I get many emails daily asking for translation help. Some of them are very specific questions that deal with Asian history/language and usually are very in depth. Even though, they would take me hours to do background research and eventually come up with concise results, they are very intellectually enriching for me.
On the other end of the spectrum are the tattoo questions. Most of them email me because they don’t want to be ridiculed later on when their mistakes have been exposed. I try to help them as much as possible only to provide them with linguistic information. I am also very curious about why would someone choose to tattoo themselves with a language that they obviously do not understand.
Once the question of “why?” is presented to them, they would usually come to the realization that it might not be such great idea.
Recently my email exchange with one of the tattoo seekers did not go so well. All emails are in their original format (including spelling errors), except the recipient’s address has been blocked out.
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005
From: **********@aol.com
To: tian
Subject: chinese tatoos
I was guided by a friend to your site, and I was wondering if you could help us out?...With so many mistakes going on, I am seeking your expertise with a family project. My Mom, who has been fasinated with the Chinese & Japanese culture for many years, has agreed to have a family tatoo that my mom, sister, and myself can share and wear with respect to both cultures whenever seen. We weren't sure which characters to use because we like both Hanzi (Chinese Traditional), and Kanzi (Japanese Traditional) characters. Can you write both versions for us so we can choose from the following: God, Mother, Father, Love, Respect, Courage, Loyalty, Self- Respect, Family, Children, Peace, Judgement, Wisdom, Strength, Versatility, Life, Death, Resilience. Also, the following caption: No one saves us but ourselves. No one can, no one may. For we ourselves must walk the path. Please help!!!!! My mom is worried they won't be in the correct form and context, and we'll walk around" looking like freaking idiots",LOL. You can email me @ ***********@aol.com so we're able to print them. Your help will be SOOOOOOOOO GREATLY APPRECIATED;-) Thanks. -----
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005
From: Tian
To: **********@aol.com
Subject: Re: chinese tatoos
I am very curious why you and your family members want tattoos in a language that you obviously don't understand?
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Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005
From: **********@aol.com
To: tian
Subject: Re: chinese tatoos
Because I have always felt it to be a beautiful, interesting, and exotic culture, and expression of words. No disrespect intended by the following remark.......But obviously others have sought out your knowledge and expertise on the matter concerning tatoos they have for a reason- that reason being they want to know if their tatoos are in the correct context, that is why I wrote you. I want to make sure I don't end up with the same mistake riddled tatoos as some of the unfortunate others. -----
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005
From: Tian
To: **********@aol.com
Subject: Re: chinese tatoos
What about your own culture [get tattoos in English instead], aren't you proud of your heritage? Why use a foreign culture to represent your own?
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Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005
From: **********@aol.com
To: tian
Subject: Re: chinese tatoos
I AM PROUD OF MY OWN CULTURE!!!!!!! What does that have to do with anything? You can be open-minded enough to love your own culture, and still embrace that of others, can you not?????! If you didn't want to assist in the matter, all you had to do was say so. The fact is, I can very well find someone with the same knowledge, if not more, as you to assist in the matter. THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!! I'm just wondering........Do you question and try to offend ALL of you readers that try to seek your help? I thought your web site was for the purpose of helping others. I'm sure the the pics of the people you've showcased on your site wasn't of Chinese or Japanese people or desent..........WERE THEY???????? Don't bother replying, because it will remain unread, and immediately deleted!!!!! Enjoy your day! Fortunately I am not the only one that is "close minded".
Goodcharacters.com, one of the largest Chinese-English consulting firm, had the following to say:
"Because we love the Chinese language, we don't wish to contribute to the language's misuse for the sake of a fad. For people who don't know Chinese, flaring the characters across an arm may appear elegant, exotic, or intriguing. Yet what looks mystical and intelligent often has a nonsensical or embarrassing meaning. Probably neither the wearer nor the tattoo artist understand what the characters actually mean. NBA player Marcus Camby is a popular example of the rave of tattooing Chinese characters. Neither Chinese nor Japanese people could understand his tattoos, however, until Camby gained millions of dollar's worth of publicity "explaining" what his tattoos are suppose to mean. Of course, the average Joe doesn't have this kind of opportunity. "But I'm not Chinese or Japanese. It just looks cool to me." (
more)
In conclusion:
天下本無事，庸人自擾之。
