Gong Jin'ou

Infobox Anthem
title = 鞏金甌
transcription = Gong Jin'ou
english_title = Cup of Solid Gold
prefix = National
country = flag|Qing Dynasty|name=Qing Dynasty China
author = Yan Fu
adopted = 1911
until = 1912

"Gong Jin'ou" (鞏金甌, lit. "Cup of Solid Gold") was the first official national anthem of China, though it was used only for a short time due to the Republic of China overthrowing the Qing Dynasty.

The song was composed by Bo Tong (溥侗), a high-ranking officer of the Imperial Guard. The lyrics, in Classical Chinese, were penned by Yan Fu, commander of the Qing Navy. Guo Cengxin (郭曾炘), Master of Ceremonies, made some minor adjustments and arranged the music. Gong Jin'ou was adopted by the Qing government on the 13th Day and 8th Month of the 3rd Year of the Xuantong Emperor's reign (October 4, 1911). However, only six days later was the Wuchang Uprising, which effectively led to the end of the Qing Dynasty with the declaration of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912 and the abdication of the emperor on February 12, 1912. As a result, the anthem never gained any notability. Since it praises the Qing dynasty specifically, it is also a Royal anthem.

Chinese lyrics

:鞏金甌，:承天幬，:民物欣鳧藻，:喜同袍，:清時幸遭。:真熙皞，:帝國蒼穹保。:天高高，:海滔滔。

Hanyu Pinyin

:Gǒng jīn'ōu:Chéng tiānchóu,:Mínwù xīn fúzǎo,:Xǐ tóngbāo,:Qīng shí xìngzāo.:Zhēn xī hào,:Dìguó cāngqióng bǎo.:Tiān gāogāo,:Hǎi tāotāo.

English translation

:Solidify our golden empire,:Underneath the aegis of heaven,:All of civilization will cease to toil,:United in happiness and mirth,:As long as the Qing rules.:Our empire is emblazoned by light,:And our boundaries are vast and preserved.:The expanse stretches infinitely,:The sea brims with turbulence.

External links

* [http://david.national-anthems.net/cn-12.htm MIDI audio file]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBTkINk5n4&mode=related&search= Rendition on YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb1sI2sErI8 Rendition on youtube without lyrics]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI7VBxMX2Kk Another rendition on youtube sounding more normal like, not the anthem type sound]

ee also

*Historical Chinese anthems
*Royal anthem