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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,262 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
Okay. This is my first contest. After winning my first contest I became inspired to hold one of my own.. I think I finally figured one out. One where I can learn something and then reward someone for sharing that knowledge. I've had this little brass thing for a while and have never been able to get the writing interperted. Image:  IMG_contest.jpg77.61 KBThe first to figure this out will get a medallion depicting Churchill. I just had it with me but I've miss placed it for the moment or else I would have given more info on this. It's a 1965 Elizabeth II Regina F.D. Churchill Commemorative. Good luck to all. Edited by thingee
10/09/2006 4:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1152 Posts |
It looks like it is definitely chinese... The first character is "nian" I think that means "year". The one on the far right is "da" (I think), an means "big". And the last one looks something like the word for rat, or mouse. If I'm not mistaken it is some sort of chinese zodiac medallion.
Andrew
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2177 Posts |
This writing is stamped under what I believe is a brass incense burner. In the pic you can see CHINA has been scrathched on. Accuracy of this translation is a must.  Edited by thingee
10/09/2006 6:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
"Coin from the Ming Dynasty" Roughly translated, that's what the coin means if it is Chinese.
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
The characters individually mean:
top left: nian - year
top middle: xuan - imperial hall/announce/proclaim
top right: da - big
bottom left: zhi - make/produce/manufacture
bottom middle: de - virtue/moral
bottom right: ming - bright, also the name of a Chinese Dynasty. However, only means dynasty when in conjuction with the character "dai". So I guess it could mean anything like "the great proclamation year produces bright virtue!". Or something totally different... haha. Oh yes, it should be reading from right to left in typical Chinese fashion. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
590 Posts |
We may have a winner here.  Edited by Dewayne76
10/09/2006 10:14 pm
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
could it mean the year of the rat  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by ldarrell
could it mean the year of the rat
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
i don't see a character for rat on there....
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1152 Posts |
ya that was me using my 3 years of mandarin... They did'nt really pay off on that one did they?
Andrew
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by yavaris
The characters individually mean:
top left: nian - year
top middle: xuan - imperial hall/announce/proclaim
top right: da - big
bottom left: zhi - make/produce/manufacture
bottom middle: de - virtue/moral
bottom right: ming - bright, also the name of a Chinese Dynasty. However, only means dynasty when in conjuction with the character "dai". So I guess it could mean anything like "the great proclamation year produces bright virtue!". Or something totally different... haha. Oh yes, it should be reading from right to left in typical Chinese fashion. :)
Yvaris, how can you be so certain of this? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1152 Posts |
probably speaks some chinese, or lots of it.
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by thingee
quote:
Originally posted by yavaris
The characters individually mean:
top left: nian - year
top middle: xuan - imperial hall/announce/proclaim
top right: da - big
bottom left: zhi - make/produce/manufacture
bottom middle: de - virtue/moral
bottom right: ming - bright, also the name of a Chinese Dynasty. However, only means dynasty when in conjuction with the character "dai". So I guess it could mean anything like "the great proclamation year produces bright virtue!". Or something totally different... haha. Oh yes, it should be reading from right to left in typical Chinese fashion. :)
Yvaris, how can you be so certain of this?
I've studied mandarin for some time, so I know some of the chars. I also know how to look up chinese chars based on their radicals, so that's what I did with the rest of the chars that I didn't know. https://www.zhongwen.com has an online dictionary that allows you to look up the chinese meaning of words if you know what radical what word has and the stroke count of the word. |
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Valued Member
United States
363 Posts |
Hi, just noticed this contest. I showed this image by email to a native of The People's Republic of China, and this is her translation:
That means year of made,
If you want to read should from top of right go down
call "Da Ming " is Ming dyanasty in Chinese history.
(1368-1644),
Then go to center from top go down call "Xuan Dei" is
name of the year from 1426 to 1435. that nine years
King 's name call " Ming Xuan Zong".
Then go lleft from top go down call" Nian Zhi", Nian
mean year, Zhi mean made.
I hope that help you.
She is not a native speaker of English, but it seems like a pretty straightforward explanation. So, Thingee has to decide who won! (I'm not entering this contest, just thought I'd add this info!)
Dan
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by adobero1
Hi, just noticed this contest. I showed this image by email to a native of The People's Republic of China, and this is her translation:
That means year of made,
If you want to read should from top of right go down
call "Da Ming " is Ming dyanasty in Chinese history.
(1368-1644),
Then go to center from top go down call "Xuan Dei" is
name of the year from 1426 to 1435. that nine years
King 's name call " Ming Xuan Zong".
Then go lleft from top go down call" Nian Zhi", Nian
mean year, Zhi mean made.
I hope that help you.
She is not a native speaker of English, but it seems like a pretty straightforward explanation. So, Thingee has to decide who won! (I'm not entering this contest, just thought I'd add this info!)
Dan
So Yavaris YOU ARE THE WINNER!! Email me with your address and I will get the coin in the mail next week. Congratulations!! |
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Valued Member
United States
169 Posts |
Awesome! THanks for holding this contest :). Except I don't have fifty posts...so I can't email you, haha. Um... send me an email and I'll reply :).
Thanks again
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,262 |
Posted 10/09/2006 3:40 pm
IMG_contest.jpg
