The Crane Startles Kunlun, Appendix

The Crane Startles Kunlun, Appendix.
for Wang Dulu's He Jing Kunlun.

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* A List of Characters *
The Kunlun School
In Zhenba
In Xuanhan
On Trunk Mountain
In Langzhong
In Nanjiang
In Xi'an
On Mount Song
On Mount Jiuhua
In and After Luoyang
In Zhengyang
On Mount Wudang
Other Jianghu Notables
Popular Designations

* Glossary *
Culture and History
The Qing Government
Martial Arts and Special Techniques
Weapons
The Author and His Works

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A LIST OF CHARACTERS

THE KUNLUN SCHOOL (崑崙派)

BAO ZHENFEI (鮑振飛) of the BAO HOMESTEAD (鮑家村) in ZHENBA (鎮巴). Called BAO KUNLUN (鮑崑崙). An old martial arts master and retired security escort. Employs the KUNLUN SABER. Father of BAO ZHIYUN and BAO ZHILIN. Grandfather of BAO ALUAN. Master of the KUNLUN SCHOOL.

BAO ZHIYUN (鮑志雲). The escort captain at the HANZHONG SECURITY OFFICE (漢中鏢店) in HANZHONG (漢中). Eldest son of BAO ZHENFEI. Brother of BAO ZHILIN. Married to FANG-SHI. Father of BAO ALUAN.

BAO ZHILIN (鮑志霖). Calls himself LITTLE KUNLUN (小崑崙). Second son of BAO ZHENFEI. Brother of BAO ZHIYUN. Married to LÜ-SHI.

CHANG ZHIGAO (常志高). Formerly named CHANG CHENGGAO (常成高). The first disciple of BAO ZHENFEI, who was forced by his master to cut off his own arm for loving the wife of another.

LONG ZHITENG (龍志騰). Called the CLOUD-PIERCING SWALLOW (穿雲燕). A security escort for the JINGYUAN SECURITY OFFICE (靖遠鏢店) in ZIYANG (紫陽). Brother of LONG ZHIQI. The second disciple of BAO ZHENFEI. One of the THREE EXEMPLARS OF ZIYANG.

LONG ZHIQI (龍志起). Called the MOUNTAIN-MOVING TIGER (推山虎). A security escort for the JINGYUAN SECURITY OFFICE (靖遠鏢店) in ZIYANG (紫陽). Brother of LONG ZHITENG. The third disciple of BAO ZHENFEI. One of the THREE EXEMPLARS OF ZIYANG.

JIANG ZHIYAO (蔣志耀). Called the ONE-EYED VANGUARD (獨眼先鋒). The fourth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI, whose left eye was plucked out by his master for flirting with the wife of another.

GE ZHIQIANG (葛志強). Called the IRON HEGEMON (鐵霸王) of the GOLDEN SABER AND SILVER WHIP (金刀銀鞭). The escort captain at the LISHUN SECURITY OFFICE (利順鏢店) in XI'AN (西安). The sixth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

JIA ZHIMING (賈志鳴). Called the WAVE-SHATTERING SEA SERPENT (破浪蛟). A security escort for the JINGYUAN SECURITY OFFICE (靖遠鏢店) in ZIYANG (紫陽). The seventh disciple of BAO ZHENFEI. One of the THREE EXEMPLARS OF ZIYANG.

LU ZHIZHONG (魯志中). The fourteenth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

LIU ZHIYUAN (劉志遠). Called the STAR GOD BLADE (太歲刀). The twentieth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

MA ZHIXIAN (馬志賢). A blacksmith at the MA SMITHY (馬家鐵舖) in ZHENBA (鎮巴). The twenty-first disciple of BAO ZHENFEI. Married to LI-SHI.

HU ZHIKAI (胡志凱). The twenty-third disciple of BAO ZHENFEI, who hanged himself after his master found out about his affair with his sworn brother's wife.

QIN ZHIBAO (秦志保). The twenty-fifth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

CHEN ZHIJUN (陳志俊). The twenty-seventh disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

JIANG ZHISHENG (江志升). The thirtieth disciple of BAO ZHENFEI. Married to HUANG-SHI. Father of JIANG XIAOHE and JIANG XIAOLU.

HOU ZHIQUAN (候志拳). Called the DIVINE FIST (神拳). A security escort for the JINGYUAN SECURITY OFFICE (靖遠鏢店) in ZIYANG (紫陽). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

MIAO ZHIYING (苗志英). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

ZHENG ZHIBIAO (鄭志彪). A security escort in LIUBA (留壩). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

JIN ZHIYONG (金志勇). A security escort for the LISHUN SECURITY OFFICE (利順鏢店) in XI'AN (西安). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

ZHAO ZHILONG (趙志龍). A security escort for the LISHUN SECURITY OFFICE (利順鏢店) in XI'AN (西安). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

HAN ZHIXIN (韓志信). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

YANG ZHIJIN (楊志瑾). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

YUAN ZHIXIA (袁志俠). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

YUAN ZHIYI (袁志義). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

ZHANG ZHICAI (張志才). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

ZHANG ZHIQI (張志岐). A disciple of BAO ZHENFEI.

IN ZHENBA (鎮巴)

JIANG XIAOHE (江小鶴). Once calls himself the THREE-HEADED TIGER (三頭虎). Once assumes the surname HE (何). Once assumes the name GAO JIUHUA (高九華). Eldest son of JIANG ZHISHENG and HUANG-SHI. Brother of JIANG XIAOLU.

BAO ALUAN (鮑阿鸞). Daughter of BAO ZHIYUN and FANG-SHI. Granddaughter of BAO ZHENFEI.

FANG-SHI (方氏). Wife to BAO ZHIYUN. Mother of BAO ALUAN.

LÜ-SHI (呂氏). Wife to BAO ZHILIN.

HUANG-SHI (黃氏). Wife to JIANG ZHISHENG. Mother of JIANG XIAOHE and JIANG XIAOLU. Cousin of LI-SHI.

JIANG XIAOLU (江小鷺). Second son of JIANG ZHISHENG and HUANG-SHI. Brother of JIANG XIAOHE.

LI-SHI (李氏). Wife to MA ZHIXIAN. Cousin of HUANG-SHI.

FAN DIANQING (范殿卿). A former schoolmate of JIANG ZHISHENG.

THIRD CHU (褚三). Called DONKEY CHU (褚驢子). A donkey-driver.

GRANNY GUO (郭老婆子). Aunt of THIRD CHU.

THE YOUNG WIFE OF LU (盧小媳婦). Wife to the son of the SECOND WIDOW LU.

THE CRIPPLE GONG (鞏瘸子) of the GONG FARMSTEAD (鞏家莊). Father of the YOUNG WIFE OF LU.

THE SECOND WIDOW LU (盧二寡婦). Mother-in-law to the YOUNG WIFE OF LU.

THE CRIPPLE LI (李瘸子). The owner of a smoke shop in SOUTH MOUNTAIN VILLAGE (南山村).

OLD ZHANG (張老大). A peddler of straw sandals. A relative of LIU ZHIYUAN in SOUTH MOUNTAIN VILLAGE (南山村).

THIRD LIU (劉三). The owner of a tavern.

ELDEST DONG (董大). The owner of a wool shop, to whom HUANG-SHI was remarried.

KID (毛頭). A child from the ZHANG SMITHY (張家鐵舖).

THE XUE HOUSEHOLD (薛家). A family with which JIANG XIAOHE has a scuffle.

IN XUANHAN (宣漢)

COUNTY MAGISTRATE BAO (包縣太爺). A county official.

ELDEST YU (于大). The owner of an inn in a small town skilled in the martial arts.

ON TRUNK MOUNTAIN (箱子山)

MA YINXIU (馬印修). Called the IRON FOUNDER (鐡老祖). A bandit chieftain.

WU JINBIAO (伍金彪). Called the BLACK PANTHER (黑豹子). The second captain of the mountain bandits led by MA YINXIU.

LIU QI (劉岐). Called the LONG-ARMED APE (長臂猿). The third captain of the mountain bandits led by MA YINXIU.

GENG ZHUANG (耿壯). Called the FLYING DART (飛鏢). The fourth captain of the mountain bandits led by MA YINXIU.

LU DERUI (陸德瑞). A visitor to MA YINXIU's bandit hideout.

PAN DADING (潘大鼎). A visitor to MA YINXIU's bandit hideout.

IN LANGZHONG (閬中)

XU LIN (徐麟) of the XU FARMSTEAD (徐家莊) in the JUNCTION HAMLET (丁子舖). Called the XIA OF LANGZHONG (閬中俠). A famous xia in SICHUAN. Father of XU YANYUN.

XU YANYUN (徐雁雲). Son of XU LIN.

JIAO DECHUN (焦德春). Called the GOLDEN-ARMORED GOD (金甲神). The escort captain at the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). Married to LUNA. Uncle of JIAO RONG.

JIAO RONG (焦榮). A young security escort for the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). Nephew of JIAO DECHUN.

QI YONG (戚永). Called the HOOKED BLADE (鈎刀). A young security escort for the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). A disciple of HAN JING.

YANG XIANTAI (楊先泰). Called the SHORT BLADE (短刀). Also called SECOND YANG (楊二). A young security escort for the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). A disciple of HAN JING.

LÜ XIONG (呂雄). Called the FLOWER BLADE (花刀). A young security escort for the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). A disciple of HAN JING.

MI ZILIANG (米子良). A security escort for the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店).

CHEN WENFU (陳文富). Called SEVENTH CHEN (陳七). The dealer of a dice game at the FULI SECURITY OFFICE (福立鏢店). Carries LITONG (利通) banknotes.

LUNA (賽嫦娥). A former prostitute. Wife to JIAO DECHUN.

ABALONETTE (小鮑魚). A prostitute on BEAUTIES LANE (美人巷).

EIGHTH CHENG (程八). A government official.

JIANG CHENG (蔣成). Called the MOTLEY STAR GOD (花太歲). A subordinate of XU LIN.

THE IRON STAFF MONK (鐵杖僧). A monk who challenged XU LIN to a test of strength for alms.

IN NANJIANG (南江)

YUAN YONG (袁湧) of the YUAN FARMSTEAD (袁家莊). Called the PURPLE-FACED LION (紫面獅). Friend to XU LIN. Father of YUAN JINGYUAN. Uncle of YUAN ZISHAO.

YUAN ZISHAO (袁子紹). Called the SLENDER HEGEMON (瘦霸王). Friend to XU LIN. Nephew of YUAN YONG.

YUAN JINGYUAN (袁敬元). Young son of YUAN YONG. Later known as JINGXUAN (靜玄) and called the HAIRED ADHERENT (帶髮修行).

IN XI'AN (西安)

LI FENGJIE (李鳳傑). A skilled, young scholar from NANGONG (南宮). A disciple of TONG QINGYAN. Brother of LI FENGQING (李鳳卿), a farmer.

JI GUANGJIE (紀廣傑). A young xia from LONGMEN (龍門). Grandson of JI JUNYI.

GE SHAOGANG (葛少剛). A security escort for the LISHUN SECURITY OFFICE (利順鏢店). Son of GE ZHIQIANG and XU-SHI. Married to CHENG YU'E.

XU-SHI (徐氏). Wife to GE ZHIQIANG. Mother of GE SHAOGANG.

CHENG YU'E (程玉娥). Wife to GE SHAOGANG. Daughter of CHENG FENGSHAN.

CHENG FENGSHAN (程鳳山). Called the LONG SPEAR (長槍). The escort captain at the FENGSHAN SECURITY OFFICE (鳳山鏢店). Father of CHENG YU'E.

HAN BAO (韓豹). The escort captain at the GUANZHONG SECURITY OFFICE (關中鏢點).

LIANG ZHEN (梁振). The escort captain at the TAIFU SECURITY OFFICE (泰福鏢店).

QIN DEYU (秦得玉). The escort captain at the HUAZHOU SECURITY OFFICE (華州鏢店).

PANG YIN (龐蔭). Called the DIVINATORY FIST (八卦拳). A martial arts master.

EIGHTH ZHANG (張八). Called the BLIND TIGER (瞎老虎). A martial arts master.

SUN BAO (孫豹). Called the LIVING DEVIL (活魔王). A martial arts master.

SECOND LIU (柳二). An official at the prefectural punishment bureau.

SECOND DENG (鄧二). Called the DIVINE HOLD (神拿). An official who heads the prefectural punishment bureau.

CONSTABLE ZHANG (張捕頭). An officer of the government.

ZHAO BAOFU (趙保福). Uncle of JI GUANGJIE. Operates the GUANGYIFU MONEY DISPENSARY (廣益福錢莊) in partnership with another.

MOTHER JIANG (姜媽). A servant woman of the GE HOUSEHOLD (葛家).

ELDEST LIU (劉大). The innkeeper at the AUSPICIOUS INN (吉祥棧).

ELDEST FEI (費大). The blacksmith at the DEFU SMITHY (德福鐵舖).

ON MOUNT SONG (嵩山)

TAIWU (太無). Called the GOLDEN-FACED BODHISATTVA (金臉菩薩). A Chan master at the BAISONG TEMPLE (白松寺).

HU ERZHENG (胡二怔) of the village called ZITHER STREAM (鳴琴澗). Called the IRON SHOULDERS (鐵肩膀). A woodsman.

MISS CHEN (陳姑娘) of ZITHER STREAM. The young woman betrothed to LI FENGJIE.

ELDEST HAO (郝大). Elder brother of SECOND HAO. A general.

SECOND HAO (郝二) of the HAO FARMSTEAD. Younger brother of ELDEST HAO. A rich man.

BALDY YOU (尤禿子). Called the DOGSKIN (狗皮).

ON MOUNT JIUHUA (九華山)

THE MYSTERIOUS XIA (奇俠). An elderly xia encountered by BAO ZHENFEI in the TONGBAI MOUNTAINS (桐柏山), powerful and adept in dianxue. Called the ONE ENIGMA (一奇) by BAO ZHENFEI.

THE MUTE (啞巴). A deaf-mute who tends to the MYSTERIOUS XIA's tea trees.

IN AND AFTER LUOYANG (洛陽)

LU ZHENYING (盧振英). The escort captain at the ZHENYING SECURITY OFFICE (振英鏢店). A friend to JI GUANGJIE.

FATTY MA (麻胖子). A barkeep.

FOURTH ZHANG (張四). A local tough related to JI GUANGJIE.

IN ZHENGYANG (正陽)

MILLIONS GU (古百萬) of the GU FARMSTEAD (古家莊). A wealthy man. Also called the MISER GU (古嗇皮).

YANG GONGJIU (楊公久). Called the XIA OF RUZHOU (汝州俠). A household guard of MILLIONS GU. A sworn brother to LIU YING

LIU YING (劉英). Called the SPECKLE-FACED LEOPARD (花臉豹子). A household guard of MILLIONS GU. A sworn brother to YANG GONGJIU.

ELDEST PANG (龐大). An officer of the county government.

FOURTH JIANG (姜四). An officer of the county government.

ON MOUNT WUDANG (武當山)

THE SWORDSMAN OF CHU (楚劍雄). The second of the SEVEN GREAT SWORD SAGES.

OTHER JIANGHU (江湖) NOTABLES

JI JUNYI (紀君翊). Called the XIA OF LONGMEN (龍門俠). A legendary xia in HEDONG (河東). Grandfather of JI GUANGJIE. Master of the LONGMEN SCHOOL (龍門派). One of the TWO DRAGONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH. Also one of the TWO PINNACLES OF NORTH AND SOUTH.

TONG QINGYAN (童清彥). Called the DRAGON OF SHU (蜀中龍). A legendary xia in SICHUAN (四川). Became a Daoist priest later in life, calling himself the LONGSHAN DAOIST (龍山道人). One of the TWO DRAGONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH. Also one of the TWO PINNACLES OF NORTH AND SOUTH.

GAO QINGGUI (高慶貴). Called the DIVINE HAWK (神鷹). A famous xia in KAIFENG (開封), adept in dianxue.

LI ZHENXIA (李振俠). A martial arts master in HUAZHOU (華州).

ZHANG DEBAO (張德豹). A martial arts master in TONGZHOU (同州).

LIANG GAO (梁高). Called the IRON-ARMED MONKEY (鐵臂猴). A famous xia in LUONING (洛寧).

LU BOXIONG (魯伯雄). Called the DIVINE WHIP (神鞭). A famous xia in SHANGCAI (上蔡).

LIU KUANG (劉匡). Called the PEER TO HUANG ZHONG (賽黃忠). The escort captain at the LIU SECURITY OFFICE (劉家鏢點) in XINYANG (信陽).

SECOND PANG (龐二). Called the FLOWER SPEAR (花槍). A famous xia in XIANGYANG (襄陽).

THE TIGER OF FUZHOU (涪州虎). A famous xia in SICHUAN (四川).

HAN JING (韓景) of HEZHOU (合州). Called the DRUNK GOD OF PESTILENCE (醉瘟神). Master to QI YONG, YANG XIANTAI, and LÜ XIONG.

LI LIANSHENG (李連勝). Called the FLOWER FIST (花拳). A martial arts master in BAZHOU (巴州).

LI DACHENG (李大成). Called the TIGER OF EMEI (峨嵋虎). A famous xia in SICHUAN (四川).

ZHANG XIONG (張雄). Called the IRON CROSSBOW (鐵弩). A security escort in CHANGZHOU (常州).

LIU QINGKONG (劉青孔). A martial artist in SHANGSHUI (商水).

HE TIESONG (賀鐵松). An old friend of BAO ZHENFEI, living in reclusion in the SHANYIN VALLEY (山陰谷) of LUOYANG (洛陽).

HU LI (胡立). Called the SILVER DART (銀鏢). A mountain bandit.

CHAO LI (晁禮). Called the WATER-SIPHONING DRAGON (吸水龍). Had some of his men killed by the LONG BROTHERS in the JIANMEN MOUNTAINS (劍門山).

MAO QING (茅清). Called the MOUNTAIN RAT (山老鼠). Had some of his men killed by the LONG BROTHERS in the JIANMEN MOUNTAINS (劍門山).

THE GOOSE OF THE GREAT RIVER (長江雁). A martial artist.

CAPTAIN LIANG (梁鏢長). An escort captain at the DASAN PASS (大散關).

WANG ZONG (王宗). A great xia and the master of a nonextant splinter branch of the WUDANG SCHOOL in GUANZHONG (關中).

CHEN ZHOUTONG (陳州同). The master of a splinter branch of the WUDANG SCHOOL in WENZHOU (溫州) from which TONG QINGYAN has descended.

WANG LAIWEI (王來威). The master of a nonextant splinter branch of the WUDANG SCHOOL in Southern HUBEI (湖北).

POPULAR DESIGNATIONS

THE LONG BROTHERS (龍兄弟). LONG ZHITENG and LONG ZHIQI.

THE THREE EXEMPLARS OF ZIYANG (紫陽三傑). LONG ZHITENG, LONG ZHIQI and JIA ZHIMING.

THE TWO PINNACLES OF NORTH AND SOUTH (南北二絕). TONG QINGYAN and JI JUNYI.

THE TWO DRAGONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH (南北二龍). TONG QINGYAN and JI JUNYI.

THE SEVEN GREAT SWORD SAGES (七大劍仙). Seven of the greatest martial artists at the YUZHEN MONASTERY (遇真觀) on MOUNT WUDANG (武當山): the SWORDSMAN OF CHU, and six others.

GLOSSARY

CULTURE AND HISTORY

THE GREAT QING EMPIRE (大清帝國). 1644–1912. China under Manchu rule. Preceeded by the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. Succeeded by the founding of the Republic of China.

THE TANG DYNASTY (唐朝). 618–907. Preceeded by the collapse of the Sui Dynasty. Succeeded by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

WUXIA (武俠). Martial arts fiction.

JIANGHU (江湖). The Rivers and Lakes. Refers to the world on the fringes of society where men and women rely on their honor and abilities to live.

THE MARTIAL WOODS (武林). The world of martial arts.

THE GREEN WOODS (綠林). The world of the outlaw.

THE WUDANG SCHOOL (武當派). A school of martial arts originating on MOUNT WUDANG (武當山) with a focus on internal techniques.

THE SHAOLIN SCHOOL (少林派). A school of martial arts originating at the SHAOLIN TEMPLE (少林寺) with a focus on external techniques.

XIA (俠). A valiant. A knight-errant. A gallant.

CHAN (禪). A school of Buddhism founded by the monk Bodhidharma that focuses on achieving enlightenment through meditation and the fulfillment of dharma.

DAO (道). The natural order of the universe.

THE LEPER SUN (孫癩子). A villainous character from ZHANG WENXIANG'S ASSASSINATION OF MA (張文祥刺馬案), a story set in the late Qing Dynasty telling about how ZHANG WENXIANG (張文祥) assassinated his sworn brother MA XINYI (馬新貽).

CHANG'E (嫦娥). A goddess renowned for her beauty who resides on the Moon.

SHEN WANSAN (沈萬三). A wealthy man of legend from the Ming Dynasty who in folktales owned a treasure pot that refilled itself with whatever one put into it.

ZHANG SANFENG (張三丰). A Daoist of legend who founded the internal WUDANG SCHOOL of martial arts and attained the Dao while atop MOUNT WUDANG (武當山). Also called the PERFECTED INCARNATION OF PROFUNDITY (通微顯化真人).

KING YAMA (閻王). A Buddhist deity who rules over the underworld.

XUANWU (玄武). Also called ZHENWU (真武). A high-ranking Daoist deity of the North revered by martial artists who attained the Dao while atop MOUNT WUDANG (武當山). Served by the TWO GENERALS TORTOISE AND SNAKE (龜蛇二將) in folk tales.

HUIZONG OF SONG (宋徽宗). Northern Song emperor (reign, 1100-1026). The eighth emperor of the Song Dynasty.

CHENGZU OF MING (明成祖). Ming emperor (reign, 1402-1424). The YONGLE EMPEROR (永樂皇帝). The third emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

LU BAN (魯班). A philosopher and craftsman of the State of Lu during the Warring States Era.

HUANG ZHONG (黃忠). An aged general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms Era.

SIMA QIAN (司馬遷). An historian during the Han Dynasty, titled the GRAND SCRIBE (太史公). Author of the seminal historical work RECORDS OF THE GRAND HISTORIAN (史記), which includes a chapter on ROAMING XIA (游俠).

MASTER DENGTU (登徒子). A purportedly lecherous figure from the Warring States Era FU ON MASTER DENGTU'S LICENTIOUSNESS (登徒子好色賦), attributed to SONG YU (宋玉).

THE CURLY-WHISKERED GUEST (虯鬚客). A character from the Tang Dynasty TALE OF THE CURLY-WHISKERED GUEST (虯鬚客傳) by DU GUANGTING (杜光庭).

JOURNEY TO THE WEST (西遊記). A Ming Dynasty novel. One of the four great classical Chinese novels. Attributed to WU CHENG'EN (吳承恩). About the Tang Dynasty monk TRIPITAKA's journey to India to retrieve sacred Buddhist sutras with the help of MONKEY, PIGSY and SANDY (沙悟淨).

TRIPITAKA (唐三藏). A Tang Dynasty monk in search of sacred Buddhist sutras in the classical Chinese novel, JOURNEY TO THE WEST.

MONKEY (孫悟空). One of TRIPITAKA's disciples in the classical Chinese novel, JOURNEY TO THE WEST.

PIGSY (豬八戒). One of TRIPITAKA's disciples in the classical Chinese novel, JOURNEY TO THE WEST.

THE NEW BOOK OF TANG (新唐書). A revised history of the Tang Dynasty written and compiled during the succeeding Northern Song Dynasty. Part of the TWENTY-FOUR HISTORIES (二十四史).

THE WHITE LOTUS UPRISING (白蓮教起義). A popular rebellion (1796-1804) led by the White Lotus Sect against the foreign rule of the GREAT QING EMPIRE.

SCHOOL NAME (學名). A formal name given to a child when he starts his schooling.

EIGHT-PART ESSAY (八股文章). The essay format the civil service examinations must be written in.

XIUCAI (秀才). The civil service degree achieved after one passes the county-level exams.

JUREN (舉人). The civil service degree earned after one passes the province-level exams.

DUANWU FESTIVAL (端午節). Also called the DUANYANG FESTIVAL (端陽節). A festival celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month by eating ZONGZI (粽子), racing dragon boats, and warding off evil spirits.

KANG (炕). A heated, raised, brick bed.

THE WATER STAR (水星). The planet Mercury.

SHIGANDANG (石敢當). A small stone tablet erected at places of fierce energy to ward off evil spirits.

SUONA (嗩吶). A Chinese reeded wind instrument resembling a trumpet. A descendant of the Hui zurna.

PIPA (琵琶). A Chinese stringed instrument resembling a lute.

PENG (鵬). A giant mythological bird.

LUAN (鸞). A mythological bird.

MILE (里). About a third of a present-day mile.

THE QING GOVERNMENT

THE SON OF HEAVEN (天子). The Emperor of China. The sovereign monarch of the Great Qing Empire.

MINISTRY OF REVENUE (戶部). One of the SIX MINISTRIES (六部) of government. Responsible for property, the census, taxation, and other financial matters.

THE THREE ARMIES (三軍). The armies of the left, center and right, representing the entire military.

GENERAL (將軍). A government official in charge of the military.

PROVINCE (省). The highest level administrative district, above CIRCUIT.

INSPECTOR-GENERAL (巡撫). A government official charged with governing a PROVINCE.

TREASURY COMMISSIONER (藩司). A government official serving under the INSPECTOR-GENERAL, charged with the management of civil matters.

JUDICIAL COMMISSIONER (臬司). A government official serving under the INSPECTOR-GENERAL, charged with the management of legal affairs.

CIRCUIT (道). The level of administrative district under PROVINCE and above PREFECTURE.

PREFECTURE (府). The level of administrative district under CIRCUIT and above SUBPREFECTURE.

SUBPREFECTURE (州). The level of administrative district under PREFECTURE and above COUNTY.

SUBPREFECT (知州). A government official charged with governing a SUBPREFECTURE.

COUNTY (縣). The lowest level administrative district, under SUBPREFECTURE.

MARTIAL ARTS AND SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

DIANXUE (點穴). Hitting the various vital points on the body for the purpose of causing paralysis, loss of consciousness or injury.

QIGONG (氣功). Using one's own life energies to improve health and martial arts.

GRASS GLIDER (草上飛). A person who can run exceptionally fast due to his LIGHTNESS SKILL (輕功).

LONG FIST (長拳). A style of hand-to-hand martial arts.

SHORT SWORD (短劍). A style of sword martial arts.

EAVE-FLYING AND WALL-WALKING (飛檐走壁). The ability to leap onto eaves and walk across walls as if flying.

SPLIT-BODY CROSS (分身十字). A martial arts form.

RETURNING WIND FORM (回風式). A sword form.

HALL-SWEEPING LEG (掃堂腿). A leg sweeping move.

FULL-ARM FIST (通臂拳). A fist sequence that ends with the TWO-WING FLAP (兩翅搖).

CURLING BLOSSOM (挽花). A martial arts move that involves making a circle with the hand or weapon.

CRIMSON PHOENIX FACING THE SUN (丹鳳朝陽). A martial arts move where an attack starts up high and comes down.

LEFT-RIGHT WHIPPING FORM (左右揚鞭式). A technique that involves forcefully swinging the fists widely left and right.

CHASING WIND, LEAPING LIGHTNING (追風掠電). A martial arts move.

SUBDUING TIGERS, FELLING DRAGONS (伏虎沉龍). A martial arts move.

VAJRAPANI'S RESTORATION POWDER (金剛更生散). A medicine with a secret recipe used to treat saber and sword wounds.

WEAPONS

SABER (鋼刀). A long, single-edged blade.

KUNLUN SABER (崑崙刀). A saber heavier than most, favored by BAO ZHENFEI.

SWORD (寶劍). A long, double-edged blade.

WERESWORD (雄劍). A sword made heavier and sharper than most, favored by LI FENGJIE.

THE SEVEN-STARS SWORD (七星劍). The magical sword employed by the Daoist deity XUANWU.

STAFF (木棍). A long wooden stick.

IRON STAFF (鐵杖). A staff made of iron.

SPEAR (花槍). A polearm wherein a short blade is attached to the end of a pole.

HEAVENLY HALBERD (方天畫戟). A spear to which are attached at the end two additional crescent-shaped blades.

DAGGER (匕首). A short double-edged blade.

WHIP (皮鞭). A leather lash attached to a handle.

POLE (竿). A long bamboo stick.

WHITEASH POLE (白蠟杆). A long stick made out of white ash wood.

POLEHOOK (鈎竿). A pole with two metal hooks at one end, one each on either side, sometimes sharpened as blades.

DOUBLE HOOKS (雙鈎). A matched pair of hooked blades with a crescent-shaped blade attached to each handle. Also called TIGER'S HEAD HOOKS (虎頭鈎).

GLAIVE (朴刀). A polearm wherein a long, single-edged blade is attached to the end of a pole.

FLAIL (梢子棍). A sectioned staff. Also called a COILING-DRAGON FLAIL (盤龍棍).

DART (飛鏢). A small blade intended for throwing as a missile.

THE AUTHOR AND HIS WORKS

WANG DULU (王度盧). Author (1909-1977). Born WANG BAOXIANG (王葆祥), styled XIAOYU (霄羽), into a poor banner family in BEIJING (北京). Lost his father when young, entered the world at an early age. Started writing long-form novels in the 30s, over thirty works, including THE CRANE STARTLES KUNLUN, TREASURED SWORD AND GOLDEN HAIRPIN, SWORD'S GLIMMER AND PEARL'S LUSTER, CROUCHING TIGER AND HIDDEN DRAGON, ARMORED STEED AND SILVER VASE, THE PURPLE PHOENIX DART (紫鳳鏢), etc. Praised as one of the Four Great Wuxia Writers of the Northern School.

THE CRANE STARTLES KUNLUN (鶴驚崑崙). The first book in WANG DULU's Crane-Iron quintet, though written third, after SWORD'S GLIMMER AND PEARL'S LUSTER. Originally published as a newspaper serial from April 1940 to March 1941 under the name DANCING CRANE AND SINGING LUAN (舞鶴鳴鸞記).

TREASURED SWORD AND GOLDEN HAIRPIN (寶劍金釵). The second book in WANG DULU's Crane-Iron quintet. Originally published as a newspaper serial from November 1938 to April 1939.

SWORD'S GLIMMER AND PEARL'S LUSTER (劍氣珠光). The third book in WANG DULU's Crane-Iron quintet. Originally published as a newspaper serial from July 1939 to April 1940.

CROUCHING TIGER AND HIDDEN DRAGON (臥虎藏龍). The fourth book in WANG DULU's Crane-Iron quintet. Originally published as a newspaper serial from March 1941 to March 1942.

ARMORED STEED AND SILVER VASE (鐵騎銀瓶). The fifth and last book in WANG DULU's Crane-Iron quintet. Originally published as a newspaper serial from March 1942 to sometime in 1944.

LI DANQUAN (李丹荃). The author WANG DULU's wife.