Chinese translation help cutlass length saber

josh stout · 16th February 2020, 11:23 PM

These are closeups from the cutlass length saber I posted. Please help with translation if possible. I think the characters give a reign mark, but unfortunately they were lacquered over, and are difficult to decipher. I will try and do a rubbing and see if that helps. It looks like the pommel was refit to tighten it up, probably when it was lacquered.

josh stout · 16th February 2020, 11:38 PM

So the second picture down with the black lacquer and the two characters says "Da Qing", (i.e. "The Great Qing"). The two characters in the picture above that should give the emperor's name. Could it be Tongzhi? The inlay work has me stumped.

Ren Ren · 17th February 2020, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh stout

The inlay work has me stumped.

Lower character is "zhou" 州 - prefecture, province, administrative division (in old China).

ariel · 17th February 2020, 06:05 AM

I am impressed.

Ren Ren · 17th February 2020, 01:56 PM

Decrypted the first character, that's what I got 邠州 Binzhou (the name of the county located in the western part of Shaanxi Province, in 1913 renamed Binxian County 邠县)

ariel · 17th February 2020, 06:17 PM

Impressed even more.

Ren Ren · 23rd February 2020, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh stout

So the second picture down with the black lacquer and the two characters says "Da Qing", (i.e. "The Great Qing"). The two characters in the picture above that should give the emperor's name. Could it be Tongzhi?

It looks like you were right.
大清道光卜 "Da Qing Dao Guang bu" - "The Great Qing Dynasty Emperor Tao Guang granted [this sword]" ("Dao Guang" reign period 1821-1850).

kronckew · 23rd February 2020, 12:31 PM

我不懂中文

(Wǒ bù dǒng zhōngwén)

Nice to have someone here who can.

Ren Ren · 23rd February 2020, 12:37 PM

谢谢! xièxie! Thank you!

josh stout · 23rd February 2020, 08:07 PM

Thank you all so much! A dated Chinese saber from a specific region is wonderful to find. I have been looking at it for years, and finally got around to posting it.

16th February 2020, 11:23 PM	#1
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Chinese translation help cutlass length saber These are closeups from the cutlass length saber I posted. Please help with translation if possible. I think the characters give a reign mark, but unfortunately they were lacquered over, and are difficult to decipher. I will try and do a rubbing and see if that helps. It looks like the pommel was refit to tighten it up, probably when it was lacquered. Attached Images

16th February 2020, 11:38 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	So the second picture down with the black lacquer and the two characters says "Da Qing", (i.e. "The Great Qing"). The two characters in the picture above that should give the emperor's name. Could it be Tongzhi? The inlay work has me stumped.

17th February 2020, 06:05 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am impressed.

17th February 2020, 01:56 PM	#5
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	Decrypted the first character, that's what I got 邠州 Binzhou (the name of the county located in the western part of Shaanxi Province, in 1913 renamed Binxian County 邠县)

17th February 2020, 06:17 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Impressed even more.

23rd February 2020, 12:31 PM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	我不懂中文 (Wǒ bù dǒng zhōngwén) Nice to have someone here who can.

23rd February 2020, 12:37 PM	#9
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	谢谢! xièxie! Thank you!

23rd February 2020, 08:07 PM	#10
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Thank you all so much! A dated Chinese saber from a specific region is wonderful to find. I have been looking at it for years, and finally got around to posting it.