At last, Wang Yi said to Saudi King Mohammed:
"The former sounds a little more conversational. If you're putting a sign on this building, though, I'd use the latter."
After saying this, Wang Yi felt a certain helplessness in expressing himself.
Although he had done his best to account for the blend of international, Middle Eastern, and Western cultures, even this English translation still couldn't perfectly convey the meaning of the Chinese phrase "Soaring Golden Dignitary."
That was the difference between cultures.
Given their cultural backgrounds and the logic of their language, foreigners would never be able to understand the meaning of "Soaring Golden Dignitary" one hundred percent.
For that matter, even the two characters in "Soaring" lost something when translated into any other language.
But it couldn't be helped.
Mohammed was still delighted with Wang Yi's name. "It's very fitting, and creative too. Let's call it the Towering Chalice."
Then Mohammed had someone bring out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and asked Wang Yi to inscribe the building's name.
Wang Yi hadn't brought his own large writing brush with him.
He could only try holding this brand-new one.
He furrowed his brow slightly.
A brush that had never been used felt completely different from one that had been used for a while.
That was because ink contains glue, which helps it adhere to paper.
After a brush has been dipped in ink and used for a long time, some of that glue naturally sticks to its bristles.
Over time, the bristles become a little stiffer, making the brush more springy when writing.
That gives the strokes more strength.
By contrast, a new brush is too soft, so unless the calligrapher is highly skilled, the characters tend to come out a little weak.
They lack strength.
But there was