Vocabulary

desperation; despair; self-abandonment

rudeness; impoliteness; disrespect; impertinence

pitch-black; jet-black

gale; strong wind; swift wind; fresh breeze (Beaufort scale)

bamboo ladle

becoming red-hot; red heat; scorching heat; burning heat

to weaken; to grow weak; to wane; to decline (of one's health)

twenty years of age

to begin (doing); to start; to set about; to get down to

to manage (all by oneself); to control; to run; to take charge of

measuring by feel; adjusting by feel; doing by feel; knack; skill

beckoning

heavy drinker

Confucianism

to pass (examination)

distorted; crooked; irregular; warped

curve; bend; crook

false charge; false accusation

joke; pun; jest; witticism; wordplay

luxury; extravagance

hesitation; indecision; vacillation

this evening; tonight

the Three Jewels; the Triple Gem; Triratna; the Three Treasures; Buddha, Dharma, Sangha; Buddha, the teachings of Buddha, and the community of monks and nuns

the ten fingers

going fishing; going out to fish

urine; piss; pee; urination

castle construction; building a castle; fortification

spoon

rough; wild; rude; harsh; gruff; violent

various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)

convention; tired tradition; old custom

the king and his feudal lords

to add; to write a postscript

tree stump; stubble (rice, etc.)

(photographic) camera

steadily

south-southwest; south-south-west

roofed corridor connecting two buildings; connecting passageway

mud wall; earthen wall; plaster wall

midsummer (late July through early August); dog days (of summer)