Are the origin, medium form (ink on rice paper?), location and background of this piece known?
It must be modern as the writing follows the western style: from left to right, although using traditional characters.
YK
(the top two lines relates the origin. It was from a place named Ju don under the caring of Shaolin Temple). The third line is a succession naming method which is popular amongst a major clan. The monks in Shaolin Temple follows a hierarchy to obtain their names so they can be differentiated with their pedigree.
The rest of the lines basically can be translated as follows:
Our religion covers a vast territory and we rejoice in under the same origin
Maintenance of tranquillity should be deep as the ocean and purity is the path to follow
Keep your virtue constantly with the help of a solid mind
Keeping an open mind will guide you to more understanding of the ‘tao’
Kindness and loyalty will bring fortune to establish a greater understanding
“shue ting” can be your instructor and guide you through the proper path.
I might have mis-spelled and missed some of the proper words but the basic meaning should be there.
My goodness, I am overwhelmed at the replies and good assistance with this poem. I am the original asker for the translation and I did provide that image. Thanks, Shie-shie, to all who replied. It has been a rewarding and wonderful time. Please let me tell you all, Professor C.C. Cheng of the University of Illinois gave great assistance with this also – he is a great modern scholar andChinese expert.
The poem written entirely in Pin-Yin is as follows:
Formal Names of 70 Successive Generations of Shaolin Temple Monks
Translation by Kong Shiu Loon
嵩山少林寺曹洞正宗傳續七十字輩訣
江紹倫譯
Blessed wisdom inspires self-awareness 福慧智子覺
Fulfillment follows ready insight 了本圓可悟
Talents and saints generally bear our names 周洪普廣宗
Virtue was broadly cherished by our ancestors 道慶同玄祖
Tranquility and truthfulness sustain life as the sea 清靜真如海
Solitude endured inculcates pure personal quality 湛寂淳貞素
Righteous deeds evoke eternal succession 德行永延恆
Agility keeps bodies in sound and strong stakes 妙體常堅固
Clear minds enlighten deep understanding 心朗照幽深
Shining characters ensure signal accomplishments
性明鑒崇祚
Loyalty and justice exalt true happiness 忠正善禧祥
Singular wills are sources of lasting charity 謹志原濟度
Snow Pavilion exemplifies the guiding light 雪庭為導師
Leading all on the path to nirvana 引汝歸鉉路
Note: Every Chinese has an identity marked by two sources (doors), his family and his teacher (or school). 家門與師門. For example, I am a Kong and a Wahyanite, someone else may be a Chen and a Princetonian. Monks sever their relations with their families when they 出家. They are also theoretically equal with their mentors. So, their names are derived from a succession of names marking their temple origin. The 70 successive formal names of Shaolin was established by the head monk of the Yuen Dynasty, Snow Pavilion 雪庭. Each of the 70 Chinese words forms a part of a name for a monk, and all other monks of his generation. Altogether, the 70 words are grouped in verses of 5 words each, bearing meanings representing the wishes of the originator.
Agility keeps bodies in sound and strong STATES 妙體常堅固
Are the origin, medium form (ink on rice paper?), location and background of this piece known?
It must be modern as the writing follows the western style: from left to right, although using traditional characters.
YK
(the top two lines relates the origin. It was from a place named Ju don under the caring of Shaolin Temple). The third line is a succession naming method which is popular amongst a major clan. The monks in Shaolin Temple follows a hierarchy to obtain their names so they can be differentiated with their pedigree.
The rest of the lines basically can be translated as follows:
Our religion covers a vast territory and we rejoice in under the same origin
Maintenance of tranquillity should be deep as the ocean and purity is the path to follow
Keep your virtue constantly with the help of a solid mind
Keeping an open mind will guide you to more understanding of the ‘tao’
Kindness and loyalty will bring fortune to establish a greater understanding
“shue ting” can be your instructor and guide you through the proper path.
I might have mis-spelled and missed some of the proper words but the basic meaning should be there.
Hope this will be of some help.
Good try, David.
Please let’s have the third line.
http://www.ha.xinhuanet.com/travel/2011-05/20/content_22817132_3.htm
雪庭福裕是元初著名的高僧。雪庭是法号，福裕是法名
http://hi.baidu.com/%CE%E4%CC%B3%BF%F1%C1%FA/blog/item/98bbcfdf17c473adcc11663e.html
My goodness, I am overwhelmed at the replies and good assistance with this poem. I am the original asker for the translation and I did provide that image. Thanks, Shie-shie, to all who replied. It has been a rewarding and wonderful time. Please let me tell you all, Professor C.C. Cheng of the University of Illinois gave great assistance with this also – he is a great modern scholar andChinese expert.
The poem written entirely in Pin-Yin is as follows:
Song1 Shan1 Shao3 Lin2 Si4 Cao2 Dong4
Zheng4 Zong1 Chuan2 Xu4 Qi1 Shi2 Zi4 Bei4 Jue2
Fu2 Hui4 Zhi4 Zi2 Jue2
Liao3 Ben3 Yuan2 Ke3 Wu4
Zhou1 Hong2 Pu3 Guang3 Zong1
Dao4 Qing4 Tong2 Xuan2 Zu3
Qing1 Jing4 Zhen1 Ru2 Hai3
Zhan4 Ji4 Chun2 Zhen1 Su4
De2 Xing2 Yong3 Yan2 Heng2
Miao4 Ti3 Chang2 Jian1 Gu4
Xin1 Lang3 Zhao4 You1 Shen1
Xing4 Ming2 Jian4 Chong2 Zuo4
Zhong1 Zheng4 Shan4 Xi1 Xiang2
Jin3 Zhi4 Yuan2 Ji4 Du4
Xue3 Ting2 Wei2 Dao3 Shi1
Yin3 Ru3 Gui1 Xuan4 Lu4
Formal Names of 70 Successive Generations of Shaolin Temple Monks
Translation by Kong Shiu Loon
嵩山少林寺曹洞正宗傳續七十字輩訣
江紹倫譯
Blessed wisdom inspires self-awareness 福慧智子覺
Fulfillment follows ready insight 了本圓可悟
Talents and saints generally bear our names 周洪普廣宗
Virtue was broadly cherished by our ancestors 道慶同玄祖
Tranquility and truthfulness sustain life as the sea 清靜真如海
Solitude endured inculcates pure personal quality 湛寂淳貞素
Righteous deeds evoke eternal succession 德行永延恆
Agility keeps bodies in sound and strong stakes 妙體常堅固
Clear minds enlighten deep understanding 心朗照幽深
Shining characters ensure signal accomplishments
性明鑒崇祚
Loyalty and justice exalt true happiness 忠正善禧祥
Singular wills are sources of lasting charity 謹志原濟度
Snow Pavilion exemplifies the guiding light 雪庭為導師
Leading all on the path to nirvana 引汝歸鉉路
Note: Every Chinese has an identity marked by two sources (doors), his family and his teacher (or school). 家門與師門. For example, I am a Kong and a Wahyanite, someone else may be a Chen and a Princetonian. Monks sever their relations with their families when they 出家. They are also theoretically equal with their mentors. So, their names are derived from a succession of names marking their temple origin. The 70 successive formal names of Shaolin was established by the head monk of the Yuen Dynasty, Snow Pavilion 雪庭. Each of the 70 Chinese words forms a part of a name for a monk, and all other monks of his generation. Altogether, the 70 words are grouped in verses of 5 words each, bearing meanings representing the wishes of the originator.
Agility keeps bodies in sound and strong STATES 妙體常堅固