生命中總有些聲音光影在我們心中留痕，伴隨我們長大。有些僅僅勾起了我們對昔日的影像記憶，有些卻潤物無聲地教化了我們的一生。
我曾在昔日的工作崗位上，為兒童選了一首70年代由Cat Steven所唱作的Morning has broken，作為早上聚會的前奏曲，其實在我心目中，卻一直另有一首更切合的歌，惟因那是一間沒宗教信仰的機構，便選了這首來自西方的優美晨歌替代。
我心中的歌，便是由中國人所寫的古老詩歌: 清晨歌，這是一首我自六歲開始懂唱，但能牢記一生的詩歌，與此詩相繫於記憶中的，不光是童年的回憶，而是天天誦唱下深植於心靈的訓勉。
現今的天主教聖堂，中文彌撒禮儀中不是唱源自意大利或拉丁文的傳統聖詩，便是本地人所作的廣東話詩歌；基督新教教派有不少已採用流行曲式撰寫詩歌，較傳統的教會則仍沿唱青年聖歌或普天頌讚歌集，當中有不少是充滿愛爾蘭民調特色，遠自十七，十八世紀的英國舊詩歌。
可是，植根於中國大地，為生活艱苦的庶民頌讚上主而寫的詩歌，卻容易被遺忘了。有一定歲月的人們或仍可隨口說出上世紀三十年代的時代老歌，但經歷一定歲月，有基督信仰的嬰兒潮世代的人，對清晨歌或許已印象模糊，於XYZ世代來說，雖或不至聞所未聞，卻可能覺得那只是老舊不合現世的詩歌了，因為裡面描述的都是典型的農村景象，對城市化下長大的我們，清晨歌的意境遙不可及，而當中講述的人倫關係，彷彿只屬那煙遠年代的人們；中樂特色的曲調，在十分西化的香港，更是格格不入。
我整個小學教育都是在堅尼地城的聖公會小學完成，隨著人口迅速膨脹，城市漸向島西擴移，整個西區都遍佈著厭惡性的城市後勤設施，在煤氣鼓，牛房豬場，雞鴨欄，菜市場，屠房及米倉躉船工廠環繞下，不少人口都是賴此為生，而校內的孩子，大都是來自這些窮家。
這所面海新蓋在山坡上的基督教小學， 每天早會，數百個小學生擠站水洩不通的有蓋操場
裡，集會鈴聲過後，孩子們從操場各角落走到禮堂前方，按班別排隊站立在地下禮台前，我讀小一時，班級站立處多靠近禮台，故常可清楚看到穿著旗袍的老師，坐在那神聖而小孩不能亂碰的鋼琴前用心彈奏，樂聲響起，幾百個穿著白恤藍斜衭白布鞋的窮家小孩，捧著那本印有一雙祈禱的合掌的詩歌祈禱集，精神抖擞地合唱著這首全校金曲: [清晨歌]，每晨都響徹整個加惠民道。
茁自泥土
清晨歌出自中國著名神學家趙紫宸於1931年所發表的作品，小時候對此一無所知，長大後每想起此曲，都只是因其深銘我心的美麗情感與教誨，對歌曲的背景不甚了了，直到近年，我才開始追尋此曲的沿起。歌詞是這樣的:
清晨歌
詞:趙紫宸(1888-1979)
曲:胡德愛
和: 范天祥
譯: 范天祥夫人
發表:1931年
清早起來看，紅日出東方；(Rise to greet the sun, reddening in the sky,)
雄壯像勇士，美好像新郎；(Warrior-like and strong, comely as a groom.)
天高鳥飛過，地闊野花香；(Birds pass high in flight, Fragrant flowers now bloom;)
促我勤工作，天父有恩光。(With the gracious light, my toil resume.)
懇求聖天父，時刻靠耶穌；(Father, I implore, Safely keep this child,)
行為能良善，顏色會和溫；(Make my conduct good, Actions calm and mild)
虛心教小輩，克己敬年尊；(Venerating age, humbling teaching youth.)
常常勤服務，表明天父恩。(Always serving Thee, Sharing Thy rich Truth.)
但願今天好，時刻靠耶穌，(May this day be blest; Trusting Jesus' love.)
頭上青天在，心中惡念無；(My heart's freed from ill, Fair blue sky's above.)
樂得布衣暖，不嫌麥飯粗；(Glad for a cotton coat, Plain food satisfies;)
千千萬萬事，樣樣主幫扶。(All my countless needs, Thy kind hand supplies.)
茁自泥土
我對清晨歌有一份莫名的情結，在詩歌集裡一眾長篇深奧的外國詩歌中，清晨歌的格調顯得清新顯淺，小孩能懂易明，我愛之尤甚於那首學校經常誦唱，源自英國聖公會的校歌。原因簡單不過，因為無論長幼，都有能力把握裡面的具體意象，歌詞押韻易記。雖然整個小學我只遇過一兩位慈愛關顧的老師，但我喜歡[清晨歌]裡面的一片欣欣向榮景象，對於昔日師生比例極不理想，體罰如家常便飯的學校生活，不愉快的印象會因此稍為抵銷，至今每憶起小學生活，在貧窮匱乏的生活中，在人山人海的學校孩子群中，清晨歌唱來總予我有一份幸福感，每想起小息時雖然經常走到遠遠角落中獨處，清晨歌百口齊唱時，仍讓我感到群處的親切。
當年在校天天唸唱，歌詞中的字句很快便完全讀懂了，雖然從來沒有人為我們逐字逐句釋詞解義及唸讀，但隨著按年升班，同一首詩歌，隨著我們長大而添了不同層次的領受。
此詩於我的魅力，除了對那[紅日出東方，雄壯像勇士，美好像新郎。]中呈現大自然壯麗的描述感到喜悅(後來更醒覺[新郎]的另義其實是指基督，趙紫宸巧妙地將之寫作暗喻)，還有對[天高鳥飛過，地闊野花香]遼闊田園大地的嚮往，稍長，我更愛[頭上青天在，心中惡念無。]的純潔境界，而且第二句的句式有異於平常接觸的課本句子，唱的時候份外讓我注意，還有當中惇樸積極的生活:[ 樂得布衣暖，不嫌麥飯粗。]，貧乏中感知足與激勵的活潑。作為小孩，[虛心教小輩，克己敬年尊。]雖較難體驗，但都知道是需要實踐的好訓勉，當年意義難懂，但詞句卻終身未忘。
以詩歌哺育生命的神學家
趙紫宸在 [清晨歌]中所寫的詞，以靠天靠地的黃土庶民的刻苦生活作背景，以知足感恩，克己敬勤，凡事倚靠，凡事謝恩作主題，並以勞動仁愛推動充滿盼望的生活，而上世紀三十年代，正值民國政治紛亂，列強環伺，以農為務的千千萬萬黎民，從歲首到年終，一生默默辛勤，都僅能糊口。
趙紫宸是二十世紀中國最優秀的神學家，大半生都身體力行，一生著作甚豐。他祖籍浙江省德清縣人，生於一個小商人的家，後因家道中落，曾隨父從商，十五歲時入讀蘇州的教會學校萃英書院，西方教育對他產生一定的影響。 之後考進監理會辦的東吳大學，一九零七年受洗成為基督徒，並於1914年赴美留學， 主修社會學及哲學， 1916及1917年相繼獲得社會學碩士及神道學學士學位。回國後歷任東吳大學及燕京大學，在宗教學院任教，兼教中文。趙紫宸曾在香港被聖公會按立為牧師。 趙子宸曾於日本侵華時期被囚半年後獲釋。抗戰後，趙子宸復職於燕大，1947年獲美國普林斯頓大學頒授榮譽神學博士學位。但在此後的多場政治運動中，趙紫宸遭囚，1979年11月，即是在獲釋放後的數個月，於北京病逝。
趙紫宸的中文造詣極深，也是一位詩人，惟詩作在上世紀文革時多已銷毀。他主張中國人的教會應自立自足自養，不應全賴西方，亦應該有本土的詩歌。趙紫宸認為作詩歌應有數個原則，例如:
- 聖詩必須是具體的，使會眾唱時能心口合一。
- 要簡潔明瞭，淺白易懂，老少咸宜，雅俗共賞。
- 含有中國民族性，融合國人的日常生活環境。
- 基于聖經，能表達真誠的宗教經驗，並當讚美神。
- 每一首詩應該是一篇講章。
從[清晨歌]走出來的人生
細看清晨歌歌詞，正是以當年未有機會接受教育的庶民為對象，以農村大地為背景，敬重
[晨起理荒穢，戴月荷鋤歸]的辛勞，在匱乏生活中自尊自立，全心仰靠天父。趙紫宸正好體現了這些原則。故此美國衛理公會也將此曲的英文版納入其詩歌集內，這亦是唯一的一首，每逢有華人訪客到他們的教會，便會高唱此曲，以示友好歡迎。
趙紫宸也許一直不曉得，在他經歷患難，以及被囚的歲月裡，南中國邊
陲外的小島上，一群窮孩子年年月月每天早上都在唱他所寫的詩歌，而當中最少有一個窮孩子，無論遇禍遇福，一直鍾愛此曲到如今，並且光照了她的一生。
清晨歌音樂短片:
The Morning Song: An Old Chinese Hymn Grown from the Soil
A Legacy of
Life
There are always sounds and imageries
in our lives that remain in our minds as we grow up. Some of them evoke images
of our past, and others teach us for the rest of our lives.
In my former job, I chose a song for
the children whom I served: Morning has Broken by Cat Steven from the 1970s, as
a prelude to the morning assembly every day.
The song I have in mind is an old poem
written by a Chinese theologian, Zhao Zichen (1888-1979). The Morning Song, an
ancient Chinese hymn which I have known since I was six years old. Till now I
can remember it and in the rest of my life. This hymn reminds me of my
difficult childhood and the exhortations deep in my heart when I recitals it
every day.
Many Protestant churches in Hong Kong
have adopted popular hymns. In contrast, the more traditional churches still
sing Youth Hymns or universal hymnals, many of which are Irish folk tunes from
the 17th and 18th centuries.
However, it is easy to forget the
hymns written for the hard-pressed Chinese to praise the Lord. While people of
a certain age may still be able to speak of old hymns from the 1930s, those of
the Christian baby boomers may have a vague memory of early morning hymns. At
the same time, they may not be unheard of by the X, Y, Z generation, they may
feel that they are just old and out of date. The Chinese tunes are out of place
in a very westernized Hong Kong.
My primary education was at the S. K.
H. (Church of England) Primary School in Kennedy Town. With the rapid expansion
of population on Hong Kong Island, the city was spreading to the island west in
the first twenty years after WWII. The whole western district filled with
obnoxious urban back-up facilities, like the gas drums, cattle and pig farms,
chicken and duck pens, vegetable markets, slaughterhouses and rice barging
factories. Many of the population depended for their livelihood.
Every morning, hundreds of pupils
stood in the covered playground of this newly built Christian primary school, a
seven-story building facing the seafront.
After the assembly bell, the children
walked from all corners of the playground to the assembly hall's front, when we
sang "The Morning Song", our spirits soared up. The beautiful singing
echoed on the hill. It became a School ritual that we hardly forget after
leaving school.
As a little child, I didn't know much
about this song. Whenever I thought of it as an adult, it was only because of
the beautiful sentiments and teachings that it held in my heart. Still, I did
not know much about the background of the song. The lyrics go like this:
The Morning Song
Lyrics: Zhao Zichen (1888-1979)
Song: Hu De Ai
Harmony: Fan Tianxiang
Translated by: Mrs Fan Tianxiang
Published: 1931
Rise to greet the sun, reddening in
the sky, early in the morning
Warrior-like and strong, comely as a
groom.
Birds pass high in flight, Fragrant
flowers now bloom;)
Urging me to work hard, the Father has
a Gloria light. (With the Gloria light, my toil resume.)
Father, I implore, Safely keep this
child,
Make my conduct right, Actions calm
and mild.
I am venerating age, humbling teaching
youth.
Always serve diligently to show the
Father's kindness.
May God bless this day; Trusting
Jesus' love.
My heart is free from evil, Fair blue
sky above.
Glad for the cotton coat, Plain food
satisfies;
Glad for the cotton coat, Plain food
satisfies;
All my countless needs, Thy kind hand supplies.
Grown from the Soil
I have an inexplicable affinity for
"Morning Song". Among the long and profound foreign poems in the
hymnbook, this Chinese hymn's tone was simple and easy for children to
understand. I love them even more than the Anglican School song that we sang in
important events. Compare with "The Morning Song", the children of
different ages understood the specific imagery and the rhyming lyrics were easy
to remember. Although during my primary education, I only met one or two loving
and caring teachers. I loved the happy scene described in the "Morning
Song". It slightly alleviates the unpleasant impression of my school life
in the past when the teacher-student ratio was extremely unsatisfactory, and
corporal punishment was a common occurrence. I was very introvert. I always
stayed in a far corner of the playground to avoid noise and be bumped into
other children. Once we sang along with the piano melody of "Morning
Song", I could feel that I was part of the group.
Although no one ever explained the
words and read them for us, as I moved up to the senior primary, this hymn
revealed its divine meaning more in-depth.
The charm of this hymn was in its
vivid imagery: [red sun rising in the east, majestic as a warrior, beautiful as
a bridegroom.] I later realized that the notion of "bridegroom"
actually refers to Christ. Zhao Zichen cleverly wrote as a metaphor and the
longing for the vast and idyllic land [ The birds fly in the high sky, the land
is enormous and the wildflowers fragrant ].
Later, when I was a bit older, I love
the deep meaning of "The sky is above my head, but there are no evil
thoughts in my heart." The second stanza's definition is different from
the textbook stanzas that I usually come across. The simplicity and positivity
of life in the stanza: "I am happy to be warm in cloth, I do not mind the
wheat and rice coarseness".
The simplicity and positivity of life
also struck me: "I was happy to be warmed by cloth; I did not mind the
coarseness of wheat and rice". As a child, the teachers used to teach us
to be humble and respectful to people. Although it was rather abstract to a
child, we all know that we need to practice the excellent conduct. Despite its
profound meaning, I have never forgotten the lyrics.
In the 1930s, the Republic of China
was in political turmoil and under the Japanese invasion. Millions of peasants
could make ends meet from the beginning of the year to the end of the year,
having worked hard in silence all their lives.
Nurturing People with Poets
Zhao Zichen was one of China's most
outstanding theologians in the 20th century. They spent most of his life in the
field and wrote extensively. He was born in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province,
to a family of small businessmen. At the age of fifteen, he enrolled in Zuiying
College, a church school in Suzhou, influenced by Western education. He was
baptized as a Christian in 1907. He went to study in the United States in 1914,
where he majored in sociology and philosophy and received a master's degree in
sociology and a bachelor's degree in theology in 1916 and 1917. Upon his return
to China, he taught at Soochow University and Yanjing University, where he
taught Chinese and religious studies. Zhao Zichen was ordained as a priest in
Hong Kong by the Anglican Church. He was released after being imprisoned for
six months during the Japanese invasion of China. After the war, he resumed his
studies at Yen University. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology by
Princeton University in 1947. In November 1979, a few months after his release,
he died in Beijing after a long illness.
Zhao Zichen was an accomplished
Chinese writer and poet. Still, many of his poems were destroyed during the
Cultural Revolution in the last century. He advocated that the Chinese church
should be self-sufficient and self-supporting, and should not rely entirely on
the West, but should also have indigenous poetry. Zhao believes that there
should be several principles for poetry, for example:
·
The hymns must be specific so
that the congregation can sing them with one heart and one mouth.
·
They should be simple and
straightforward, easy to understand, suitable for young and old alike, and
appreciated by both the literati and the ordinary people.
·
It should be Chinese and blend
in with the Chinese people's everyday environment, particular the peasants.
·
It should be based on the
Bible, express a sincere religious experience, and praise God.
·
Each poem should be a sermon.
A Life from the Morning Song
Let's take a closer look at the Morning
Song's lyrics. We can find that it aimed at the ordinary people who did not
have the opportunity to receive formal education in those days. It showed
respect to hardships of the peasants. "Rising in the dawn, taking care of
the field, returning home with a hoe in the moonlight, the self-respect, the
self-reliance in a life of deprivation, and the wholehearted reliance on the
Heavenly Father. Zhao Zichen exemplifies these principles. So the Methodist
Church in the USA has included an English version of this song in its hymnbook.
The only hymn that the congregation sing whenever Chinese visitors come to their
church as a gesture of welcome.
Zhao Zichen might not know that during
the time of his suffering and imprisonment. On a small island off South China's
border. A group of poor children sang his hymn with one mouth every morning on
a small island off South China's edge. After many decades, one of those
children never forgot this song in all her moments of troubles and blessings.
It has shone throughout her whole life.
