Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries


Visitors' Forum

Asian Art  Forums - Reply Message
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:translate text on scroll
Posted By: Ger Thu, May 25, 2023 IP: 2a02:a46d:cada:1:e55

This Japanese scroll is dated 1913, 癸丑, 大正二年 .
I think it shows a Japanese playing a red haired westerner with a Chinese watching the game.
What does the text say?

Some one suggested the westerner is Russian and the scroll refers to the Russian-Japanese war that ended 8 years earlier.
It would be curious since the westerner plays white and is thus suggested to be the stronger player. But then the Japanese captured a lot of stones...

Thanks very much for giving it a try - partial results are very welcome too.



Subject:Re: translate text on scroll
Posted By: I.Nagy Fri, May 26, 2023

石火憂々震満盤
朝暾高白露不着
可情春鴎萢醒夢
句驚金鼓速襲瀾
癸丑夏日平安
龍泉併題之
In an instant the full board shook with dignity
The morning sun was high and the white dew could not be seen
The unfortunate brooding gulls woke from their spring dreams
At the frightening sound of gong the waves of attack accelerated
In the Year of Water-Ox (1913) on a Summer Day,
at Heian*
Picture and Inscription by Ryūsen
Upper seal,
龍泉 Ryūsen
Lower seal,
龍泉画印 Picture Seal of Ryūsen

The poem is full of allusions and implications to the Russo-Japanese war.
In a somewhat different reading and interpretation:
In an instant the whole Manchurian Basin shook with dignity
The morning sun (ref.Japan) was high and white Russians could not be seen
The unfortunate..... (ref.Chinese)

* Heian: Old name of Kyōtō

As I am away from my reference library for a good half a year, I'll have to rely on the internet, where I can't find a painter by the name Ryūsen.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: translate text on scroll
Posted By: Ger Fri, May 26, 2023

Thanks very much!

The allusions and implications make it a complicated puzzle. Especially because they might refer to circumstances of that time, maybe forgotten by now.

As to the painter I only found 柳原龍泉 but pictures on the internet in my opinion show a different style, signature and seal.









Subject:political implications
Posted By: peter Sat, May 27, 2023

while we do not know the occasion this was created for, for an understanding its probably better to widen the view to the general political situation in Eastern Asia in the early 20th century.
the subject matter is a traditionally Chinese board game there the goal is to establish positions and not to capture the stones. in this the Russian fails to get the point and the Chinese (who had invented the game) at least starts to show some interest again, while the Japanese is the obvious master.
this commented with a poem in traditional Chinese style...

peter

Post a Reply
Name:
Email:
Group: China & Japan
Subject:
Message:
Link URL:
Enter here the complete URL of any site, page or image you would like to show other visitors.
URL Title:
Enter here the title of the link you've given above. This will appear to the visitor. Eg., if you are linking another picture, enter "Another picture". The link will not appear without a title.
Image URL:
Enter here the URL of an image if it is already uploaded on the web. The image will appear with your posting. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post.
Image: You may upload up to three images. If you would like to upload more images to this message please do so by replying to this same message.

Please make sure the file type is JPEG or GIF and the filename does not contain spaces.





Use the Browse button to find an image (jpg or gif) on a local drive on your computer to upload for including with your message. Do not upload images with file names containing spaces. Please do not upload files larger than 500 KB in size. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post. Check the "email notification" box below if you would like to be notified of any responses to your message.
Check here for email notification.
Security Code: Security Image: please enter the text appears in this image.

Please type in the code you see in the image directly above this input box.

Subject:Re: political implications
Posted By: Ger Sat, May 27, 2023

The picture shows it is the Japanese who captured a lot of white stones, held in the lid of his bowl. The Russian is seen playing a white stone which could indicate he was supposed to be the stronger player.


Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |