Series 2: Translation of the "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription--Englsih Version

(注意, 下有"大山脚义学堂"碑--原文，分句后的原文，中文翻译及英文翻译。)

(Note, the original inscription (in Chinese Classical) is for showing purpose only, there is a full translation below)

A few days before chinese new year, I invited my mate, Wei Kuan, to go Xuan Tian Miao to jot down a second stone inscription (outside the temple)The second incription was not mentioned by anyone before (also missed the authors of "Chinese Epigraphic Materials in Malaysia Vol 2" (Wolfgang Franke and Chen Tieh Fan) and I accidentally found it when I was eating at the hawker centre. I will translate the second inscription soon.

After I have done with Xuan Tian Miao, I suggested Wei Kuan to follow me to Jit Sin Independent High School because I wish to meet with Mr Loo, the teacher-in-charge of library. When we went into his office, out of my expectation, Wei Kuan greeted Mr Loo with a I-know-you-very-well tone,

"How are you, Mr Loo?".

"Zen Yang, actually Mr Loo is the husband of a our Chinese Teacher in Jit Sin High School,吴幼婷老师, Wei Kuan told me.

"The world is so small!!!" I replied astonishingly.

Then, Wei Kuan helped me to explain to purpose of our visit. And, kindly, Mr Loo suggested us to photocopy articles about the "Bukit Mertajam Free School" (written by Mr Loo) found in the school magazine. His articles helped me a lot in the translation process. I must acknowledge his contribution in my writting.

The following are "original text of the stone inscription", "original text plus punctuation", translation of the original in Chinese and translation of the original text in English.

The "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription

The following is full Translation of the Inscription in English (英文翻译):

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Bukit Mertajam's Free School

Personally, we think that the establishment of something new is hard, but does that mean that the maintenance part is easy? If (we) traced back to those years in the past, Bukit Mertajam's Xuan Tian Miao used to set up vegetable and fruit farm. The farm was also the place where local Chinese traded their agricultural products and daily necessities (note that the farm is the current town centre of Bukit Mertajam). Therefore, the temple council/board set up booths for those traders and collected rent from them. Over the years, the collected rental (approximately hundreds of dollars) was used as the fees needed during the annual worshipping activities.

It had been more than 30 years since the establishment of trading booths. Within these 30 years, the in-charge person for the activities worshipping activities was changing (was not the same in-charge person). However, the ability of those managers were different between each other. Some of them were capable while the others were not; each of them was not the same. Some of them viewed worshipping activities of temple as the tool for personal profit, which means that they utilised their positions as the in-charge person to seek for own wealth. Or, some made their own benefits under the guise of other temple expenses (ie they corrupted part of the temple expenses). In some case, when they were suspected and questioned by colleagues, they would be fire disaster of temple as the excuse.

In the year of 1889, one could see that the farm was full of weed just like it was deserted/unmanaged by the people. However, the farm was still a useful wide plain. Considering that the rental collected in past was more than a thousand dollars by the time, the council subsequently had a discussion with the traders. After, they loaned money from loaner and finished their planning, then they started building shops behind the temple. Next, they proceed with the building of tents for the (vegetables) traders. In the autumn of the year, they built another classroom which was used to organise free school.

Within a few years, one could see that the past and present have vast difference. Previously, the plain which was occupied by weed, however, at the moment, the area was fully dominated by overlap-like shops and houses. Previously, the total collected rental was just hundreds of dollars. At the present time, the newly built shops had brought profit of more than a thousand dollars to the temple. The temple set up the free school in order to nurture/produce the talented or outstanding people. With these people, only then the vulgar/uncivilised culture in Bukit Mertajam/Southeast Asia can be converted into a culture which upheld politeness and righteousness.

During each birthday of Gods/Deities, Chinese opera would be performed (as the celebration with Gods/Deities). The fees needed to hire opera troupe would be paid by the temple. This enabled all villagers in Bukit Mertajam to celebrate with joy.

Do you think the change is due to different in-charge people? It was just because the Feng Shui/Fortune of Bukit Mertajam was great. Even though the local rapid development of Bukit Mertajam was due to effective plan, management and execution, the development actually relied heavily on blessings from Gods/Deities. (We) Just hoped that the future generations who succeeded our foundation/career could expand and enrich (add meaningful values into) our foundation. This was great anticipation from us. Therefore, (we) recorded these words, so that the words can be spread to the future generations forever and after. (Therefore, we wrote these words) Just as the preface.

Now, (we) make a list of all expenses and published/engraved them on the left hand side (of this stone inscription):

First decision: During the birthday of Yuan Tiao Shang Di (元天上帝Yuan Tian God Emperor), Tan Gong Bo（谭公伯） and Fu De Zheng Shen（福德正神 the God of Bliss and Virtue)，（we）need to organise Chinese operas as the celebration/ceremony. The expenditure of each ceremony can be claimed for the Temple. The Temple Council will provide (a maximum of) 200 dollars to cover the fees needed to hire Chinese opera troupe and other expenses during the ceremony. If there is excess, the money shall be returned to the Temple Council. If it is insufficient, the in-charge person cannot make a second claim.

Second Decision: To organise the free school, two teachers will be employed in a year. The salary of each teacher will be paid by Temple Council.

Third Decision: If poor people is found death in the farm/surrounding of temple, and if the deceased is not claimed by any relative, friend or neighbour, then a coffin can be claimed from the Temple Council in order to prevent the corpse from laying barely in the outdoor.

Each of the decisions is engraved on this stone, so that it can be reserved as the reference in the future. (Hopefully what we do will) Bring glory to our ancestors and bring prosperity to the future generations.

Written in:

GuangXu Emperor’s 21^st year —the Yi Wei (32^nd year) of Chinese Sexagenary/Sexagesimal Cycle (1895), Winter (August, September or October)

Erected together by the members of Fu De Zheng Shen (Xuan Tian) Temple Board: 黃陳慶、陳換、黃躍松、陳錦隆、陳成貴、張字、王媽賀、黃躍喜

Engraved in:

GuangXu Emperor’s 21^st year, which Yi Wei乙未 (32^nd year) of Chinese Sexagenary/Sexagesimal Cycle (1895), Winter (August, September or October)

Erected together by the members of Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple (Xuan Tian Temple) Board: 黃陳慶、陳換、黃躍松、陳錦隆、陳成貴、張字、王媽賀、黃躍喜"

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Translated by Zen Yang ANG

In Xin Mao辛卯 (28^th year) of Chinese Sexagenary/Sexagesimal Cycle (2011), Spring, on 25^th of Plumens (梅月Plum Month/fourth month of Chinese Calendar), on Gu Yu谷雨(Grain rains/ the 6^th solar term), at Shen Shi卯时 (3 to 5 pm) and first Ke (approximately the first 15 minutes)-ie 3.15pm. Bentley, Western Australia.

Note that:

1. Chinese hour is in the form of double-hours where Zi Shi 子时(11pm- 1am), Chou Shi丑时(1am-3am), Yin Shi寅时 (3am-5am), Mao Shi卯时 (5am-7am), Chen Shi辰时 (7am-9am), Si Shi巳时 (9am-11am), Wu Shi午时 (11am-1pm), Wei Shi未时 (1pm-3pm), Shen Shi申时 (3pm-5pm), You Shi酉时 (5pm-7pm), Xu Shi戌时 (7pm-9pm) and Hai Shi亥时 (9pm-11pm).

2. Ke刻is a traditional Chinese unit of decimal time lasting approximately a quarter of a western hour. Traditionally the ke divides a day into 100 equal intervals of 14.4 minutes (14 m 24 s). The ke is equivalent to the centiday. (100 x 14.4 = 24 x 60)

3. 24 Solar Terms (24 points in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon.) - each solar is 15 days. Gu Yu /Grain rains usually starts around 20^th April and ends around 5^th May.

By Zen Yang ANG

27-4-2011, 3.15pm

Bentley Western Australia.

Bukit Mertajam--the series

Six weeks of pharmacy training has finally ended. It is time for me to write up something I have been researching since January this year. It is the series of articles about Bukit Mertajam.

Reason??

1. Because it is my hometown. I feel guilty for not knowing the history of Bukit Mertajam

2. Because not many researchers studying the history of Bukit Mertajam and therefore not many references around, especially in English language.

3. Because I am interested in history and researching about Bukit Mertajam history is part of my spiritual life (pls see 有感而发 by Chin Hou if you wish to understand the physical and spiritual lives)

4 Because I want to share it to everyone

I must admit that I am not a historical researcher and my writing will not meet the standard for sure. So it is a platform for:

1 Those who are interested in Bukit Mertajam.
2 Future researchers who like to study Bukit Mertajam ( I will provide references at the end of each writing).

Zen Yang ANG

1114pm, 21-4-2011

Bentley, Perth

In respond to: Is it good to work in Singapore?

Recently there been a lot of circulation of this article around facebook and few of mt friends had ask me my view regarding what had be said in the article.

First of all, in my opinion the guy who wrote that article is very grey. Everything to him is good but yet bad is more than the good stuff and I personally don't like things to be one sided. If reviewing somethings, it should stick to neutral as much as possible.

Before any one who decide to come to Singapore, they must have a purpose in mind, might it be study, work, or education purpose. You must know what you looking for and be ready to give and take. In my case, I decide to come to Singapore to pursuit my education 6 years ago which is 2006 and the education part is the point that I want to review in it.

I always knew that I am not the brightest student in class so don't mention about the whole school or even the nation. I had a not so good, not so bad result for my SPM and I knew I wouldn't survive the STPM if i continue studying it. It was out of a blue that one my my friend suggested me  that I should apply for polytechnic and it was then my life at Singapore begins.

For all these years in Singapore, it show me one things which is if you fight for your future, the chances are always there! You might said you blew your youth for not having a good grade in what ever level. The education system here already provide you with the back up plan. People who didn't do well in O level can always go for polytechnic even if polytechnic failed to give you a seat, there is still ITE. (More on those you should click on the links.)

When I came to Singapore, I don't have much money to spare and I spend most of my time in a wall of four. I do agree that living expenses in Singapore is high but only if you are spending Ringgit! A meal in Singapore campus or hawker center hardly cost you more then 5 dollars and drinks included. In Malaysia, a bow of Chicken rice at KL I believe more then 3 ringgit and a coke also cost you at least 1 ringgit 50 cents. Which without conversion they are on PAR! So basically just don't compare price with conversion, if you end up in Australia you are not be able to settle a meal outside with anything less then 10 AUD.

After 3 years, I finally get my certs and luckily I did it decently well and awarded with a Merit. So what does this be able to bring me? With a Merit Cert, it actually allows me to apply for any of the courses open up for application in Singapore Universities! But good things came with a price, if you are doing the same subject you took in your Poly, you are able to get exemption for certain module and shorter period to complete the degree.

I always had this question asked by my friends. "How long do you need to complete your degree after 3 years in polytechnic?" I told them another 3 years ahead! They always gave me the same respond. "What so long? Another 3 years?" I answered:"Yes but is short, you already did 2 years STPM and your degree need additional 4 years, so you just have to do the math is the same total of 6 years to complete an undergrad degree." Another good news is that, if after your diploma you join the work force for at least two years, you can apply for another course exemption in the Industrial Attachment Program which is a 6 months course, did a few subject in advance by overloading, wahla~~ you can actually finish it in 2 years! Of course by that path you need to work harder than most of your friend!

Next, you might be wondering about the price of studying in Singapore, is must be a lot! Yes you are totally correct and wrong at the same time! Singapore have a very good system in keeping their money flow in the correct path. Look at the table below:

You must be thinking that 26000 SGD / Year must be mad and how would you be so easily be given subsidized! But the real fact is everyone can get the subsidised tuition fees from Singapore Gov. with only one condition which is after graduate you will need to work inside Singapore for at least 3 years to finish the bond! So that's a great deal isn't? So how to get? Just apply here. Or you can actually don't even bother about it, because it will come to you automatically and you would need to prepare 2 sureties which can just be you parents or any PR in Singapore!

The next question would be how do I pay the 12000 SGD/year? That's another simple question to answer. You would need to apply for loan from the local bank. In NTU it should be OCBC bank and it will provide up to 100% of the tuition fees. So what's the down side of this great deal? You would need to have a Singaporean or PRs as a surety and the interest rate per annual is 4.75%. But that shouldn't set you back if you know what you really want!

Last you would be wondering how about my daily living expenses and the rest of 20%? Yes is another great one, just approach Student union. I have no idea how it works out, but it should be 80% correct from here which they can loan you some living expenses. I love this phrase the most:" There's a WILL, there's a WAY!"

Base on the above, you can always think about the study opportunity provided in other countries.

That's my insight about studying in Singapore and you can always choose to agree to disagreement!
Comments box below and always welcome!