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
WUDANG, Mount This sacred Taoist mountain in Hubei Province wasthe home of the Wudang School of kungfu, second only to the Shaolin School.Here in the later years of the Song dynasty, a Taoist master named ZhangSanfeng retreated deep into the mountains and developed a softer style ofkungfu, based on Shaolin, but placing greater emphasis on meditation and oninner training of the Qi. This is the forerunner of the Taiji (Grand Ultimate)kungfu so popular in the West today. WUTAI, Mountains (literally'Mountainsof the Five Terraces') This was a sacred range in Shanxi Province (said to havebeen thelocation of an apparition of the Bodhisattva Manjusri),with along-standing link to the Imperial houses of China. Of its 15o monasteries,some twenty-four were Lamaist. The Manchus regarded their great FounderNurhachi as a reincarnation of Manjusri, and according to some, the nameManchu itself derives from this.XU TIANCHUAN Triad, plaster-seller, nicknamed the Eight-Armed Ape.YANG YIZHI One of the Little Traitor's entourage, a big man befriended byTrinket.YANGZHOU This historic city in Jiangsu Province, central China, on the GrandCanal a few miles north of its junction with the Yangtze River, was famous foritswealthy salt-merchants,itsbeautiful gardens,tea-houses,andsingsong-girls. It was brutally sacked by the Manchus in 1645. YAO CHUN Oneof the foremost exponents of the Close Combat branch of Catch-Can, wellknown as an expertwound-doctor and bone-setter.YIN,Brother First Master of the Green Wood Lodge, killed by Oboi two yearsbeforethe storybegins.YULIN, Venerable Buddhist priest; teacher of the Emperor Shun Zhi. ZHASHIBIAO (1615-1689) Sometimes referred to by his other name as Erzhan;celebrated painter and calligrapher.ZHA YIHUANG (16o1-1676)This Loyalist scholarfor a time joined the Court ofthePrince of Lu.He was a cousin of Zha Shibiao.TheZha family of Haining inZhejiang Province produced many distinguished men of letters in the earlyyears of the Manchu dynasty. Louis Cha, or Zha Liangyong (author of The DeerandtheCauldron)himselfbelongstothis samefamily.ZHEN, Lady Younger sister of the Emperor Shun Zhi's favourite consort, theEmpress Donggo; died shortly after her sister.ZHENG,Marshalsee CoxingaZHENG,PrinceSonof Coxinga
WUDANG, Mount This sacred Taoist mountain in Hubei Province was the home of the Wudang School of kungfu, second only to the Shaolin School. Here in the later years of the Song dynasty, a Taoist master named Zhang Sanfeng retreated deep into the mountains and developed a softer style of kungfu, based on Shaolin, but placing greater emphasis on meditation and on inner training of the Qi. This is the forerunner of the Taiji (Grand Ultimate) kungfu so popular in the West today. WUTAI, Mountains (literally 'Mountains of the Five Terraces') This was a sacred range in Shanxi Province (said to have been the location of an apparition of the Bodhisattva Manjusri), with a long-standing link to the Imperial houses of China. Of its 150 monasteries, some twenty-four were Lamaist. The Manchus regarded their great Founder Nurhachi as a reincarnation of Manjusri, and according to some, the name Manchu itself derives from this. XU TIANCHUAN Triad, plaster-seller, nicknamed the Eight-Armed Ape. YANG YIZHI One of the Little Traitor's entourage, a big man befriended by Trinket. YANGZHOU This historic city in Jiangsu Province, central China, on the Grand Canal a few miles north of its junction with the Yangtze River, was famous for its wealthy salt-merchants, its beautiful gardens, tea-houses, and singsong-girls. It was brutally sacked by the Manchus in 1645. YAO CHUN One of the foremost exponents of the Close Combat branch of Catch-Can, well known as an expert wound-doctor and bone-setter. YIN, Brother First Master of the Green Wood Lodge, killed by Oboi two years before the story begins. YULIN, Venerable Buddhist priest; teacher of the Emperor Shun Zhi. ZHA SHIBIAO (1615-1689) Sometimes referred to by his other name as Erzhan; celebrated painter and calligrapher. ZHA YIHUANG (1601-1676) This Loyalist scholar for a time joined the Court of the Prince of Lu. He was a cousin of Zha Shibiao. The Zha family of Haining in Zhejiang Province produced many distinguished men of letters in the early years of the Manchu dynasty. Louis Cha, or Zha Liangyong (author of The Deer and the Cauldron) himself belongs to this same family. ZHEN, Lady Younger sister of the Emperor Shun Zhi's favourite consort, the Empress Donggo; died shortly after her sister. ZHENG, Marshal see Coxinga ZHENG, Prince Son of Coxinga
ZHU CHANGZUOCivil Governor of Zhejiang Province.ZHU GUOZHEN (1557-1632) Former Chancellor of the Ming court, whosedraftformedthebasisfortheEpitomeof MingHistory.ZHU YOUMING Wealthy resident of Huzhou.ZHUANG TINGLONG (died c.166o)Nominal author of the MmgHistory,eldest sonofZhuangYuncheng.ZHUANGYUNCHENG(diedc.1663)ResidentofHuzhou,patronoflearningQENERALQLOSSARYOFTERMSBANNERS, EIGHT This was the system of military and social organizationused by the Manchus. The three Higher Banners were the Plain White, and thePlain and Bordered Yellow; the five Inferior Banners were the Bordered White,the Plain Red, the Bordered Red, the Plain Blue, and the Bordered Blue. Therewere also Mongol and Chinese Bannermen.BEGGARS GUILDS Widespread during the Manchu dynasty, these syndicates,with their leaders and their Bag hierarchy (see Eight Bag), formed animportantelement in the underworld of River and Lake.BRAVE MAN AND TRUE (yingxiong haohan) This is the stock term used todesignate a personification of the virtues of Honour and Chivalry held in highesteem by the Brotherhood of River and Lake.BUDDHISM The third of the three Chinese Religions, and the only one offoreign extraction.The close connection between Buddhism and kungfu isevident in the fact that the Shaolin Temple was at the same time a centre forZen Buddhism and the birthplace of the most important tradition of MartialArts. According to tradition, Bodhidharma, in order to help himself and themonks at the Shaolin Temple widistand the rigours of long periods ofconcentrated meditation, developed breathing techniques and other exercisesthat subsequentlybecame thebasis for Shaolinkungfu.CATTY This is a traditional Chinese measure of weight, the 'Chinese pound',divisible into sixteen taels (or'Chinese ounces).CATCH-CAN (cjin'nd) This branch of Chinese Martial Arts concentrates ongrapples and holds. Some authorities believe that the export of Catch-Can toJapan at the end of the Ming dynasty provided the basis for Judo and Ju-jutsu
ZHU CHANGZUO Civil Governor of Zhejiang Province. ZHU GUOZHEN (1557-1632) Former Chancellor of the Ming court, whose draft formed the basis for the Epitome of Ming History. ZHU YOUMING Wealthy resident of Huzhou. ZHUANG TINGLONG (died c.1660) Nominal author of the Mmg History, eldest son of Zhuang Yuncheng. ZHUANG YUNCHENG (died c.1663) Resident of Huzhou, patron of learning. QENERAL QLOSSARY OF TERMS BANNERS, EIGHT This was the system of military and social organization used by the Manchus. The three Higher Banners were the Plain White, and the Plain and Bordered Yellow; the five Inferior Banners were the Bordered White, the Plain Red, the Bordered Red, the Plain Blue, and the Bordered Blue. There were also Mongol and Chinese Bannermen. BEGGARS GUILDS Widespread during the Manchu dynasty, these syndicates, with their leaders and their Bag hierarchy (see Eight Bag), formed an important element in the underworld of River and Lake. BRAVE MAN AND TRUE (yingxiong haohan) This is the stock term used to designate a personification of the virtues of Honour and Chivalry held in high esteem by the Brotherhood of River and Lake. BUDDHISM The third of the three Chinese Religions, and the only one of foreign extraction. The close connection between Buddhism and kungfu is evident in the fact that the Shaolin Temple was at the same time a centre for Zen Buddhism and the birthplace of the most important tradition of Martial Arts. According to tradition, Bodhidharma, in order to help himself and the monks at the Shaolin Temple widistand the rigours of long periods of concentrated meditation, developed breathing techniques and other exercises that subsequently became the basis for Shaolin kungfu. CATTY This is a traditional Chinese measure of weight, the 'Chinese pound', divisible into sixteen taels (or 'Chinese ounces'). CATCH-CAN (cjin'nd) This branch of Chinese Martial Arts concentrates on grapples and holds. Some authorities believe that the export of Catch-Can to Japan at the end of the Ming dynasty provided the basis for Judo and Ju-jutsu
CLOSING VITAL POINTS (dianxue, cf. Japanese atemi) This is one of themost specialized branches of Chinese Martial Arts, using pressure on selectedsensitive vital points (the points of the acupuncture system) to immobilize andeven kill an opponent. By means of the same technique, the points can also be'opened', or re-activated.CONFUCIANISM Although not referred to very specifically in The Deer andthe Cauldron,this is the State ideology that pervaded Chinese society from theHan dynasty (second century BC) until the early twentieth century. Basedloosely on the teachings of Confucius (551-479 BC) and his foremost disciplesand successors, this placed social cohesion and loyalty to ancestor, father, andEmperor,aboveall other considerations.Thiswasoften in conflict with the more subversive and consciousness-centred beliefs ofTaoism, Buddhism, and the whole spectrum of'marginal' (i.e.anti-Confucian)thinking, but over the years the Confucian ideologues exhibited a remarkableknack for absorbing and co-opting their own 'opposition'.DIMSUM Cantonese term for a large variety of delicious snack-like dishes.EIGHT BAG Member of the Beggars Guild. The ranks of the beggars guildswere graded according to the number of cloth bags they carried over theirshoulders.The highest rank was a Nine Bag member, who was entitled tospecial privileges at occasions such asweddings.EUNUCHs The Chinese system of court eunuchs (the Japanese scholarTaisuke Mitamura in his classic study calls them 'palace termites') enduredwell over 2,ooo years and through twenty-five dynasties. During the late Mingdynasty,eunuchs (in existence sinceatleast the second centuryAD)dominatedthe Court. Under the first Manchu Emperor Shun Zhi, their number and theirpowers were greatly reduced. Under Emperor Kang Xi there were only 4oo or5oo eunuchs, compared with 10o,o00 in the last years of the Ming dynasty.Castration was performed by a specialist for a fee of six taels, and both thescrotum and the penis were removed. The severed parts, known as the bao or'treasure' (it is interesting to note that Trinket's Chinese name, Xiaobao, meanslittle treasure'), were processed,placed in a container, sealed, and then placedon a high shelf. This had to be shown whenever the eunuch was advanced inrank, and was buried with the owner after his death (eunuchs hoped to berestored tofull masculinityin the next world).FLYING, Art of (qing-gong) This is a semi-legendary type of levitational kungfu,bymeans ofwhich thepractitioner canmovewith extraordinarylightness andrapidity,and without actuallytouchingtheground or leaving anytrace
CLOSING VITAL POINTS (dianxue, c.f. Japanese atemi) This is one of the most specialized branches of Chinese Martial Arts, using pressure on selected sensitive vital points (the points of the acupuncture system) to immobilize and even kill an opponent. By means of the same technique, the points can also be 'opened', or re-activated. CONFUCIANISM Although not referred to very specifically in The Deer and the Cauldron, this is the State ideology that pervaded Chinese society from the Han dynasty (second century BC) until the early twentieth century. Based loosely on the teachings of Confucius (551-479 BC) and his foremost disciples and successors, this placed social cohesion and loyalty to ancestor, father, and Emperor, above all other considerations. This was often in conflict with the more subversive and consciousness-centred beliefs of Taoism, Buddhism, and the whole spectrum of 'marginal' (i.e. anti-Confucian) thinking, but over the years the Confucian ideologues exhibited a remarkable knack for absorbing and co-opting their own 'opposition'. DIMSUM Cantonese term for a large variety of delicious snack-like dishes. EIGHT BAG Member of the Beggars Guild. The ranks of the beggars guilds were graded according to the number of cloth bags they carried over their shoulders. The highest rank was a Nine Bag member, who was entitled to special privileges at occasions such as weddings. EUNUCHS The Chinese system of court eunuchs (the Japanese scholar Taisuke Mitamura in his classic study calls them 'palace termites') endured well over 2,000 years and through twenty-five dynasties. During the late Ming dynasty, eunuchs (in existence since at least the second century AD) dominated the Court. Under the first Manchu Emperor Shun Zhi, their number and their powers were greatly reduced. Under Emperor Kang Xi there were only 400 or 500 eunuchs, compared with 100,000 in the last years of the Ming dynasty. Castration was performed by a specialist for a fee of six taels, and both the scrotum and the penis were removed. The severed parts, known as the bao or 'treasure' (it is interesting to note that Trinket's Chinese name, Xiaobao, means 'little treasure'), were processed, placed in a container, sealed, and then placed on a high shelf. This had to be shown whenever the eunuch was advanced in rank, and was buried with the owner after his death (eunuchs hoped to be restored to full masculinity in the next world). FLYING, Art of (qing-gong) This is a semi-legendary type of levitational kungfu, by means of which the practitioner can move with extraordinary lightness and rapidity, and without actually touching the ground or leaving any trace