When Interpreter's Blooper Translates Into Gift Of Siberian Tigers

Sometimes it pays to be linguistically-challenged.

Here's the story extracted from the English news of the Chosun Ilbo:

While visiting Korea in June, a Russian delegation .... went to the National Institute of Biological Resources... to see a display of mounted animals, including a Siberian tiger. During the tour, a Korean official said, "Korea is very interested in Siberian tigers." But the interpreter mistranslated the comment, and asked about Russia's willingness to donate the animals.

In response, Kirillov asked if Korea could raise donated tigers in the wild.The government didn't give much thought to the remarks at the time, but it seems Kirillov proposed the donation while briefing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on his visit to Korea....A ministry official said Russia agreed to donate the tigers to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

So Koreans can look forward to seeing more creatures like this:

source:
englishnews@chosun.com / Nov. 10, 2009 08:52 KST
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Siberian_Tiger.jpg

Five Smoking Tigers

Came across this quaint expression. It's the Korean version of "Long, long ago":
호랑이 담배 피던 시절 (Horang-i dambae pidun sijul.)

Translated, it means: A time when tigers smoked cigarettes. According to Cho Ah-mi, this proverb refers to a time gone by. It is used to express that is very outdated.

This led me to google for images featuring smoking tigers and whaddaya know - I found four!

Smoking Tiger No.1 - I love the stripes in the tiger here. This "Smoking Tiger” is by Suh Gong-im and it was completed in 1997. Look for the original in  Lotte Gallery.

 Smoking Tiger No. 2 - This fella looks a little ridiculous on account of that silly top hat. This tiger looks too preoccupied to have any chat with the magpies.

"Jakhodo" is a genre of folk painting which features a tiger and one or two magpies. It was a custom for Koreans to hang such pictures on the walls of their homes at the beginning of the year. "The two animals were depicted together because it was believed tigers fend off evil while magpies invite good luck" and the pine trees in the background represent longevity.

Smoking Tiger No. 3 - Now is that a long pipe or an extra long toothpick? The rabbits in this pic as well as in Pic No 1 may be inspired by an old folks' tale about how three rabbits outwitted one hungry tiger by persuading him to spend his time smoking and fishing for food with his tail in a stream. The silly creature got trapped when his tail froze in the stream and so the rabbits enjoyed a season of roaming on the range free from worrying about being the tiger's next meal.

Smoking Tiger No 4 - Here's another one portrayed alongside rabbits AND magpies AND pine trees.

Finally, here's Smoking ( or rather Soon- to -Stop-Smoking ) Tiger No. 5! See previous posting.

 Here are three other proverbs provided by Cho Ah-mi:

호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다. (Horang-ido jemal hamyun onda.)
If you talk about the tiger, the tiger will appear.
Meaning: "Speak of the devil." This proverb is used to express an unexpected coincidence.


호랑이 굴에 가야 호랑이를 잡는다. (Horang-i gool-e kaja horang-ilul japneunda.)
If you want to  catch a tiger, you have to go to the tiger’s cave.
Meaning: If you want achieve a goal, you have to go to the source, work hard and overcome difficulties.


 호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다. (Horang-ieke japhyudo jungsinman charimyun sanda.)
Even if you are caught by a tiger, you will survive if you keep your cool.
Meaning: Even when  facing the most dangerous situation or difficulty, a person can survive if he keeps his composure and does not lose his cool.
This proverb teaches people to be courageous and not to despair even in the most desperate situations.

 I still like the first proverb the most!

Source:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2914997
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29837411@N00/42282614/
http://ieas.berkeley.edu/cks/k12/lesplan1_pro.doc 
 http://onceuponatiger.blogspot.com/2009/09/story-number-one.html

In The Mood For Tigers

Have been exploring cyberspace for Korean tigers in the art world. Here's what I've found so far:

This hanging scroll painting is the work of Kim Hongdo ( see earlier posting on Painter of the Wind)  and Im Huiji. Entitled "Tiger and Bamboo", it can be seen in Dokwon Art Museum. Seoul. Question is: Did Kim Hong-do paint the tiger or the bamboo? I'd like to think he can take credit for the former. If so, it's truly amazing how he can master so many different styles of painting. See his portraits of ordinary Koreans - his family on the road and his depiction of a Confucian scholar with his students.

"Korean Tiger" was the official catalogue published  in 1984 in the run-up to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

The folk painting, "Magpie and Tiger" from the Joseon Dynasty has even  been reproduced for mouse-pads. Koreans used to believe that a  magpie indicated good news and luck while the tiger was used to ward off evil or bad luck.  The "combination of the bird and tiger hung inside a house reflected the people's wishes that the folk painting would bring them good luck and repel evil spirits". And there I was, the philistine, thinking, "How cute - the carnivorous king of the jungle having a cosy chat with a birdie!"

"The Korean Tiger - Exploration of the Underlying Culture of Korea 1"  is edited by Kim Ho-geun & Yoon Yul-soo (ISBN 89-301-0701-X)  "This book includes all aspects of real and imaginary tigers including extraordinary tiger paintings, beliefs and customs related to tigers, the ecology of tigers, Korean medical therapy and tigers, the literature on tigers, and proverbs related to tigers." The first publication was  in 1986, while another  appeared in the "Year of the Tiger” in 1998.

update ( 11 Feb 2010), click here for more on 2010 as the year of the White Tiger.

Sources:

http://www.inform.umd.edu/Caprina/Images/Sandler/004.gif
http://www.inform.umd.edu/Caprina/classes/ARTH489.htm
http://www.san-shin.org/order4.html
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/6851592.html
http://www.zazzle.com/magpie_and_tiger_korean_folk_art_mousepad-144917239644885310