Vocabulary

signal (sound); starting gun signal

siren; whistle

decayed tree; rotted tree; decayed wood; rotten wood

russet; tawny; yellow-brown

rotting and crumbling

investigation; inquiry; research; study; consideration; deliberation

something that requires thought; something that should be thought over carefully; something questionable

study of modern societies

evidential textual research (esp. of texts from Ming dynasty China)

consideration; deliberation

mistaken idea; misunderstanding; wrong impression

way of thinking; one's perspective

personnel record; business record

rack (torture device)

falling intonation

object cut off at the end; sudden, abrupt ending

looking at from the corner of one's eye; sidelong glance

lining of pants seat

forgetfulness; leaving things unfinished

pushing from behind

slowcoach; lazybones; slowpoke

attenuating; fizzling out

loose; promiscuous; unfaithful; wanton; of loose morals

incontinence; promiscuity

treatment with moxa

moxibustion treatment point

olfactory nerve

snuff

(noble) courtier

Department of the Imperial Household

court service

second most severe of the five punishments of ancient China (castration for men, confinement for women)

court or shrine guard

shrine

palace; imperial family

prince; princess

dying in miserable circumstances

cornered; driven to the wall

cornered bird

desperate measure; expedient of last resort