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Research in Other Countries => Immigrants & Emigrants - General => Topic started by: mezentia on Saturday 16 March 13 15:58 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone please tell me what the four Chinese symbols in the attached photo clip mean? The clip is from a larger photo of a gate in the wall at Shanhaikuan in Northern China, and was taken c1910.
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Lots of Googling suggests that it has always (since the 15th Century?) said the same thing, namely "First Pass Into Heaven", consisting of 5 characters in Chinese.
But that region of China (Manchuria) was under Japanese control around 1910, so *maybe* (guessing here! :) ) in your photo it temporarily says the same thing, but in (4) Japanese Kanji characters ?? ???
Probably a flight of fancy on my part, but it might be worth consulting a Japanese expert too!
Adrian
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One of the Chinese language experts at this free site might be able to help you:
http://www.allexperts.com/el/Chinese/
Just a suggestion.
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A Chinese colleague says that it is traditional Chinese, and that the four symbols (from right to left) broadly mean: blessing/great star/whole earth/shining; although they shouldn't be read separately. The overall message is something like 'A heavenly blessing to everyone on earth'.
Richard
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It’s an idiom consisting of the four words luck, star, general and shine. My rough translation is “the lucky star shines on all.”