UC-NRLF P L 1417 W65 G55 1879 MAIN 1 Hill III B M DEI III ATI ■'V --v '- /■ OK ^OME JrANSLATIONS AND jVllSTRAIHSLATIONS IiN DR. WILLIAMS' m\m mmim of the chiise mma, m A M O Y : PRINTED BY A. A. MARCAL, 1879. Cy^lju^-^^' NOTE. /If?? J DURING the five years' interval which has elapsed since the publication of Dr. Williams' Syllabic Dictionary of the Chinese Language^ its merits and demerits have had every opportunity of being very fairly tested. The fatal mistake, committed upon the threshold, of introduc- ing a new and complicated orthography, not only for Mandarin but even for the Peking dialect; the numerous etymological blunders exposed by Mr. Chalmers in Vol. IV of the China Review; Mr. Groeneveldt's scathing critique in Vol. Ill of the same periodical; and the fre- quent inaccuracies both of sound and tone pointed out by an anonymous writer in twelve columns of the China Mail, — have all combined to show that Dr. Williams' dictionary, though in many ways an improvement upon its predeces- sors, is still unlikely to hold the fort for any indefinitely long period. It is indeed already felt by many that some- thing more systematic in arrangement and more accurate in detail is wanted to meet the present extension of Chin- ese studies over a daily increasing area; and the following pages are intended to aid in establishing more widely this conviction, dealing as they do with the translations of a large number of entries, the greater or less erroneousness of which has hitherto been left unnoticed. These entries have not, however, been searched out for this purpose, but are simply such as have come under observation within the past eighteen months; neither does the list, unfortunately for the sake of this dictionary, pretend to be exhaustive, as may be readily proved by the student who will take the trouble to run carefully through almost any page of Dr. Williams' work. H. M.'s Consulate^ Amoy, llth August, 1879. On some Translations and Mistranslations in Dr. WILLIAMS' Syllabic Dictionary of tlie Cliinese Language. r When suddenly 2p ^ Should be " distressed thrown into perilous ^ as if in perilous stra- straits. *t^ its." 1 happened to see it; Ab ^ Should be "To meet I just saw it. a suddenly; to come upon ^ for the first time." To delude, to ti^ump 4cb ^ This phrase is invari- up. .3/ ably used as an adjec- ^^ tive, meaning "deceit- ful; treacherous etc." Report of a cannon, 4c ^ The first character is ^ often written for j^ ; and the phrase given ap- parently means "a mortar." Mischievous sprites 5a ;^ (1). Cannibal ogres. which roam at night. ^ See the story of the ^ ^ Jltlinthef!J#. (2). The 7/akchas of Budd.hism. This entry is given partially cor- rect on p. 1080 c. [ 2 ] The name of the mi- 6 c ffflK On p. 611, the same nister of Yiih Wang^ ^^ term is explained by " a who rules the demons, ^^ "phantom man; one " story makes him to " have been foster brother of the third son of Wan Wang, ''and to have destroyed Tanki's ( ? T'a-ki's) spirit when ^'she returned to heaven." The ^S$? ^^ct. 3, m^kes this favourite god the son of a military commander, named Li; and states that after a gestation of 3 years 6^ months he was born in the form of a ball which was cloven open' by his father's sword. • / heg you to look into this, said hy petitioners. To implicate one hy 9c leaving something icith him. Is a name sometimes 10^ g.j- given to the spirit of a son jt^ •who died before he could J^ recompense his parents. ^ A fabidous 7nonster etc. ; provincial judges and censors icear it as their official embroidery •whence they are sometimes designated. ^ ^ by synecdoche. 9a ^ The same phrase is ^^ translated on p. 387 6 ^ "to behold or examine,. "as the gods do." This phrase is com- monlv understood '''to secretly place someth,mg in another person's box or elsewhere, and then accuse him of theft. An unpaid creditor who after death is born J^ again as the son of his S debtor. Bad sons are believed to belong to this category. 10c ^ As their "badges,", civil officials wear bir4s, animals being confined to the military. The term ^ ^ is however defined in the :^ $ by " a title of respect ap- plied to a District Ma- gistrate." / have nothing to trade with. 13c :^ Should be '•' I :^' made no profit." have Heaven^ as a poiver. 15a JA A Maliommedan term for God. Jo lift etc. it ansivers to the Grecian game of throwing the cestus. Exactly opposite, like two needles; i. e., their ideas are just the same. 15c m To give custom to; to assist etc. 99, The cestus being a leather covering for the fist, used much in the same way as a boxing- glove, we must conclude that Dr. Williams was thinking of something- else perhaps of the discus. Various explanations are given of this phrase. ( 1 ) As like as two need- les, or, as we say, peas. (2) The needle opposite [the N. of a compass] ; i. e., exactly to point. (3) ^'Diamond cut dia- mond," the two charac- ters being elliptical for ■#f 'Ji #i P e M See page 578, under ■^. In a slang sense, to toady; in the sense of to give strength to the phrase v/iil be found ful- ly explained at the open- ing of Book VI of the A faggot; a bundle of )^ ticks tied up, ^ 30c ;f| Should ])c "A thorn. [ ^ ] To take the fee at 50a gammg. The tenii may be ge- nerally used of any kind of commission. To ash aid, as by send- 50a ^ ing a present, and hoping ±±. a larqe return. '^ The same phrase is given on p. 157,trttS5 where it is explained "to scheme how to get a good return ; as to present ^ peach and get a dollar. " To strike the hours, as 51a Jg The Chinese clepsy- a watchman. ^^ dra or water-clock is so called. w statesman. i. e. a 2'>citriot 57b ^ tt Should be " i. e., a man who remains un- ^ moved in the midst of ?^ trying circumstances. " He is not necessarily a patriot. Another ac- count places this rock in the Ch'ang-kuo Dis- trict and explains the term hjmZtiaA^ The register of the 65c tsinsz' graduates of one examination. "Kegister" hardly explains that the genea- logy of each successful candidate is given in full. The term is also used in quite another sense; e. g, :^ A A t «e "he doesn't lay himself open to be talked about." [ 5 ] J hose who have nothing G7a :^ Those officers and to do ivith the cortege, ^ others who have no re- ^ tinue. See p. 225 c. A The officer who has the 75^ Jg The regular constitii- seaL or really holds the m tional officers of China. post. .: 51^ They use square seals S as opposed to oblong ones f^ ^ , such as are held by special officers appointed for special purposes. This arrangement dates from the agreement made by the founder of the present dynasty that the constitutional Government of the country should remain im changed; and though many officials have in some sort gradually usurped the functions of the regular tribunals, it is by usance and not of right. See page 472« where Williams explains the term differently from his owai explanation here quoted, giving a list of the officers in- cluded. It may be worth recording that H. E. the pre- sent Viceroy of Canton, to w^hom the question w^as referred, declared Taot'ais, Prefects, and Magistrates to l^e the The first month of the 75c Jg We do not under- year was so named etc., «* stand the value of Dr. and confirmed by Ts'in ■ J Williams' ''confirmed." Chi Hwang-ti.B.C. 221. What happened at the beginnig of the reign of ^M M *^ was that the tone of IE was chang- ed from i- to ± ^, be- cause His Majesty's per- sonal name happened to be i^ chc7ig. i [ 6] An ancient 'place Lu etc. tn ^ The beast unlike four others (in allusion to the Elephurus Davidii), To converse w hil e ivhisking away the flies. A scarecroic\ a straw man. 81a|| To wliicli should be added the commoner classical explanation ^ SSb pq Should be ''unlike all ^ other (kinds)," l^^l being ^ an ellipsis for ^^ '^ . ^ Another explanation of the term is " diifering in four particulars ( from other deer)," namely, as to its tail, feet, colour, and ears. The technical name is correctly written Ela- pJiurus davidiaiius . See page 836 6^, where the same mistake is made. This phrase should be explained as refer- ring to the celebrated conyersationalists of the ^ dynasty Avho were distinguished by horse- hair or yak's-tail whisks which they held in the hand while talking. 92« ^ For " scarecrow " we i^» should hardly like to ^ vouch; and "a straw man" is barely suffici- ent to explain that the term is specially appli- ed to the figures that are l)urnt by the rela- tiyes of a deceased man to be his servants in the nether world. m [ 7 ] To judge of one's abi- lities for a post by trial. A long bamboo pillow. Mc ^ Should be 'Hhe pu- rr nishment [of civil or ^^ military officials accord- ing to a graduated scale of offences, is so called.] " 95^ Yi Literally, a bamboo wife. A hollow cylin- drical leg-rest, made of /V bamboo. Commonly known to Europeans as a '' Dutch wife." Carefully attend to those gone., and follow depart- ed . ancestors. 100a May your parents both be vigorous. Wise in council^ ingeni- ous etc. 104^ ^ Dr. Legge (Analects ^ I) translates '' Let there -^ be a careful attention 5(1, to perform the funeral ^ rites to parents, and let them be followed when long gone with the ce- remonies of sacrifice." Mr. Alabaster gives a third version in his Chapter from the Chi- nese Gospel. j^ The optative use of this 1^ expression is rare, even ■^ if it may be said to exist. 3L Should be "my parents ^ are both alive." 116c Wi This phrase occurs in Book XIII of the Lun Yil, and is explained by Dr. Legge " to give re- plies unassisted {sc. by the individuals of his suite.)" [ 8 ] At present Styled. 118a ^ Should be '.' to hold an acting appointment.'^ \< Few ministered to his 123a ^ Should be "no one to wants. A minister etc." m Contented with his lot. 131c ^ To mind one's own ^ business; to do one's ^ duty in that state of life etc. Cold cannot he avoid- 134^ )^ Without criticising ed ; i. e. , ivho coidd have -^ Williams' analysis by guarded against itl sud- ^ which he here reaches deiily^ unforeseen. W the correct meaning viz "unexpectedly," we will draw attention to the same phrase, p. 506 c, where it is translated "he does not know who is watching^him." Nothing icorse than a 136Z> — ■ The meaning is allied little gossip. j^ to that oi ^ff^^, a w place where everybody ^ is trying to be " down " 3r on one, rightly or wrongly. He could not speak out, ISSb jf, ^^^g^ says, "not to and the other therefore jjt help out any one who did not learn it. i_L is not anxious to explain ^^ himself" Anal. VII 8. [ 9 ] To echo or adopt an- 148a pjj^ Exaggeration in its others views. ^ primitive sense of piling ^ together, like the grad- ual increments which a story derives from re- petition. Also, simply ''to add," e.g. ^#:^ Gaiety^ folly J vice, dis- 155b ^ Used much oftener in sipation. ^ a good sense, of the ac- *^ complishments and ge- neral tone of refined scholars &c. The term for a 7'oue is ^^ -f^- The cattle have gone to 155c ^^ From a famous sen- roain. 2^ tence in the Tso Chuan Jg^, which runs ^^iVM^ MK^MM. Pi:gM.,©^:T^yra^'tfc, lias been adopted the now common phrase of ^ ^ 4^, said of two persons who either purposely avoid each other or are kept apart by the force of circumstances. The above quotation was part of a message sent by the Viscount of Ch'u to the Marquis of Ch'i who was invading his territory, and may be rendered thus : — " Your lands. Sir Marquis, are by the northern sea, and mine are by the southern sea ; so that even our horses and oxen at the breeding season would not be brought together. " A popular explanation current among natives who miss the point of M-, is that horses like moving against the wind, oxen with the wind ; conse- quently they take different ways in life. ^. e. the persons 155c ^ But here ^^ has simp. are no more connected ffi Iv been omitted after ,^, than the wind and a ^ according to a well- horse. ^ known license in Chin- ^ ese composition. [10] ^'... said by Tao-kwang 162c g^ Which addition by in reference to foreigners' sa Dr. AVilliamstoanother- ^ewa??^?." £ wise correct translation ^ would naturally lead the h student to believe that ^ the phrase originated ^ with the Emperor Tao ^ Kuang; whereas the ]vL credit of it is due to the ^ first Emperor of the if Sung dynasty, and was ^ addressed by him to his general ^ fl^ Ts'ao Pin in reference to the pre- tender ^ j^. The full time for, the 176a ^ The H + 0^ M f^ period of /g are the twenty-four solar ^ terms. This term is also used in the sense of " season " or " weather;" e.g. MiMMM The consequence of ef- 194a J^ These identical words fo7^t; effectual^ prevailing; ^ are explained on p. 109 1 '^results of earnestness; ^ c to mean "a satisfac- verified. tory proof of; an exami- ' nation approved by a superior." This term could be used in the sense of medicine having taken effect according to the doctors' s prediction, &c. &c. [in A very suspicious af- fair. Is icell, I will be pleas- ed; — a phrase used by shopinen m a bill. Wlien traveling A tiger s sJioidder, de- notes the right side of a grave. soft, pliable ; flex- ible ivood, easily bent. See ^ ^ ; and compai An ill-omened fellow. To bathe cj'c; a decade., because i?i the Tang dy- nasty this bath took place thrice a month. 197a ^ On ])age G75 h we ,«p^ find the last tliree, i. e. ~ the essential characters W- of this sentence trans- ^ lated "avoid the appear- ance of evil." "Toavoid (arousing) jealous sus- picions," would perhaps ])e nearer the mark. 208c ;g Which might lead a ^ beginner to believe that ^ such w^as the only use of this common phrase. 217a ^ Should be ''when g|j», sleeping at an inn ..." 224c j^ Metaphorically, and j^ more commonly, " hid- ^ den rocks and boulders in a rapid." 228c ^ Mr. Chalmers pointed out this entry, which arose from misreading ^ as if it had been ^ e Williams' analysis of ^J, p. 91 c 236c H^ Shouldbe'^ bad luck." 2476 m \^ The (^ ^, however, gives a more accurate ex- planation; namely, that under the T'ane: dvnastv the Court officials re- ceived their pay thrice a month, and that pay was called V^^:2^- [12] Useless for inak'uuj 260a ^ Dead ashes, cinders. ashes. rj- Compare Cliuang-tzu's well-known phrase j^ It icould make even an e.Tjwrt laiigli / 0/ Courteous and sincere. 2946 if * The word " even " makes nonsense of the sentence. For a full explanation of -^ ^, see Wade's Ten Dialo- gues, Dial. X, § 76. The first two charac- ters are used in Chinese versions of the Bible as the equivalent of " meek." Legge trans- lates them by " benign and mild." Williams himself translates the last two (see page 927a) by " liberal, honest, con- siderate." If you have it, that's 2976 ^ Should be almost the^ better thaii being loithout ^^ exact opposite "Though it. -^ you have it, you would im be better without it. The pan is ready heat- 3086 ^ Should be, " The pot ed, m is boiling." For killing musquitoes. 309c ^ (This sentence, as a ^ translation, we give up. ) [ l.'i ]. / sent him a present of dried fruits^ cakes ^'c. To follow occupation, p. 434 a.) a fathers (Also on 311c 313^ ^ z Should be, '' to send a present of money." Dried fruits, cakes &c. come under the head of This is explained in to hide a father's faults. Very brusque and 315a stern. My bran wife cannot 320a come into the parlor. ^ m Legge translates it " free and straight for- ward." To appeal to the high- 3266 J^ er court. JtL tt or n Girls (can) be married 335c -f- at fifteen. ^ ^ Dr. Williams can ^ never have met this ^ phrase. It is "The wife ^ of one's husk days (sc. •^ poverty) should not be ^ put away in prosperity: f^ literally, " should not ^ go down from the halk" The first character should be M Only the first of the tAYO phrases given bears this signification. The second is simply to brino' a charge against anvone. Should be, " at fifteen, she should gather up her hair." The next sentence being Zl^^fffi ^ "at twenty, she should be married." See the /J>^, chap. I. [14] V7ie who depends on <:,ultivat{ng the corners for his living. 336a A Turning' to p. 588 a, we find '0fJ^Aifnf$ ^^ translated by "the unequal pertains to man, but Heaven has A friend, which the who is translatincr things in Chuano'-tzu's harmony." works from aboT< tak e passage is taken, informs me that these seven characters form only the predicate of a sentence of which the subject has been omitted by Dr. Williams, and that the sentence should read '• (The exceptional man is) exceptional quoad mankind, but in harmony quoad Hea- ven. '^ It must be patent indeed to every student who takes the trouble to verify such quotations that Dr. Wil- liams has got them original source. Boreas. A record office. from anvwhere rather than from the 336c 340c SE Should be "^olus. Commonlv used for " a secretarv." To imitate another.^ to 348c ^ Should be, "habit, ^ custom, manner, temper, ^ habitual conduct; and of land=nature.*' ape his dress or gait. To imbibe energy.^ as by gulping morning air ac- cording to the Taoists. To abandon business^ to retire to one's home. 348c ,|^ For the correct ex- /=^ planation of these char- ^ acters, see ,our subse- quent remarks on ^^1 p. 1102 b. 349a ^ This phrase occurs as a sjnonym of '•de- capitation," the tIj pro- bably standing for ex- ecution-ground. Cf ^ ■^ [15] A young rascal, a street Arab. cj-C. To tell of one's faults 3696- ^ 3796 ^ Par^asites, unscrupul- 391a ^ ous retainers; a cama- ^ rilla. ^ Also used in the sense of " a clever lad." Generally used in the same sense as the next entry but one. Commonly used as a euphemism for ^^' To yawn and stretch. 391c ^ The common phrase ^ for " to yawn " is ^T^ ; we know this one also as "to bow assent." See p. 736 b, where AVil- liams renders it " To stretch when tired." A narae for Chihli. 398c Should be king." for Pe- Starting ., convulsed ; fits, such as children have. 403a To hang one's self and be thrown into a ditch; — a disgraceful end. The Bible; — a foreign term. '^ foreign," since H |5 their own sacred books 404c g m m 404c m Also commonly used in a primary sense of " toTear the wind "; e.g. seemed as though a breath of wind would snap it." To commit suicide in a sewer or moat, g |^ has not necessarily any- thing to do with hang- ing. It is, however, only £^ " the Bible " which we can consider as is a well-known Chinese term for [ ic ] To maintain the repu- 416c j^ This is explained in tation of the family, ^ the 4^ 5^ hy ^ -^ ^ ^ ''to carry on one's fa- ^ ther's trade." A u'hore^ a kept mis- 4296 ^ A person engaged for tress. ^ the performance of cer- ^ tain duties something between those of a secre- tary and aide-de-camp. He acts as companion ( to his employer, receiv- es guests, entertains them, and makes him- self generally agreeable. The phrase occurs se- veral times in Book 78 ofthe,^a:ti#^- Man's heart does not 433« ^ Should be "man's groiv old; — ive canriot tell ^> heart is not what it was all its ways. !K of old." The pajpers concerning 450c ^ Usually "archives." a case in court. >±> The cautious man will ■451c ^ Legge gives, " The can - keep himself out of icrong ^ tiously-decided would — hut he will never effect ^ keep themselves from anything. ^ certain things." It is j^Jy of course needless to :^ say that the conclusion drawn by Dr. Williams, ^ accurate as it may be ^ of itself, is not concealed in the Chinese text. [17] An archer; applied too to a tide waiter who measures vessels for ton- nage-dues. 4616 He is very ignorant and yet he refuses to believe. There is some connec- tion betiveen them; I have an understanding ivith him. A rushing blast arose. The common term all over China for the tin- derlings of a magistra- te's yamen who use the so called " boAv " or fork- ed instrument by which land measurements are made. 4656 f§ I^^og^ translates, ig '' simple and yet not -j2jr sincere." i$ 466a This phrase is spe- cially used of a connec- tion by marriage. Also, of the connection be- tween debtor and credi- tor. 4706 Ig Should be, "It begins *H to blow." W, ^ " Nimble chopsticks. lads. e. 4716 t^ The absurdity of this ZSL translation has been well exposed by a writer in the China Revieio^ vol. Ill, p. 64, who shewed that the term meant if anything " hasteners." A corroboration of this view is furnished by |^^ ^ l[f, formerly a Minister of State. He pointed out that the classical word was ^ which was identical in sound and tone with j:^ "to remain stationary"; and that by travellers and others who did not wish " to remain stationary " abroad this term came to be regarded as one of bad omen, in consequence of which '^ [18] ^' speedy " was substituted, tlie idea being to secure a speedy return. Thus ^^ -f* would actually, signify '' hasteners." Chinese philological discoveries are proverbially worthless; but to anyone who has studied the superstitious side of Chinese character this explanation may not seem wholly frivolous. To which may be added the curious fact that ^ which would appear to be the older word in use for " chop- sticks," is composed of ^ bamboo and ^ to assist, sc. '' assist-ers." To look about. ^^^^ ^ Generally used in the ^ sense of '' looking on " instead of " acting," and often tacked to the end of an advertisement, e.g. ^ ^ ^ ■^ = '' make haste to avail yourselves of the above." 7^he7'e tvere no vaga- 480c ^k Dr. Legge says "no bonds without. jtnt^ unmarried men." Unconformable.^ aler- 483c yp But specially of " se- rant, irregular. Ajr ditious" people. It cannot equal this. 484a yj> Not to value, or set -g- store by, this. i. e. complete a 4886 ^ Dr. Williams has work before praising it. i[f here missed the " appli- ^ cation," which is rather ^ to be comj)ared with ^ that of our own saying, 5v ''Don't sink the ship W for a ha'porth of tar," i [19] / was quite mistaken. 4y0c' i^ Should be. "' J am ^ verv miicli obliged." Orf^^. 491c ^1] The student might CT here be led to believe *^ that these two terms are synonymous and that the use of either is op- tional. The whistling of the 500c ^ Should be '' the music wind. ^ of Heaven sounds spon- ^ taneously;" unlike "the H music of Earth " which V^ requires the interven- tion of a performer. The phrase will be found in Chuang-tzu's works. Anunloohed for event; 506c j^ Should be, "all of a a suddefi inishap. y^ sudden," Afraid of one's steps, bilb ^ Should be '• chary of ^ one's steps;" e.g. ^^ ^^ "be sure and come." He has no tad, 543a ^ For "tact'' read ^ '-versatility." [20] A forfeit in drinking. o46c ^ Should be ''any res- ^^ triction of a fanciful ^ kind imposed upon themselves by the mem- bers of a festive party, breaches of which incur the penalty or forfeit of a cup of wine to be drunk by the defaulter." Literally, ''wine law" or "wine rule." M^^^i^li^ '^ our wine law as strict as martial law." Unselfish^ guileless. 54:7c Jf, The job is done. Order of the emperors traveling equipage. This phrase refers to an anecdote of 2Vao Ts'ao, who ashed his servants ivhether the stag teas a horse or not^ in order cjr. On page 99 B our read- ers will find -^1^ trans- lated " to remember a kindness." " Uninflu- enced by feeling" seems to give a fair idea of the many shades of mean- ing which this term may have. 553c 556^» " hurried on with ^ Thus we have the job.' Commonly applied to >^ the ^:^ bearers in the retinue of any mandarin, 562^ :f§ The whole of this is •gg inaccurate. The phrase '^ in question had passed ^ into history four hun- ^ dred years before the time of the great gene- ral to whom it is attri- buted by Dr. Williams, having originated with JS^ Chao kao. See Reader's Manual, No. 43. [21] Valiant bibb ^ Over bearing; rowdy. Why are you so set to bibb jg Should be " so shilly- doing it? i^ shallying or '' inde- ifc^ cisive. Exaggeration ; to boast 580c ^ The following phrase and vapor about. ^& is in common use: — ^ m s m " ^°»'* ^^'""^ me rude." They think fondly of 586c ^g^ Should be "wishing their wives. jm to humour (or coax) -g- their wives." A man who sorns^ a 593^ ^ A sponge; a parasite. hanger-on^ a lackey. ^ Think it over and you 605^ ^ ^^^^^ gives, " the si- will understand it. j=^ lent treasuring . up of ssit knowled2:e," A phantom man d^c . 6115 i^ The name of a fa vour- 1^ itegod(jjj$), said to have been born after three years and six months gestation in a kind of ball which was cloven open by his father's sword. The full story is given in the ^|$, section 3. [-22] Yoli must (do or) bear 6136 ^ Should be '• unable to it. TC bear it." An orphan. Though muddy., I am not black. 619a 6336 S A child whose mother i, only is dead. ^ "May be steeped in ^ a dark fluid without be- ■jr ing made black." Leg- v^ ge. See Lun-yil^ xvii, ^ 7, where the full sense of tbe phrase is brought out. To clean with sand. the hands 639a ^ 'd^ Instrumental music; a hand. Evidently a mistake for the common ^^ "to crumple up." 647a /\ After enumerating •:g. eight parti cidar subs- tances, the San Tzu Ching says " These are the /\ ^ " and the commentary explains that from tbem are made the various kinds of musical ins- truments distinguisbed as /V^- band " is certainly a trifle forced. To use this term for "a An octagonal table. 647a A To gamble^ to bet. Should be " a square table, capable of hold- ing eight j)ersons. The -^ name is derived from the number of the Tao- ist immortals. 649c -^ Should be "to play j{g at cards or dominoes (as the case may be); hence, to gamble &c." [23] To return with the troops after a victory. In great doubt. 650^ 3^ To withdraw troops, g|C generally with a view of avoiding an engage- ment. 651c ^ Should be *' Half be- ^ lieving, half doubting," 4 When the snipe and the oyster ^c. You have been gazing at the sky through a little tube; — mot. you talk big. The angry bluster of officials in the Yamen. Hour for two guns^ fired at noon in a govern- or's office. 657c H On p. 1140 the char- ^i acter g| is translated j^ " lapwing" and " oyster- 4^ catcher." 665c ^ Why Dr. Williams pfa should have rendered ^ Wi ^y "^^^ ^ky" we ^ are unable to say. ^^ Should be ''(Like) look- ing at a leopard through a tube;" i. e., you will only see one of its spots, and not the whole ani- mal. Is used of a part- ial acquaintance with any subject. 666c H^ To behave in a dis- jri^ orderly manner in a j\ public court. 'M. 667c zH, The two gun signal ag is fired at Amoy at the /g beginning of the second *^ watch of the night, after which no one may be abroad without a light. [24] 7 he cajinonier in chess^ 667c ^^ Dr. Williams was 2/)hose powers are like clearly ignorant of the those of a blight game. For knight read castle. To see one to his chair, 684a ^ Should be " to see a H|| person off." To lay aside one's 6885 -j^ Should be "undress," 7'ohe. -tii.e. the usual dress of an official when not wearing his robes, f^ can hardly be taken as a verb. To read a piece straight 693a ^ Should be ( 1) " a bold through. ^ hand- writing " or ( 2 ) " a M4- vigorous style," the lat- ins, ter being the most com- ^^ mon. No wonder he is poor. 697a »j^^ In common parlance, ^ this phrase equals our AA "devilish poor." A sy- nonymous term is ^ J|- Filled; vast, as the at- 706c ^ Add ^ to the first mosphere. ^ character, and then we know the phrase in the sense of "unconstrain- ed," "familiar," "easy" etc. A high officer has gone 709c ^ On p. 750 c we read over the prairies and ^ ^ */^ '^IJ "I am too streams. ^ tired to stir." The two Alt: characters common to ^ both are explained in the :^^ by "land- travel" and "water- travel" respectively. [ ■■^■' ] Elegant; clever^ poetic 72Ga m^ As far as we know talent. ffig this phrase is generally, if not always, used in a bad sense on vfhich it is unnecessary to enlarge. If you love the child 732a ^ Sir Thomas Wade, in fp-eatlv^ yet he is another s; ^ his Hsin Ching Lu^ if. you feel that he is a -^ translates "It may be ruined child. ^ still lie is i well to kill another ; it my oum. ^ ^ is" perdition to kill one- fffl self." For those who A. may not have seen our ig previous dissection of ^ this phrase, we may add "Y that it means, " Good s, as those may be, they ^ are strangers ; bad as ^ these may be, they are dj (part of) oneself." A hermit. 73oa [Jj Generally ''a priest." A Temples are often spo- ken of as lllP^, the pro- per sites for them being- am ong the hills. A mortal icound. 740a g Should be ''a severe M, wound." It can he done for this lAOb pf This is better trans- tinie^ hut not allowed as ^ lated on p. 946a by "it -egular thing. -^ will only do temporaii- a 1 ^ V. [2(3] The god who cuts the 740b ^ By referring to page thread of life, the Chi?!- ^ 1059 a, the reader will eseAtropos. ' ^ find M*^ thus trans- lated: — "A demon re- garded as the messenger of Yen-lo Wang, — as in ^ '^ ^] death has come. Dr. Williams had evidently not investigated the subject. A M "1^ ^ is the spirit of a living man employed to arrest wicked spirits on earth and convey them to Purgatory, the ordinary lictors of the Infernal Regions not being able to stand the ^ ^ (%^t etc.) of the upper world. Mean- while, the body of the man remains inanimate; which phe- nomenon is of course easily explained by the one word catalepsi/. Splendid but fading. 746a fg If " but fading " is to 5ff& be inserted at all, it should be within brac- kets, inasmuch as no such sense can be got out of the text. Dr. Williams was doubtless alluding to the well- known ^^:y;||. A fan-case. 7 bob ^ Should be " a pendant ra^ from a fan -case." To talk with the fingers. 754c ^ It is news to us that -i-^ the Chinese are able to "^ talk (in our sense of the term) with their fingers. At any rate this well- known phrase is meta- phorical, and means to play at chess, at imi- ch'i, or at anv similar game. [27] there are seven loSa gjjj There are three classes classes of them. ^ commonly known in yamens, employed as follows : — 1 • Jf^l^ ' 'Administration of justice. - -^.m: taxes. '3. §^^: correspon- dence. To get people's good- 763a Tfj Should be '* to be un- ivill. JS grateful for kindness;" e. g. ^^ r|j# Such are the dead, 764^ ^ This sentence is from as flowing water. ^ the |^^ and is correct- ^P ly translated by Dr. m ^^SS^ (W^E^ 86), "It passes away like this stream," the reference being probably to Li/e. To help ones parents. 764c ^ For ''help" read yM " serve "or " wait upon." A trickster; people who 77Sb ^ Should be "a sooth- practice sleight of hand. ^ sayer or magician; a geomancer; siFeng-shui expert, &c." Never let down your 779b yf^ Not to put restric- self -respect. g tions on one's conduct; 4^ to lead a dissolute life. [28] / think there way he 789r ;^ The words are from jive times as many. 4g Mencius, and are trans- ^ lated by Legge (p. 132), ■^ " some twice, some five ^ times." Shun renounced the em- pire 89c }^% Read " Shun would ^ have renounced " Small., petty. '90c ^ A common term for A^ a wife, in which sense the following entry ^ j^ is more properly used than for '' a con- cubine " as Dr. Williams. given by The bamboo of Shun's wife, which becaine speck- led from his tears for her death. .several things 79 U »^ Read "the bamboo over Shun's *E grave, which became speckled Strong with wide horns. S09b /yt. wnicn oecame specKiea *^ by his wives' tears for his loss." 799a ^ This seems a singular ;^ translation. The com- mon meaning " to as- sist" might have been given with the others. Correctlv translated K by Legge, Analects page A^ 50, " red and horned." The good man will not 8585 ^ ''The superior man join secret doings. je. is not a partizan." Leg- [ -'9 ] Fortuitously ; a thing ivhich unex'pectedly came to hand. No cause for action^ it is a doubtful case. 86 Ir ^ We liave authority ^ for this phrase only as ->» ''something which j.^ comes by a wrong e. g. ill-Q:otten ■g road;" gain." 876a ffi A charge against Hg some person or persons A unknown. To agree with in opi- nion^ to coiiicide with, to bear the same testimony. 876/> ^ To speak suitably to gg- the occasion, or to the 4^ point. [See next entry.] Half a sentence is too 876c gjf much to say to one whom -^ we dislike. m m No other way^ no help 876^ fi£ for it. ' M Not pleased with. S7Qb ^ n The location of a dago- 883a -jj^ ba. ^ Half a sentence (or better, a word) is too much if not spoken to the point. Should be "no hope," i. e. of attaining a de- sired object. To be unsuited, as persons ; unsuitable, as things. According to a Chin- ese authority "a temple built by a private per- son," as opposed to a ^. But see China Revieu\ Vol TI. p. 61. [30] To befriend. 884^ 11 Better " To compas- M sioiiate ; to sympathise ^ with." The jive social rela- 895a 3£ Read '"the five vir- tions. jh tiies belonging to the ^YQ social relations." < Mr. Mayers in his Rea- der s Manual also makes them '' identical with the £#•" The country is now 896c Jfr Should be ''to settle, quiet. ^ to secm^e;" e.g. ^"^ secure the welfare of the people is one of the great objects of government." The ground of virtue 898c i^ There would appear ; also Dr. Williams' entry 542c, viz: "^ ^ ^ ^ Vfhicli is trans- lated "I hope you will not regret your steps " instead of "Please don't fail to come." A secret grief which is 1140a j^ Should be " oppres- not divulged. sed without remedy." % [40] ,,:,,, which Confucius 1141a g| Confucius never said said this. It is simply relat- ed (Ira^ ch. X. 4.) that he himself never trod on the threshold. To make an arrange- 1147& 3;^^ To make an excep- ment for the time, (^'C. gj; tiontoarule. The idea ^ that it is to be tempora- ^ ry is not necessarily in- ^ volved. U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES co^t,^^^7ls RETI LOAh ALL Rene' Booki DUE RETURN TO the circulation desk of any University of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS • 2-month loans may be renewed by calling (510)642-6753 • 1-year loans may be recharged by bringing books to NRLF • Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date. DUE AS STAMPED BELOW APR 13 2001 FOF 50M 12.000(11/95)