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Post by ironmonger on Jan 20, 2022 20:04:36 GMT
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Post by Kane Shen on Feb 22, 2022 17:59:58 GMT
Nice writing. I really enjoyed the detailed narrative and explanations. I have done some research in this fascinating period too, and it’s always interesting to see how Japanese swords and swordsmanship influenced Chinese swords and arms, after perhaps a millennium of influence the latter had on the former. One small criticism though: I don’t know where you get the translation of the treatises, which was written in middle Chinese, but the translation is absolutely atrocious and makes zero sense at all. It must have gone through a basic web translator or something, as it is completely incapable of interpreting even some of the easier writings in classical literary Chinese. |
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Feb 22, 2022 18:09:15 GMT
Sounds like when I pasted in some old Norse and translated it to Icelandic...the English.
It was...amusing.
Great article Iron Monger!
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Post by Kane Shen on Feb 22, 2022 19:04:41 GMT
Yeah when you read the translation of those sagas, you know something is amiss, and not just "lost in translation", but basically interpreted in the wrong way.
One example of the translation of the treatise:
長刀，此自倭犯中國始有之。彼以此跳舞光閃而前，我兵已奪氣矣。倭喜躍，一迸足則丈余，刀長五尺，則大五尺矣。我兵短器難接，長器不捷，遭之者身多兩斷。緣器利而雙手使用，力重故也。
A more reasonable translation:
The long sabres (nodachi, odachi, etc.) have been known to us since the Japanese started the raiding activities in China. One moment they are out of measure brandishing their swords with the dazzling reflection of the sunlight, in a split second they have already lunged in front of you with an attack, our troops typically lose the will to fight instantly. The Japanese love leaping (lunging), one lunge covers 10 feet, their swords are 5 feet long, meaning combined they have almost a reach of 15 feet! Our short sidearms are disadvantaged at reach and can hardly parry blows (from these bigger swords), our long polearms are not nearly as agile. Failure to parry generally means your body getting cleaved in half. Their swords take the full advantage of leverage with two-handed usage, therefore can deal blows with heavy force.
The translation shown in the article:
"The long knife, which has been made by the Japanese. and he has been dancing and shining (brandishing) it in front of us. I can not pick up on the weaknesses of the soldiers, long weapons are no good, more than two broken by the shaft. The use of two hands allows for heavy blows.”
I understand it's much harder to translate the text written in classical Chinese. The article has nice storytelling nevertheless. But I do think the author should perhaps get someone capable to translate these treatises excerpts.
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