ValleyStream Posted September 17, 2014 I am in need of someone to translate the term, "Valley Stream" into traditional chinese characters. I think i may have it correct in my picture but i know nothing of proper chinese caligraphy. Also, When annotating these characters on my profile picture, if i write them vertically do i start from bottom to top or from top to bottom? If i already have it correct in my profile picture just let me know. As a local to northern rural USA i dont have much local chinese caligraphy sources. Thank you. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soaring crane Posted September 17, 2014 hmmm... your picture is broken again. Can you upload whatever image it is you're trying to use here in this thread? Perhaps post a query in this thread: http://thetaobums.com/topic/32444-tech-requests-go-here/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 17, 2014 My profile picture is the one i am talking about. Classical chinese painting with 2 characters. Just wondering if it reads as, "Valley Stream". If not, what i should so to fix it. hmmm... your picture is broken again. Can you upload whatever image it is you're trying to use here in this thread? Is the image i described not the one that you see? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soaring crane Posted September 17, 2014 Is the image i described not the one that you see? here's what I see: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted September 17, 2014 I am guessing that you ask this based on the DDJ chapter 66 where some translate the opening line with 'valley streams'? The oldest text, the Guodian Bamboo, has in Line 1 浴 (Yu) instead of 谷 (Gu). From a pictorial point of view, this seems to support the idea of streams flowing down the mountain into the valley. Seal example of Yu: Seal example of Gu: 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) I am guessing that you ask this based on the DDJ chapter 66 where some translate the opening line with 'valley streams'? The oldest text, the Guodian Bamboo, has in Line 1 浴 (Yu) instead of 谷 (Gu). From a pictorial point of view, this seems to support the idea of streams flowing down the mountain into the valley. Seal example of Yu: Seal example of Gu: This is a good point, though in modern Chinese 浴 means bath (which probably doesn't make a difference since we're talking Daoism, not modern China, but thought I'd point it out to be thorough!) As far as the second character, 流 , as in English, is both a noun and verb (a stream, to stream), which creates a little ambiguity. I don't think a stream in a valley would be called a 谷流 溪 is just a noun, and I think might be better. There's actually a Chinese painter called 谷溪, perhaps you could steal his signature Edited September 17, 2014 by dustybeijing 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted September 17, 2014 This is a good point, though in modern Chinese 浴 means bath (which probably doesn't make a difference since we're talking Daoism, not modern China, but thought I'd point it out to be thorough!) Yes, I know... and we're talking about the ancient barbarians from Chu... using Chu script. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted September 17, 2014 Whatever you do use, if you want to make it look pretty I quite like this site: http://www.skyfont.com/?char=%E8%B0%B7%E6%BA%AA&font=%E5%8D%9A%E6%B4%8B%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%A67000&template=1024-880&layout=2&size=128&hspace=0&vspace=64&forecolor=%23000000&backcolor=%23ffffff (I assume you have access to an image editor to have made your current avatar...) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) Yes, I know... and we're talking about the ancient barbarians from Chu... using Chu script. Yes I forgot about the "classical" part! edit: So being that the seal script 浴 implies a valley stream in one character, would you suggest just the one character? or add a second? (流、溪...?) Edited September 17, 2014 by dustybeijing 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 18, 2014 I am guessing that you ask this based on the DDJ chapter 66 where some translate the opening line with 'valley streams'? The oldest text, the Guodian Bamboo, has in Line 1 浴 (Yu) instead of 谷 (Gu). From a pictorial point of view, this seems to support the idea of streams flowing down the mountain into the valley. Seal example of Yu: Seal example of Gu: Well, i intended to have it translated as a name if that is possible. My Family name is translated as valley stream in swedish, Hence my user name is ValleyStream. I believe my profile picture is working now. Do i have it right on the picture? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 18, 2014 Whatever you do use, if you want to make it look pretty I quite like this site: http://www.skyfont.com/?char=%E8%B0%B7%E6%BA%AA&font=%E5%8D%9A%E6%B4%8B%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%A67000&template=1024-880&layout=2&size=128&hspace=0&vspace=64&forecolor=%23000000&backcolor=%23ffffff (I assume you have access to an image editor to have made your current avatar...) This is a great site! thank you! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted September 18, 2014 Yes I forgot about the "classical" part! edit: So being that the seal script 浴 implies a valley stream in one character, would you suggest just the one character? or add a second? (流、溪...?) I'd recommend two as anyone who can read chinese will understand it better... than thinking he wants to take a bath Well, i intended to have it translated as a name if that is possible. My Family name is translated as valley stream in swedish, Hence my user name is ValleyStream. I believe my profile picture is working now. Do i have it right on the picture? Not sure what was up yesterday that someone could not see your picture... I've been seeing it fine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 18, 2014 This is a good point, though in modern Chinese 浴 means bath (which probably doesn't make a difference since we're talking Daoism, not modern China, but thought I'd point it out to be thorough!) As far as the second character, 流 , as in English, is both a noun and verb (a stream, to stream), which creates a little ambiguity. I don't think a stream in a valley would be called a 谷流 溪 is just a noun, and I think might be better. There's actually a Chinese painter called 谷溪, perhaps you could steal his signature Aha! it makes sense. So my picture is annotating "to flow" under Valley. I think i will "steal" the painters signature. After looking into some translations of the name it is what i am going for. 2 nouns rather than a verb. Thank you! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 18, 2014 So, what I have now should read as "Valley Stream" top to bottom if I am correct. Should it be written top to bottom? Also, a confirmation that it is correct would be super cool. On some real levels, Thanks everybody. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted September 18, 2014 Yes, top to bottom like that. As far as 溪, considering that nobody's objected to it, and that there is a person with the name 谷溪, I think you're safe. It's a cool name It's not really pertinent, but out of interest, the painter signs his name thusly: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ValleyStream Posted September 18, 2014 Yes, top to bottom like that. As far as 溪, considering that nobody's objected to it, and that there is a person with the name 谷溪, I think you're safe. It's a cool name Thank you, dustybeijing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites