The Chinese reader's manual: A handbook of biographical, historical, mythological, and general literary reference |
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Common terms and phrases
2nd century 4th century became brother Buddhist celebrated scholar century B.C. Chang Chao Chêng chief China Chinese Chow dynasty Chung circâ A.D. commander concubine Confucius consort counsellor designation dragon Duke DYNASTIC TITLE Emperor Empire Empress ennobled famous father favour founder functionary genii Heaven Hien Hiung-nu Ho-nan Hüan Tsung Hwang Hwang-ti Hwei immortality Imperial Jên Kiang-si Kien King Kün Kung Kwan Kwang Kwang-tung Kwoh latter legend Liang Liu Pei Mencius MIAO HAO Ming Minister modern Moon mystic Ngan NIEN HAO P'ing palace period poet Prince proleg province put to death reign renowned reputed river ruler Sanskrit Shên Shuh Shun Siang sovereign statesman Sung dynasty Sze-ma Ts'ien T'ai T'ang dynasty Taoist Tartars throne Tien Ts'ao Ts'ao Ts'i Ts'in Tsin Tsze Tung Wang Wang Mang Wên Yang Su Yellow River Ying Yüan Yung
Popular passages
Page 337 - ... 1. Thou shalt not kill. 2. Thou shalt not steal. 3. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 4. Thou shalt not lie.
Page 61 - The fox is a beast whose nature is highly tinged with supernatural qualities. He has the power of transformation at his command, and frequently assumes the human shape. At the age of 50 the fox can take the form of a woman, and at 100 can assume the appearance of a young and beautiful girl, or otherwise, if so minded, of a wizard, possessing all the power of magic. When 1,000 years old, he is admitted to the Heavens and becomes the 'Celestial Fox.
Page 41 - ... Hwang-ti while that sovereign observed the ceremonial fasts ; and according to the Shu King it came with measured gambollings to add splendour to the musical performances conducted by the great Shun. The female is called Hwang, and this name, combined with that of the male, forms the compound Feng Hwang which is usually employed as the generic designation for the wondrous bird. It is translated phoenix by many writers. Among the marvels related respecting this creature, it is said that each of...
Page 14 - The Khan, fired by the hope of obtaining possession of so peerless a beauty, invaded China in irresistible force, and only consented to retire beyond the Wall when the lady was surrendered to him. She accompanied her savage captor, bathed in tears, until the banks of the Amur were reached, when, rather than go beyond the boundary, she plunged into the waters of the stream.
Page 334 - In this work, which serves as a basis for the philosophy of divination and geomancy, and is largely appealed to as containing not alone the elements of all metaphysical knowledge but also a clue to the secrets of nature and of being the...
Page 178 - Mother, or King Mu (Mother) of the West — a fabulous being of the female sex, dwelling upon Mount Kw'en Lun, at the head of the troops of genii, and holding from time to time intercourse with favoured imperial votaries. Such is the legend which has grown up in the course of ages from the slender basis afforded by the occurrence of the name Si Wang Mu in very early traditions. The Apocryphal, or Books of Chow, which probably date from some centuries before the Christian era, contain an assertion...
Page 30 - His friends implored him to forego this strange request, pointing out that the birds would mutilate his corpse ; but he replied, " What matters that ? Above are the birds of the air, below are the worms and ants; if you rob one to feed the other, what injustice is there done...
Page 41 - One writer describes it as having the head of a pheasant, the beak of a swallow, the neck of a tortoise, and the outward semblance of a dragon, to which another version adds the tail of a fish...
Page 98 - ... typified. In allusion to the lettered functionaries of old, who, without thought of worldly lucre or unworthy intrigue, contented themselves in recreation with their favourite lutes, the abode of the virtuous official is designated the ' Lute Hall,' and the approach to his tribunal as ' the steps leading to the lute.
Page xi - Chaldseans, the Hebrews, and the Hindoos, a doctrine of the hidden properties and harmonies of number imbues the earliest recorded expression of Chinese belief. So also, it may be remarked, in the teachings of PYTHAGORAS, an abstract theory of Number was expounded as underlying the whole system of Existence, whence the philosophy of the Western world became tinged with conceptions strongly resembling those which Xll.