That mysterious person in the pilot episode

POSTED BY: DesktopHippie
UPDATED: Sunday, March 4, 2007 02:21
VIEWED: 8361
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DESKTOPHIPPIE

Friday, November 17, 2006 4:41 PM

...the one I use as my avatar. I've just realised that I have no clue what's written on her face.

Has anyone ever mentioned it? Can anyone read it? I'd kinda like to know.

MAVOURNEEN

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:21 PM

Hey there Ms DTH-

While the site was acting funky ( what's new? ) I did a little research and came up with this:
http://fireflychinese.kevinsullivansite.net/episode1.html

Kevin Sullivan's Chinese translations are what are in Finding Serenity, so I assume this is correct. The reference is 1/4 down the page, under Serenity (episode), Visual Chinese.

The tattoo reads: Shou bu gan jia jia

Shou3 bu4 gan3 jia1 jia4

"The hand dares not hike the price."

Ummm...okay. I guess that's open for interpretation. What do you think that means?

DTH.

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:24 PM

Wow! That's... totally not what I was expecting!

I'm guessing it either means that she's a slave, and that's the motto/byline/whatever of the person selling her, or she's an unregistered companion and is letting her clients know upfront that her rates are non-negotiable.

Much to ponder. Thanks a million!

AMITON

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:28 PM

I'd go a little different direction. It was seen in a mercantile court. Since it seemed to be an uncommon kind of thing, I'd say that it has to do with her being a merchant who did something naughty with the goods and ended up getting branded for it.

At least that's my theory...

Amiton.

MAVOURNEEN

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:30 PM

Whoa. Good Theory!

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:32 PM

Yeah, I like that theory. It always made me wonder, the way she was just sitting there, not doing anything and not looking particularly interested in what was going on around her, when everyone else was so busy. I'm guessing that was on purpose, and Joss didn't just focus on a bored extra!

SIRI

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:55 PM

I've always found that image fascinating but my impression (not having given it a lot of thought) was that "Wow! What a gutsy thing to do tatooing all that stuff on your face." I guess some of the other replies are more accurate. Still, it's a very cool shot.

"They're here."

Siri

AMITON

Friday, November 17, 2006 8:03 PM

I've always wondered about that shot, too. However, something I didn't realize until you posted the enlarged picture was that the Chinese letters are written sideways - e.g. the bottoms of the letters are toward her ear and the tops of the letters toward the nose. That seems to force the reading of the letters from left to right - or from bottom to top with reference to the face.

If I remember correctly, isn't it acceptable for Chinese to be written left to right, but it's traditionally top to bottom? Columns right to left, even? Or am I thinking of Japanese? (or, option 3, I'm retarded and my assertion has no basis in reality)

Amiton.

PIRATECAT

Saturday, November 18, 2006 6:29 PM

Being an ex sailor I'd say she's gang property probably a hooker for the Tongs. Make sure you pay not get ruff or you may end up in a river.

Is this some kind of warning.

RAINMAKER

Saturday, March 3, 2007 1:07 PM

Yeah, Chinese traditionally is written top to bottom. But I think it's become colloquial to write left to write. Either way is understandable though,

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