face, not cold, poplar willow breeze.


1902 (continued)

My deceased mother, family name Yang, was born in the first year of Guangxu's reign*, in Jioujiang. She is the eldest daughter of her father, Yang Fangzhong. Her mother, from the Wang family, also lived in Jioujiang City. My mother lived with her parents and went to a private school. When she was 27, she married my father. The next year, on June 18, I was born. The fortune teller said I was lacking in gold and water of the five elements, so my mother named me Jing Zhou (gold continent). When I started school, it was changed to a homonym meaning Chastetree. At my hundred days celebration, the relatives gathered to give thanks to God. 

*1875

Qu (Chu) generational names

Shi Guang Da Wen Zhang
Hua Guo Ding Ji Xiang

Da rong (gonggong's dad) big glory

Wen wei (gonggong) great
Wen ying (his brother) in brave, handsome, hero, discerning

Zhang pei (dajojo) little bud [shu dong]
(When mom was younger, she complained that it was unfair that she didn't have a family tree name. Neither does her female cousin.)
Zhang jun (xiaojojo) even/fair [shu yuan]
Zhang zhen (baby brother) fruitful [shu yu]

(Mom's cousins:)
Zhang mong fierce
Zhang yong courageous
Zhang gang strong

Hua un (David)
Hua ming (Michael)

Guo jun (Isaac)
Guo ? (Aaron)

Ding

1902: Cold Evening + Qu family name

Cold Evening by Song dynasty poet Du Lai

Cold evening, guests arrive, tea as wine,
Bamboo stove, broth steams, filament now hot.
As usual, the same window frames the moon,
Except for the plum flower making regular not.

1902

Ten years before the republic revolution.

Based on oral history, of Confucius' 72 disciples, there was one named Qu, whose descendants were named by and thus began the family name Qu. After many generations, in the Han dynasty, there was a person Qu Mo. In the Jin dynasty, Qu XX. In Tang dynasty, there was Qu Zang. There are some outstanding persons in other generations, for whom there are no accurate records. Beginning in Ming dynasty, there is some recorded history about Qu Tong, from Hefei (Anhui province). ... Yong Le, a Ming dynasty emperor, there was a civil war, and the Qu family moved from Hefei to Huangmei (Hubei province). They made a living by working the land and studying, from generation to generation. My great great grandfather (1781-1863) Xue Ren (learn love), the 15th generation after moving to Huangmei. My great grandfather (1808-1842) Si Jue (world ?). My grandfather (1835-1894) Guang Lian (light ?). My father (1868-1951) Da Rong (High Glory) born in the seventh year of Tong Zhi, a Qin dynasty emperor. All his life, he was a peasant, tilling the land that he inherited from his ancestors. He also lived in the house he inherited from his ancestors. In the 27th year of Guang Xu, the Long River flooded and the whole Huangmei county became a lake. The dams broke, and my father moved his family to Jioujiang. He built a straw house on top of one of the dams.

1979 Preface: Ten-thousand purple

Spring Day by Song dynasty poet Zhu Xi

Sunny day, seeking young green at four waters' side.
Endless bright scenery, suddenly fresh.
Common people understand the east wind's face,
Ten-thousand purple, and a thousand red as being spring.


Qu Jingzhou's Self-Penned Annals

My friend, Zhou Xianwen, in his later years, exerted himself writing famous scholars' annals. In the beginning, he wrote mostly about economists. Later, he expanded to include poets, philosophers, and general scholars. Up til now, he has finished 150 biographies of this kind. He could be the expert in writing annals. After Mr. Zhou finished one, and it was published, he would send me a copy. Sometimes, he sent me a copy before it got published. I usually read it immediately. These annals' contents are true and concise. It is a real joy to go through it. Therefore, I can be called an expert in reading annals. 

I have another old friend, Yin Zongrong. He spent a lot of money to write annals for his hometown friend Guo Songtao. He died before he finished. I had written an article about Yin Zongron's project. After he died, Sen Junyi, a department secretary, and Senator Zhang Jioulu tried to write Yin Zongron's annual journal. I also helped with this endeavor. My opinion is, because I helped write and read so many other annals, writing for others or having others write about you is not as truthful or interesting as autobiography. 

Hu Sizi usually encouraged people to write their autobiography. It's quite meaningful. Therefore, I am writing my own. 

1979 July 11 Preface