Need Chinese translation to english

February 5, 2014 6:26 PM

Can any one tell me what it says at the bottom of this picture in english? I think it is Chinese.
posted by tomjoadsghost to Writing & Language (7 answers total)

It says:

Lenin
-------
The East is Red Textile Factory, Hangzhou, China 9.5x14.6 cm
posted by zjacreman at 6:58 PM on February 5, 2014

Silk textiles, specifically.
posted by zjacreman at 7:01 PM on February 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

As zjacreman says ...

It's captioned with Lenin's name, and then lists where it was made (and the size in the bottom right corner).

Top line:
列寧 (Lièníng)
Lenin

Bottom line:
中国杭州东方红絲织厂 (Zhōngguó Hángzhōu dōngfāng hóngsī zhīchǎng)
China, HangZhou East red silk weaving factory
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 7:06 PM on February 5, 2014

That bottom lines is better parsed as Zhōngguó Hángzhōu DōngFāngHóng sīzhīhchǎng because, as zjacreman says, the name of the textile factory is "The East Is Red". That was a common name for tractor, textile, shoe, etc factories during the Cultural Revolution period (approx 1966-79). Products like this have retro appeal in today's China so this particular item could either be an original from that era or a recent copy.
posted by mono blanco at 7:34 PM on February 5, 2014

I did a quick search that confirms it was likely made during the Cultural Revolution, and currently goes for 20 to 30RMB (US$3-5) on a site specializing in these kinds of silk weavings. The same site also has a giant 49x72cm version and a set of all your favorite communists.
posted by bradf at 9:40 PM on February 5, 2014

Um, this may not be allowed to ask, but: Who is the communist in the lower right corner in the set bradf links to? I don't recognize him.
posted by bertran at 10:13 PM on February 5, 2014

bertran - Norman Bethune.
posted by Houstonian at 4:47 AM on February 6, 2014