Genealogy Tom Generational Poem Chart

Tom Genealogy

Tom Clan Generational Poem Reference Chart

With the arrival of Tom Fan Ett, as the first Tom and used as the 1st generation, in Guangdong province in early 900 AD, lineage charts show there were attempts to have common generational characters during the: 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 10th generations. In the 12th generation Tom Tian Lin was the first Tom to settle in White Water, Taishan and several Tom clan genealogy books used him as the 1st generation in Taishan. There seemed to be attempts to standardize on common generational characters during the four generations from 6 th thru 9th generation, after Tom Tian Lin. But, it was in the 10th generation ( circa early 1500 AD ) that the following generational poem was implemented. From what I know, it is my impression that this Tom clan generational poem was used throughout the Taishan district, however, the scope of applicability of this particular poem to theTom clan is yet to be determined.

Pak-Sui Tom Clan Generational Poem Reference Chart

Generation
Name

Traditional

Simplified

Pin Yin

Cantonese

Taishanese

English Translation

1

爾 ( 723E )

尔 ( 5C14 )

er3

yi5

gnee

you; that, those; final particle

2

昌 ( 660C )

昌

chang1

cheung1

cheung

sunlight, good, proper, prosperous

,

3

友 ( 53CB )

友

you3

yau5

you

friend, companion; fraternity

4

延 ( 5EF6 )

延

yan2

yin4

hen

delay, postpone, defer

5

嗣 ( 55E3 )

嗣

si4

chi4

sluoo

to connect,inherit, descendants, heirs

6

捷 ( 6377 )

捷

jie2, qie4

jit6

depth

win, victory, triumph; swift, quick;

7

開 ( 958B )

开 ( 5F00 )

kai1

hoi1

hoi

open; initiate, begin, start

8

文 ( 6587 )

文

wen2,wen4

man4

mun

literature, culture, writing

9

裔 ( 88D4 )

裔

yi4

yik1

yui

progeny, descendants,posterity

10

光 ( 5149 )

光

guang1

gwong1

gong

light, brilliant, shine; only

11

宗 ( 5B97 )

宗

zong1

jung1

doong

lineage, ancestry; ancestor,clan

12

傳 ( 50B3 )

传 ( 4F20 )

chuan2

zhuan4

chyun4

choon

summon; propagate, transmit

13

世 ( 4E16 )

世

shi4

sai3

sai

generation; world; era

14

澤 ( 6FA4 )

泽 ( 6CFD )

ze2

jaak6

jock

marsh, swamp; grace, brilliance

15

遠 ( 9060 )

远 ( 8FDC )

yuan3

yuan4

yun5

yourn

distant, remote, far; profound

16

晉 ( 6649 )

晋 ( 664B )

jin4

jeun3

poo

advance, increase; promote

17

本 ( 672C )

本

ben3

bun2

bon

root, origin, source; basis

18

立 ( 7ACB )

立

li4, wei4

laap6

lip

stand; let stand; establish, set

19

道 ( 9053 )

道

dao4, dao3

dou6

ao

path, road, street; method, way

20

隆 ( 9686 )

隆

long2,long1

lung4

loong

prosperous, plentiful, abundant

21

積 ( 7A4D )

积 ( 79EF )

ji1

jik1

debt

accumulate, store up, amass

22

善 ( 5584 )

善

shan4

sin6

shen

good, virtuous, charitable, kind

23

家 ( 5BB6 )

家

jia1,jie5,

gu1

ga1

gar

house, home, residence; family

24

國 ( 570B )

国 ( 56FD )

guo2

gwo3

gork

nation, country, nation-state

25

重 ( 91CD )

重

zhong4

chong2

tong2

chung4

chung5

jung6

choung

heavy, weighty; double

26

學 ( 5B78 )

学 ( 5B66 )

xue2

hok6

hock

learning, knowledge; school

27

業 ( 696D )

业 ( 4E1A )

ye4

yip6

gnep

profession, business, trade

28

廣 ( 5EE3 )

广 ( 5E7F )

guang3

gwong2

gung

broad, wide, extensive

29

成 ( 6210 )

成

cheng2

sing4

sheng

completed, finished, fixed

30

芳 ( 82B3 )

芳

fang1

fong1

fong

fragrant; virtuous; beautiful

Unicode values are in parentheses and a modified form of the Yale Cantonese romanization is used. Taishanese pronunciation is courtesy of my 86 year old mom. Compiled by Yongping Zhao and Henry Tom, contributions by Jon Kehrer, final revisions by Henry Tom January 23, 2006

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