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I have hit upon some doubts about apparent simplified characters on the base of a miniature brush pot (3.25 inches high), photos of which are shown herein.

My inclination is first to read across the two left and right characters in the top line in that order and context as "Bright prospects of rising through the ranks" (旭升 - Xu sheng). Second, I believe the middle line of four characters is read down idiomatically as "Both emoluments and long life" (禄寿双全 - Lu shou shuang quan).

I'm not entirely certain of the Lu/禄/emoluments character, which is written something like Fu/福/good fortune, which also is found often in this idiomatic form. Comments welcome from all, especially, I.Nagy, on this and other points.

The presence of the simplified characters might suggest to some that this is a PRC-era brush pot, but I'm inclined to see these hand-etched characters as probably having been written after 1949 by the gift-giver of a brush pot made in the late-Qing or Republic period to encourage academic excellence by a deserving student.

Thanks much,

Bill H.

Right and left,
旭升　-　Brillance of rising sun (Rising bright prospects)
Middle vertical,
福寿双全　-　Happiness and longevity are both complet

Most probably the inscription was written after the writing reform (1955), but I am not sure about the brush pot.


(1955)

With regards,
I.Nagy

I.Nagy, I'm very much obliged for your authoritative take on that etched inscription. The US Foreign Service Language School kicked me out and put me back to work before giving me courses on either simplified or cursive characters. (I politely decline to admit how many years ago that was.)

Thank you and best wishes,

Bill H.

Managed to duplicate one of the pictures. Two more added herewith.
Bill H.

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