Translation Help

[Anti Her0z]

Hi, I'm getting the Bushido Code tattooed on my arm. I spent some time to make sure these are accurate translations. If you see any problems, please let me know. My question is, I was told when certain characters are lined up next to one another, this could change its inherent meaning. So I'm planning on getting half of the code, which is on the top row of the link I'll provide, on my left arm, and the bottom row on my right arm. They will be running vertically.

So does change any of its meaning, or make it incorrect?

Any help would be much appreciated

Heres the link
http://i.imgur.com/SLPhq.jpg

thank you

[becki_kanou]

If neither you nor your tattoo artist can read Japanese, the chance of the characters coming out badly done, sideways, mirrored, upside-down or just plain ugly is quite high. Take a gander at Hanzi Smatter before you go through with your plan.

That said the characters you posted are correct, if in an ugly font, although 勇 looks kind of lopsided. Proceed with caution, or get a tattoo in a language you can actually read.

[phreadom]

I should probably add....

Tattoos in Japan

and

Why TJP doesn't help with Japanese Tattoos

Please read those and bear them in mind as you go forward.

[micahcowan]

As Becky mentioned, the character for courage looks particularly poor. The characters for "benevolence" and "respect" don't look terrible, but they don't look quite-right either - slightly off-balanced, sort of diagonal.

Also, I'm sure you probably weren't planning on getting the readings tattooed, but 誠 is makoto, not makato.

I did a search for bushido code and came up with a couple hits of this version, from which I'd guess your samples were taken (the artist doesn't seem to actually be Japanese, which might account for the oddity of some of the characters). I'll just pointed out that where you have 勇 (yuu), the original had 勇気 (yuuki, with 気 written in an older form).

(It also would seem that some versions of the bushido code list an eighth virtue, 克己 kokki, meaning self-control or restraint.)

[Anti Her0z]

If neither you nor your tattoo artist can read Japanese, the chance of the characters coming out badly done, sideways, mirrored, upside-down or just plain ugly is quite high. Take a gander at Hanzi Smatter before you go through with your plan.

That said the characters you posted are correct, if in an ugly font, although 勇 looks kind of lopsided. Proceed with caution, or get a tattoo in a language you can actually read.

It was actually my tattoo artist that warned me about putting the characters together, and having its meaning changed.

I did a search for bushido code and came up with a couple hits of this version, from which I'd guess your samples were taken (the artist doesn't seem to actually be Japanese, which might account for the oddity of some of the characters). I'll just pointed out that where you have 勇 (yuu), the original had 勇気 (yuuki, with 気 written in an older form).

Yea this is where I got mine from, and I heard from alot of people that the yukki form was incorrect, that yuu looked much better and more accurate.


Bottom line, is I was hoping you guys could help me find the correct form of all the tenets of the code. Something that wasn't lopsided, in a good font. I read your guys links, and I don't want to disrespect the Japanese language or culture. I don't want to be ignorant to its meaning, thats why I've come to you guys for help. I'm in love with Japanese culture, and have been for a long time. Thats why the last thing I want to do is misrepresent or disrespect the culture. And despite it being a western idea, The Bushido code, is something I hold very dear to my heart, and I want it to be represented on me correctly. I would greatly much appreciate it.

[Ongakuka]

Yea this is where I got mine from, and I heard from alot of people that the yukki form was incorrect, that yuu looked much better and more accurate.

If you were having a single tattoo, then yes 'yuuki' would be off. However, in the context of the bushido-code, I'd assume it is more correct.

This is because 'yuu' by itself represents more of a concept, whereas 'yuuki' looks more like, well, a word. Words tend to need context, which is what the bushido-code in its full glory would be providing.

Well, I hope that makes some sense. I don't really know anything about Japanese tattoos

[AJBryant]

It should probably be pointed out, as well, that there is no such thing as "THE bushido code." Those are just random values someone thought sounded good. There isn't ANY bushido code -- nothing codified, anyway.

[Ranja]

from http://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/%E6%AD%A6%E5%A3%AB%E9%81%93

しかしあくまで「武士道」は旧武士階級（支配階級）の倫理観であり、そもそもとして日本人全体の倫理観では無く、近代における拝金主義などの個人主義と反するモノであったため、民衆にはあまり根付かず、速やかに廃れていってしまった。ただ、新渡戸が外国に対して「武士道」を日本国民の普遍的な倫理観としたため、海外からのウケは良く、日本と言えば「ブシドー」の国という印象が強く海外諸国に根付いた。

I think that the "Bushido code" you found is the one that Inazou Nitobe put forward in 1900 after Bushi(Samurai) had disappeared in Japan.
Because he published his idea in English, it became very popular outside Japan. However in Japan, it didn't receive widespread support by the public and died out in a short time.

Yes, there is the concept of Bushido, but nothing codified.

[Anti Her0z]

No, I realize that there is no set definition of the Bushido Code, that it had gone unwritten, pretty much till the 1960's. Some codes, have different tenents. But these are the tenets I like.

[BlackCitadel]

Can you please tell me what does this poster say???
I have tried my best after learning the basic Japanese Grammar and posted this in other forms but didn't get a nice translation..

[katafei]

...hhmmm, did you actually read the advice you got earlier, from several posters??
it's totally undoable to have the whole game translated here....
try to get your hands on some Japanese course...or try:
http://www.japanesepod101.com/index.php

[Hyperworm]

This one was posted along with the others before we said anything, so

[furrykef]

To be honest I was going to 'be nice' and do this one just this once -- then I saw the other posts and I thought, "Nah." ^^;

[katafei]

This one was posted along with the others before we said anything, so

ah...didn't notice that...sorry...