GUA, Major Commander of the Vanguard Battalion sent south to arrestdissident Loyalists.GUANYIN The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, originally a male 'saint' in IndianBuddhism, was subsequently much revered in Chinese Buddhism in a newfemale form as theGoddess of Mercy orCompassion (literallyShe WhoAttends tothe Cries of Humanity').GUI,Prince (1623-1662)This MingPretender (recognized bytheMuFamilyorfaction),was named Emperor Yong Liin Canton late in1646, and from 1650wandered with his refugee court in the South, finally escaping into Burma onlyto be handed over by the Burmese and put to death by Satrap Wu (on secretinstructions received from the Manchu Regent Oboi).HAI DAFU Hai Goong-goong, Old Hai; an elderly eunuch, and formidableMartial Arts adept, loyal to the Emperor Shun Zhi; referred to by Trinket as the'Old Devil', or'Old Turtle'.HEBACHA Former Captain of the Imperial Guard; accompanied Shun Zhi tothe Wutai Mountains.HELMSMAN CHEN (died 168o) Chen Jinnan, supreme leader of the TriadSociety, in command ofthe Taiwan resistance forces.HUANG ZONGXI (1610-1695) Renowned Loyalist figure who fought alongsidethe Ming resistance, retiring in 1649 to a life of scholarship.ILLUMINATUS,Father Shenzhao,fat monk, kungfu specialist,the mostformidableof PrinceKang'sbodyguards.RANG, Empress (1640-1663) Deceased mother of the Emperor Kang Xi. RANG,Prince (1645-1697) Giyesu, great-grandson of Nurhachi.KANG XI, the boy Emperor (1654-1722) This was the reign tide of the secondManchu Emperor; his personal name was Xuanye (which means roughlyspeaking Dark Effulgence-he calls himself'Misty, for Trinket's benefit). Hewas the third son of the Emperor Shun Zhi, whom he succeeded at the age ofeight.KONGDONG, Mountains Range in Gansu-Henan Provinces, home of theKongdong School of kungfu.LAUREL (Laurie Goong-goong) Junior eunuch in attendance on Old Hai,murdered and subsequently impersonated by Trinket
GUA, Major Commander of the Vanguard Battalion sent south to arrest dissident Loyalists. GUANYIN The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, originally a male 'saint' in Indian Buddhism, was subsequently much revered in Chinese Buddhism in a new female form as the Goddess of Mercy or Compassion (literally 'She Who Attends to the Cries of Humanity'). GUI, Prince (1623-1662) This Ming Pretender (recognized by the Mu Family or faction), was named Emperor Yong Li in Canton late in 1646, and from 1650 wandered with his refugee court in the South, finally escaping into Burma only to be handed over by the Burmese and put to death by Satrap Wu (on secret instructions received from the Manchu Regent Oboi). HAI DAFU Hai Goong-goong, Old Hai; an elderly eunuch, and formidable Martial Arts adept, loyal to the Emperor Shun Zhi; referred to by Trinket as the 'Old Devil', or 'Old Turtle'. HEBACHA Former Captain of the Imperial Guard; accompanied Shun Zhi to the Wutai Mountains. HELMSMAN CHEN (died 1680) Chen Jinnan, supreme leader of the Triad Society, in command of the Taiwan resistance forces. HUANG ZONGXI (1610-1695) Renowned Loyalist figure who fought alongside the Ming resistance, retiring in 1649 to a life of scholarship. ILLUMINATUS, Father Shenzhao, fat monk, kungfu specialist, the most formidable of Prince Kang's bodyguards. RANG, Empress (1640-1663) Deceased mother of the Emperor Kang Xi. RANG, Prince (1645-1697) Giyesu, great-grandson of Nurhachi. KANG XI, the boy Emperor (1654-1722) This was the reign tide of the second Manchu Emperor; his personal name was Xuanye (which means roughly speaking Dark Effulgence—he calls himself 'Misty', for Trinket's benefit). He was the third son of the Emperor Shun Zhi, whom he succeeded at the age of eight. KONGDONG, Mountains Range in Gansu-Henan Provinces, home of the Kongdong School of kungfu. LAUREL ('Laurie Goong-goong') Junior eunuch in attendance on Old Hai, murdered and subsequently impersonated by Trinket
LEIYIXIAOKnown in theprofession as TigerFace',practitioner of the MartialArts style known as Iron Shirt (from its alleged invulnerability to sharpweapons).LI, Brother Li Lishi, tall thin Triad, Acting Master of the Green Wood Lodgeafter the death of Brother Yin.LI SHIKAITriad, Master of theTransformation Lodge.LI ZICHENG (c. 16o5-?) General Bash-em, bandit leader from ShaanxiProvince, whose rebellion against the Ming dynasty set the stage for theManchu conquest.LINYONGCHAOTriad, Master of the Black Water LodgeLITTLECOUNTESS MuJianping,younger sisterof MuJianshengdescended from Old Duke Mu.LU,Prince (1618-1662)One of the Ming Pretenders, who briefly held court inFujian Province, and died in Taiwan.LU LIULIANG (1629-1683) Loyalist scholar.MA BOREN Warden of the Watergate district and a member of the GoldenLotus sect.MA CHAOXINGFat Triad, Master of the Clan Lodge.MAPLE see BoHanfengMISTY Familiar nameadopted by the boyEmperor Kang Xi.MU FAMILY This was the common appellation for the powerful factionsurroundingthe descendants ofold Duke Mu,whohad madethe southwesternProvince of Yunnan their personal fief throughout the Ming dynasty, and wereloyal to the Ming Pretender, Prince Gui. They were implacably opposed toSatrap Wu,who after the arrival of the Manchus supplanted them in theSouth-West.The Family had its own distinctive style of kungfu.MUJIANSHENGYoung Lord Mu, youngmember of Mu Family.MUJIANPINGsetTheLittleCountess
LEI YIXIAO Known in the profession as Tiger Face', practitioner of the Martial Arts style known as Iron Shirt (from its alleged invulnerability to sharp weapons). LI, Brother Li Lishi, tall thin Triad, Acting Master of the Green Wood Lodge after the death of Brother Yin. LI SHIKAI Triad, Master of the Transformation Lodge. LI ZICHENG (c. 1605-?) General Bash-em, bandit leader from Shaanxi Province, whose rebellion against the Ming dynasty set the stage for the Manchu conquest. LIN YONGCHAO Triad, Master of the Black Water Lodge. LITTLE COUNTESS Mu Jianping, younger sister of Mu Jiansheng, descended from Old Duke Mu. LU, Prince (1618-1662) One of the Ming Pretenders, who briefly held court in Fujian Province, and died in Taiwan. LU LIULIANG (1629-1683) Loyalist scholar. MA BOREN Warden of the Watergate district and a member of the Golden Lotus sect. MA CHAOXING Fat Triad, Master of the Clan Lodge. MAPLE see Bo Hanfeng MISTY Familiar name adopted by the boy Emperor Kang Xi. MU FAMILY This was the common appellation for the powerful faction surrounding the descendants of Old Duke Mu, who had made the southwestern Province of Yunnan their personal fief throughout the Ming dynasty, and were loyal to the Ming Pretender, Prince Gui. They were implacably opposed to Satrap Wu, who after the arrival of the Manchus supplanted them in the South-West. The Family had its own distinctive style of kungfu. MU JIANSHENG Young Lord Mu, young member of Mu Family. MU JIANPING set The Little Countess
MU, Old Duke (1345-1392) Mu Ying, one of the foremost generals, and adoptedson, of the founder of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. He was the founder ofthe Mu Family, and was much spoken of in The Heroes of the Ming, fromwhich Trinket loves to tell stories.MU, Young Duke (died 1661) Mu Tianbo, descendant of old Duke Mu, loyalsupporter of the Ming Pretender, Prince Gui.MYSTICDRAGONThis fanatical sect, with its powerful mantra-based kungfu,is basedon Snake Island.Itbecomesimportant in subsequent volumes.NURHACHI (1559-1626) The Grand Progenitor, founder of the Manchu (Qing)dynasty.OBOI, Lord (died 1669) This Imperial Guardian and Former Regent was one ofDorgon's trusted men. He was elevated to rank of Duke in 1656 and at thedeath of the Emperor Shun Zhi (1661) he was one of the Four Regents for theboy Emperor Kang Xi (with Soni, father of Songgotu; Ebilun; and Suksaha).OBSCURUS, Father Xuanzhen Daoren, Taoist Triad.PALADINS, the Four These were the four original aides of Old Duke Mu,whose surnames were Bo, Fang, Liu, and Su, and whose descendants continuedto be loyal retainers of the Mu lineage.PINEseeBoHansongPING, Fat Ping Wei, fat gambling friend of Trinket.QIYUANKAI Skinny memberof Prince Kang's bodyguard.QIAN, Butcher Triad, pork-butcherto the Palace.REAL GOLD Jia Jindao, elder sister of Scarface, married to Big Beaver.RONG,PrinceThe'littlePrince',son oftheEmperor ShunZhiand hisfavouriteconsort, the Empress Donggo; died in infancy, in suspicious circumstances.SCARFACE Jia Laoliu, bald Triad, with a tiny pigtail and a large scar on hisface.SHI sONG Captain of the Imperial Guard sent to arrest Whiskers, known byhis weapon (a whip)asthe BlackDragon
MU, Old Duke (1345-1392) Mu Ying, one of the foremost generals, and adopted son, of the founder of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. He was the founder of the Mu Family, and was much spoken of in The Heroes of the Ming, from which Trinket loves to tell stories. MU, Young Duke (died 1661) Mu Tianbo, descendant of Old Duke Mu, loyal supporter of the Ming Pretender, Prince Gui. MYSTIC DRAGON This fanatical sect, with its powerful mantra-based kungfu, is based on Snake Island. It becomes important in subsequent volumes. NURHACHI (1559-1626) The Grand Progenitor, founder of the Manchu (Qing) dynasty. OBOI, Lord (died 1669) This Imperial Guardian and Former Regent was one of Dorgon's trusted men. He was elevated to rank of Duke in 1656 and at the death of the Emperor Shun Zhi (1661) he was one of the Four Regents for the boy Emperor Kang Xi (with Soni, father of Songgotu; Ebilun; and Suksaha). OBSCURUS, Father Xuanzhen Daoren, Taoist Triad. PALADINS, the Four These were the four original aides of Old Duke Mu, whose surnames were Bo, Fang, Liu, and Su, and whose descendants continued to be loyal retainers of the Mu lineage. PINE see Bo Hansong PING, Fat Ping Wei, fat gambling friend of Trinket. QI YUANKAI Skinny member of Prince Kang's bodyguard. QIAN, Butcher Triad, pork-butcher to the Palace. REAL GOLD Jia Jindao, elder sister of Scarface, married to Big Beaver. RONG, Prince The 'little Prince', son of the Emperor Shun Zhi and his favourite consort, the Empress Donggo; died in infancy, in suspicious circumstances. SCARFACE Jia Laoliu, bald Triad, with a tiny pigtail and a large scar on his face. SHI SONG Captain of the Imperial Guard sent to arrest Whiskers, known by his weapon (a whip) as the Black Dragon
SHUN ZHIL, Emperor (1638-1661?) This was the reign tide (the words meanliterally'obedience and rule')of Fulin, first Emperor of the Manchu dynasty,the ninth son of Abahai. He was known to have been deeply interested in ZenBuddhism, and it was widelybelieved that afterthe death of hisfavouriteconsort, the beautiful Empress Donggo, in the autumn of 1661, the youngEmperor,'pining for his lost mistress and weary ofthedull routine of statecraft,voluntarily handed over the government to four of his Ministers and retired tothe contemplative life'As one contemporary poet wrote,He threw away theEmpire as one who casts away a worn-out shoe. Following the example of theLord Buddha, he preferred to seek the mystic solitudes.'This is the legend thatlies behind the plot of The Deer and the Cauldron.The more conventionalversion of Shun Zhi's death is that he died of smallpox.SNAKEISLANDIslandoffthenorth-eastcoastofChina,baseforthesect ofthe Mystic Dragon.SNOWGOOSE, Father Taoist, priest-in-charge of Wudang TempleSONGGOTU (died 17o3) This powerful Manchu statesman of the Heseri clan,third son of the elderly Regent Soni, becomes Trinket's'adopted brother.SONGKUI Military Governor of Hangzhou.SONI (died 1667) This trusted minister of the Emperor Sh,wn Zhi, appointedoneoftheFourRegents,wasthefatherof Songgotu.SPRINGFRAGRANCEYangzhoutrollop,motherofTrinket.SQUINTY Cui Xiazi, one-eyed Triad.SU GANG Known as the Magic Hand, a distinguished member of the MuestablishmentSUKSAHAOneoftheFour Regents, executed at theinsistence of Oboi.SUTRAIN FORTY-TWO SECTIONS A short but significant Buddhist text.TANG, Prince (16o2-1646)The Third Prince, the Ming Pretender recognized bythe Triads, was proclaimed Emperor Long Wu briefly in Fuzhou, but was sooncaptured and put to death by the Manchus.TERTIUS Qi Biaoqing, sarcastic Triad
SHUN ZHI, Emperor (1638-1661?) This was the reign tide (the words mean literally 'obedience and rule') of Fulin, first Emperor of the Manchu dynasty, the ninth son of Abahai. He was known to have been deeply interested in Zen Buddhism, and it was widely believed that after the death of his favourite consort, the beautiful Empress Donggo, in the autumn of 1661, the young Emperor, 'pining for his lost mistress and weary of the dull routine of statecraft, voluntarily handed over the government to four of his Ministers and retired to the contemplative life.' As one contemporary poet wrote, 'He threw away the Empire as one who casts away a worn-out shoe. Following the example of the Lord Buddha, he preferred to seek the mystic solitudes.' This is the legend that lies behind the plot of The Deer and the Cauldron. The more conventional version of Shun Zhi's death is that he died of smallpox. SNAKE ISLAND Island off the north-east coast of China, base for the sect of the Mystic Dragon. SNOWGOOSE, Father Taoist, priest-in-charge of Wudang Temple. SONGGOTU (died 1703) This powerful Manchu statesman of the Heseri clan, third son of the elderly Regent Soni, becomes Trinket's 'adopted brother'. SONGKUI Military Governor of Hangzhou. SONI (died 1667) This trusted minister of the Emperor Sh,wn Zhi, appointed one of the Four Regents, was the father of Songgotu. SPRING FRAGRANCE Yangzhou trollop, mother of Trinket. SQUINTY Cui Xiazi, one-eyed Triad. SU GANG Known as the Magic Hand, a distinguished member of the Mu establishment. SUKSAHA One of the Four Regents, executed at the insistence of Oboi. SUTRA IN FORTY-TWO SECTIONS A short but significant Buddhist text. TANG, Prince (1602-1646) The Third Prince, the Ming Pretender recognized by the Triads, was proclaimed Emperor Long Wu briefly in Fuzhou, but was soon captured and put to death by the Manchus. TERTIUS Qi Biaoqing, sarcastic Triad
TRINKET Wei Xiaobao, the novel's principal character. He is an incorrigiblescamp born to Spring Fragrance in the Yangzhou whorehouse, Vernal Delights.He is an egregious impostor, knave, and poltroon. In the course of his (neververy convincing) attempts to learn kungfu he acquires the nom de guerre LittleWhite Dragon.In the Imperial Palace he kills, and takes the identity of, theeunuch Laurel. Subsequently in his encounter with the Triads he is madeGrand MasteroftheGreenWood Lodge.VERNAL DELIGHTS One of Yangzhou's more up-market pleasure-houses,home of Trinket's mother.WANG, Baldy Younger companion of Goatee Wu, also known as Lord DoubleShaft for his skill with the twin clubs.WANG WUTONG Known as Gold Spear, manager of the Victory SecurityAgency.WENYOUDAOBrotherof Wen Youfang.WENYOUFANGGamblingpartnerofTrinket.WHISKERS Mao Eighteen, notorious brigand, who escapes from prison,befriends Trinket, and takes him to Peking.WISDOM, Father Shaolm High Master, Abbot of Shaolin Temple.wU,Goatee Triad member of the Transformation Lodge (Zhejiang Province);alsoknownastheGreatRoc,orCloudScraper,forhisskillasakickboxerandfistfighter.WU LIUQI General Wu,Military Governor of Guangdong Province; theBeggarin the Snow; Grand Masterofthe Obedience Lodge.wU, Satrap (1612-1678) Wu Sangui, the Old Traitor, was a turncoat Minggeneral who joined forces with the Manchu commander Dorgon to drive theChinese rebel Li Zicheng (General Bash-em) out of Peking. He subsequentlyestablished his own fiefdom in the South-West, in Yunnan Province.WU YINGXIONG (died 1674)The Little Traitor,eldest son and heir of SatrapWu.WU zZHIRONG Corrupt District Magistrate of Gui'an, responsible for startingthe Ming History purge
TRINKET Wei Xiaobao, the novel's principal character. He is an incorrigible scamp born to Spring Fragrance in the Yangzhou whorehouse, Vernal Delights. He is an egregious impostor, knave, and poltroon. In the course of his (never very convincing) attempts to learn kungfu he acquires the nom de guerre Little White Dragon. In the Imperial Palace he kills, and takes the identity of, the eunuch Laurel. Subsequently in his encounter with the Triads he is made Grand Master of the Green Wood Lodge. VERNAL DELIGHTS One of Yangzhou's more up-market pleasure-houses, home of Trinket's mother. WANG, Baldy Younger companion of Goatee Wu, also known as Lord Double Shaft for his skill with the twin clubs. WANG WUTONG Known as Gold Spear, manager of the Victory Security Agency. WEN YOUDAO Brother of Wen Youfang. WEN YOUFANG Gambling partner of Trinket. WHISKERS Mao Eighteen, notorious brigand, who escapes from prison, befriends Trinket, and takes him to Peking. WISDOM, Father Shaolm High Master, Abbot of Shaolin Temple. WU, Goatee Triad member of the Transformation Lodge (Zhejiang Province); also known as the Great Roc, or Cloud Scraper, for his skill as a kick boxer and fist fighter. WU LIUQI General Wu, Military Governor of Guangdong Province; the Beggar in the Snow; Grand Master of the Obedience Lodge. WU, Satrap (1612-1678) Wu Sangui, the Old Traitor, was a turncoat Ming general who joined forces with the Manchu commander Dorgon to drive the Chinese rebel Li Zicheng (General Bash-em) out of Peking. He subsequently established his own fiefdom in the South-West, in Yunnan Province. WU YINGXIONG (died 1674) The Little Traitor, eldest son and heir of Satrap Wu. WU ZHIRONG Corrupt District Magistrate of Gui'an, responsible for starting the Ming History purge