I am still trying to figure why I collect Russo Japanese war items and can't read either language...? I guess it just makes it that more challenging?
I am still trying to figure why I collect Russo Japanese war items and can't read either language...? I guess it just makes it that more challenging?
Just got this sign in an online auction this morning. I can read enough Japanese to know it's a notice of some Russo-Japanese War news. I'll work on the full translation when I have it in hand (unless someone wants to have a shot at it from the photo). The title/header says 戦捷拝辞 Which I'm having trouble with, 戦捷 is War Victory, but 拝辞 I'm not sure about in this context, the content will probably clear it up to me. It's dated February Meiji 37 (1904) when the war started. I assume it's to rally support for the war. It was cheap, so I'm happy with it whatever it says.
Love the ateji for Russia!!
露西亜国
Ro-sei-A koku
拝辞... a polite way to leave, go away, depart. 去る. another site compared it to 暇乞い itomagoi; leave-taking; offering one's resignation; farewell visit.
Still another says: A polite way to do something difficult
いとまごいすることをへりくだって う語。
As for the sign ... ??? make of it what you will:
戦捷拝辞
北里の産土の大神御前に
白サク我が皇国の御勢にて
露西亜国を＊滅して安国と
守り給り北里 (我家) より軍
人となりて出立し(某、)身を
健に人に後れず克の勉の切を
立ち早く国に帰をしの給と
白す
明治三十七年二月
Oh, perhaps it is an ema or something like that, seems addressed to a deity. "北里 (Kitasato?)'s guardian deity, help Japan beat the pesky Russians and protect our home and I'd be grateful if I could make it back home afterwards." Something like that maybe.
Yeah, something like that. Maybe Nick can polish our poor attempts without laughing too much!!
戦捷拝辞
Victory Send−Off
北里の産土の大神御前に
Kitasato guardian deity
白サク我が御勢御勢にて
just cause our Empire's military strength will
露西亜国を＊滅して安国と
destroy Russia, peaceful country
守り給り北里 (我家) より軍
protect and compensate Kitasato (our home), military
人となりて出立し(某、)身を
men [soldier] neighbor departs (me) a
健に人に後れず克の勉の切を
healthy body person without being late, earnestly
立ち早く国に帰をしの給と
rising quickly, returning to [Japan]
白す
to humbly say
明治三十七年二月
a bit more polished, but sorely in need of NICKKKKKK!
Victory Send−Off
Kitasato's guardian deity [in this]
just cause our Empire's military strength will
destroy Russia; protect [our] peaceful country [Japan]
and compensate Kitasato (our home), military
men [soldiers] neighbor departs (me) a
healthy body person hastily returning to [Japan] without being late,
we humbly say.
Meiji 37th Year [1904], February
As you said, 拝辞 [refuse; decline] presents a problem for me to understand as it makes no sense in . I found something here which I think explains it in this context:
等しくつかえる言い換えには "辞退する", "見送る" などあり。あえて "拝辞" という謙譲語をつかわずとも言い換 できます。
Similarly, it is a word that can be used [changed] for "decline" and "send off" and so forth. You can express it without having to use the honorific word 拝辞 [haiji]."
I'll just give you the correct translation and leave you guys to figure out what you got wrong.
Humbly taking leave of absence for the sake of victory
We say unto thee, the Great Spirit of our soil, may the might of our Empire defeat Russia under your divine protection, and may the men of our land, departing as soldiers, remain healthy and be second to none in fulfilling their duties, before quickly returning to us.
February 1904
EXACTLY what I said! well .... maybe a little bit better .... and eloquently .... and and and (^_^)by nick komiya
Thanks Nick -- you really are our "Sacred Treasure", that's for certain.
-- Guy
wow
Well, that sounds awesome now that Nick has translated it. Now I'm really happy with it.
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