My father Zeng Kee Tong (or Zeng Ji Tang but known as Chan Kee Tong whose photo is on the right below. Click on it for some family recollections ) who had been a school headmaster for nearly 30 year in China salvaged the collection of poems while in Hong Kong by writing back home to Hui An during the 50s and early 60s. Some of father's cousins and nephews worked hard to help, in particular Zeng Ji Chen should be credited for his coordinating work in salvaging the family poems, which would otherwise be forever lost! Even so, unfortunately due to continuous turmoil and neglect caused by internal revolutions, foreign invasions and world wars of the last two centuries, which covered the span of about 8 to 9 generations, a great deal of past poetical works in the family extending to ten generations has already been lost. This surviving collection of literally art consists of 704 poems by 18 family poets straddling over 7 consecutive generations without a gap. This unbroken family tree of poets has been said to be an unique record in history.

The great artist Mr. Zhang Dah Chien happened to be a close friend of my father. Mr. Zhang wrote this cover page for father's family poetical book.

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On the left above is my father's hands writing for the title of the book  , which means "The collection of poems by seven consecutive generations of the Zeng family in the city of Hui An". Meanwhile 42 of father's contemporary scholars have paid tribute and written commendations for the rare family achievement. Amongst the writings I like most is the one on the right above by the well known and talented Mr. Yik Zuen Zo.whose rhymes depict that father's efforts in publishing the family poetry is a commendable great filial deed that makes it possible for the family achievement to be remembered in the tales of human niceties. In referring to the seven consecutive generations of poets Mr. Yik remarks that even if it were not to be the very last and unbreakable record for times to come, it has at least stood alone already in the past.... Many other writers of commentaries are of generally similar opinions, while one of the three writers of "Introduction" for father's family poetical book Mr. Zeng Kerk Duan reports in the following pages that in China some known family poetry collections are efforts of three generations up to five generations at the most. Mr. Zeng has recorded one other family, also in the Zeng's clan of the Sichan Province, that claimed to have a collection of poetry belonging to five generations. Most well wishing scholars who gave their views on the book are invariably astonished by the display of one single family producing seven consecutive generations of poets.....  

This is our clansman Zeng Kerk Duan's hand-script for the title of the family poetical book and the following 2 pages are his 'Introduction' for the book.   

The following list displays the family tree of poets in my father's book titled , which literally translates as "Collection of Poems by Seven Consecutive Generations of Poets from the Zeng family of Hui An". The names and brief details are given at the end of page.

These names of ancestral poets read from top-right to top-left and downwards, the tree is based on my father's position in the family.

1) Father's Great-great-great Grand Father Zeng Shang Ting (164 poems) - (Starting generation poet).

2) Father's Great-great Grand Uncle Zeng Yan Qin(Zeng Shang Ting's first son, 116 poems) - (2nd generation poet) .

3) Father's Great-great Grand Father Zeng Yan Yu (Zeng Shang Ting's third son, 181 poems) - (2nd generation poet).

4) Father's Great Grand Father Zeng Shing Hai (Zeng Yan Yu's second son, 66 poems) - .(3rd Generation poet) 

5) Father's Grand Father Zeng Yu Zhuan (Zeng Shing Hai's first son, 35 poems) - ( 4th generation poet ).

6) Father's Grand Mother Xu Hui Yuan (Zeng Yu Zhuan's Wife, only 2 poems remain) - ( 4th generation poet).

7) Father's Uncle Zeng Chuan Xi (unfortunately only one poem remains) - (5th generation poet)..

8) Father's Uncle Zeng Chuan Lie (unfortunately only 2 poems still remain) - (5th generation poet)

9) Father's Uncle Zeng Chuan Sau ( unfortunately only one poem remains) - (5th generation poet).

10) Father's Uncle Zeng Chuan Shen (Only 4 poems remain) - (5th generation poet).

11) My own Grand Father Zeng Chuan Xun (Only 9 poems remain) - (5th generation poet). Grand Pa was the Officer of Ying and Yang of the Ching Dynasty, whose duty was taking charge of temples and all religious affairs in town).

12) Father's cousin  Zeng Ji Fang (Only one poem remains) - (6th generation poet).

13) Father's cousin Zeng Ji Jun (12 poem) - (6th generation poet)..

14) Father's cousin Zeng Ji Yuan (32 poems) - (6th generation poet)

15) Father's cousin Zeng Ji Rong (4 poems included) - (6th generation poet).

16) Father's cousin Zeng Ji Chen (37 poems included) - (6th generation poet)..

17) My Father Zeng Ji Tang (alias Zeng Kee Tong but known as Chan Kee Tong, 33 poems included) - (.6th generation poet)

18) Father's Nephew Zeng Guang Zhen (son of Zeng Ji Jun ,  40 poems included) - (7th generation poet).

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Total 18 poets through 7 straight generations and 704 selected poems published.     

I now present following two more publications of poetry, on the left below by my father, and on the right below by my uncle Kee In. Please click on pictures to read their stories. 

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