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Subject:1912 or 1972? 沈陽作畫
Posted By: Super Thu, Jul 11, 2013
Congratulation on rat for doing a superb job in translating the title of the painting. It does take a native Chinese speaker to translate it.
The reason I wanted to see close up picture of your piece is not that I doubt your words saying you own this picture since early 50s, but based on its pristine condition and the quality of its calligraphy, I really have to agree with rat in that your picture appears to be more likely being made in 1972 than in 1912. No pun intended.
The four characters of the title:
松風虎威
song feng hu wei
While 松風 can indeed be translated as noise created when pine leaves were being blown by wind, in this case I believe it should be translated a bit differently.
Usually the two characters 威風 wei feng will be used together (威嚴的气概), in describing the appearance of a person who is so fierce and solemn that it demands the respect of others, like that of a general or a hero. A Chinese proverb 威風凜凜 is used for that purpose.
Also, the reason I believe both a pine tree and a tiger were depicted in the same picture is because pine tree is always known as the king of all trees in China. Pine possesses the character of a gentleman, who will stand tall in cold weather or hot weather, alone or among other trees, never wither or give in. Tiger is the king of all animals and its prowess demands respect and fear.
Therefore, in this case I sincerely believe the feng 風 character is used as in 風範 which means demeanor or bearing (of a person).
As a result I believe the title of the painting can be translated as "The Magnificence of the Pine Tree and the Majesty of the Tiger". I do like the translation of wei as majesty by rat. There was the first word came to my mind. Great job, rat! Please understand that I can be wrong in this case because there are really not that many references on this proverb 松風虎威. I can only find one other painting with this same title.
Again as to its age, it may appear to be either 1912 or 1972, and probably on January (first month) according to the scripts.
As to the seal scripts, the first thing came to my mind was the same as that of rat:
沈陽之畫
shenyang zhi hua
which can be translated as Pictures of Shenyang.
However, the seal script that was depicted as the third character (top character on left) in your picture is simply not that of 之 but rather it is that of 乍 zha. But if you put them together:
沈陽乍畫 really does not make any senses.
Therefore, in this case 乍 is actually a simplified 作 zuo (to create; to make) and the four scripts should be translated as:
沈陽作畫
shenyang zuo hua
In this case, 作畫 actually means 畫作 which means creative art work or art piece or even as picture.
Therefore, 沈陽作畫 can loosely be translated as Art Works of Shenyang.
Please note that the traditional Chinese for Shenyang is 瀋陽 but in simplified Chinese will be 沈阳. Traditional Chinese is 作畫 and simplified Chinese is 作画. Therefore your seal scripts seem to be half-half, half of them appear to be traditional Chinese and half simplified Chinese. However, since I am no experts in seal scripts, your piece could indeed be made in 1912. More researches on your part will be needed.
Hope this helps and please understand that since I am not a professional translator or a script expert, therefore my translation may not be 100% accurate.
Super
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