Dutchman

But what's the exact translation of the characters? And is just about the characters, or is it about interpretation of what is meant or suggessted? Any idea about what the seal says?

Ye Shaoweng (1200–1250) was a Southern Song dynasty Chinese poet from Longquan, in modern Lishui, Zhejiang province. He belonged to the Jianghu (Rivers and Lakes) School of poets, known for its unadorned style of poetry. His most famous poem is Youyuan Buzhi: 遊園不值 Visiting a Private Garden without Success 應憐屐齒印蒼苔 It must be because he hates clogs on his moss 十扣柴扉久不開 I knock ten times still his gate stayed closed 春色滿園關不住 but spring can't be kept locked in a garden 一支紅杏出牆來 a branch of red blossoms reached past the wall The last couplet is often reused in later works, its meaning recast as a sexual innuendo. The last sentence may be the one on the netsuke, but it also strongly resembles the Chinese chéngyǔ; hóng xìng chū qiáng 紅杏出墻 or 'the red apricot tree leans over the garden wall'. Now the million dollar question that remains is; which one is it? Or is it both?

A fellow collector suggested I submit to this forum, because maybe you can help me with the text and signature on an old manju netsuke I acquired recently. It has a diameter of 44 mm. and I believe there is a Chinese chéngyǔ inscribed on it; hóng xìng chū qiáng, or 'the red apricot tree leans over the garden wall'. I hope anyone tell me more about it, and maybe even translate the seal (of the maker?). I would be very grateful if you could help me.