Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
間
English translation:
jian (number of pillars as unit of measurement)
Added to glossary by
Katkin
Nov 19, 2013 12:35
10 yrs ago
Chinese term
間
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Chinese painting/archeology
木構棺室為一座小木作建築，按照宋《營造法式》可稱為“小帳”，其帳坐又是棺床，故稱之為“棺床小帳”。九脊頂，面闊三間，進深兩間，周圍是板壁，前有門窗，放置在一張外有圍欄的棺床之上，可能是一種類比棺床床架的結構，屬首次在遼代墓葬中完整發現。在清理承載石棺的“小帳”時，首先在東側山壓槽坊下發現山水畫，畫軸脫裱，已墜落在地板上。
I am not sure if 'two jian' and 'three jian' refers to the house or the roof, and I don't know what the measurement represents in English.
I am not sure if 'two jian' and 'three jian' refers to the house or the roof, and I don't know what the measurement represents in English.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | jian (number of pillars as unit of measurement) |
David Lin
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| 5 | compartment |
Teplocteur
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References
| Previous kudoz question on this |
Phil Hand
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Proposed translations
+2
3 hrs
Selected
jian (number of pillars as unit of measurement)
Sharon is quite right although that post does not say much with sufficient illustration. My research is as follows:
面宽 ＝ 长 length of the house measured by the number of pillars
If say 面宽五间，it means it has six pillars in the length (regardless how long each pillar is from each other or whether there is a wall or any partition) 进宽3间 = 宽 the width of the house represented by three pillars.
For easy understanding, see 保和殿 in the link below which is 面宽九间 the nine pillars on the front in the photo.
Since this is a classical expression, use jian and put bracket for explanation, similar to xuan paper for 宣纸。
供参考 。
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-11-19 15:55:23 GMT)
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five pillars instead of six in the length. Typo.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-11-19 16:02:03 GMT)
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To answer your question, 面闊三間，進深兩間 means the 九脊頂 is supported by three pillars in the front and two pillars on the side.
For more about 九脊頂 see http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/歇山顶
面宽 ＝ 长 length of the house measured by the number of pillars
If say 面宽五间，it means it has six pillars in the length (regardless how long each pillar is from each other or whether there is a wall or any partition) 进宽3间 = 宽 the width of the house represented by three pillars.
For easy understanding, see 保和殿 in the link below which is 面宽九间 the nine pillars on the front in the photo.
Since this is a classical expression, use jian and put bracket for explanation, similar to xuan paper for 宣纸。
供参考 。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-11-19 15:55:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
five pillars instead of six in the length. Typo.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-11-19 16:02:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To answer your question, 面闊三間，進深兩間 means the 九脊頂 is supported by three pillars in the front and two pillars on the side.
For more about 九脊頂 see http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/歇山顶
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sharon Toh, MITI MCIL
: Agree; I think it is supported by 4 pillars in front and 3 pillars on the side. As far as I understand, 1-jian width is the distance between 2 pillars, so 3-jian width has 4 pillars, etc. Another approach is to rewrite these in English using the meanings.
8 hrs
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Point taken. The front and the side share one pillar which slipped off my attention. I hope Katkin finds our thorough research useful.
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| agree |
MY Lim
3 days 12 hrs
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thanks.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks"
1 day 6 hrs
Teplocteur
Native in Chinese
Specializes in field
Committed, Conscientious and Reliable
Native in: Chinese (Variant: Simplified)
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
compartment
间：量词，房屋的最小单位：一～卧室ㄧ三～门面。
面阔：the area is ... wide
面阔三间：the area of the burial chamber is three compartments wide
进深：[depth] 院子或建筑物的深度；院子或房间等的深度。
http://www.zdic.net/c/b/155/340749.htm
进深两间：the burial chamber is two compartments deep.
面阔三间，进深两间：the area of the burial chamber is three compartments wide and two ones deep.
面阔：the area is ... wide
面阔三间：the area of the burial chamber is three compartments wide
进深：[depth] 院子或建筑物的深度；院子或房间等的深度。
http://www.zdic.net/c/b/155/340749.htm
进深两间：the burial chamber is two compartments deep.
面阔三间，进深两间：the area of the burial chamber is three compartments wide and two ones deep.
Discussion
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/1685523868
Q: 面阔三间,进深五间什么意思…
Someone answered:
"古代计算房屋的间数是以柱子为标准，每四根柱子围成的长方形或正方形面积为一间，不考虑有没有墙壁，简单来说你的面阔三间,进深五间，就是正面有四根柱子，进深（侧面）有六根柱子，，这样一个宫殿在房间计算上是15间。"
So similarly, "面闊三間，進深兩間" would mean something like this: 正面有四根柱子，进深（侧面）有三根柱子
I suspect there's no equivalent in English. You could say 'Jian' with a footnote on what it means. This is my suggestion.