old chinese bottle

[bcboy]

I found this old chinese bottle today,not sure if its an opium or medicine bottle?

 

[pganjon]

Hello! Very Cool looking bottle That cobalt blue color gets my blood pumping when I am digging an old dump site Never seen one with embossed Chinese writing. Thanks for showing Paul

 

[taropatch]

Mostly likely medicine. That grooved corner was for an eye-dropper thing to be held there by a rubber band (I'm told) I have a brown one with Japanese words on it. Unless you know for sure yours is Chinese, it might also be Japanese characters.

 

[Da Sand Crab]

Thanks for sharing your find.
Oriental medicine bottles are what I collect. Your find looks very nice.

Here's a small sample of some of mine.

 

[taropatch]

Beautiful bottles ringman. You're the man.

 

[ohio]

Pretty Bottles !

 

[hawaiiandigger]

Hey Ringman- love those bottles.

 

[Bruddahbanzai]

bcboy, nice bottle.

ringman, really nice collection. Also, unreal photo skills.

 

[BosnMate]

Mostly likely medicine. That grooved corner was for an eye-dropper thing to be held there by a rubber band (I'm told) I have a brown one with Japanese words on it. Unless you know for sure yours is Chinese, it might also be Japanese characters.

Long long ago, an attractive young Japanese girl informed a handsome young American sailor that Japanese and Chinese can read each others writing although they don't speak the same language, the characters mean the same thing. There is a more modern Japanese writing/alphabet letters that is very different, but the old writings using characters that mean words are interchangeable. And that's about all an old usta be sailor can remember about that. Just remember, there is a difference in sea stories and fairy tales, just not much. But that's how I remember it. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[epackage]

Over 4 years old, I wonder if the OP is still here?

 

[unclemac]

Long long ago, an attractive young Japanese girl informed a handsome young American sailor that Japanese and Chinese can read each others writing although they don't speak the same language, the characters mean the same thing. There is a more modern Japanese writing/alphabet letters that is very different, but the old writings using characters that mean words are interchangeable. And that's about all an old usta be sailor can remember about that. Just remember, there is a difference in sea stories and fairy tales, just not much. But that's how I remember it. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

pretty good....the Japanese call Chinese "Kanji" and it is their formal way to write. It is how they sign their names to...with Kanji almost exclusively. They also use a script called "Katakana" and another called "Hiragana"..they all learn and use all three, often all at the same time. These days too they learn "Romanji", which is "Roman", as in using good old American....

What you have there is definitely Chinese, so it could be Kanji as well.

My oldest lives in Japan I will send it off to him and let you know....

 

[unclemac]

...by the way I love your bottle, tell us the story....this is mine.

 

[Metro Retro]

My understanding is that Kanji is/was based on Chinese characters, but used phonetically instead and read left to right (instead of top to bottom). Those look like Chinese characters on the bottle.

Here are some of the 'good all American' characters ...

Google Image Result for http://www.drstandley.com/images/Syllabary.gif

 

[unclemac]

My understanding is that Kanji is/was based on Chinese characters, but used phonetically instead and read left to right (instead of top to bottom). Those look like Chinese characters on the bottle.

Here are some of the 'good all American' characters ...

Google Image Result for http://www.drstandley.com/images/Syllabary.gif

here you go..this should clear it up

Japanese writing system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[unclemac]

if you look at my bottle you will see it i a mix of Kanji and Katakana and is read top to bottom, and in this case the Kanji is used phonetically, but that is not always the case.

 

[unclemac]

my son needs clearer pictures of the characters....he is leaning Chinese medicine bottle.....