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Yang (surname)
Encyclopedia
Yang is the transcription
of the Chinese family name 楊 / 杨. It is the sixth most common surname in Mainland China
.
. The character is composed of a "wood" radical on the left and the character yang (昜) on the right, which indicates the pronunciation of the whole character.
Yang can also be the phonetic translation of other Chinese surnames, including 阳, the Chinese character for the Sun, and a very rare Chinese family name 羊, the Chinese character for Goat or Sheep.
Some branches of the Yang clan (in particular the Hongnong branch) refer to themselves as "Yang of the Hall of Four Knows". The "Hall of Four Knows" refers to a story concerning Yang Zhen, an official of the Eastern Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), known for his erudition as well as moral character. When a man named Wang Mi visited Yang Zhen at night and attempted to bribe him 10 catties
of gold, Yang rejected the gift. Wang Mi persevered, saying that nobody would know. Yang Zhen famously retorted "the Heaven knows, the Earth knows, I know and you know". Descendents of Yang Zhen adopted the "four knows", or "Si Zhi" as the title of their clan hall. Some Yang family clan halls in various parts of China still carry this name.
Transcription (linguistics)
Transcription in the linguistic sense is the systematic representation of language in written form. The source can either be utterances or preexisting text in another writing system, although some linguists only consider the former as transcription.Transcription should not be confused with...
of the Chinese family name 楊 / 杨. It is the sixth most common surname in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
.
Characters
Yang is most often the transliteration of the character 楊 (in simplified Chinese: 杨). The same character can also mean a type of poplarPopulus tremula
Populus tremula, commonly called aspen, common aspen, Eurasian aspen, European aspen, trembling poplar, or quaking aspen, is a species of poplar native to cool temperate regions of Europe and Asia, from the British Isles east to Kamchatka, north to inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and...
. The character is composed of a "wood" radical on the left and the character yang (昜) on the right, which indicates the pronunciation of the whole character.
Yang can also be the phonetic translation of other Chinese surnames, including 阳, the Chinese character for the Sun, and a very rare Chinese family name 羊, the Chinese character for Goat or Sheep.
Origins
Four origins are recorded for the surname Yang (楊):- Out of the JiJi (surname)姬=Ji is the family name of the family in control of the Zhou Dynasty , which followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China.Thirty-nine members of the family ruled over China during this period.Ji has...
(姬) surname, the surname of the royal family during the Zhou dynastyZhou DynastyThe Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
. A fifth generation descendant of Duke Wu of Jin was enfeoffed at a place called Yang, and his descendants adopted this as their surname, giving rise to the surname Yang. - Translation of surnames used by other ethnic groups in ancient China. For example, the Di peopleDi (ethnic group)The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
used the surname Yang. The Yang clan of the Di people lived in Chouchi in GansuGansu' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
. - Homogenisation of another surname pronounced Yang (揚), written with a "hand" radical rather than the "wood" radical. The two characters were used interchangeably in ancient times.
- Other adoptions. For example, the Mohulu clan of the Northern WeiNorthern WeiThe Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
dynasty changed their surname to "Yang".
The "Four Knows"
Catty
The catty , symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is of a catty. A stone is a...
of gold, Yang rejected the gift. Wang Mi persevered, saying that nobody would know. Yang Zhen famously retorted "the Heaven knows, the Earth knows, I know and you know". Descendents of Yang Zhen adopted the "four knows", or "Si Zhi" as the title of their clan hall. Some Yang family clan halls in various parts of China still carry this name.
Other variations of the Yang surname (e.g. alternative regional pronunciations)
- Yahng
- Yeo (Hokkien, Singapore)
- Eyu (Hokkien/Cantonese, notably Fujian or Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) (very rare) - Yeung (Cantonese, notably Hong Kong)
- Yeung (Hakka, in Mauritius)
- Yio (Hokkien)
- Yong (Hakka)
- YoungYoung (surname)Young is a surname originating in England and Scotland . Derived from the Old English word geong, meaning "young," the Young surname was used as a descriptive name to distinguish father from son or to the younger of two relatives. Young can also be a Korean surname and Chinese surname...
- Yeong
- YeohYeohYeoh is the transliteration of the Hokkien surname which shares the same Chinese character as the Mandarin surname Yang. See the Yang entry for the history of the name.Famous people with the surname "Yeoh" include:* Michelle Yeoh* Francis Yeoh...
(Hokkien, Malaysian, teochew, notably Penang) - Eav
- Eaw
- Njo ( Indonesia spelling derived from old Dutch pronunciation )
- Ieong (Cantonese, notably Macau - Portuguese pronunciation)
- Dương (Vietnamese)
- Jong
- Yaaj (in the Green HmongHmong languageHmong or Mong is the common name for a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmong–Mien/Miao–Yao language family spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos...
dialect) - Yaj (in the White Hmong dialect)
- Ngeo (Hokkien, Peranakan pronunciation)
- Yoo/Yu (from Philippines)
- Duong (Vietnam)
Notable people with family name Yang
- Yang Yoseob, main vocal of South Korean group B2ST.
- Du Wenxiu (original name was Yang before name change), Chinese Muslim rebel leader
- Yang Zhu, philosopher 440 – 360 BC associated with an ethical EgoismEthical egoismEthical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest. Ethical egoism also differs from rational egoism, which holds merely that it is...
- Yang Zhen, Minister of War in China circa 122 A.D, known as Confucius of Western China
- Yang HuYang HuNot to be confused with Yang Hu :zh:阳虎/陽虎, the Spring and Autumn retainer-usurper in the state of Lu.Yang Hu , style name Shuzi , was a military general during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history...
, general of the Three Kingdoms era - Yang JianYang JianYang Jian is the name of:*Erlang Shen, the mythological Chinese God*Emperor Wen of Sui , founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty* Yang Jian , Emperor Wen's grandson...
, first emperor of the Sui DynastySui DynastyThe Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
(581-618) - Chen-Ning Yang, physicist and a Nobel medalistNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
- Yang GuifeiYang GuifeiConsort Yang Yuhuan , often known as Yáng Guìfēi , known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen , was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China...
, famous emperor's consort in Tang dynastyTang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire... - Yang GuozhongYang GuozhongYang Guozhong , né Yang Zhao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
, politician and Yang GuifeiYang GuifeiConsort Yang Yuhuan , often known as Yáng Guìfēi , known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen , was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China...
's brother - Howard YoungHoward YoungHoward Young How Wah was the member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and the member of Southern District Council. He is the member of Liberal Party...
, member of the Legislative Council of Hong KongLegislative Council of Hong KongThe Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule... - Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!Yahoo!Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
- Yang JiangYang JiangYang Jiang , born Yang Jikang , is a Chinese playwright, author, and translator. She has written several successful comedies, and was the first Chinese person to produce a complete Chinese version of Don Quixote from the Spanish original.-Biography:Yang Jiang was graduated from The University Of...
, noted translator and playwright, widow of Qian ZhongshuQian ZhongshuQian Zhongshu was a Chinese literary scholar and writer, known for his wit and erudition.He is best known for his satiric novel Fortress Besieged . His works of non-fiction are characterised by their large amount of quotations in both Chinese and Western languages... - Yang KaihuiYang KaihuiYáng Kāihuì , who was the second wife of Mao Zedong from 1920 to 1930, was born in a small village named Bancang, in Changsha, Hunan Province, on November 6, 1901. She had three children with Mao Zedong, named Mao Anying, Mao Anqing, and Mao Anlong...
, wife of Mao ZedongMao ZedongMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution... - Xiangzhong YangXiangzhong YangProfessor Xiangzhong "Jerry" Yang was a leading American biotechnology scientist, and stem cell research advocate...
- world animal cloning leader, University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually... - Yeung Kai YinYeung Kai YinYeung Kai Yin CBE JP was Secretary for Education and Manpower, Secretary for Transport and Secretary for the Treasury of Hong Kong. He joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer at 1962 and retired at 1993. At 1996, he served as chairman and chief executive of Kowloon-Canton...
, former official of the Hong Kong Government, and former chairman and CEO of Kowloon-Canton Railway CorporationKowloon-Canton Railway CorporationThe Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways... - Yáng LìwěiYang LiweiYáng Lìwěi is a Chinese major general and military pilot and a CNSA astronaut. He was the first man sent into space by the Chinese space program and his mission, Shenzhou 5, made China the third country to independently send people into space.-Background:...
, PRC astronaut - Yeung Wing Yi, noted stock broker from Hong Kong
- Yang Lu-ch'anYang Lu-ch'anYang Lu-ch'an or Yang Luchan, ; also known as Yang Fu-k'ui , born in Kuang-p'ing , was an influential teacher of the soft style martial art t'ai chi ch'uan in China during the second half of the 19th century...
(楊露禪, 1799–1872), whose family became the most well-known exponents of the Chinese martial artChinese martial artsChinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
known as T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The most famous member of this family is his grandson, Yang Ch'eng-fu (楊澄甫, 1883–1936) - Miriam YeungMiriam YeungMiriam Yeung, RN, is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. Before entering the entertainment business, she was a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. She studied at the Holy Family Canossian College Kowloon...
, singer and actress - Yang ShangkunYang ShangkunYang Shangkun was President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993, and was permanent Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission...
, PRCPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
politician - Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of ChinaForeign Minister of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and one of the country's most important cabinet posts...
2007-(incumbent) - Xuefei Yang, classical guitarist
- Yeung SumYeung SumYeung Sum SBS JP is the second Chairman of the Democratic Party , a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer in the University of Hong Kong. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.-Biography:...
, member of the Legislative Council of Hong KongLegislative Council of Hong KongThe Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule... - Sir Ti Liang Yang, former Chief Justice of Hong Kong, the first ethnic-Chinese to the position
- Yong Pung HowYong Pung HowYong Pung How, DUT . He was the former Chief Justice of Singapore, serving from 1990 to 2006. Prior to his judicial career, he was a lawyer, banker and senior government official...
, former Chief Justice of Singapore - Yang XianyiYang XianyiYang Xianyi was a Chinese translator, known for rendering many ancient and a few modern Chinese classics into English, including Dream of the Red Chamber....
, noted translator - Yen-Yi Yang, victim of murder by Stanley WilliamsStanley WilliamsStanley Tookie Williams III was the co-founder of the Crips, a notorious American street gang which had its roots in South Central Los Angeles in 1969. In 1979 he was convicted of four murders committed in the course of robberies, sentenced to death, and eventually executed...
- George YeoGeorge YeoGeorge Yeo Yong-Boon is a former politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served in the Cabinet from 1991 to 2011 as the Minister for Information and the Arts , Minister for Health , Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Foreign Affairs...
, Minister of Foreign Affairs for SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... - Michelle YeohMichelle YeohMichelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
, famous international actress from Malaysia - Yeoh Tiong LayYeoh Tiong LayTan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Yeoh Tiong Lay is a Malaysian business tycoon and a prominent philanthropist. He founded YTL Corporation, Malaysia's biggest and most successful conglomerate with interests in construction, utilities, hotels, property development and technology...
, business man, founder of YTL Corporation BerhadYTL Corporation BerhadYTL Corporation Berhad is Malaysia's leading integrated infrastructure conglomerates founded by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Yeoh Tiong Lay, after whom the group is named... - Francis YeohFrancis YeohTan Sri Dato' Francis Yeoh Sock PingCBE is a prominent business personality in Malaysia, and the eldest son of Malaysian billionaire Tan Sri Dato' Seri Yeoh Tiong Lay...
Chairman of YTL Corporation BerhadYTL Corporation BerhadYTL Corporation Berhad is Malaysia's leading integrated infrastructure conglomerates founded by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Yeoh Tiong Lay, after whom the group is named... - Ken YeangKen YeangDr. Ken Yeang [Chinese]: 杨经文/楊經文; [pinyin]: Yáng Jīngwén; born 1948) is a prolific Malaysian architect and writer best known for advancing green design and planning, differentiated from other green architects by his comprehensive ecological approach....
renowned architect and author - Yang Yang (painter)Yang Yang (painter)Yang Yang is a Chinese-born American contemporary artist and sculptor. He creates figurative paintings and sculptures of unconventional forms...
, contemporary artist - Yang Yang- badminton player(China)
- Yang Yang (A)Yang Yang (A)Yang Yang is a former Chinese short track speed skater and current IOC member. She is a two-time Olympic Champion from 2002 Winter Olympics and a five-time Overall World Champion for 1998-2002. She was formerly a member of the Chinese national short track team...
, speed skater - Yang Yang (S)Yang Yang (S)Yang Yang is a Chinese Olympic speed skater.Yang Yang competed as a short track speed skater for the Chinese national team at the 1994 Winter Olympics, the 1998 Winter Olympics, and the 2002 Winter Olympics. By coincidence, she had a contemporary on the Chinese short track team also named Yang Yang...
, speed skater - Shirley YeungShirley YeungShirley Yeung Sze-Ki, born 7 August 1978, is a Hong Kong actress under contract to the TVB television channel....
, winner of 2001 Miss Hong Kong, TVB actress. - Rainie YangRainie YangRainie Yang , born June 4th, 1984, is a Taiwanese singer, Golden Bell Awards actress and talk show host.-Career:Yang began her career in 2000, as a member of Taiwanese quartet girl group 4 in Love, where she was given the stage name of Rainie, matching the weather theme of each member. The group's...
, Taiwanese singer and actress - Yeo Ning HongYeo Ning HongDr Yeo Ning Hong is a former People's Action Party politician from Singapore, who served as a Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament in the 1980s and 1990s. His ministerial appointments included Minister for Defence and Minister for Communications and Information.A chemist by training, Yeo is...
, Former minister of Singapore - Yang Erche NamuYang Erche NamuYang Erche Namu is a Chinese writer and singer of Mosuo ethnicity.-Early life:Yang Erche Namu was born in a small village near Lugu Lake, in northern Yunnan province, but left at age thirteen; after arriving in neighbouring Yanyuan County, she joined a singing troupe and won a scholarship to study...
, ethnic Mosuo writer - Tavia YeungTavia YeungTavia Yeung Yi is a Hong Kong actress under Hong Kong's Television Broadcast Limited or TVB. She has starred in numerous popular Hong Kong television series such as Vigilante Force, Twin of Brothers, Dicey Business, Heart of Greed, Moonlight Resonance and Beyond the Realm of Conscience.- Career...
, TVB actress. - Yuwen Yang, concubine of ZhenjinZhenjinZhenjin was the second son of Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty. He was designated as the Crown Prince by Kublai Khan in 1273, and became the head of Zhongshusheng .The North Chinese Buddhist monk Haiyun gave him the name, Zhenjin , when he was born in 1243...
during the Yuan DynastyYuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
whose ruthlessness has often been compared with Empress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
. - Vivien YeoVivien YeoVivien Yeo , born 20 July 1984 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia is a Malaysian born Chinese actress currently under contract to the TVB in Hong Kong.-TV series:-Film:-Awards:...
, TVB actress. - Yong Pung HowYong Pung HowYong Pung How, DUT . He was the former Chief Justice of Singapore, serving from 1990 to 2006. Prior to his judicial career, he was a lawyer, banker and senior government official...
Second Chief Justice, Singapore, 1990–2006 - Yang YilinYang YilinYang Yilin is a Chinese gymnast. She is the 2008 Olympic all-around bronze medalist and a member of the gold medal winning Chinese Olympics gymnastics team. Yang was also the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist on the uneven bars.-Gymnastic career:...
, a Chinese gymnast - Yang JianliYang JianliYang Jianli is a Chinese dissident with United States residency.Yang, a Tiananmen Square activist in 1989, came to the United States, earned two Ph.D.s , and then founded the Foundation for China in the 21st Century...
, a Chinese dissident with U.S. residency - Yang Han Ning, A famous architect.
- Dong Yi YangDong Yi YangYang Dongi , often anglicised to Dongi Yang or Dong-Yi Yang, is a South Korean mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Yang mostly fought in Asia before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship-Early career:Yang began his...
(born 1984), South Korean mixed martial arts fighter - Yong Mun SenYong Mun SenYong Mun Sen . Born Yong Yen Lang in Kuching, Sarawak. He changed his name to Yong Mun Sen in 1922.He is widely known as the Father of Malaysian Painting...
,b 1896 - d 1962, Malaysian pioneer artist, known as Father of Malaysian Painting. - Yang Seungho, member of South Korean group MBLAQMBLAQMBLAQ is a South Korean quintet boy band created by Korean entertainer Rain under J.Tune Camp. The group consists of Seung Ho , G.O , Joon , Cheondoong/Thunder , and Mir...
. - Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen, chief Justice, Mauritius 2007-actual.
- Henry T. YangHenry T. YangHenry Tzu-Yow Yang was named the fifth chancellor of the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1994. He was formerly the Neil A. Armstrong Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, where he also served as the dean of engineering for ten years...
, chancellor of University of California, Santa BarbaraUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraThe University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los... - Sao Edward Yang Kyein TsaiSao Edward Yang Kyein TsaiSao Edward Yang Kyein Tsai , Saopha of Kokang was the traditional ruler of the Burmese state of Kokang from 1949, at the death of his father, saopha Sao Yang Wen Pin, until he abdicated in 1959.-External links:*...
(杨振材), last reigning prince of KokangKokangKokang , formally the First Special Region, is a self-administrative region of Burma . It is located in the northern part of Shan State, with the Salween River to its west, and it shares a border with China's Yunnan Province in the east. Its total land area is around . The capital is Laukkai...
in MyanmarMyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. His family ruled KokangKokangKokang , formally the First Special Region, is a self-administrative region of Burma . It is located in the northern part of Shan State, with the Salween River to its west, and it shares a border with China's Yunnan Province in the east. Its total land area is around . The capital is Laukkai...
from 1739 - 1959.