The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei
Page 3
Chu, Sticky. See Chu Jih-nien.
Ch’u-yün, daughter of a battalion commander of the Yang-chou Guard purchased by Miao Ch’ing to send as a gift to Hsi-men Ch’ing.
Ch’u-yün’s father, battalion commander of the Yang-chou Guard.
Ch’un-hsiang, maidservant in the household of Han Tao-kuo and Wang Liu-erh.
Ch’un-hua, concubine of Ying Po-chüeh and mother of his younger son.
Ch’un-hung, page boy in Hsi-men Ch’ing’s household.
Ch’un-mei. See P’ang Ch’un-mei.
Chung-ch’iu, junior maidservant in Hsi-men Ch’ing’s household serving at various times Hsi-men Ta-chieh, Sun Hsüeh-o, and Wu Yüeh-niang.
Chung Kuei, policeman from outside the city wall of the Eastern Capital into whose family Hsi-men Ta-chieh is reincarnated as a daughter.
Ch’ung-hsi, maidservant purchased by Ch’en Ching-chi to serve Feng Chin-pao.
Ch’ung Shih-tao (1051–1126), general-in-chief of the Sung armies defending against the Chin invaders.
Ch’ü, Midwife, maternal aunt of Lai-wang in whose house on Polished Rice Lane outside the east gate of Ch’ing-ho Lai-wang and Sun Hsüeh-o seek refuge after absconding from the Hsi-men household.
Ch’ü T’ang, son of Midwife Ch’ü, cousin of Lai-wang.
Coal in the Snow. See P’an Chin-lien’s cat.
Died-of-fright, Miss, wife of Yang Kuang-yen.
False Feelings. See Chia Jen-ch’ing.
Fan family of Hsü-chou, peasant family into which Wu Chih is reincarnated as a son.
Fan Hsün, battalion commander in the Ch’ing-ho Guard.
Fan, Hundred Customers. See Fan Pai-chia-nu.
Fan Kang, next-door neighbor of Ch’en Ching-chi in Ch’ing-ho.
Fan, Old Man, neighbor of the Hsieh Family Tavern in Lin-ch’ing.
Fan Pai-chia-nu, Hundred Customers Fan, singing girl from the Fan Family Brothel in Ch’ing-ho.
Fang Chen (fl. early 12th century), erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices who reports that a brick in the Imperial Ancestral Temple is oozing blood.
Fang La (d. 1121), rebel who set up an independent regime in the southeast which was suppressed by government troops in 1121.
Feng Chin-pao, Cheng Chin-pao, singing girl from the Feng Family Brothel in Lin-ch’ing purchased as a concubine by Ch’en Ching-chi, later resold to the brothel of Auntie Cheng the Fifth who changes her name to Cheng Chin-pao.
Feng Chin-pao’s mother, madam of the Feng Family Brothel in Lin-ch’ing.
Feng, Consort (fl. mid 11th-early 12th century), Consort Tuan, consort of Emperor Jen-tsung (r. 1022–63) who resided in the palace for five reigns.
Feng Family Brothel’s servant.
Feng Huai, son of Feng the Second, son-in-law of Pai the Fifth, dies of injuries sustained in an affray with Sun Wen-hsiang.
Feng, Old Mother, waiting woman in Li P’ing-erh’s family since she was a child, continues in her service when she is a concubine of Privy Councilor Liang Shih-chieh, wife of Hua Tzu-hsü, wife of Chiang Chu-shan, and after she marries Hsi-men Ch’ing, supplementing her income by working as a go-between on the side.
Feng the Second, employee of Sun Ch’ing, father of Feng Huai.
Feng T’ing-hu, left assistant administration commissioner of Shantung.
Fifth Lady. See P’an Chin-lien.
First Lady. See Wu Yüeh-niang.
Fisherman who rescues An-t’ung and helps him to locate the boatmen who had murdered his master.
Flying Demon. See Hou Lin.
Fourth Lady. See Sun Hsüeh-o.
Fu-jung, maidservant of Lady Lin.
Fu, Manager. See Fu Ming.
Fu Ming, Fu the Second, Manager Fu, manager of Hsi-men Ch’ing’s pharmaceutical shop, pawnshop, and other businesses.
Fu Ming’s wife.
Fu the Second. See Fu Ming.
Fu T’ien-tse, battalion commander rewarded for his part in facilitating the notorious Flower and Rock Convoys and the construction of the Mount Ken Imperial Park.
Golden Lotus. See P’an Chin-lien.
Good Deed. See Yin Chih.
Hai-t’ang, concubine of Chou Hsiu much abused by P’ang Ch’un-mei.
Han Ai-chieh, daughter of Han Tao-kuo and Wang Liu-erh, niece of Han the Second, concubine of Chai Ch’ien, mistress of Ch’en Ching-chi to whom she remains faithful after his death, ending her life as a Buddhist nun.
Han, Auntie, wife of Mohammedan Han, mother of Han Hsiao-yü.
Han, Baldy, father of Han Tao-kuo and Han the Second.
Han, Brother-in-law. See Han Ming-ch’uan.
Han Chin-ch’uan, singing girl in Ch’ing-ho, elder sister of Han Yü-ch’uan, younger sister of Han Pi.
Han Hsiao-ch’ou, singing girl in Ch’ing-ho, niece of Han Chin-ch’uan and Han Yü-ch’uan.
Han Hsiao-yü, son of Mohammedan Han and Auntie Han.
Han Lü (fl. early 12th century), vice-minister of the Ministry of Revenue, vice-minister of the Ministry of Personnel, brother-in-law of Ts’ai Ching’s youngest son, Ts’ai T’ao, grants Hsi-men Ch’ing favorable treatment for his speculations in the salt trade.
Han, Master, formerly a court painter attached to the Hsüan-ho Academy, called upon by Hsi-men Ch’ing to paint two posthumous portraits of Li P’ing-erh.
Han Ming-ch’uan, Brother-in-law Han, husband of Meng Yü-lou’s elder sister who lives outside the city gate of Ch’ing-ho; friend of Dr. Jen Hou-ch’i.
Han Ming-ch’uan’s wife, née Meng, Mrs. Han, elder sister of Meng Yü-lou.
Han, Mohammedan, husband of Auntie Han, father of Han Hsiao-yü, renter of a room on the street front of Hsi-men Ch’ing’s property next door to that of Pen Ti-ch’uan and his wife, employed on the staff of the eunuch director in charge of the local Imperial Stables.
Han, Mrs. See Han Ming-ch’uan’s wife, née Meng.
Han Pang-ch’i, prefect of Hsü-chou.
Han Pi, professional boy actor in Ch’ing-ho, elder brother of Han Chin-ch’uan and Han Yü-ch’uan.
Han, Posturer. See Han Tao-kuo.
Han the Second, Trickster Han, younger brother of Han Tao-kuo, “knockabout” and gambler in Ch’ing-ho who carries on an intermittent affair with his sister-in-law, Wang Liu-erh, whom he marries after the death of Han Tao-kuo.
Han Tao-kuo, Posturer Han, husband of Wang Liu-erh, son of Baldy Han, elder brother of Han the Second, father of Han Ai-chieh, manager of Hsi-men Ch’ing’s silk store on Lion Street who absconds with a thousand taels of his property on hearing of his death, content to live off the sexual earnings of his wife and daughter.
Han Tao-kuo’s paternal uncle, elder brother of Baldy Han.
Han, Trickster. See Han the Second.
Han Tso, boy actor in Ch’ing-ho.
Han Tsung-jen, domestic clerk on the staff of Yang Chien.
Han Wen-kuang, investigation commissioner for Shantung.
Han Yü-ch’uan, singing girl in Ch’ing-ho, younger sister of Han Chin-ch’uan and Han Pi.
Hao Hsien, Idler Hao, a dissolute young scamp upon whom Hsi-men Ch’ing turns the tables by abusing the judicial system.
Hao, Idler. See Hao Hsien.
Ho Ch’i-kao, left administration vice commissioner of Shantung.
Ho Chin, assistant judicial commissioner of the Ch’ing-ho office of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, promoted to the post of commander of Hsin-p’ing Stockade and later to the post of judicial commissioner in the Huai-an office of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, thereby creating the vacancy filled by Hsi-men Ch’ing in return for the lavishness of his birthday presents to Ts’ai Ching.
Ho Chin-ch’an, singing girl from the Ho Family Bordello on Fourth Street in the licensed quarter of Ch’ing-ho.
Ho Ch’in, son of Ho the Ninth who succeeds to his position as head coroner’s assistant of Ch’ing-ho.
Ho Ch’un-ch’üan, Dr. Ho, son of Old Man Ho, physician in Ch’ing-ho.
Ho, Dr. See Ho Ch’un-ch’üan.
; Ho, Eunuch Director. See Ho Hsin.
Ho Hsin (fl. early 12th century), Eunuch Director Ho, attendant in the Yenning Palace, residence of Consort Feng, rewarded for his part in facilitating the notorious Flower and Rock Convoys and the construction of the Mount Ken Imperial Park, uncle of Ho Yung-shou, entertains Hsi-men Ch’ing on his visit to the Eastern Capital.
Ho-hua, maidservant of Chou Hsiu’s concubine Sun Erh-niang.
Ho Liang-feng, younger brother of Magnate Ho.
Ho, Magnate, wealthy silk merchant from Hu-chou, elder brother of Ho Liang-feng, tries to buy P’an Chin-lien after the death of Hsi-men Ch’ing, patronizes Wang Liu-erh in Lin-ch’ing and takes her and Han Tao-kuo back to Hu-chou where they inherit his property.
Ho, Magnate’s daughter.
Ho the Ninth, elder brother of Ho the Tenth, head coroner’s assistant of Ch’ing-ho who accepts a bribe from Hsi-men Ch’ing to cover up the murder of Wu Chih.
Ho, Old Man, father of Ho Ch’un-ch’üan, aged physician in Ch’ing-ho.
Ho Pu-wei, clerk on the staff of the district magistrate of Ch’ing-ho, Li Ch’ang-ch’i, who assists his son Li Kung-pi in his courtship of Meng Yü-lou.
Ho the Tenth, younger brother of Ho the Ninth, let off the hook by Hsi-men Ch’ing when he is accused of fencing stolen goods.
Ho Yung-fu, nephew of Ho Hsin, younger brother of Ho Yung-shou.
Ho Yung-shou, nephew of Ho Hsin, elder brother of Ho Yung-fu, appointed to Hsi-men Ch’ing’s former post as assistant judicial commissioner in the Ch’ing-ho office of the Provincial Surveillance Commission as a reward for Ho Hsin’s part in facilitating the notorious Flower and Rock Convoys and the construction of the Mount Ken Imperial Park.
Ho Yung-shou’s wife, née Lan, niece of Lan Ts’ung-hsi.
Hou Lin, Flying Demon, beggar boss in Ch’ing-ho who helps out Ch’en Ching-chi when he is reduced to beggary in return for his sexual favors.
Hou Meng (1054–1121), grand coordinator of Shantung, promoted to the post of chief minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for his part in facilitating the notorious Flower and Rock Convoys and the construction of the Mount Ken Imperial Park.
Hsi-erh, page boy in the household of Chou Hsiu.
Hsi-men An. See Tai-an.
Hsi-men Ching-liang, Hsi-men Ch’ing’s grandfather.
Hsi-men Ch’ing, principal male protagonist of the novel, father of Hsi-men Ta-chieh by his deceased first wife, née Ch’en, father of Hsi-men Kuan-ko by Li P’ing-erh, father of Hsi-men Hsiao-ko by Wu Yüeh-niang, decadent scion of a merchant family of some wealth from which he inherits a wholesale pharmaceutical business on the street in front of the district yamen of Ch’ing-ho, climbs in social status by means of a succession of corrupt sexual, economic, and political conquests only to die of sexual excess at the age of thirty-three.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s daughter. See Hsi-men Ta-chieh.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s first wife, née Ch’en, deceased mother of Hsi-men Ta-chieh.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s father. See Hsi-men Ta.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s grandfather. See Hsi-men Ching-liang.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s grandmother, née Li.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s mother, née Hsia.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s reincarnation. See Hsi-men Hsiao-ko and Shen Yüeh.
Hsi-men Ch’ing’s sons. See Hsi-men Kuan-ko and Hsi-men Hsiao-ko.
Hsi-men Hsiao-ko, posthumous son of Hsi-men Ch’ing by Wu Yüeh-niang, born at the very moment of his death, betrothed while still a babe in arms to Yün Li-shou’s daughter, claimed by the Buddhist monk P’u-ching to be the reincarnation of Hsi-men Ch’ing and spirited away by him at the end of the novel to become a celibate monk with the religious name Ming-wu.
Hsi-men Kuan-ko, son of Hsi-men Ch’ing by Li P’ing-erh, given the religious name Wu Ying-yüan by the Taoist priest Wu Tsung-che, betrothed while still a babe in arms to Ch’iao Chang-chieh, murdered by P’an Chin-lien out of jealousy of Li P’ing-erh.
Hsi-men Kuan-ko’s reincarnation. See Wang family of Cheng-chou.
Hsi-men Ta, deceased father of Hsi-men Ch’ing whose business took him to many parts of China.
Hsi-men Ta-chieh, Mistress Ch’en, Hsi-men Ch’ing’s daughter by his deceased first wife, née Ch’en, wife of Ch’en Ching-chi, so neglected and abused by her husband that she commits suicide.
Hsi-men Ta-chieh’s reincarnation. See Chung Kuei.
Hsi-t’ung, page boy in the household of Wang Hsüan.
Hsiao-ko. See Hsi-men Hsiao-ko.
Hsia Ch’eng-en, son of Hsia Yen-ling, achieves status of military selectee by hiring a stand-in to take the qualifying examination for him.
Hsia-hua, junior maidservant of Li Chiao-erh who is caught trying to steal a gold bracelet.
Hsia Kung-chi, docket officer on the staff of the district yamen in Ch’ing-ho.
Hsia Shou, servant in the household of Hsia Yen-ling.
Hsia Yen-ling, judicial commissioner in the Ch’ing-ho office of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, colleague, superior, and rival of Hsi-men Ch’ing in his official career.
Hsia Yen-ling’s son. See Hsia Ch’eng-en.
Hsia Yen-ling’s wife.
Hsiang the Elder, deceased distaff relative of the imperial family through Empress Hsiang, consort of Emperor Shen-tsung (r. 1067–85), elder brother of Hsiang the fifth.
Hsiang, Empress, (1046–1101), consort of Emperor Shen-tsung (r. 1067–85).
Hsiang the Fifth, distaff relative of the imperial family through Empress Hsiang, consort of Emperor Shen-tsung (r. 1067–85), younger brother of Hsiang the Elder, sells part of his country estate outside Ch’ing-ho to Hsi-men Ch’ing.
Hsiao Chang-hsien. See Chang Hsiao-hsein.
Hsiao Ch’eng, resident of Oxhide Street and neighborhood head of the fourth neighborhood of the first subprecinct of Ch’ing-ho.
Hsiao-ko. See Hsi-men Hsiao-ko.
Hsiao-luan, junior maidservant of Meng Yü-lou.
Hsiao-yü, Little Jade, junior maidservant of Wu Yüeh-niang, married to Tai-an after Wu Yüeh-niang discovers them in flagrante delicto.
Hsiao-yüeh, Abbot, head priest of the Water Moon Monastery outside the south gate of Ch’ing-ho.
Hsieh En, assistant judicial commissioner of the Huai-ch’ing office of the Provincial Surveillance Commission.
Hsieh, Fatty. See Hsieh the Third.
Hsieh Hsi-ta, Tagalong Hsieh, crony of Hsi-men Ch’ing, member of the brotherhood of ten.
Hsieh Hsi-ta’s father, deceased hereditary battalion commander in the Ch’ing-ho Guard.
Hsieh Hsi-ta’s mother.
Hsieh Hsi-ta’s wife, née Liu.
Hsieh Ju-huang, What a Whopper, acquaintance of Han Tao-kuo who punctures his balloon when he inflates his own importance.
Hsieh, Tagalong. See Hsieh Hsi-ta.
Hsieh the Third, Fatty Hsieh, manager of the Hsieh Family Tavern in Lin-ch’ing.
Hsin Hsing-tsung (fl. early 12th century), commander-general of the Ho-nan region who leads the forces of Chang-te against the Chin invaders.
Hsiu-ch’un, junior maidservant of Li P’ing-erh and later of Li Chiao-erh, finally becoming a novice nun under the tutelage of Nun Wang.
Hsiung Wang, husband of Chang Ju-i, soldier forced by his lack of means to sell his wife to Hsi-men Ch’ing as a wet nurse for Kuan-ko.
Hsiung Wang’s son by Chang Ju-i.
Hsü, Assistant Administration Commissioner, of Yen-chou in Shantung.
Hsü-chou, old woman from, in whose house Han Ai-chieh encounters Han the Second.
Hsü, Eunuch Director, wealthy eunuch speculator and moneylender, resident of Halfside Street in the northern quarter of Ch’ing-ho, landlord of Crooked-head Sun and Aunt Yang, patron of Li Ming, original owner of Hsia Yen-ling’s residential compound, major rival of Hsi-men Ch’ing in the social world of Ch’ing-ho whose niece marries Chang Mao-te’s son.
Hsü, Eunuch Director’s niece, marries Chang Mao-te’s son.
Hsü Feng,
prefect of Yen-chou in Chekiang who exposes Meng Yü-lou’s and Li Kung-pi’s attempt to frame Ch’en Ching-chi.
Hsü Feng’s trusted henchman who disguises himself as a convict in order to elicit information from Ch’en Ching-chi.
Hsü Feng-hsiang, supervisor of the State Farm Battalion of the Ch’ing-ho Guard, one of the officials who comes to Hsi-men Ch’ing’s residence to offer a sacrifice to the soul of Li P’ing-erh after her death.
Hsü the Fourth, shopkeeper outside the city wall of Ch’ing-ho who borrows money from Hsi-men Ch’ing.
Hsü Hsiang, battalion commander rewarded for his part in facilitating the notorious Flower and Rock Convoys and the construction of the Mount Ken Imperial Park.
Hsü, Master, yin-yang master of Ch’ing-ho.
Hsü Nan-ch’i, military officer in Ch’ing-ho promoted to the post of commander of the Hsin-p’ing Stockade.
Hsü, Prefect, prefect of Ch’ing-chou, patron of Shih Po-ts’ai, the corrupt Taoist head priest of the Temple of the Goddess of Iridescent Clouds on the summit of Mout T’ai.
Hsü, Prefect’s daughter.
Hsü, Prefect’s son.
Hsü, Prefect’s wife.
Hsü Pu-yü, Reneger Hsü, moneylender in Ch’ing-ho from whom Wang Ts’ai tries to borrow three hundred taels of silver in order to purchase a position in the Military School.
Hsü, Reneger. See Hsü Pu-yü.
Hsü Shun, professional actor of Hai-yen style drama.
Hsü Sung, prefect of Tung-ch’ang in Shantung.
Hsü Sung’s concubine.
Hsü Sung’s concubine’s father.
Hsü, Tailor, artisan with a shop across the street from Han Tao-kuo’s residence on Lion Street in Ch’ing-ho.
Hsü the Third, seller of date cakes in front of the district yamen in Ch’ing-ho.
Hsü Tsung-shun, junior disciple of Abbot Jen of the Yen-kung Temple in Lin-ch’ing.
Hsüeh, Auntie, go-between in Ch’ing-ho who also peddles costume jewelry, mother of Hsüeh Chi, sells P’ang Ch’un-mei into Hsi-men Ch’ing’s household, represents Hsi-men Ch’ing in the betrothal of his daughter Hsi-men Ta-chieh to Ch’en Ching-chi, proposes his match with Meng Yü-lou, arranges resale of P’ang Ch’un-mei to Chou Hsiu after she is forced to leave the Hsi-men household by Wu Yüeh-niang, arranges match between Ch’en Ching-chi and Ko Ts’ui-p’ing after Hsi-men Ta-chieh’s suicide.