dust Posted November 19, 2015 It’s taken me a while to respond, but when I read your comment connecting sunset and clouds it reminded me of some of the names of the women in Cao Xueqin’s classic 18th century novel The Story of the Stone. I’ve been reading the translation by David Hawkes and it’s interesting how he de-emphasises ‘cloud’ and emphasises ‘sun’ when he translates their names. For instance he translates the maid named Cai-xia (meaning: Colourful Red Cloud) as Sunset. It made me wonder if cloud names are common for women in China. In the novel there’s also: Qingwen 晴雯; Meaning: Fair Weather Cirrus. Hawkes translation: Skybright. Cai-yun; Meaning: Colourful Cloud. Hawkes translation: Suncloud. Shi Xiangyun 史湘雲; Meaning: Xiang River Clouds Come to think of it, yes. Quite common today too, I guess. I knew a Wenwen 雯雯, for example, and I'm sure I've met people with Yun 雲 in their name. Yu 雨 rain is very common as part of female names (notice the characters for clouds such 雯 and 雲 include the character for rain). Certainly interesting that literal translations are not always used, and sun is emphasised. I suppose that 'Skybright' is snappier, rolls off the tongue better, than 'Fair Weather Cirrus'... but I think Cirrus itself is a beautiful word. It's not just clouds of course (as I'm sure you're aware), but 'nature' in general. In Japan, too; recently watching the latest Sasuke (Ninja Warrior, I've loved it for years) I noticed how many surnames involve mountains, trees, rivers, flowers, etc. I suppose some English given names and surnames were once inspired by nature, but meanings have become obscured. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted November 20, 2015 Took a couple on my phone the other day. It's been overcast for a while (good for rain, not much to show in a photo..) but every so often they break apart.. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted November 24, 2015 Undulus asperatus (photo from this lady, not me!) 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soaring crane Posted November 24, 2015 From a walk out behind the house today :-) 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted December 4, 2015 (edited) Edited December 4, 2015 by AussieTrees 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geof Nanto Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) Storm clouds over Moreton Bay, Brisbane Australia a few days ago. Edited February 3, 2016 by Yueya 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basher Posted February 4, 2016 Magnificent Photograph Yueya. :ph34r: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daeluin Posted February 7, 2016 Took a series of this sunset as the clouds rolled in a couple years ago. Randomly stumbled over them just now. Seems one should go here. Oh, and 5 minutes earlier, looking the other direction: That bank of clouds was rapidly moving in. The misty arm on the left of the first picture is the beginning of what is seen in the second picture. Was quite humbling to be in the middle of. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted February 11, 2016 (edited) This was featured on deviantArt today.. quite striking.. Edited February 11, 2016 by dustybeijing 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AussieTrees Posted February 11, 2016 This was featured on deviantArt today.. quite striking.. Mountains of fire. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dust Posted February 18, 2016 Tehe... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.888014821220011.1073741904.126207740734060&type=3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
