Identify old document?

[Terry E]

Hi all -

I neither read nor speak Chinese, but have found a small official document (passport or ration booklet?) from the 1930s I would like to identify, and, if an appropriate but not too foolish an endeavor, return to a family member.

I have .jpg images (~200kb each) of 3 pages I can email if they don't upload here.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

regards,

Terry E

[roddy]

This is an interesting one . . .

On page (1) the second line of text appears to indicate it's a license / certificate for a female (tour, presumably) guide. However,guide should be 響導, and in the document the lower part of 響 is 向, not 音. (edit, no it shouldn't, see below)

As it's an old document I reckon this will be a variant character I'm unaware of, and that this is a license for a tour guide.

[zhwj]

響 is the traditional form of 响; 嚮 is the traditional form of 向 in 向导, so the document has it correct.

The license belongs to a Ms. Bi Lian (碧莲), who was 18 at the time of issue.

I'd imagine the missing page 2 would have a photo...? Pages 4, 5, and 6 are for seasonal renewal stamps (at the dates mentioned, at an administrative cost of 24 yuan, then 72 yuan.

The last image has regulations (1) no transferrence, always carry with you, (2) Must be renewed seasonally and returned when not used anymore, (3) Carriers may not canvass for customers in public spaces or hire others to do so, (4) Holders may not be younger than 15 (according to the western calculation), and must have a large photo for proof, (5) Notify of address changes, (6) Violation will result in suspension or confiscation.

I like how the date format switches from issuance (16-2-32) to the renewal on page 4 (33-7-1).

[roddy]

Hmmm, the ABC on Pleco gives the traditional form of 向导 as 響導, although checking other dictionaries does give 嚮. Will drop them a line.

[studentyoung]

and, if an appropriate but not too foolish an endeavor, return to a family member.

I think I can understand how you feel and I wish you good luck at first. I just slightly translated the contents in your photos, and hope they can help you a bit.

1jpg

（the traditional Chinese version of 1jpg）

(1)

上海特別市第一區公署

嚮導女身份證

執照號碼：9598

姓名：碧蓮

年齡：18

籍貫：鎮江

登記日期：16-8-32

(4)

（左半邊）

卅三年秋季

登記日期：33-7-1

付執照費貳拾肆元

（紅色圓章）：何錦

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

（右半邊）

卅肆年春季

繼續日期：34.1.11

付執照費貳拾肆元

（紫印的文字）：付執照費：七十二元

（紅色圓章）：何錦

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

(the simplified Chinese and English versions of 1jpg)

(1)

page 1

上海特别市第一区公署

the first government office in Shanghai special city

向导女身份证

female tour guide license

执照号码：9598

card no. 9598

姓名：碧莲

Name: Bilian

年龄：18

Age: 18

籍贯：镇江

hometown: Zhenjiang (it seems it is the place in Zhengjiang Province)

登记日期：16-8-32

date of registration: 16-8-32 (it seems like “Aug, 16, 1932”)

(4)

page 4

（左半边）

(the left half)

卅三年秋季

autumn in 1933

登记日期：33-7-1

registration date: 33-7-1 (it seems like “Jul, 1, 1933”)

付执照费贰拾肆元

the license fee is 24Yuan

（红色圆章）：何锦

(the word in the round red seal): He Jin

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

（右半边）

(the right half)

卅肆年春季

spring in 1934

继续日期：34.1.11

date to renew: 34.1.11

付执照费贰拾肆元

the license fee is 24Yuan

（紫印的文字）：付执照费：七十二元

(printed purple words): paid the license fee : 72 Yuan

（红色圆章）：何锦

(the words in the round red seal): He Jin

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

____________________________________________________________________

2jpg

（the traditional Chinese version of 2jpg）

(5)

(左半邊)

卅肆年春季

繼續日期：34-4-1

付執照費貳拾肆元

(正方形章的字)：包天一印

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

正俗股主任

(右半邊)

卅肆年秋季

繼續日期：34.7.1

付執照費貳拾肆元

行政科科長

行政科副科長

行政科政俗股主任

(紅色正方形章的字)：（模糊）

(紅色正方形圓章的字)：（模糊）

(正方形章的字)：包天一印

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

正俗股主任

（6）

(左半邊)

年 季

繼續日期

付執照費貳拾肆元

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

正俗股主任

(右半邊)

年 季

繼續日期

付執照費貳拾肆元

------------------------------------------

正俗科科長

正俗股主任

(the simplified Chinese and English versions of 2jpg)

(5)

page 5

(左半边)

(the left half)

卅肆年春季

spring in 1934

继续日期：34-4-1

date to renew: 34-4-1

付执照费贰拾肆元

the license fee is 24Yuan

(正方形红章的字)：包天一印

(the words in the square red seal): Bao, tianyi’s seal)

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

正俗股主任

director in Correcting Custom Apartment

(右半边)

(the right half)

卅肆年秋季

autumn in 1934

继续日期：34.7.1

date to renew: 34.7.1

付执照费贰拾肆元

the license fee is 24Yuan

行政科科长

chief of administrative section

行政科副科长

deputy chief of administrative section

行政科政俗股主任

director in correcting custom apartment

(红色正方形章的字)：（模糊）

(the words in the square red seal): (blur) (it seems like the name of chief of administrative section)

红色圆章的字：（模糊）

(the words in the round red seal): (blur) (it seems like the name of deputy chief of administrative section)

(正方形章的字)：包天一印

(the words in the square red seal): Bao, tianyi’s seal)

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

正俗股主任

director in Correcting Custom Apartment

（6）

page 6

(左半边)

(the left half)

年 季

Season Year

继续日期

date to renew:

付执照费贰拾肆元

the licnese fee is 24Yuan

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

正俗股主任

director in Correcting Custom Apartment

(右半边)

(the right half)

年 季

Season Year

继续日期

date to renew:

付执照费贰拾肆元

the license fee is 24Yuan

------------------------------------------

正俗科科长

chief in Correcting Custom Section

正俗股主任

director in Correcting Custom Apartment

_________________________________________________________________

3jpg

（the traditional Chinese version of 3jpg）

（9）

執照規則

一、本執照不得轉讓並須隨身攜帶

二、本執照每季須呈正俗科重訂。持照者中止營業時應即歸還正俗科。

三、持照者不得在公衆場所招攬生意，或雇傭他人爲己招攬。

(10)

四、持照者年齡不得低過十五歲（按西俗計算）並須在本執照內貼有相當大小之照片一張以資證明。

五、嚮導女及向導社之住址如有變更應立即報告正俗科。

六、倘有違背本規則之任何條款者本科得將持照者之照會及執照吊銷或扣留。

(the simplified Chinese and English versions of 3jpg)

（9）

page 9

执照规则

The rule for this license

一、不得转让并须随身携带

1. It should not be translated and must be carried with the holder.

二、本执照每季须呈正俗科重订。持照者中止营业时应即归还正俗科。

2. This license must be renews in Correcting Custom Section each season. If the holder wants to suspend the business, it should be returned back to Correcting Custom Section.

三、持照者不得在公众场所招揽生意，或雇佣他人为己招揽。

3. The holder is not allowed to solicit business in public areas or hire others to do the same.

(10)

page 10

四、持照者年龄不得低过十五岁（按西俗计算）并须在本执照内贴有相当大小之照片一张以资证明。

4. The holder should not be younger than 15-year-old (according to the Western customs), with a photo in some size stuck into the license as a proof.

五、向导女及向导社之住址如有变更应立即报告正俗科。

5. It should be reported to Correcting Custom Section, if the female tourist guide’s or her guide company’s address is changed.

六、倘有违背本规则之任何条款者本科得将持照者之照会及执照吊销或扣留。

6. If any article in this rule is violated, the holder’s note and her license will be revoked or withheld.

Thanks!

[Terry E]

To each of you, thanks for your interest.

I realize to some degree the difficulty of the task of locating a descendant of this lady among such a large segment of the world's population, but, from your locations and cultural background, I have no doubt you will have an idea of whether or not it's even worth the trouble to attempt.

If this were your great-grandmother would such a document be of significant interest to you?

Again, many thanks.

regards,

[Terry E]

I has occurred to me that I've made a logical, if not a social, faux-pas in my last post.

I rashly assumed that responses from Chinese locales were from Chinese respondents, when it makes much more sense that such, on a forum for learning about things Chinese, would be from non-Chinese.

In any case, I sincerely apologize if I have inadvertently offended anyone.

regards,

[Xiao Kui]

There's plenty of Chinese here, as well as non-Chinese. As a non-Chinese I would not be offended if someone thought I was Chinese. It rarely happens over the phone, and when it does it makes me feel encouraged abt my language ability! No worries, post and inquire freely!

[Terry E]

With that encouragement, I'll rephrase my question, then.

For any who have knowledge of Chinese cultural values, however acquired:

Would this document have sufficient personal value to a descendant to justify an endeavor to return it?

Thanks.

regards,

[roddy]

Hmmm, the ABC on Pleco gives the traditional form of 向导 as 響導, although checking other dictionaries does give 嚮. Will drop them a line.

My bad, I was looking at 响导. From Mike's reply, which explains things more thoroughly than I am likely to . . .

Are you sure you were looking at the right 向导? On my Palm at least the 向 stays the same in traditional and only the 导 changes - this is backed up by the ABC and Oxford, the only traditional equivalent the ABC gives for 向 in any context is 曏 and that's only when it means "formerly" as in 曏者.

For 响导, on the other hand (which seems to mean basically the same thing as 向导), 響導 is the translation listed in the ABC; Wenlin says the simplified form of 响 dates back to the Ming dynasty and had a completely different origin from 響. (the sound comes from the top 鄉 component, not the bottom 音) 嚮 is listed by Wenlin as a "variant of 向 ", though, and the Xiandai Hanyu Cidian and Xiandai Hanyu Guifan Cidian both mention it as a variant as well. They seem to prefer 向导 over 响 导, neither of them includes a definition for 响导 or mentions it as an alternate writing of 向导 and in fact the Guifan Cidian specifically says in its definition of 向导 that it should not be written as 响导.