Night's Nomenclature

Glossary

• 110: The emergency police number in China, equivalent to 911 in the US or 999 in the UK.
• Face: 'Face' (mianzi) is a crucial concept in Chinese culture, representing honor, reputation, and social standing. Losing face is to be embarrassed or humiliated; gaining face is to increase one's prestige.
• UP master: In Chinese internet slang, an 'UP master' (UP主) is a content creator on video-sharing platforms, similar to a YouTuber or streamer.
• Baima Temple: A Buddhist temple, potentially named after the famous White Horse Temple (Baima Si) in Luoyang. Temples are places of worship and often offer a sense of peace and refuge.
• xian ren tiao: A 'xian ren tiao' (仙人跳) is a specific type of scam, often involving seduction and blackmail. The literal translation is 'immortal jump,' but it refers to a trap.
• orange weapons: In gaming terminology, 'orange' often denotes a high-tier, rare, or legendary item, often with superior stats.
• dan dan noodles: A spicy Sichuan noodle dish with a savory sauce, often containing preserved vegetables, chili oil, and ground pork.
• Ling money basket: A basket or container for keeping small change (ling qian) for transactions.
• General (in chess): This refers to the move 'checkmate' in Chinese chess (Xiangqi), meaning the opponent's king is under direct attack and cannot escape.
• evening self-study: A common practice in Chinese schools where students stay late to study under supervision, usually without formal teaching.
• running game(chess): A style of playing chess.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva: The Bodhisattva of keen awareness.
• Chu River Han boundary: Refers to the dividing line on a Chinese chess (Xiangqi) board, symbolizing the historical Chu-Han Contention, a famous interregnum period in Chinese history. It represents a clear separation and a point of conflict.
• Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: A Bodhisattva who looks over those traveling to the hell realms, and is also the guardian of children.
• a lama came from the south: The first half of a chinese riddle. Typically, a person would follow up with the other part of the riddle. It has no place or meaning here.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva pendant: Guanyin is a revered Bodhisattva (a being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the world to help others) in East Asian Buddhism, associated with compassion and mercy. Pendants depicting Guanyin are worn for protection and blessings.
• thirteen-move knight sacrifice: A specific, aggressive chess strategy involving sacrificing a knight early in the game.
• City Government West Family Courtyard: A reference to a courtyard that provides housing to people within the city government. Likely a residential area for government employees and their families, possibly with a historical connection.
• licking dog, the kind that licks feet: An extremely subservient and devoted person, often in an unreciprocated romantic context. The imagery of licking feet emphasizes the low status and desperation.