Gao Yisheng

Gao Yisheng

Gao Yisheng, a member of the Zou people in Taiwan, is named uyongu. Yatauyungana. Born in 1908 in Tefuye tribe, he is an educator, musician, poet and politician. During the period of Taiwan's recovery in 1945, he served as the first head of Wufeng Township in Tainan County (now Alishan Township in Jiayi county), and proposed the concept of Gaoshan ethnic autonomy. In 1947, 228 incident happened. In 1952, he was arrested and jailed under the influence of involvement, and was executed on April 17, 1954 on the charge of "bandit spy rebellion", which became one of the epitomes of that particular period.

Important chronology

In 1908, he was born in lalauya small community (now Leye village, Alishan township) of Tefuye tribal system, ranking third.

In 1916, he entered the Dabang Fantong Education Institute and began to study. At that time, it was named "yato Yisheng".

In 1922, he was transferred to the fourth grade of Jiayi ordinary primary school. During the period of study, the lessons were outstanding.

In 1924, he entered Tainan normal school and was the first intellectual elite of the Zou people in Alishan to receive modern education.

During the period of schooling, every holiday, Gao Yisheng would return to dabangfan Education Institute of the tribe to actively assist in the education work. During this period, he began to contact with modern music education. Gao Yisheng, who loved music, was not only an appreciator, but also a performer and creator.

In 1930, after graduating from normal school, he returned to Alishan Dabang Fantong Education Institute to teach, and also served as the inspector of Dabang branch. He was full of ambition for the development of his hometown. In order to express the development and emotion of his hometown, he often expresses his concern for his homeland and ethnic group through the creation of songs.

In 1931, she married Miss Gao Chunfang of yulunanaw, a clan of Tefuye system. In addition to the fact that he was the first intellectual of the Zou nationality who had received normal education, Gao's work, such as educating tribal disciples, promoting new agricultural knowledge, policing and security, improving medical habits, getting rid of bad customs, and the needs of his family, can be said to be a heavy responsibility and burden.

In 1942, Japan began seven times in a row to devote its volunteers to the Nanyang battlefield. Gao Yisheng once had a great dispute with the Japanese for dissuading young men of Zou nationality to fight in Nanyang.

In 1945, after Taiwan's recovery, he became the first head of Wufeng Township in Tainan County (now Alishan Township in Jiayi county) in order to fulfill his ambition for ethnic groups. He proposed the concept of autonomy of Gaoshan ethnic group and often exchanged ideas about autonomy with various ethnic groups.

In 1947, the 228 incident happened. At that time, Gao Yisheng received a notice from the gentry of Jiayi City, asking the Zou compatriots to send troops to support the resistance. Gao Yisheng strongly opposed it, but there was mutual blood and consensus among the ethnic groups, and he finally agreed to help the people go down the mountain. Later, because of the spirit of humanity, Gao Yisheng provided food and shelter to the rebels who fled to the Zou mountain area because of the disaster, and later advocated the vision of the indigenous people's autonomous region. For all these reasons, he was finally convicted.

On September 9, 1952, the Jiayi security headquarters sent a power to ask the head of gaoyisheng township to go down the mountain with the tribal elders to hold a meeting. After they went down the mountain to attend the meeting, they were arrested and never came back. Gao Yisheng was imprisoned in the military and judicial department of Taipei, where he wrote more than 50 letters to express his family, love and even the feelings of the land. After about a year and a half in prison, he was executed on 17 April 1954.

Music contribution

In his lifetime, Gao Yisheng was enthusiastic about music creation. From his ballads, we can feel his deep feelings for the tribe and the land, his love and concern for the people, the tribe and their long-term future.

Up to now, many of his ballads are still sung in the Alishan tribe. The contents of the ballads include traveling and nostalgic songs, such as "climbing Yushan", "Tashan song", "ancient road", "mountain climbing train", etc.; songs to encourage the people to move to the south, such as "moving to the South (1)" and "moving to the South (2)"; and songs to farm work, For example, "songs of work", "songs of hard work" and so on; songs of missing others, such as "zobaoji in spring", "azalea mountain" and so on. Because of his education in Japanese normal school, his ballads often have a strong Japanese style and charm, such as "zuobao Ji in spring", "Catharanthus roseus" and "ancient road", and skillfully integrate the traditional ideas or legendary artistic conception within the ethnic group. Among them, the song of "zuobao Ji in spring" was written by Gao Yisheng when he was in Taipei detention center to miss and encourage his wife. "Zuo Baoji" means "God of spring" in Japanese, and Gao Shengsheng compares it to his wife Gao Chunfang. Even now, it still sounds touching.

Representative works

Zuobao Ji in spring

Ci and Qu_ Gao Yisheng's works in 1950s

Who is calling deep in the forest? In the silent dawn,

Who is the voice like a silver bell calling?

Ah! Zobaoji! Zoe Baoji of spring.

Who is calling deep in the forest?

In the lonely dusk, like a silver bell, gorgeous voice, across the forest,

Ah! Zobaoji! Who is calling in the deep mountain?

In the forest of my hometown, far away, with gorgeous voice. Someone's calling,

Ah! Zobaoji! Zoe Baoji of spring.

Zoe Baoji of spring.

The song "Zuo Baoji in spring" was written by Gao Yisheng when he was in prison, Qingdao East Road detention center, thinking and encouraging his wife. "Zobaoji" means "love God" and "spring God" in Japanese.

Madagascar rosy periwinkle

Ci and Qu_ Gao Yisheng wrote in 1949

There are many Catharanthus blossoming out of the window

Swaying in a beautiful breeze

Ah! Beautiful Catharanthus roseus

Let me give it to you

Over the mountains again and again

All his life, Zou Zu Gao wrote in 1949. On a spring afternoon, he saw the Catharanthus out of the window swaying in the wind. He felt a lot in his heart. He sang "Catharanthus" on the piano and dedicated it to his beloved wife, Chunfang.

(* the song was performed by Xiaomei and included in the 2006 issue of "beautiful heart ballad". )

Chinese PinYin : Gao Yi Sheng