<p>I believe it is an old limerick (打油詩) that advise people to not smoke opium (鴉片)</p>
<p>From right to left:</p>
<p>當初有錢食舊公 - Way before when I had money I dined with old friends</p>
<p>許多煙屎朋友到 - Many opium-smoking friends came</p>
<p>枕上說談靝下事 - laid on pillows we talked about current affairs</p>
<p>壹杵吹散古今愁 - With a pipe, we blew away all the worries along with the smoke</p>
<p>嘮到極地賣田屋 - Smoke so much that at the end I had to sell my field and house</p>
<p>傢伙什物妻婆兒 - Along with my belongings, wife, and children</p>
<p>女過別人家艱難 - Daughter went to other people's home and suffer</p>
<p>有誰可連食三硃 - Who could take three hits one after another?</p>
<p>煙屎師爺無精神 - opium addictive people have no energy</p>
<p>介(戒)之則吉好利市 - Stop smoking opium is the best thing to do, and you will profit in every aspect</p>
<p>都日(是?)良言 - All good advice</p>
<p>In the late Qing Dynasty, opium addiction was a huge social problem. Since many people can't read, Anti-drug groups would use limerick (打油詩) to advise the public, 打油诗 could be memorized like a song and it can spread more easily</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-22T00:30:16.463Z
The unidentified character is 靝 tian1, which is a rare variant of 天
lilysirius
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-22T00:57:27.800Z
Thanks, I just didn't know how to input it
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-22T04:40:05.977Z
Not to mention the cause of the Opium Wars which changed the history of China forever.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-21T23:41:40.507Z
2022-02-22T12:45:35.633Z
2022-02-22T12:45:35.633Z
Tang Ho
<p>Old ink painting with characters that I would like to understand and be translated. I have various ink paintings with plants, animals and humans but have never understood the meaning of the characters. Thx<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/sflzM.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/sflzM.gif" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

<translation><meaning-in-context><character-identification><traditional-characters><culture>
I am perplexed by this script. I believe it is Chinese, be appreciative if it could translate into English and/or give further meaning. att image
# I am perplexed by this script. I believe it is Chinese, be appreciative if it could translate into English and/or give further meaning. att image

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-21)

Old ink painting with characters that I would like to understand and be translated. I have various ink paintings with plants, animals and humans but have never understood the meaning of the characters. Thx[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/sflzM.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/sflzM.gif)

**Tags:** translation, meaning-in-context, character-identification, traditional-characters, culture


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-02-21. Score: 3

I believe it is an old limerick (打油詩) that advise people to not smoke opium (鴉片)

From right to left:

當初有錢食舊公 - Way before when I had money I dined with old friends

許多煙屎朋友到 - Many opium-smoking friends came

枕上說談靝下事 - laid on pillows we talked about current affairs

壹杵吹散古今愁 - With a pipe, we blew away all the worries along with the smoke

嘮到極地賣田屋 - Smoke so much that at the end I had to sell my field and house

傢伙什物妻婆兒 - Along with my belongings, wife, and children

女過別人家艱難 - Daughter went to other people's home and suffer

有誰可連食三硃 - Who could take three hits one after another?

煙屎師爺無精神 - opium addictive people have no energy

介(戒)之則吉好利市 - Stop smoking opium is the best thing to do, and you will profit in every aspect

都日(是?)良言 - All good advice

In the late Qing Dynasty, opium addiction was a huge social problem. Since many people can't read, Anti-drug groups would use limerick (打油詩) to advise the public, 打油诗 could be memorized like a song and it can spread more easily

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The unidentified character is 靝 tian1, which is a rare variant of 天  
> **username_1**: Thanks, I just didn't know how to input it  
> **username_3**: Not to mention the cause of the Opium Wars which changed the history of China forever.  

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