For any novels, a glossary is need, but for some novels a bit of extra informations is more necessary than a glossary. For Record of Washed Grievances, the extra informations will be the focus on this page instead of the glossary which would be update once in a while.
Why focusing on the extra informations of RoWG instead of the glossary?
There are quite a few reasons which can be sum up into this :
This is a novel that happen in some unknown past of a possible parallel world, but reused a lot of the ancient China’s elements, terms and culture.
Thus, you understand why I put footnotes and add this page. Besides, I didn’t want the energy I put into researching all of this for the sake of translating the story better to be a waste. What more, it could be nice to share new knowledge with anyone who is interest.
Extra Informations
Honorifics
One of the hurdles of most chinese translators. Some people will leave it as pinyin some will try to find an equivalent in english words. I’m the latter one. It took me more time finding english equivalent than to actually translate, but lo and behold, my new partner Wikipedia had shown me a non-exhaustive, but quite useful list of ancient chinese honorifics and their english equivalent. I’m using this list as a reference from now on, although I won’t follow it to the letter. It will depend on the context of the translations.
Here’s the link : chinese honorifics on Wikipedia
Government, Ranks and Titles
This part is one of the most interesting things that I need to research on in order to make some sense out of the interactions between all the characters. As you mostly suspect, equity and equal are not exactly the highlight in the interactions between different characters due to the socio-cultural and socio-political background of the story which is a melting pot of different kind of dynasties. It will probably clarify with the later chapters or not.
Anyway, I did try to make sense out of the Government’s structure in this story and the closest that made sense is Three Departments and Six Ministries.
To make it more easy to understand, I’ll use Lou Xiyan’s title as the core of the explanation.
The chinese characters for Lou Xiyan’s title is 丞相 (chéng xiàng) which referred to the title of Chancellor or Prime Minister because he’s the only person who can actually oversee more than one ministries in that structure. Thus, the title of the people around him will be readjust following this structure for now.
As for his rank, I suppose it’s a rank One on Nine rank since Qilin are used for rank One. Although in real history it’s only use for Military ranks in late Qing.
For more informations on the ranks and grades, click here.
That pdf also has an interesting section about problem with translations and the need to readjust according to the context.
Extra facts : If we use a modern dictionary or most dictionaries to look up丞相, we find the definitions of Prime Minister or most senior minister of many kingdoms or dynasties (with varying roles). Prime Minister is not an inaccurate term since it can be seen in different translations and official sources. Personally, I prefer to use the latter definition which allow me more freedom and don’t you agree that Chancellor gave it a more olden times flavour and gives the impression of absolute authority after the Emperor?
The Jiang Hu
Coming Soon…
Glossary
In this glossary, I’m also adding the pronunciation of each name which are link to MDBG.net, a very good free online chinese-english dictionary.
By the way, I don’t like changing names into english, so I will use pinyin for names of place and characters and some other important terms that are better kept in pinyin.
Characters
Zhuo Qing (卓晴 – zhuó qíng) : A forensic investigator that transmigrated into the body of a young woman given as a tribute in the ancient times of a parallel world.
Qing Feng (青枫 – qīng fēng) : The young woman that was suppose to be given as a tribute to Lou Xiyan.
Lou Xiyan (楼夕颜 – lóu xī yán) : The Chancellor
Wu Si (吴斯 – Wú sī) : One of the villager from Niu Jia village who kidnapped Zhuo Qing
Lin Bokang (林博康 – lín bó kāng) : The benefactor of Niu Jia village and was charged with the crime of swapping the army provisions.
Madam Lin (林夫人 – lín fū ren) : Lin Bokang’s wife
Wu Zhigang (吴志刚 – Wú zhì gāng) : The Vice-minister of the Ministry of Justice at Ying Tian office.
Mo Bai (墨白 – mò bái) : Lou Xiyan’s imperial bodyguard
Wang Bingsheng (王丙升 – wàng bǐng shēng) : The only coroner in Ying Tian office
Liu Wu (刘五 – Liú wǔ) : A bailiff at Ying Tian office
Jing Sa (景飒 – jǐng sà) : Lou Xiyan’s housekeeper
Li Ming (李鸣 – Lǐ míng) : Lin Bokang’s housekeeper
Shan Yulan (单御岚 – Shàn yùlán) : An official of the Criminal Justice Department
Gu Yun (顾云 – Gù Yún) : Zhuo Qing’s friend and colleague
Qian Jing (乾荆 – Qián jīng) : A bounty hunter
Lou Xiwu (楼夕舞 – Lóu xī wǔ) : Lou Xiyan’s little sister
Chao Yun (朝云 – Cháo yún) : Qiong Yue’s Imperial princess
Xue Xianxin (薛娴心- ) : The concubine of Lou Xiyan’s father
Yang Mu ( ) : An imperial physician of Qiong Yue
Yang Hongtian (燕弘添 – Yān hóng tiān) : Qiong Yue’s Emperor
Qi Tianyu (齐天宇 -) : Lou Xiyan’s friend
Places
Qiong Yue (穹岳 – qióng yuè) : The country where the story unfold
Huan Yang (焕阳 – huàn yáng) : The capital city of Qiong Yue
Hao Yue (皓月国 – hào yuè guó) : Qing Feng’s home country
Zhai Xing pavilion (摘星阁 – zhāi xīng gé) : Situated in Lou Xiyan’s residence
Bei Qi (北齐-Běi Qí) : A vassal country of Qiong Yue
Di Nu (迪弩- dí nǔ) : A country in war with Bei Qi
Lan Yue House (揽月楼 – ) : Where Lou Xiyan lived in his residence
Others
Jiang Hu (江湖 – Jiāng hú) : It’s referred to the underworld (assassins, secret societies, etc.).
Rotten Translations 