行憲紀念日 Constitution Day

Christmas is coming!  But did you know that the same day, December 25, is also Taiwan's Constitution Day?  So while you're opening presents and singing Christmas songs you can also reflect on the Taiwanese constitution, that glorious document from which the Republic of China derives its governing principles!  聖誕節快到了!  但你知道十二月二十五日也是臺灣的行憲紀念日?  所以當你唱聖誕歌跟打開禮物的同時, 也要好好珍惜中華民國的憲法.

The Chinese text below was taken from "Taiwanese Holiday Stories" 台灣節日故事, published by Windmill Press 風車圖書出版有限公司 in 2012.  The Chinese text was written by 張青史, and the English text was written by me.  下面的中文文章是出自台灣節日故事這本書.  這本書是風車圖書出版有限公司2012的作品. 中文的部分是張青史寫的.  英文的部分是我從中文翻譯的.

行憲紀念日 Constitution Day

(國歷十二月二十五日)
(National Calendar, December 25)**

12月25日, 是我國的行憲紀念日.  實施憲政是一個國家的大事, 所以紀念行憲具有非常特別的意義.  December 25 is our country's Constitution Memorial Holiday.  The implementation of a constitution is important for any country, so it is especially important to commemorate this event.

國父孫中山先生率領革命志是推翻滿清, 建立中華民國以後, 實施民主憲政一直是全國引頸盼望的目標.  然而, 建國之初, 國家的政局一直動盪不安, 先有遠世凱竊位稱帝, 後有軍閥擁兵割據, 接著是北伐, 對日抗戰和國共內戰, 使得憲政的推行歷經許多波折, 遲遲無法實現.  Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Father of our Country, led the rebellion to overthrow the Ching Dynasty.  After he established the Republic of China, the implementation of a constitutional democracy was viewed as our national goal.  However, after its foundation the country was thrown into political turmoil, firstly by Yuan Shi-kai's attempt to crown himself emperor, and then by the division of the country between warlords and the northern expedition to restore order.  Lastly there was the war of resistance against Japan, all of which amounted to a number of difficulties which made implementation of a constitution impossible.

憲法制定過程也是一波三折, 先有民國元年的 "臨時政府組織大綱", "臨時約法".  到民國20年, 國民政府頒布 "順政時期約法", 並從民國21年底開始研擬憲法草安; 民國25年通過並公布 "五五憲草".  後來卻因為全面對日抗戰, 遲遲無法召開會議, 制定憲法.  The making of the constitution faced many obstacles.  In its first year the new Republic issued a "Provisional Government Memorandum," and a "Provisional Constitution."  In 1931 the Republic hosted a "Political Assembly," and from 1932 the Republic began drafting the Constitution.  In 1936 the Republic announced the passage of the "55 Draft Constitution," though after this point the country faced the war against Japan, and there was no way to hold meetings that would formalize the Constitution.

抗戰勝利後, 政府終於在民國35年召開制憲國民大會.  同年12月25日通過 "中華民國憲法", 並於民國36年12月25日開始施行.  After victory over Japan was achieved, in 1946 the government finally convened a meeting to formalize the Constitution.  During the same year, on December 25, the Constitution of the Republic of China was formalized, though it wasn't implemented until December 25 of the following year.

後來發生國共內戰, 國民黨政府退守台灣.  有感於實施憲政的重要意義, 所以民國52年, 行政院正式決定以每年的12月25日為行憲紀念日.  Civil war occurred after this point, and the Kuomintang government retreated to Taiwan.  As a means of signifying the importance of the Constitution's implementation, in 1963 the Executive Yuan formally decided that December 25 of every year would be Constitution Day.

憲法是一個國家的根本大法, "中華民國憲法" 的制定與施行歷經許多波折, 所以我們更應該好好珍惜.  The fundamental laws of every country come from its Constitution.  The "Republic of China's Constitution" has been formalized and implemented despite many obstacles, and we should treasure it for this reason.

Notes::

*I want to translate 行憲紀念日 as "Constitutional Memorial Holiday," but in English this sounds vague.  To be sure, translating 紀念日 as "memorial holiday" is more correct, but in English putting "constitution" before "memorial holiday" seems ungrammatical, and putting "constitutional" before "memorial holiday" seems ambiguous.

**The national calendar follows the solar calendar, but year one is 1911, when the Republic of China was founded in Canton Province, Mainland China.  Years have been adjusted accordingly.

Double Ten Day 雙十節

The Chinese here was written by 張青史, while the English was written by me.  This version of "Taiwanese Holiday Stories" (台灣節日故事) was published by Windmill Illustrated 風車圖書 in 2012.

雙十節
Double Ten Day (Taiwanese Independence Day)

(國曆十月十日)
(National Calendar, October 10)

滿清自入關統治中國以後, 對漢族採取婒酷的壓迫政策.  到了清朝末年, 官府腐敗無能, 官吏肆意搜刮人民的財物, 百姓生活痛苦不堪, 因此內亂四起.  加上列強不斷的侵略中國, 清廷屢戰屢敗, 只得割地賠款, 堂堂的中華民族受到如此的侮辱, 不僅使國人的自尊心大受打擊, 甚至連國家也面臨覆亡的命運.  After the Manchus* took administrative control of China, they imposed very oppressive policies upon the Han people.  By the end of the Ching Dynasty, the officials had become very weak and without ability, and these officials wantonly plundered the private property of citizens.  The lives of many people were difficult, and for this reason there was unrest in many places.  Added to this were the incursions of foreign powers into China, and the many reversals suffered by the Ching army.  The Ching court was forced to either partition the country or pay reparations, and the noble Chinese people were insulted by this.  It was not only a heavy blow to the people's pride, but the country also faced extinction.

國父孫中山先生看到這種情形, 知道民族已經面臨存亡關頭, 如果不推翻滿清政府, 中華民族將會陷入萬劫不復的地步.  於是毅然決然的集合許多愛國同志, 秘密進行革命工作.  When Dr. Sun Yat-sen witnessed these developments, he knew that the people faced a life-threatening crisis.  If the Ching Dynasty was not resisted, the Chinese people would approach a point of no return.  For this reason he gathered many patriots together, and secretly planned a revolution.

公元1894年, 中日爆發"甲午戰爭", 結果清朝戰敗, 被迫簽訂不平等的"馬關條約", 將台灣與澎湖割讓給日本.  在這件事情上, 滿清政府的腐敗無能展露無遺.  於是孫中山先生組織興中會, 倡導國民革命.  從那時起, 轟轟烈烈的革命行動便一次接一次的展開.  In 1894, the Sino-Japanese War erupted between China and Japan.  The Ching Dynasty lost this war, and was forced to sign the unfair Treaty of Shimonoseki, thus ceding the islands of Taiwan and Penghu to Japan.  In this matter the corrupt and inefficient nature of the Ching government was made obvious to all, and at this point Dr. Sun Yat-sen convened the Revive China Society, advocating a nationwide revolution.  From that time, revolutionary activities increased.

革命行動前後共有十一次 , 其中以第十次的廣州起義最壯烈, 犧牲也最慘重; 不過, 促使滿清皇帝退位, 建立中華民國的則是第十一次的武昌起義義.  因為這次起義是發生在辛亥年, 所以又稱作"辛亥革命".  There were 11 revolutionary activities in all.  Listed tenth among these activities was the most heroic of all, the Guangzhou Uprising.  This uprising was also the most costly, but it led to the abdication of the Ching Emperor and the establishment of the Republic of China.  The Wuchang Uprising was the eleventh revolutionary activity.  Because these uprisings happened during the same year as the Shinhai Uprising, they are called the "Shinhai Revolution."

清宣統3年(公元1911年)8月19日, 駐守在武昌的新軍工程第八營熊秉坤等人首先發難.  接著, 各營相繼響應, 革命軍氣勢如虹, 人人奮勇向前.  武漢三鎮首先光復, 不久, 各省也陸續被革命軍佔領.  清朝皇帝見大勢已去, 只好宣布退位.  During the third year of Emperor Puyi**(1911) on August 19, the eighth battalion of the new army was ordered to Wuchang.  The revolutionary army met the Ching forces, and everyone fought courageously.  Wuhan municipality was the first to be liberated, and the other provinces were slowly occupied by the revolutionary forces.  After the Ching Emperor saw these these disasters unfold, the only thing he could do was to abdicate.***

武昌起義是在農曆的8月19日, 換算成陽曆正是10月10日.  這是一個特殊而且直得紀念的日子.  因此, 政府特別訂定這一天為"國慶日", 又稱作"雙十節".  The Wuchang Uprising occurred on the nineteenth day of August in the lunar calendar, which is October 10 in the solar calendar.  This is a special and worthwhile day that ought to be remembered.  Because of this, the government has proclaimed that this day is "National Celebration Day" [Independence Day], and it is also called "Double Ten Day".

現在, 每年雙十節, 總統府前廣場都會舉行盛大的慶祝活動, 有時還會舉行閱兵典禮.  At the present time, during Double Ten Day every year, there is a big celebration in front of the Presidential Manor.  Sometimes there is also a military ceremony.

Moon Festival/Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節

Happy Moon Festival!!!  中秋節快樂!!!

The Chinese here was written by 張青史, while the English was written by me.  This version of "Taiwanese Holiday Stories" (台灣節日故事) was published by Windmill Illustrated 風車圖書 in 2012. 

中秋節

Mid-Autumn Festival

(農曆八月十五日)

(15^th Day of the 8^th Lunar Month)

農曆八月十五日, 是我國傳統的中秋佳節.  這時候是一年秋季的中期, 所以稱作中秋.  農民曆裡, 一年分為四季, 每季又分孟, 仲, 季三期, 因此中秋也稱作仲秋.  八月十五日的月亮又比其他月分的月亮更圓, 更明亮, 所以也稱為秋節, 仲秋節, 八月節, 女兒節或團圓節, 是全國眾多民族共同的傳統文化節日, 也是僅次於春節的第二大傳統節日.  The 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month is the Mid-Autumn Festival, our country’s traditional holiday.  This time falls within the middle of autumn every year, so it is called Mid-Autumn.  In the lunar calendar, a year is divided into four seasons, and each season is divided into periods called “Meng,” “Jong,” and “Ji”.  Because of this, Mid-Autumn Festival is also called “Autumn Jong.”  During the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month the moon is fuller and brighter than in other months, so this day is also called Autumn Festival, Autumn Jong Festival, 8^th Month Festival, Daughter’s Festival, or Reunion Festival.  It is a holiday unique to our country’s people and culture, and after Chinese New Year it is the most important traditional festival.

這天夜晚, 人們仰望天空玉盤般的明月, 自然而然會期望與家人團聚.  遠在異鄉的遊子也藉此寄託對家人和故鄉的思念之情, 所以又稱為”團圓節”.  During the evening on this day, people look up to the sky, and see the moon hanging like a great jade plate.  During this time families are also reunited, and those living in the most distant places return home to enjoy their families and the memories of the places where they grew up.  For this reason Mid-Autumn Festival is also called “Reunion Festival.”

“中秋”一詞最早見於”周禮”一書, 而真正形成全國性的節日則是在唐朝.  周代在中秋夜要舉行迎寒和祭月.  祭品中, 月餅和西瓜是絕對不能少的.  在月下, 將月亮神像放在月亮的方向, 點燃紅燭, 全家祭拜, 燃後由當家主婦切開團圓月餅.  切的份數要先算好全家的人數, 不論在家裡或在外地的, 都要計算在內, 不能多切也不能少切; 大小也要一樣.  The earliest record of the phrase “Mid-Autumn” occurs in the book “Jhou Li,” and the earliest description of this nationwide holiday goes back to the Tang Dynasty.  During the Jhou Period they held a “welcome the winter and worship the moon” activity, and during this activity they made numerous offerings of moon cakes and watermelons.  During the following month, it was thought that the moon god was present on the moon, and they lit red candles, the whole family made offerings, and afterward the family was reunited and the women would cut the moon cakes.  Before they cut the cakes they had to calculate the number of people in their family, regardless of whether these people were in the house or in some other place.  Everyone had to be counted, it was not permitted to cut too many or too few pieces, and the pieces had to be the same size.

在北宋, 八月十五夜, 不論貧父老少, 都要穿上成人的衣服, 焚香拜月, 祈求月亮神的保佑.  南宋時, 民間以月餅相互餽贈.  明, 清以來, 中秋節的風俗更加盛行, 許多地方形成放天燈, 走月亮, 舞火龍等特殊的風俗.  During the Northern Song Period, on the night of the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month, no matter one’s wealth or age, all had to wear adult clothes, make offerings to the moon, and seek the moon god’s protection.  During the Southern Song Period, people gave moon cakes to each other.  After the arrival of the Ming and Ching dynasties, the customs surrounding Mid-Autumn Festival became more firmly established.  In many places they hung lanterns, strolled beneath the moon, engaged in the “fire dragon dance” and other special customs.

台灣早期在中秋節流行吃月餅, 柚子, 闔家團圓賞月, 最近十多年來, 則盛行在這一天夜晚舉行烤肉, 大街小巷, 香味四溢, 令人垂涎三尺.  說不定哪一天, 人們會把”中秋節”稱作”烤肉節”.  From the earliest times it has been fashionable to eat moon cakes in Taiwan during Mid-Autumn Festival, and also to eat pomeloes and walk with one’s reunited family beneath the moon.  In the past few decades it has become popular to barbeque during the evening on this day, and from every street and alley comes the mouthwatering smell of food cooking.  It may be that one day people will call Mid-Autumn Festival “Barbecue Day.”

台灣從前流傳著”偷著蔥, 嫁好尪; 偷著菜, 嫁好婿”的諺語, 因此, 未婚女子會在中秋節晚上去別人的菜園偷拔蔥或蔬菜, 只要成功了, 表示很快會嫁個如意郎君.  這種說法其實沒有科學根據, 而且偷拔菜是違法行為, 所以現在已經不流行了.  In Taiwan has also persisted the “steal an onion, marry well, steal a vegetable, marry a good husband” superstition.  Because of this, on the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival unmarried women will sneak into other people’s gardens and steal onions or [other] vegetables.  If they succeed, it means that they will soon marry their “Mr. Right.”  This superstition has no scientific basis, and it is also bad to steal vegetables, so this behavior is not so fashionable now.

禁煙節 Non-Smoking Day

There are a lot of "holidays" that aren't on most calendars.  Check your calendar for "Non-Smoking Day", and you probably won't find it.  It's not famous, everyone has to work that day, and there are no fun activities associated with it.  For this reason "Non-Smoking Day," just like "Armed Forces Day" and "Railroad Day" are left off of most calendars.

It is, nevertheless, to be found in my "Taiwanese Holiday Stories" book, and it falls on June 3 every year.  Don't forget to say "Happy Non-Smoking Day!" to EVERY PERSON YOU COME ACROSS on June 3.  It will confuse them, and their confusion will be amusing.

The Chinese here was written by 張青史, while the English was written by me.  This version of "Taiwanese Holiday Stories" (台灣節日故事) was published by Windmill Illustrated 風車圖書 in 2012.

禁煙節
Non-Smoking Day**

(國曆六月三日) 
(National [Western] Calendar, June 3)

禁煙節的由來要追溯到明朝末年義大利傳教士利瑪竇來華傳教, 帶進了鼻煙, 讓國人開始對煙品上癮.  清朝中期以後, 英國人發現在中國賣鴉片可以獲取很大的利潤,於是開始向中國銷售這種對人體有害的毒品.  To search out Non-Smoking Day's origin one must go back to the end of the Ming Dynasty, when the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci brought snuff into China.  Chinese people became addicted to tobacco products from this time onward.*  By the middle of the Ching Dynasty, the British discovered that they could make huge profits by selling opium in China, and from then on sales of this kind of unhealthy product began.

由於官民大量吸食, 造成吏治腐敗, 也使得百姓的財富愈來愈少,精神越來越委靡不振, 甚至喪失工作意願, 雖然清廷下令禁止鴉片進口, 但是輸入量卻有增無減.  After officials began consuming [opium] in large amounts, corruption became a problem, and the people grew less and less prosperous.  They grew more and more demoralized, and they lost their desire to work.  Although the Ching Court forbid the importation of opium, the amount coming in was not decreased.

道光皇帝即位後, 決心禁絕鴉片, 派遣欽差大臣林則徐到廣州負責查禁鴉片.  林則徐與一般官員消極, 怕事的做法大不相同, 他非常強勢和堅決, 許多外國商人及傳教士對他大公無私的態度都很佩服.  After the Emperor Dao Guang assumed power, he decided to stamp out opium, and he dispatched the imperial envoy Lin Dze-Shu to Canton Province to ban the opium trade.  Lin Dze-Shu was the opposite of most public officials, who were scared of getting into trouble for doing things differently.  He was very strong and determined, and many foreign businessmen and missionaries considered his selfless attitude to be very admirable.
   
林則徐將收繳的鴉片, 於公元1839年6月3日, 在廣東的虎門全部銷毀, 轟動全國.  Lin Dze-Shu took the opium he had seized, and on June 3, 1839 in Hu Men, Guangdong he destroyed it.  This caused a sensation.

但是, 清庭迫於英軍的強大軍事力量, 竟將林則徐革職, 流放到新疆, 改派琦善擔任兩廣總督, 在江寧與英軍談和, 簽訂 "南京條約", 割地又賠款, 在中國歷史上寫下可恥的一頁.  However, the Ching Court had a strong British military presence to contend with, and this necessitated the dismissal and exile of Lin Dze-Shu.  He was sent to Xinjiang, and Chi Shan replaced him as governor of Canton Province.  [Later] in Jiang Ning the British army held peace talks [over this and other issues], and the "Treaty of Nanking" was signed, which not only annexed parts of China but also imposed fines [on the Ching Government].  This was a shameful day in Chinese history.

林則徐雖然被革職流放, 但是他勇於任事及查禁鴉片的舉動, 獲得全國人民的讚許.  為了紀念林則徐查禁鴉片的事蹟, 後來便將6月3日定為我國的"禁煙節".  Although Lin Dze-Shu was dismissed and sent into exile, his sense of responsibility and his attempts to stop the opium trade won the approval of all the citizens.  In order to commemorate his efforts to stop the opium trade, June 3 was later declared "Non-Smoking" day in our country.

*There is a somewhat racial tone to this article, and the first paragraph seems to imply that foreigners are to blame for an addiction that has a long history among Chinese people.  Blaming Matteo Ricci (or the British) for Chinese tobacco consumption is like blaming the guy who invented plastic for all the garbage in the world.  Several aspects of Chinese culture exacerbated this problem, not least of all their tendency toward isolationism and their failure to recognize the worth of many Western discoveries.

**I also hope the inclusion of this story doesn't sound too judgmental on my part.  I only include it here because it's the most recent holiday before summer vacation.  I don't smoke tobacco, but I do occasionally smoke, if you know what I mean.