巳经有快两年的时间，我没有触碰着神洲大地了。那是新冠疫情，将我与祖国，隔离开了。For almost two years, I have not stepped onto the motherland of China. It is indeed, the pandemic that had separated me from my motherland.
可是祖国却把许多的奖项，毫不间断地，发给了我，我这位第三代移民在海外的炎黄子孙。
However, China has given me numerous awards, continuously, to me, an overseas Chinese who has left my motherland three generations ago.
今天，是中华人民共和国第七十二届生日。我十分荣幸地在中国庆庆日获得经典对话艺术名家这个奖项。
与其说，这个奖项是祖国给于我的认可，不如说，这是祖国通过实际行动，鼓励着全球的华人。我们不只是同根同源，同语言同文化，我们也共辱同荣。
Today is the 72nd birthday anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. I am very honored to have received on this Chinese National Day, an award of Classical Exchange of Celebrity Artists. Instead of saying that this is an award of recognition from my motherland to me, I rather fathom this as an encouragement to all Chinese all over the world. We are not only bearing the same root and the same source, the same language and the same culture, we also suffer the same humiliation and enjoy the same honor.
在全球人类的与新冠的这场斗争里头，战争尚未结束，胜败尚未分清。可是，最节节领先举着锦旗的，便是祖国。
In our battle against the pandemic, the war is not over. The winners and losers are not final. But we can see that my motherland China is ahead of the race.
那是因为在我们中华血液里头，清楚明白：同心比竞争重要，大我比小我权重，责任比利益优先。
我的祖上从中国大陸漂泊至南洋。我出生在马来西亚。37年前我到了新加坡，去年正式成为新加坡公民。我与大部分的中国人民有着稍微不同的政治背景与社会洗礼。可是我却与海内外的华人一起，共享着同样的祖先，同样的历史，和同样的语言。
That’s because we are clear in our Chinese blood: to be united is more important than to compete, and that the team is more important than individuals, and duty is higher than rights.
My ancestors left our motherland three generations ago to Southeast Asia. I was born in Malaysia, and 37 years ago, I came to Singapore. Last year, I was given the citizenship of Singapore.
As compared to most Chinese, I underwent a slightly different political background and baptism of social education.
However, I share with most Chinese, the same ancestors, the same history, and the same language.
在新冠病毒侵袭人类之前，我在新加坡、泰国、欧洲的荷兰及西班牙的巴塞罗那，办过个人画展。而且，还筹备了在柬埔寨吴哥窟、法国、英国、美国办画展。可惜，因为疫情的原因，这些画展都延误了。
Before the pandemic attacked the human race, I had my art exhibitions in Singapore, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Spain. I was planning for my exhibitions in Cambodia's Angkor Wat, France, England and America. But because of the pandemic, all these are delayed.
可是在去年，疫情尚盛之时，我却受邀在万里长城展出我的风水画与风水书法。我怀着感恩的心，在全世界最古老最伟大的长城上，展示了我的作品。
However, last year, when pandemic was at its fiercest tide, I was invited to the Great Wall of China to exhibit my Feng Shui paintings and my Feng Shui calligraphies. I displayed my art with a heart of gratitude on the oldest and greatest Great Wall of China.
从一个艺术家的角度来看，令我感到费解的是，许许多多以艺术文化自诩的国家，在面对病毒的挑战之时，没有停止了游行与抗议，也没有停止了政治上的你争我夺，却停止了对艺术文化的推广及传承。
From an artist’s point of view, I find it quite puzzling. The many, many countries who acclaimed themselves as lovers and patrons of art, in the face of the adversity of the pandemic, have not stopped protests and strikes, have not stopped political struggles and conflicts, but have stopped in their promoting and supporting of art and culture.
反观我们的祖国中国，推广与传承艺术文化的脚步，却没有因为疫情而怯懦不前。
And when I looked at my motherland China, her footsteps to support and promote art and culture, have never stopped, with or without the pandemic.
在我的长城的画展上，有一位八十多岁的老将军，双手由年靑人搀扶着，与其它六十多岁七十多岁的老干部，一行人，徒步上长城，支持我的画展。
At my art exhibition on the Great Wall of China, there was an old General of eighty over years old. He was helped by two young men, and with a few other teammates of sixties, seventies years old, walked up to the Great Wall to support my art.
由于我不是中国公民，疫情期间，无法亲自飞往神洲大陸参与自己的画展。可是当我看着我的中国合伙人发来的视频与照片时，热泪盈眶！
Because I am not a Chinese citizen, I could not fly into China during the pandemic. But when I received the videos and photographs sent by my Chinese partner from the Great Wall, tears filled my eyes.
令我激动的，是这位老将军及老干部们，与我素末平生，却不辞辛劳，像年青人一样，登长城，参与画展，支持文化，推广艺术。
I was moved. This old General has never met me before. But despite physical infirmity, was like a cheerful young man, climbed up the Great Wall, participated the exhibition, supported the culture and promoted the art.
令我更感动的是，中国这个五千多岁的壮龙，没有轻视我这个离乡三代的游子，也没有懼怕于疫情的凶猛来袭；而热情地支持我这个艺术家；实实在在地推广传承艺术。
And I am even more moved. That my motherland China, a great dragon of five thousands over years as a magnificent civilization, has not looked down on a son who has left her bosom for three generations, and has no fear of the challenges of the pandemic, to recognize me as an artist with the warmest hospitality, and to promote art in truest actions.
言有尽而意无穷。
The words shall cease but the spirit never.
在中国七十二岁生日里，祝福祖国：
On this day, the seventy-second birthday of the People’s Republic of China, I wish my motherland:
青春永盛
万寿无疆！
Everlasting youthfulness!
Long live forever!
-- 云龙子大师 Master Yun Long Zi
1st October 2021
