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Subject:Re: Chinese inscription of a Tiger Tally
Posted By: Super Thu, Oct 20, 2016
甲兵之符,右在皇帝,左在阳陵
The tallies used to send troops, right one would stay with the emperor, left one would be at Yang Ling (with the troops).
http://kongming.net/novel/tiger_tally/
"A ‘tally’, or fu 符, in many cases, was a special two-piece object granted to people – usually officers – of ancient China as a representation of authority or identification. One piece was held by a certain person or in a certain location and the other, carried on the officer’s person, was matched when verification was necessary. Certain types of special fu were assigned to high-ranking officers at places like the capital palaces and were used as symbols of authority or to gain clearance. On a more general level, fu made of simple material such as wood or iron may be handed out to guests entering certain areas for use inside and repossessed upon their exit. During the Han and Three Kingdoms periods the fu held by high-ranking officers were usually made of bronze and separated from the shape of a tiger.
Tiger-shaped fu, properly identified as hufu 虎符, are better known today as ‘Tiger Tallies’. Hufu is the proper representation of ‘Tiger Tally’ but you will frequently come upon them being referred to as fujie 符节, which was actually a more general term used to represent symbols of authority – but was most commonly associated with the official seal and ribbon, the true representation of rank in these periods. Tiger Tallies (hufu) are perhaps among the most interesting relics from ancient China. Because they were uncommon in this period, they have become extremely rare and valuable today. Here we present tiger tallies from different periods of Chinese history for you to enjoy."
http://kongming.net/novel/symbols_of_authority/#hufu
Hufu 虎符: Tiger Tallies
Tiger Tallies, or hufu (虎符), were two-piece fu formed in the shape of a tiger. The material from which tiger tallies were created varied through Chinese history and included everything from jade and gold to bronze. According to Hou Han shu tiger tallies made of bronze were used for kings, heads of commanderies, and similar high and comparatively static ranks. They were not common. The Hou Han shu’s explanation applies accurately to the the Han and Three Kingdoms periods and to surrounding periods to a degree. At different points the material from which tiger tallies were created varied, but the fundamental purpose remained the same.
No small amount of confusion exists behind the way in which tiger tally is rendered in Chinese. Hufu (‘tiger mark’ or ‘tiger symbol’), the literal and most obvious rendering, does not appear commonly. Tiger tallies at times may be described simply as fu and at other times, including some later-era historic texts, as fujie (符节) the term most commonly used today, and often in error (see ‘Fujie’). Striving for accuracy, a translator must be careful in rendering this term.
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