Page:Inscriptions de l'Orkhon déchiffrées.djvu/217

Cette page n’a pas encore été corrigée

— 215 ^

The panegyric runs: —

Country of sand and cold*), Région of the Ting-ling^[1], Robust «militarismus» abundantly rose Amid thy former kings.

May thy princes endure, Thus glorifying outlandish régions! May thy principles remain submissive, Aiming at friendship with Our T'angl

Who shall say that such men Are not guaranteed to endure for ever? A lofty tablet is (now) reared (like a) hill To proclaim the good tidings for ever.

(Date, on which I have no opinion to express: — ^[2]))

Great T'ang, 20^ year of K'ai-yûan, in the cyclic order jèn-

↑ See my book: one of the Kirghiz groups (one west and one north).
↑ When I say that I have no opinion as to the date, I mean that I am ignorant of astronomical considérations and questions of calendar. But as to tbe date as it appears to the eye on the inscription, the following facts are important: — 1. There is only space for one Chinese character before the word «moon» or «month». Tbis character must stand for either «ten» or «seven». 2. Tbe perpendicular of <ten» does not reach beyond the horizontal so far as the perpendicular of «seven». 3. The horizontal of seven» is more slanting than the horizontal of «ten». 4. The top part of the perpendicular of «seven» is thicker and more wedge-shaped than the top part of the perpendicular of «ten». All the above points can be seen by any one, whether ignorant of Chinese or no, if he will examine the characters in question in print and in writing. If any one will examine the Plate No. XVI in Dr. Radlofl's Album, be will see that the damaged character preceding the word «moon» is exactly the same in appearance as the character «seven» which lies five spaces below. He will also see that the tail of the perpendicular belonging to the damaged char- acter distinctly appears to the right. Moreover the top of the perpendicular is wedge-shapcd; it goes far beyond the horizontal; the horizontal is slanting.

[1] See my book: one of the Kirghiz groups (one west and one north).

[2] When I say that I have no opinion as to the date, I mean that I am ignorant of astronomical considérations and questions of calendar. But as to tbe date as it appears to the eye on the inscription, the following facts are important: — 1. There is only space for one Chinese character before the word «moon» or «month». Tbis character must stand for either «ten» or «seven». 2. Tbe perpendicular of <ten» does not reach beyond the horizontal so far as the perpendicular of «seven». 3. The horizontal of seven» is more slanting than the horizontal of «ten». 4. The top part of the perpendicular of «seven» is thicker and more wedge-shaped than the top part of the perpendicular of «ten». All the above points can be seen by any one, whether ignorant of Chinese or no, if he will examine the characters in question in print and in writing. If any one will examine the Plate No. XVI in Dr. Radlofl's Album, be will see that the damaged character preceding the word «moon» is exactly the same in appearance as the character «seven» which lies five spaces below. He will also see that the tail of the perpendicular belonging to the damaged char- acter distinctly appears to the right. Moreover the top of the perpendicular is wedge-shapcd; it goes far beyond the horizontal; the horizontal is slanting.

[1]

[2]