<p>Well, first we have to recognized what is written as it is not a very good writing...</p>

<p>I think what is written is from right to left (in simplified Chinese):
甲辰
东湖刻于
台湾
It means
these words are engraved in the year JiaChen which is a year counting by the Chinese Era, 
at the East Lake, 
in Taiwan.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T20:10:40.890Z
Well this is just a translation, I know nothing about the history of the vase of course...
LN_HE
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T20:17:49.963Z
that's 東??? I took it as a personal name... it doesn't seem to make sense to have a place name before the 於... but I can't figure out what that character is supposed to be.  Also I'm seeing maybe 瑚... Ugh I hate Chinese cursive.
Master Sparkles
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T20:55:40.027Z
Ah maybe it's not. I'm not sure... Yes you are right it's a little strange to put a place before. it's engraved so more difficult to recognize. maybe we need an archaeologist here... =)
LN_HE
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T20:57:02.363Z
I think Master Sparkles is right. It doesn't even look like 東。 秉瑚 （a person's name) is more like it.
monalisa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T20:08:52.640Z
2015-02-17T20:08:52.640Z
LN_HE
<p>Based on some help from mona lisa, the reading seems to be:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>甲辰，秉瑚（秉湖？）刻於臺*灣。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Which means </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In the Jiachen year, Binghu carved (these words) in Taiwan</p>
</blockquote>

<p>"Binghu" is presumably the given name of whoever made the vase.  "Jiachen" is a permutation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle" rel="nofollow">sexagenary cycle</a>, so it's hard to say how what exact date that corresponds to.  Most likely it refers to 1964 based on <a href="http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%B2%E8%BE%B0" rel="nofollow">this table</a>, but if it's supposed to be older, then keep on subtracting 60 years until the answer makes sense.  (yes, that's really how it works) </p>

<p>* The orthography of the 臺 character is strange: is that a hint about when it might have been written, maybe? I'm kind of curious about the odd writing style...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T22:18:08.467Z
2015-02-17T22:25:10.570Z
2015-02-17T22:25:10.570Z
Master Sparkles
<p>Can anyone translate this for me?
<img src="https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/s720x720/10974374_10152955924554724_1100767706294002363_o.jpg" alt="vase">
I need a translation for the bottom of this vase.</p>

<translation>
Translation needed for Chinese vase
# Translation needed for Chinese vase

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-17)

Can anyone translate this for me?
![vase](https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/s720x720/10974374_10152955924554724_1100767706294002363_o.jpg)
I need a translation for the bottom of this vase.

**Tags:** translation

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-17. Score: 1

Well, first we have to recognized what is written as it is not a very good writing...

I think what is written is from right to left (in simplified Chinese):
甲辰
东湖刻于
台湾
It means
these words are engraved in the year JiaChen which is a year counting by the Chinese Era,
at the East Lake,
in Taiwan.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Well this is just a translation, I know nothing about the history of the vase of course...  
> **username_2**: that's 東??? I took it as a personal name... it doesn't seem to make sense to have a place name before the 於... but I can't figure out what that character is supposed to be.  Also I'm seeing maybe 瑚... Ugh I hate Chinese cursive.  
> **username_1**: Ah maybe it's not. I'm not sure... Yes you are right it's a little strange to put a place before. it's engraved so more difficult to recognize. maybe we need an archaeologist here... =)  
> **username_3**: I think Master Sparkles is right. It doesn't even look like 東。 秉瑚 （a person's name) is more like it.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-17. Score: 1

Based on some help from mona lisa, the reading seems to be:

> 甲辰，秉瑚（秉湖？）刻於臺\*灣。

Which means

> In the Jiachen year, Binghu carved (these words) in Taiwan

"Binghu" is presumably the given name of whoever made the vase. "Jiachen" is a permutation of the [sexagenary cycle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle), so it's hard to say how what exact date that corresponds to. Most likely it refers to 1964 based on [this table](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%B2%E8%BE%B0), but if it's supposed to be older, then keep on subtracting 60 years until the answer makes sense. (yes, that's really how it works)

\* The orthography of the 臺 character is strange: is that a hint about when it might have been written, maybe? I'm kind of curious about the odd writing style...


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