Vocabulary

heaven's vengeance is slow but sure; heaven's net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through

constant dripping wears away the stone; little strokes fell great oaks; limited strength, when persistently applied, can accomplish great feats

being in a towering rage; boiling with rage

the greatest of the day

brimming with fighting spirit; being strong in the will to fight; burning with combativeness

shallow-minded mouthing of secondhand information

self-reliance; acting according to one's own ideas and beliefs

acting according to one's own beliefs, being undisturbed by others

gentle on the outside but tough on the inside; an iron hand in a velvet glove

meat and matrimony (Buddhism); Buddhist priest eating meat dishes and being married

(bringing up a child) with greatest care pampering (him, her) with material comforts of a rich family; (being brought up) in a hothouse atmosphere

being deep in prayer; praying devoutly to Amida Buddha

very involved and troublesome situation; complicated twists and turns

faraway lands; voyage to faraway lands

breaking into a hearty laugh

reviling; vilification; abusive language; lashing someone using abusive language; speaking abusively of someone

overdone politeness; polite to a fault; feigned politeness

glasses and plates being scattered about after a party or banquet; articles lying about in a jumble

being widely read and having a highly retentive memory

incompetent cabinet minister; figurehead minister

superficial knowledge; half knowledge

stratagem for causing a rift in the enemy camp by using a seditious plot

return of the land and people from the feudal lords to the Emperor

loud criticism; torrent of criticism; fierce denouncement (from many people); uproarious outcry

sharp eyes and ears used for collecting information far and wide; having the acumen and shrewd discernment gained by widely-collected information; being well-versed on a subject; books which broaden our knowledge

fine wines and prized delicacies

beauty and fortune seldom go together; the beautiful die young

so many men, so many ways; to each one's own; it takes all sorts to make a world

splitting the bill so that the others end up paying the whole amount; wheedling the others into paying the whole bill

everlasting; eternal; immortal; imperishable; undying

devoting one's body and soul to Buddhist teachings; unsparing devotion to Buddhism

perpetual youth and longevity

very insolent; extremely audacious; reprehensible

transmission of the secrets of an art, craft, trade or learning from father to son

everlasting fortune in battle; continued luck in war

corruption of public morals; an offense against public morality

taking delight in elegant pursuits; being absorbed in such elegant cultural pursuits as poetry, painting and calligraphy

complex and wide-ranging; labyrinthine

complex and multifarious

tumultuous public discussion; noisy public criticism