Reply
Fri 7 Sep, 2012 10:35 am
Context:
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and
cup matching, the millet back); seasoned wine to sprinkle to the ground on
attract gods below; tablet and libation cup, ritual instruments of the ancestral
temple for sacrificing to the former kings.Yesterday 3:34 pmFull Member416Joined 5th October 2007High mind turns the grace of the universe as the glory of your life.
It sounds like it might be the caption to an illustration, meaning the bowl of millet is in the background, behind the tablet and cup. That's about the only way I could think of of making sense of it.
@MontereyJack,
MontereyJack wrote:
It sounds like it might be the caption to an illustration, meaning the bowl of millet is in the background, behind the tablet and cup. That's about the only way I could think of of making sense of it.
Cool.
It's from Three Kingdoms translated by Moss Roberts. The context cannot be searched out from Google.
I think 'back' is a typo for 'black' - it occurs in a parenthetical section which specifies that the colours of the tablet and cup are to match, and if the word is 'black' it makes sense. Millet comes in different colours, one of which is black. The name Black Millet Wine seems to corroborate this.
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and cup matching, the millet [to be] black).
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
I think 'back' is a typo for 'black' - it occurs in a parenthetical section which specifies that the colours of the tablet and cup are to match, and if the word is 'black' it makes sense. Millet comes in different colours, one of which is black. The name Black Millet Wine seems to corroborate this.
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and cup matching, the millet [to be] black).
Excellent Contrex.
But you said "the colours of the tablet and cup are to match." The tablet is made of jade, while the cup is (usually) made of metal. Can their colours match? Or should other factors match?
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote:
contrex wrote:
I think 'back' is a typo for 'black' - it occurs in a parenthetical section which specifies that the colours of the tablet and cup are to match, and if the word is 'black' it makes sense. Millet comes in different colours, one of which is black. The name Black Millet Wine seems to corroborate this.
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and cup matching, the millet [to be] black).
Excellent Contrex.
But you said "the colours of the tablet and cup are to match." The tablet is made of jade, while the cup is (usually) made of metal. Can their colours match? Or should other factors match?
Well, it wasn't me that wrote this: "the tablet and cup matching". In general we use the word "matching" to indicate that multiple items have a common visual appearance, usually colour.
Are you sure the libation cup is to made of metal? Jade ones are very common.
If it is BLACK wine, then u shud throw it ALL on the ground.
Sacrifice it to the last drop.
David
I wrote:
Quote:Are you sure the libation cup is to made of metal?
This should be either:
Are you sure the libation cup is made of metal?
OR
Are you sure the libation cup is to be made of metal?
Blame over-hasty editing.
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
oristarA wrote:
contrex wrote:
I think 'back' is a typo for 'black' - it occurs in a parenthetical section which specifies that the colours of the tablet and cup are to match, and if the word is 'black' it makes sense. Millet comes in different colours, one of which is black. The name Black Millet Wine seems to corroborate this.
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and cup matching, the millet [to be] black).
Excellent Contrex.
But you said "the colours of the tablet and cup are to match." The tablet is made of jade, while the cup is (usually) made of metal. Can their colours match? Or should other factors match?
Well, it wasn't me that wrote this: "the tablet and cup matching". In general we use the word "matching" to indicate that multiple items have a common visual appearance, usually colour.
Are you sure the libation cup is to made of metal? Jade ones are very common.
That's possible. But it is far expensive than that made of metal.
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote: That's possible. But it is far expensive than that made of metal.
you're reading about ritual offerings to kings. It shouldn't be a surprise that the offerings are being made in/on expensive materials.
The instructions say that the jade tablet and the libation cup are to be "matching".
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
The instructions say that the jade tablet and the libation cup are to be "matching".
Jade-to-jade, a perfect match.
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote:
contrex wrote:
The instructions say that the jade tablet and the libation cup are to be "matching".
Jade-to-jade, a perfect match.
"Matching" usually means visually alike, the same colour or colours or pattern.
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
Implements for the Ritual Offering of Black Millet Wine, Herb-Scented:
Jade tablet and libation cup, one bowl of millet and wine each (the tablet and cup matching, the millet [to be] black).
Failed to understand "each." What does it mean here?
Each jade tablet has one bowl of millet and wine?
Each libationcup has one bowl of millet nad wine?
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote: Failed to understand "each." What does it mean here?
One bowl of each of these things: millet; wine.
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote: Failed to understand "each."
Where is the rest of that ^ sentence?
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
oristarA wrote: Failed to understand "each." What does it mean here?
One
bowl of each of these things: millet;
wine.
Eh? Wasn't the wine poured into the jade cup?
Context required. Please provide a link to the complete original translation.