I’m always wary of anything bearing oriental calligraphy – not because I don’t like it– but because I don’t understand what it says . . . . I bought a shirt in Singapore, which I’ve never worn it. It has a lovely calligraphic design on the front—- it may say ‘have a nice day’; it may say ‘May happiness go with you wherever you go’ or it may say ‘Have you seen what this idiot looks like?’
FOR SALE
Cheesecloth shirt; one owner never worn . . .
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sorry to break it to you… but it is NOT happiness… (your point is further proven)
it means “zen”.
At least, it’s not insulting or demeaning…. ‘Zen’ I’m happy with!!!!
Thank you for the translation: I’m also quite pleased that my ‘replication’ was comprehensible!!! 🙂
zen happiness~ 🙂
your replication is pretty much right on.
the character can be written this way: 禅 and this way also: 禪
Thanks! I do like Oriental calligraphy- the analogy which they draw in ‘Hero’ between calligraphy and swordsmanship is fascinating.
Perhaps the shirt calligraphy is the washing instructions?
Seeing as I’ve never plucked up the courage to wear it . . . . it will never need washing….
That’s a bit of luck, someone’s translated it! I feel like flying in the face of reality though: I prefer the slamp of happiness to zen. It’s got a ring to it…
Thank you: you’re right: in fact, it has a Edward Monkton ring to it
On the other hand… many Asians seem to have a fascination with the English language also. (or maybe it’s just the look of a string of alphabets slapped together, it could be Spanish or French or Italian.) In my childhood, I always had t-shirts (from Taiwan) that have meaningless sentences as part of their design (and some say very funny things). I use to be quite embarrassed to wear them… but now I kinda’ dig them. ^^
Yes the grass is always greener… and more interesting.
Sergio Tacchini– cool sports wear? Mr Turkey . . .
Ravanelli- Internationally successful footballer? Mr Radish . . .
Giuseppe Verdi—- Joe Green
In fact, Michael Dibdin wrote one of his Aurelio Zen novels called and then you die the idea taken from the phrase ‘Life’s a bitch/beach’