Zion

Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן‎ Ṣiyyôn), also transliterated Sion, Sayon, Syon, Tzion or Tsion, is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in 2 Samuel 5:7 which dates from c.630–540 BCE according to modern scholarship. It commonly referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was named the City of David. The term Tzion came to designate the area of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and later became a metonym for Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, the city of Jerusalem and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of the hereafter.

In Kabbalah the more esoteric reference is made to Tzion being the spiritual point from which reality emerges, located in the Holy of Holies of the First, Second and Third Temple.

Etymology

The etymology of the word Zion (ṣiyôn) is uncertain. Mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 5:7) as the name of the Jebusite fortress conquered by King David, its origin likely predates the Israelites. If Semitic, it may be derived from the Hebrew root ṣiyyôn ("castle") or the Hebrew ṣiyya ("dry land," Jeremiah 51:43). A non-Semitic relationship to the Hurrian word šeya ("river" or "brook") has also been suggested.

Khalil Fong

Khalil Fong Tai Tung (Chinese: 方大同) (born 14 July 1983) is an American-born Hong Kong singer and songwriter signed to Gold Typhoon.

Biography

Fong was born in Hawaii and moved with his family to Shanghai when he was 6. His father, Les Fong (an American-born Chinese from San Francisco, California), wanted Khalil to learn more about Chinese culture. Six years later, they moved to Guangzhou and lived there for about 2 years. Afterwards, they moved to Hong Kong. For that same reason, although his musical career started and is based in Hong Kong, he never wrote songs in Cantonese as it is only his fourth language. (English, English of Hawaiian Aboriginal variation, Mandarin, Cantonese & Shanghainese)

Khalil is self-taught on the guitar and piano, beginning from the ages of 15 and 18 respectively. It was also around this time that he started writing songs and sending demos to music producers. Warner Music Hong Kong finally recruited him as a producer. Khalil is Baha'i.

Musical influences