Series 5: The Translation of Stone Inscribed Warning Sign located outside of Xuan Tian Temple, Bukit Mertajam (Chinese Version)大山腳玄天廟外石刻告示牌之翻譯

2011农历新年前两个星期，我和小学同学，张玮琦一起吃午餐。之后，我邀他陪我到伯公埕一趟，以便我考察坐落在靠伯公埕奕记茶水摊旁的宝炉后边的一块刻有字的石碑。这一个毫不起眼且黝黑及肮脏的石碑（有45-55公分高，30-35扩），是我在吃馄饨面时，意外发现的。普通的路人及卖吃的小贩都没注意到它，那时因为它已经成为当地居民生活的一部分了；那是因为在他们没出世前，石碑已肃立在那儿了。

奕记老板谢先生表示：常有善男信女在这石碑插香。

我自问：难道是土地公？

好奇的我，当然是要查个清楚。所以，玮琦挨义气，陪我去查个究竟。

我俩花了一个小时蹲在那儿，像考古学家般的解读石碑上的字。由于，雕刻不是很深再加上百年来风吹雨打，石碑上的字模糊不清。须知道，伯公埕全大山脚最旺，人潮最多的地区，路过的人都很好奇我俩蹲在那里干些什么东西。或许，他们脑里想：“那俩神经的在那里干什么？”在一旁的奕记茶水摊主谢先生主动向我解释，有时有人会在石碑插香。结果，我认识了他及他的妻子。虽然当天只是解读到差不多是二十个字，总算是有收获。

帏全放假回大山脚当天我邀他到伯公埕吃早餐。用餐后，我要求他以他语文知识帮我看看石碑上的字。可是，很显然的，那不是会不会解读的问题，那时看不看得到石碑上刻字的问题。那天我们，待在那里有45分钟，也成功解读了五六个字。至此，我们以大概知道石碑的内容。

隔几天，福强终于回来了，我就约他做我的伴，第三次访伯公埕。第一个小时，没有什么收获。炒河粉摊主简况，建议我们用油漆，按着字形上色。我回答说：“Uncle，不行，石碑会坏的。”在绝望之际，一个老者出现。

老者说“用面粉抹上去就可以了”。

我俩半信半疑，可是却束手无策。我想：“既然面粉很便宜，不妨试一试，反正也没办法了”。于是就到伯公埕对面杂货店购买面粉。

“什么？？！！面粉二十仙？”杂货店主问。
“是的，老板”，我回答。
“Okay，二十仙，谢谢”，说完，便把面粉交给我。

那杂货店主对购买20仙面粉的我感到无语。也许他想：“现在的年轻人到底干什么？！”

于是，我便把面粉抹上石碑。

“出来了，出来了，福强”，我极兴奋得说到。每个方块字清清楚楚地排列在我俩面前。

还等什么？我俩便开始拍照及抄写石碑上的字。

大山腳玄天廟外石刻告示牌 (满地都是面粉)

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大山腳玄天廟外石刻告示牌之翻譯

众人协议后决定严加禁止: 从玄天庙前地坪左右烧金银纸用的宝炉直到戏棚是男女老少来往看大戏的地方,所以小贩不许在这范围内搭棚子、摆放货架及贩卖食物。每个人因该严格地遵守这项规则。倘若有人违反这条规则，此人将面对训斥及被申告至官府以追究处理。我等将传下这段言辞先前通知大家，也雕刻下这条规则在块石上，以保存下来，作为日后的凭证。

大山腳玄天廟外石刻告示牌（电子版）

问题在于:从宝炉到戏棚这个范围是指那里呢?其实, 本人还没有把这个疑问考察清楚。比如，宝炉及戏棚的位置，在百年以来，有改变吗？可是，值得一提的是，有两块注有“伯公界”的石块能仔细地表示出玄天庙的范围。这两个石块坐落在现今宝炉的一旁。高长宽大约为20cmx20cmx10cm。如果戏棚及宝炉从古至今未曾改变，此石碑之所禁止之事依然生效。

伯公界（打粉前）

伯公界（打粉后）

洪政阳译 (Translated by Zen Yang ANG)
辛卯年夏七月初八（大暑）丑时六刻 (7-8-2011, 2:30am)

宾利，西澳 (Bentley, Western Australia)

Series 3: The References for "Bukit Mertajam Free School" Stone Inscription article series

Before I am off from here for next few weeks, I attach the references that I cited when writing the articles about "Bukit Mertajam's Free School"Stone Inscription/大山脚义学堂石碑. The next article would be about the history of Bukit Mertajam.

义学堂-卢荣成撰，Bukit Mertajam's Free School, by Mr Loo

“大山脚义学堂”石碑的注释--卢荣成撰，Notes on "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription

Pictures of "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription

"Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription, taken by Han Hung

<<大山脚福德正神庙成立百周年纪念特刊>>封面， The Cover page of "Bukit Mertajam Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple Centennial Celebrations Special Magazine"

<<本庙历史及建设发展>>, 已故五百恰先生撰,第一页及第二页；"The History and the Development of Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple (Xuan Tian Temple)", by the late Mr Goh, page 1 and page 2

By Zen Yang ANG
28-4-2011, 4.07pm

Bentley, Western Australia

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):

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

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"

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

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.

Series 1: The Discovery of "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription 大山脚义学堂石碑

The author of "Old Penang, Old lives" Or "Penang--History, Social Life and Customs" <<老槟城, 老生活>>, Toh Zhong Quan杜忠全, mentioned that “The moment I leave my home is the moment I am home”. I think this may be one of the reasons that drives me writing this series.

The following will describe the process I get to know the existence of the "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription.

The Stone Inscription

A book by Wolfgang Franke and Chen Tieh Fan published in 1985, namely "Chinese Epigraphic Materials in Malaysia Vol 2", collected and recorded the data about Chinese epigraphic materials found Malaysia.

Xuan Tian Temple

My focus today is on the history and establishment of one of the oldest temple in Bukit Mertajam, Xuan Tian Miao 玄天庙(temple name shown by wooden tablet above the main entrance), 伯公庙 Po-Kung Miao (Po-Kung Miao was used Franke and Chen as well as local people) or Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple 福德正神庙 (formal name by the committee). It is located at Market Street, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Market Street

Franke and Chen recorded almost all materials found in Xuan Tian Miao which included wooden tablets, wooden altar, stone pillar, stone inscription (set up on the occasion of donations made for the building the temple). However, the most of important stone inscription-- the "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Tablet (<<大山脚义学堂>>石碑) was left out. The reason for that was because the stone inscription was previously placed at the left side of the temple and it was blocked by wooden desk which was used by the hawker. Note the surrounding of the temple is a busy market place and hawker centre. The stone was rediscovered by Mr Loo (卢荣成老师), a teacher in Jit Sin Independent School, who is enthusiastic in the history of Bukit Mertajam.

Xuan Tian Temple (dawn)

Everything started when I invited Han Hung, one of my friends, to go Bukit Mertajam town to have a few snapshots. As usual, I passed by Xuan Tian Miao. However, this time I am determined to snap everything in the temple since I have wanted to do so a long time ago. More than 100 hundred years old chairs, desks, altar, a patio that cleverly designed to increase air circulation and light availability (remember that fans and electrical light could be found in 100 years ago). When I was taking my snapshot on a few stone inscriptions in temple, a particular one caught my attention. It is because most of the stone inscriptions that I have seen before were set up on the occasion of donations made for the building the temple. However, this stone inscription was not in the form of Vernacular Chinese. Instead, it is in Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese. (Note that Classical Chinese/Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese. Classical Chinese was once used for almost all formal correspondence before and during the beginning of the 20th century. from Wikipedia). My previously exposure to Classical Chinese enable me to understand 75% the inscriptions. (I will provide the full translation of the stone inscription in my next writing). When I am having difficulty to understand the rest of the inscription, an 40-50s lady approached us and asked,

I was copying the inscription

"What are you doing there, young man?"

"We are copying down the inscription and trying hard to understand to the content" I answered and thought that she might be just another ordinary person who was curious about what we were doing.

My friend, Han Hung, actually knew the lady and he asked "Aunty, do you understand the inscription or not?"

"Of course I know" she answered with confidence.

The copy of inscription of my notebook 1

"What?? impossible, how can it be" I think.

"Aunty, are you sure?" I asked her with doubt tone. (I know I am bad)

"Indeed, why not" she reconfirmed.

I was really shocked by her answer and at the same time, I was very excited because I finally found someone who could read the inscriptions (because there were a few characters that we could not understand). We asked about the few words that we could read and she answered us without thinking about explained to us the meaning of a few sentences before she rushed to her "grocery shopping" (to buy groceries from nearby hawker and wet market). Before she went away, she suggested to get a copy of "Bukit Mertajam Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple Centennial Celebrations Special Magazine" 大山脚福德正神庙成立百周年纪念特刊 (published in 1986) from Hock Teik Cheng Sin Committee which was based in Jit Sin Independent School. She also recommended me to see the library in-charge teacher of Jit Sin Independent High School, Mr Loo, as he has deep interest in the history of Bukit Mertajam. She us that Mr Loo requested the temple committee to relocate the stone inscription into the temple and painted the inscription with golden paint. I could see why Mr Loo requested relocation based on my 75% understanding of the inscription content, ie. it is really an important stone inscription.

The copy of inscription of my notebook 2

Han Hung and I subsequently went to Hock Teik Cheng Sin administrative office to get a copy of the special magazine. Due to out of print, the officer allowed me to photocopy the whole magazine, which contained the history of Xuan Tian Miao, Bukit Mertajam, chinese school in Bukit Mertajam as well as articles about Bukit Mertajam which were written by a few locals. We could not meet Mr Loo because it was a Sunday and I had decided to meet him on week day.

The following article will describe how I came across Mr Loo and get the full translation of the "Bukit Mertajam's Free School" Stone Inscription.

Zen Yang ANG

205am, 23-4-2011

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