Footnotes
Chapter 1: Peach Blossoms
[1] Form of address for a young master.
[2] Form of address for a master.
[3] The “-mou” suffix is a traditional way of referring to oneself in the third person.
[4] A term to refer to a young master.
[5] Suffix to denote a lord.
[6] Suffix that literally means “son.”
[7] A term of address meaning “uncle.”
[8] From Confucius’s Analects, specifically the fourth chapter called “Li Ren.”
Chapter 2: Becoming
[9] From the poem “有所思” of unknown authorship, written during the Han dynasty.
[10] Based on the time period, qi here likely refers to weiqi, which is the Chinese name for the board game also known as “Go.” It is often compared to chess due to the objective of capturing the territory of the opposing player, as well as its high level of abstract strategy.
[11] The three herbs here have names that take on different meanings: zhimu, know your mother; yuanzhi, have great aspirations; wangbuliuxing, a lord does not delay in setting out on his journey.
[12] Ding Yuan was the official in charge of the province that Lü Bu was from, and he recruited Lü Bu for his feats in battle, but later, after Dong Zhuo occupied the capital, he persuaded Lü Bu to his side and had him kill Ding Yuan.
[13] The Spring and Autumn period (770–481 BC) was characterized by the gradual erosion of royal powers, and the Warring States period (475–221 BC) was marked by military reform and political consolidation.
[14] Wu Zixu was exiled from his homeland of Chu, and he belonged to the state of Wu. He was a major factor in the launching of a Wu invasion into the state of Chu. Either Lü Bu has been made intentionally incorrect or he may believe the legend that Wu Zixu and the scholar involved in the Dragon Boat Festival, Qu Yuan, were the same person.
[15] Referring to oneself in this manner is a humble form of self-address.
[16] Literally means “worthy little brother” and is a humble way of addressing a younger man.
[17] A famous physician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.
[18] During the Warring States period, Jing Ke was an assassin who (unsuccessfully) tried to kill the King of Qin.
[19] Familiar way of addressing a friend of the same age.
[20] A hooved draconic creature of Chinese mythology whose appearance heralds the arrival or death of sages or rulers.
Chapter 3: Reuniting
[21] A person’s eight characters are determined from the date and time of their birth and were believed to determine their destiny.
[22] A philosophy based around three main precepts: the strict application of public laws, the application of management techniques, and the manipulation of political purchase.
[23] Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are either half brothers or cousins.
[24] A title of address that means “big brother,” usually used as a term of respect.
Chapter 4: Breakthrough
[25] Also known as Zhang Liang, a great statesman and strategist who played a major role in establishing the Western Han dynasty.
[26] The seven orifices of the face, meaning the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
[27] This is just another name for Hebei.
Chapter 5: Life and Death
[28] A string of beads, in this case, used in Buddhism. Similar to a rosary, though that is used by a different religion.
[29] The Underworld, in Chinese folklore.
[30] This phrase translates literally to “person who pours out libations before banquets” and refers to a specific official position that existed since the Xia and Shang dynasties. Often, the person who pours out the libations is the eldest, or the most respected, and does so to worship the heavens and the earth.
[31] A general who served under Cao Cao. He joined up during the Campaign Against Dong Zhuo, under Xiahou Dun, who was a general under Cao Cao.
Chapter 6: Zhugong
[32] A famous general and politician. He is known for brilliant strategic intellect and tactical mastery. Once, at his lowest, a boy calling him a coward gave him an ultimatum: kill him or crawl between his legs.
[33] The governor of Xu Province, who died historically in 194 AD.