照膽臺

English translation: All seeing eye

09:34 Jun 9, 2005

Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History / Chinese religion

Chinese term or phrase: 照膽臺

This is a plaque on a miniature temple of the Emperor Daoguang (1821-1851). On either side of the plaque is antithetical couplet : 靈耀照遠近軍民威赫庇各方官宦, presumably intended to strike fear into the hearts of corrupt officals wherever they may be hiding. So my question is: how would you translate 照膽臺? There is also a temple in Hangzhou with the same name. The sense seems to be "Dais with the x-ray eyes which see all the dark secrets of your soul"... Can anyone make that shorter? Is there a better word than dais?

Paul Hirsh KudoZ activity Questions: 263 (2 open) (10 without valid answers) (11 closed without grading) Answers: 885 France
Local time: 11:20

English translation:All seeing eye

Explanation:
A similar concept in ancient western mythology is the 'all seeing eye' maybe this would be more appropriate and understandable to westerners

Selected response from:

Nigel Jones
China
Local time: 17:20

Grading comment

Shame I can't give points to everybody, but this idea is the most usable. Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

All seeing eye

Nigel Jones

courage alter

billychang

FYI

chenarth

FYI Hangzhou's Zhaodan Tai 照胆台

chica nueva

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

9 mins confidence:

All seeing eye

Explanation:
A similar concept in ancient western mythology is the 'all seeing eye' maybe this would be more appropriate and understandable to westerners

Nigel Jones
China
Local time: 17:20
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Shame I can't give points to everybody, but this idea is the most usable. Thanks

14 hrs confidence:

鐓ц喗鑷?> <input readonly type=text name= FYI Hangzhou's Zhaodan Tai 照胆台

Explanation:
This was all I found, sorry, no translation.

中国杭州·名人眼中的杭州 - [ Translate this page ]
登孤山放鹤亭，谒林和靖墓，绕出平湖秋月，顺道至苏白二公祠及照胆台，乃复乘舟至
断桥，入昭庆寺，顺道至张公祠游览，经响水闸而循钱塘门外之王庄一带，自北而东，仍沿
三雅园之湖壖而归问水亭原址。城楼之上，例燃一烛，烛烬，则城闭矣。 ...
www.hangzhou.gov.cn/main/ file/article/2758/article_20199.jsp - 36k - Cached - Similar pages

chica nueva
Local time: 21:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks Lesley, I found that one too :)

The asker has declined this answer
Comment: Thanks Lesley, I found that one too :)

1 day 8 hrs confidence:

courage alter

Explanation:
膽-refers to courage instead of organ

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 8 hrs 21 mins (2005-06-10 17:56:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or \"Alter of Courage\"

billychang
Local time: 04:20
Native speaker of:

English,

Chinese

1 day 15 hrs confidence:

鐓ц喗鑷?> <input readonly type=text name= FYI

Explanation:
照胆台is likely derived from 照胆镜. "照胆镜：传说秦始皇有镜，能照见人肠胃五脏。女子有邪心，则胆张心动" So it's a place where a person must reveal his/her true nature. An ancient Chinese lie-detector:)

Reference: http://www.yifan.net/yihe/novels/theatry/mdt/mdt55.html

chenarth
Local time: 05:20
Native speaker of:

Chinese

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照膽臺

English translation: All seeing eye

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English translation: All seeing eye

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