Hi all!
I posted a short question about this last week. The question concerned the proposal of marriage of my grandfather (李成貴 Lee Seng Kooi ) to my grandmother (陳清妙 Tan Cheng Beow), which is recorded in an old document, written in the 1920's. Now I have decided to ask about the whole document.
These two individuals are only *spoken* about in the proposal – the proposal itself seems to have been made by 李俊卿 Lee Choon Kheng (Lee Seng Kooi's uncle) to 陳芳霖 Tan Hong Lim (Tan Cheng Beow's father), on behalf of the younger people.
The original document is actually a scroll, and is handwritten in Chinese characters using a Chinese brush with black ink, on red paper. Being quite an old and traditional document, the characters are written vertically, with the columns being read from right to left. There are 32 lines of Chinese characters: line 00 to line 31. However, line 00 and line 31 are not part of the handwritten text, but are actually printed as part of the paper the handwritten text is written on.
Two people with some knowledge of Chinese have already had a look at it, but the translations they gave are quite dramatically different for some of the lines. I realise of course that this is very old-fashioned and formal Chinese, so some of the differences in translation are purely to do with taste, in terms of how literal or idiomatic a translation one wants to give.
I decided to post the full text and the two translations here, to see if anyone has any suggestions for improvements or corrections. Lines 8 and 9 gave both of my original translators a lot of trouble, but that has since been solved by another internet friend (see below). This last person has also told me that he will refer the text to a closed forum on Classical Chinese which he knows of, to see if any other difficulties can be resolved.
Because of the help of the two original translators and my internet friend (*and* a lot of hard work on my own part!!!) I already understand about 1/2 to 2/3 of the document, but the parts which I don't understand remain a big mystery to me.
The things I really would like to know about are summarized at the end of this posting.
Thanks in advance,
Sim.
P.S. I also have some photos of the original document (not very clear), so if anyone wants more information, please feel free to mail me (removing the spaces, of course) on:
t o m a z z 1 2 3
@
y a h o o
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c o m
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The text in Chinese
----------------------
00. 二姓合婚
01. 恭姻眷弟李俊卿鞠躬
02. 大姻望陳府芳霖翁尊姻家老先生閣下
03. 伏以
04. 五世其昌
05. 百年好合
06. 恭惟
07. 高門
08. 接胡滿之令緒
09. 衍敬仲之芳踪
10. 尊姻家老先生
11. 器宇宏深
12. 威儀高潔
13. 欣懷御李
14. 窃幸依葭
15. 不棄蓬門
16. 俯從氷議
17. 許以令媛清妙官
18. 配為宗姪成貴者
19. 儀慚不腆
20. 礼愧大方
21. 吉叶艮辰
22. 敬行文定
23. 欣觀雁拜
24. 佇糞*熊占
25. 統祈
26. 尊慈佇賜
27. 覽念不宣
28. 耑**龍飛中華民國十二年六月弍日
29. 夏曆癸亥年四月十八日 俊卿 再鞠躬
30. 光前
31. 特別製造
*: This is not the character, but the closest I could find. The actual character looks something like: 北 (top) + 田 (middle) + 共 (bottom). The top could also be 士士 (two scholars) or 艹 (grass).
**: This is not the character, but the closest I could find. The actual character looks something like: 山 (top) + approx 百 (bottom). There could also be丶 (dot) between the 山 and the 百.
The two translations are given here, but for ease of reference, I give them again, further down, interleaved with the original character text.
Translation A
---------------
00. Two Surnames Joined In Marriage
01. Respectfully your younger brother (by marriage), Lee Choon Kheng making a bow
02. To Tan Hong Lim Esq, of a well-known family
03. I prostrate myself to say
04. Five generations of prosperity
05. A hundred years of marital bliss
06. Respectfully
07. Of a high and noble family
08. <not translated>
09. <not translated>
10. Respectable Sir by marriage
11. Most impressed by your noble, supreme
12. Pure deportment
13. Happy that you consent to allow the humble Lee
14. To bask in your glory
15. In spite of our humble family
16. Agree to the matchmaker
17. To consent to your daughter Cheng Beow
18. To marry my nephew Seng Kooi
19. Apology about our ill manners
20. And our humble gifts
21. Today being an auspicious day
22. To proceed with the betrothal
23. Having read your letter
24. <not translated>
25. Hoping and praying that
26. Your mother kindly consent
27. <not translated>
28. <not translated>; 12th year, 6th month, 2nd day after the founding of the Chinese Republic = 1911 + 12 years = (2 June 1923)
29. same date also in lunar calendar; Choon Kheng; Bowing again
30. Before your glorious self
31. <not translated>
Translation B
---------------
00. The Marriage Between Two Families
01. Yours respectfully, Lee Choon Kheng
02. To the Honourable Mr Tan Hong Lim
03. Humbly wishing them both
04. Be prosperous for five generations
05. Be well united for one hundred years
06. Sincerely congratulating them both
07. <not translated>
08. Receive same (/ some?) feelings
09. Grow respect to wherever she goes
10. You Sir
11. Stand out brilliantly
12. Dignified and highly noble
13. We are highly gratified that we can luckily
14. Approach you since
15. You do not dislike us, and therefore
16. We beg to agree to your proposal of
17. Giving away your daughter
18. To marry our nephew
19. Please bear with us if the wedding ceremony is under par
20. We are ashamed that our gift might not be generous, but
21. Shall fix a good date and lucky time
22. To respectfully carry out the engagement
23. We will be glad to watch them
24. Both bowing to each other
25. Hoping that
26. A baby boy will be forthcoming
27. We beg that all this will have your kind approval
28. 2 June 1923
29. same date also in lunar calendar; <not translated>; <not translated>
30. <not translated>
31. <not translated>
Here is the original text and the two translations interleaved, so that a comparison can be made more easily. The lines labelled –a are from translation A, and the lines labelled –b are from translation B.
Interleaved text and translations
-------------------------------------
00. 二姓合婚
00a. Two Surnames Joined In Marriage
00b. The Marriage Between Two Families
01. 恭姻眷弟李俊卿鞠躬
01a. Respectfully your younger brother (by marriage), Lee Choon Kheng making a bow
01b. Yours respectfully, Lee Choon Kheng
02. 大姻望陳府芳霖翁尊姻家老先生閣下
02a. To Tan Hong Lim Esq, of a well-known family
02b. To the Honourable Mr Tan Hong Lim
03. 伏以
03a. I prostrate myself to say
03b. Humbly wishing them both
04. 五世其昌
04a. Five generations of prosperity
04b. Be prosperous for five generations
05. 百年好合
05a. A hundred years of marital bliss
05b. Be well united for one hundred years
06. 恭惟
06a. Respectfully
06b. Sincerely congratulating them both
07. 高門
07a. Of a high and noble family
07b. <not translated>
08. 接胡滿之令緒
08a. <not translated>
08b. Receive same (/ some?) feelings
09. 衍敬仲之芳踪
09a. <not translated>
09b. Grow respect to wherever she goes
10. 尊姻家老先生
10a. Respectable Sir by marriage
10b. You Sir
11. 器宇宏深
11a. Most impressed by your noble, supreme
11b. Stand out brilliantly
12. 威儀高潔
12a. Pure deportment
12b. Dignified and highly noble
13. 欣懷御李
13a. Happy that you consent to allow the humble Lee
13b. We are highly gratified that we can luckily
14. 窃幸依葭
14a. To bask in your glory
14b. Approach you since
15. 不棄蓬門
15a. In spite of our humble family
15b. You do not dislike us, and therefore
16. 俯從氷議
16a. Agree to the matchmaker
16b. We beg to agree to your proposal of
17. 許以令媛清妙官
17a. To consent to your daughter Cheng Beow
17b. Giving away your daughter
18. 配為宗姪成貴者
18a. To marry my nephew Seng Kooi
18b. To marry our nephew
19. 儀慚不腆
19a. Apology about our ill manners
19b. Please bear with us if the wedding ceremony is under par
20. 礼愧大方
20a. And our humble gifts
20b. We are ashamed that our gift might not be generous, but
21. 吉叶艮辰
21a. Today being an auspicious day
21b. Shall fix a good date and lucky time
22. 敬行文定
22a. To proceed with the betrothal
22b. To respectfully carry out the engagement
23. 欣觀雁拜
23a. Having read your letter
23b. We will be glad to watch them
24. 佇糞*熊占
24a. <not translated>
24b. Both bowing to each other
25. 統祈
25a. Hoping and praying that
25b. Hoping that
26. 尊慈佇賜
26a. Your mother kindly consent
26b. A baby boy will be forthcoming
27. 覽念不宣
27a. <not translated>
27b. We beg that all this will have your kind approval
28. 耑**龍飛中華民國十二年六月弍日
28a. <not translated>; 12th year, 6th month, 2nd day after the founding of the Chinese Republic = 1911 + 12 years = (2 June 1923)
28b. <not translated>; 2 June 1923
29. 夏曆癸亥年四月十八日 俊卿 再鞠躬
29a. same date also in lunar calendar; Choon Kheng; Bowing again
29b. same date also in lunar calendar; <not translated>; <not translated>
30. 光前
30a. Before your glorious self
30b. <not translated>
31. 特別製造
31a. <not translated>
31b. <not translated>
Note: as mentioned above, an internet friend has since solved the mystery of lines 8 and 9.
8. 接胡滿之令緒
To continue the honourable succession of Hu Man
9. 衍敬仲之芳踪
To multiply the noble presence of Jing Zhong
Apparently, Hu Man 胡滿 = "the son-in-law of Zhou’s King Wu (武)", and Jing Zhong 敬仲 = "an ancestor of the Dukedom or Kingdom of Qi (齊)". This friend explains that both 胡滿 and 敬仲 are ancestors of Tan (陳) surname-bearers, so it makes perfect sense for Lee Choon Kheng to say these two lines to Tan Hong Lim.
Requests
----------
These are the things I'd still like to know:
1) Some people have commented that all or part of this is in Hokkien rather than Mandarin. Does anyone care to confirm or refute this?
2) Would anyone be willing to do a completely new translation (i.e. not referring to either translation A or B).
3) Would anyone be willing to comment on the two existing translations - how a particular misunderstanding could have arisen, why someone might think a particular line to be the right translation etc.
4) I have particular questions about the following lines, so any additional comment would be appreciated:
-- Lines 24, and 27 are very obscure - i.e. I don't understand how the individual characters in these lines make up the meaning which has been offered by the translator(s).
-- Lines 6-7, 14, 19, 21, 23, and 26 have quite different translations in translation A and B. Which one is better and why?
-- Line 16: The proposal is that Lee Seng Kooi should marry Tan Cheng Beow, but translation A implies Lee Choon Kheng (Lee Seng Kooi's uncle) begs Tan Hong Lim (Tan Cheng Beow's father) to agree to this, whereas translation B implies that Lee Choon Kheng begs to agree to (presumably) Tan Hong Lim's proposal. Which way around is correct?
-- Line 17: What is the meaning of官 here?
-- Line 28: the meaning of 耑**龍飛 is not clear to me (the first character is probably some other one).
-- Line 29: I presume 俊卿 refers to Tan Hong Lim (= the father of the bride, the person being addressed in this document) rather than Lee Choon Kheng (=the person doing the speaking in this document).
-- Line 30: the meaning of 光前 is not clear to me.
-- Line 31: the meaning of the whole line, 特別製造, is not clear to me. It *should* be clear, because 特別 means just "specially" and 製造 means "to make", so I suppose this should mean "specially made". But on the original scroll, the first 3 characters are about the same distance apart, and then the last character is a bit further away, so it looks more like 特別製 造. Is there any reason for this?
I would already be very grateful if someone did requests 1 & 2 above. If they had the additional energy to do 3 & 4 as well, then I would be very, *very* grateful!
-Sim.
Marriage Proposal
Hi All,
Mark Yong managed to correct the two characters in my transcription which I knew were incorrect (there may be others).
Here is the information he came up with:
-----------------------------
1. Character 24.02 is 冀 , not 糞 (sorry, but the latter, pronounced 'fen4', is the character for 'faeces'!). The meaning of 冀 (Mandarin pinyin: ji4), as taken from http://www.baidu.com/ is:
"冀"在汉英词典中的解释(来源: 百度词典)：
i.[Formal] to hope; to long for; to look forward to
ii.another name for Hopei Province
According to my colleague, it may also have the same usage as the Latin cum ('with', e.g. summa cum laude).
2. Using my Windows XP Writing Pad, I managed to generate Character 28.01, i.e. 峕. Unfortunately, the IME does not provide the pronunciation for it (either in pinyin or bopomofo), nor the meaning. It only registers that the radical is 山, and that it has 9 strokes.
-----------------------------
Many thanks to Mark for this!
Sim
Mark Yong managed to correct the two characters in my transcription which I knew were incorrect (there may be others).
Here is the information he came up with:
-----------------------------
1. Character 24.02 is 冀 , not 糞 (sorry, but the latter, pronounced 'fen4', is the character for 'faeces'!). The meaning of 冀 (Mandarin pinyin: ji4), as taken from http://www.baidu.com/ is:
"冀"在汉英词典中的解释(来源: 百度词典)：
i.[Formal] to hope; to long for; to look forward to
ii.another name for Hopei Province
According to my colleague, it may also have the same usage as the Latin cum ('with', e.g. summa cum laude).
2. Using my Windows XP Writing Pad, I managed to generate Character 28.01, i.e. 峕. Unfortunately, the IME does not provide the pronunciation for it (either in pinyin or bopomofo), nor the meaning. It only registers that the radical is 山, and that it has 9 strokes.
-----------------------------
Many thanks to Mark for this!
Sim
On www.mdbg.net, one can search for 峕, and it gives the pronunciation as shi2 (山 + 6 strokes), but also no meaning, unfortunately.
Sim.
Sim.
Hi, Sim,
No problem.
I'll continue to analyse the text, and post any further insights that I may stumble upon. Glad to be of help.
Given that this is a Hokkien forum, perhaps someone can provide the Hokkien pronunciation for 冀 and 峕 (I presume in this instance, the 文讀 literary pronunciation will apply)?
Or, on a grander scale, if someone is brave enough to Romanise the entire text into Hokkien?
Okay, pardon my over-zealousness... perhaps that task is best left till later, after we have first fulfilled Sim's request to first decipher the text!
Cheers,
Mark
No problem.
I'll continue to analyse the text, and post any further insights that I may stumble upon. Glad to be of help.Given that this is a Hokkien forum, perhaps someone can provide the Hokkien pronunciation for 冀 and 峕 (I presume in this instance, the 文讀 literary pronunciation will apply)?
Or, on a grander scale, if someone is brave enough to Romanise the entire text into Hokkien?
Okay, pardon my over-zealousness... perhaps that task is best left till later, after we have first fulfilled Sim's request to first decipher the text! Cheers,
Mark
I am not sure if this will help:SimL wrote:
-- Line 17: What is the meaning of官 here?
In the late Khor Cheang Kee's book "My Island In The Sun: A Penang Perspective", Page 19, he writes about the three types of marriage arrangements prevalent in yesteryear's Penang Hokkien community, i.e. chin choey, chu-ah and kah kee tu-ah (the Romanisation is Khor's).
Quote: "Under the chin choey system... he comes as son-in-law, a permanent guest for whom nothing is too good... he receives preferential and deferential treatment... he is even designated a knuah (lord), a form of address which denotes to relatives and friends that exalted rank he is alloted in your home and his lordship, the son-in-law of the house."
If I am not mistaken, the character for knuah (lord) is 官. Could this be the same as the 官 in Line 17 of the text?
康熙字典 defines 峕 as follows:
峕, 字彙: 苦江切 音羌苦, 音羌, 幬帳也
I looked up the meaning of 幬帳 in http://www.baidu.com, and it gives the following definition:
==========
dào zhàng
帱帐（幬帳）
【zdic.net 漢 典 网】
床帐。《淮南子·道应训》：“於是市偷进请曰：‘臣有薄技，愿为君行之。’ 子发 曰：‘诺。’不问其乱而遣之，偷则夜解 齐 将军之幬帐而献之。”《梁书·良吏传·孔谦》：“夏日无幬帐，而夜卧未尝有蚊蚋。”
==========
Does this mean that the definition of the character 峕 is "cost of lodging"??
A friend who read the text suspects that the character should have been 瑞, but I am not sure about that.
峕, 字彙: 苦江切 音羌苦, 音羌, 幬帳也
I looked up the meaning of 幬帳 in http://www.baidu.com, and it gives the following definition:
==========
dào zhàng
帱帐（幬帳）
【zdic.net 漢 典 网】
床帐。《淮南子·道应训》：“於是市偷进请曰：‘臣有薄技，愿为君行之。’ 子发 曰：‘诺。’不问其乱而遣之，偷则夜解 齐 将军之幬帐而献之。”《梁书·良吏传·孔谦》：“夏日无幬帐，而夜卧未尝有蚊蚋。”
==========
Does this mean that the definition of the character 峕 is "cost of lodging"??
A friend who read the text suspects that the character should have been 瑞, but I am not sure about that.
Hmmm... strange. If we follow the 反切 fanqie pronunciation of 峕 provided by the 康熙字典 Kangxi Dictionary (per my previous entry above), it should come out more like jiang (or Hokkien kiang/kiong (文讀 literary pronunciation) or kniau (白讀 colloquial pronunciation).SimL wrote:
On www.mdbg.net, one can search for 峕, and it gives the pronunciation as shi2 (山 + 6 strokes), but also no meaning, unfortunately.
Since the character 峕 is followed by two other characters 龍飛 (which is a metaphor for the Emperor ascending the throne) followed by a date, I suspect it may refer to an allusion to a dynastic era (such allusions are not uncommon in Classical Chinese texts).
The only reference I could find of the complete phrase "峕龍飛" was in this classical text "東溪先生文集" (http://bbs4.xilu.com/cgi-bin/bbs/view?f ... sage=23146). The text also appears to also refer (immediately after that phrase) to 崇禎 Emperor Chong Zhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Or perhaps I am going off-tangent here... if so, somebody please pull me back!
The only reference I could find of the complete phrase "峕龍飛" was in this classical text "東溪先生文集" (http://bbs4.xilu.com/cgi-bin/bbs/view?f ... sage=23146). The text also appears to also refer (immediately after that phrase) to 崇禎 Emperor Chong Zhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Or perhaps I am going off-tangent here... if so, somebody please pull me back!
Last edited by Mark Yong on Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
Here's my interpretation of this document:
00. 二姓合婚 ji7-sing3 hap8-hun1
A marriage between two families
01. 恭姻眷弟李俊卿鞠躬 kiong1-in1 kuan3-te7 li2-tsun3-khing1 kiok4-kiong1
Yours respectfully (lit. your younger brother through marriage), Lee Choon Kheng, bows
02. 大姻望陳府芳霖翁尊姻家老先生閣下 tai7-in1 bong7 tan5-hu2 hong1-lim5-ong1 tsun1-in1-ka1 lau2-sian1-sing1 kok4-ha7
before the honorable Mr. Tan Hong Lim,
03. 伏以 hok8-i2
wishing
04. 五世其昌 ngoo2-se3/si3 ki5-tshiong1
five generations of prosperity and
05. 百年好合 pik4-lian5 ho2-hap8
a harmonious union lasting a hundred years
06. 恭惟(or 恭維) kiong1-ui5
I praise
07. 高門 ko1-bun5
your esteemed family, for
08. 接胡滿之令緒 tsiap4 hoo5-buan2 tsi1 ling7-su7
continuing the succession of the noble line of Hu Man, and
09. 衍敬仲之芳踪(trad. 蹤) ian2 king3-tiong7 tsi1 hong1-tsong1
continuing the legacy of Chen Wan (陳完),
10. 尊姻家老先生 tsun1-in1-ka1 lau2-sian1-sing1
(as well as) your honorable self,
11. 器宇宏深 khi3-u2 hong5-sim1
whose bearing is dignified,
12. 威儀高潔 ui5-gi5 ko1-kiat4
awe-inspiring and virtuous,
13. 欣懷御李 him1-huai5 gu7-li2
being in your presence is an honor (李 refers to 李膺)
14. 窃(trad. 竊)幸依(should be 蒹)葭 tshiap4-hing7 kiam1-ka1
and we delight that reeds and rushes (our humble family) may lean against a jade tree (your noble family) (蒹葭倚玉)
15. 不棄蓬門 put4-khi3 hong5-bun5
and that you did not reject our humble family,
16. 俯從氷(trad. 冰)議 hu2-tsiong5 ping1-gi7
and approved the marriage,
17. 許以令媛(should be 嬡)清妙官 hu2/hi2-i2 ling7-ai3 tshing1-biau3--kuan1
to betroth your your daughter, Beow Cheng,
18. 配為宗姪成貴者 phue3/pher3/phe3-ui5 tsong1-tit8 sing5-kui3--tsia2 (edit: added tit8)
to our nephew, Seng Kooi.
19. 儀慚不腆 gi5 tsham5 put4-thian2
Our gifts are humble,
20. 礼(trad. 禮)愧大方 le2 khui3 tai7-hong1
our manners shamefully lacking.
21. 吉叶(should be 時)良辰 kiat4-si5 liong5-sin5
(We will choose) an auspicious date and time
22. 敬行文定 king3-hing5 bun5-ting3
to respectfully carry out the betrothal
23. 欣觀雁拜 him1-kuan1 gan7-pai3
I look forward to watching the marriage rituals
24. ？(incorrect character; perhaps 伏)冀熊占 ?-ki3 hiong5-tsiam1
and hope that they bear a baby boy.
25. 統祈 thong2-ki5
I (also) beseech
26. 尊慈俯賜 tsun1-tsu5 hu2-su3
your mother to grant
27. 覽(should be 鑒)念不宣 kam3-liam7 put4-suan1
her approval. (closing)
28. 峕(should be 時)龍飛中華民國十二年六月弍(trad. 貳)日 si5 liong5-hui1 tiong1-hua5 bin5-kok4 tsap8-ji7-ni5 lak8-g(u)eh8 ji7-jit8
June 2 of the 12th year of the Republic of China (i.e., 1923)
29. 夏曆癸亥年四月十八日 俊卿 再鞠躬
ha7-lik8 kui3-hai7-ni5 si3-g(u)eh8 tsap8-p(u)eh4-jit8 tsun3-khing1 tsai3-kiok4-kiong1
On the 18th day of the fourth month of the gui-hai year of the lunar calendar, Choon Kheng bows again
30. 光前 kong1-tsian5
before your noble self
31. 特別製造
tik8-piat8 tse3-tso7
Specially made
It seems like the marriage was already approved before this document was written.
00. 二姓合婚 ji7-sing3 hap8-hun1
A marriage between two families
01. 恭姻眷弟李俊卿鞠躬 kiong1-in1 kuan3-te7 li2-tsun3-khing1 kiok4-kiong1
Yours respectfully (lit. your younger brother through marriage), Lee Choon Kheng, bows
02. 大姻望陳府芳霖翁尊姻家老先生閣下 tai7-in1 bong7 tan5-hu2 hong1-lim5-ong1 tsun1-in1-ka1 lau2-sian1-sing1 kok4-ha7
before the honorable Mr. Tan Hong Lim,
03. 伏以 hok8-i2
wishing
04. 五世其昌 ngoo2-se3/si3 ki5-tshiong1
five generations of prosperity and
05. 百年好合 pik4-lian5 ho2-hap8
a harmonious union lasting a hundred years
06. 恭惟(or 恭維) kiong1-ui5
I praise
07. 高門 ko1-bun5
your esteemed family, for
08. 接胡滿之令緒 tsiap4 hoo5-buan2 tsi1 ling7-su7
continuing the succession of the noble line of Hu Man, and
09. 衍敬仲之芳踪(trad. 蹤) ian2 king3-tiong7 tsi1 hong1-tsong1
continuing the legacy of Chen Wan (陳完),
10. 尊姻家老先生 tsun1-in1-ka1 lau2-sian1-sing1
(as well as) your honorable self,
11. 器宇宏深 khi3-u2 hong5-sim1
whose bearing is dignified,
12. 威儀高潔 ui5-gi5 ko1-kiat4
awe-inspiring and virtuous,
13. 欣懷御李 him1-huai5 gu7-li2
being in your presence is an honor (李 refers to 李膺)
14. 窃(trad. 竊)幸依(should be 蒹)葭 tshiap4-hing7 kiam1-ka1
and we delight that reeds and rushes (our humble family) may lean against a jade tree (your noble family) (蒹葭倚玉)
15. 不棄蓬門 put4-khi3 hong5-bun5
and that you did not reject our humble family,
16. 俯從氷(trad. 冰)議 hu2-tsiong5 ping1-gi7
and approved the marriage,
17. 許以令媛(should be 嬡)清妙官 hu2/hi2-i2 ling7-ai3 tshing1-biau3--kuan1
to betroth your your daughter, Beow Cheng,
18. 配為宗姪成貴者 phue3/pher3/phe3-ui5 tsong1-tit8 sing5-kui3--tsia2 (edit: added tit8)
to our nephew, Seng Kooi.
19. 儀慚不腆 gi5 tsham5 put4-thian2
Our gifts are humble,
20. 礼(trad. 禮)愧大方 le2 khui3 tai7-hong1
our manners shamefully lacking.
21. 吉叶(should be 時)良辰 kiat4-si5 liong5-sin5
(We will choose) an auspicious date and time
22. 敬行文定 king3-hing5 bun5-ting3
to respectfully carry out the betrothal
23. 欣觀雁拜 him1-kuan1 gan7-pai3
I look forward to watching the marriage rituals
24. ？(incorrect character; perhaps 伏)冀熊占 ?-ki3 hiong5-tsiam1
and hope that they bear a baby boy.
25. 統祈 thong2-ki5
I (also) beseech
26. 尊慈俯賜 tsun1-tsu5 hu2-su3
your mother to grant
27. 覽(should be 鑒)念不宣 kam3-liam7 put4-suan1
her approval. (closing)
28. 峕(should be 時)龍飛中華民國十二年六月弍(trad. 貳)日 si5 liong5-hui1 tiong1-hua5 bin5-kok4 tsap8-ji7-ni5 lak8-g(u)eh8 ji7-jit8
June 2 of the 12th year of the Republic of China (i.e., 1923)
29. 夏曆癸亥年四月十八日 俊卿 再鞠躬
ha7-lik8 kui3-hai7-ni5 si3-g(u)eh8 tsap8-p(u)eh4-jit8 tsun3-khing1 tsai3-kiok4-kiong1
On the 18th day of the fourth month of the gui-hai year of the lunar calendar, Choon Kheng bows again
30. 光前 kong1-tsian5
before your noble self
31. 特別製造
tik8-piat8 tse3-tso7
Specially made
It seems like the marriage was already approved before this document was written.
Last edited by duaaagiii on Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:27 am, edited 3 times in total.
Hi, duaaagiii,
I am totally speechless. You not only interpreted the entire text, you even managed to locate AND fix the incorrect characters, PLUS putting in all the Hokkien Romanisations with tone marks!
I doubt many Hokkien speakers (native or otherwise) left in South-East Asia can do this! Don't mind me asking... did it take you long?
Cheers,
Mark
I am totally speechless. You not only interpreted the entire text, you even managed to locate AND fix the incorrect characters, PLUS putting in all the Hokkien Romanisations with tone marks!
I doubt many Hokkien speakers (native or otherwise) left in South-East Asia can do this! Don't mind me asking... did it take you long?
Cheers,
Mark