Dispatches from China: Letters and Diaries of Stuart & Hummel families

Notes from Gile's Glossary of Reference

Following is 猜枚 or finger guessing formula at feasts. The players look each other steadily in face, and simultaneously extend one hand showing all, some, or none of the 5 fingers stretched out, at the same time crying out what each thinks will be the sum total of the two sets of fingers thus extended. When either guesses right the opponent has to swallow a cup of wine as a forfeit.

一心 one heart 二好 two friends 三元 three firsts - first on the 3 great exams 四季 four seasons 五子 five sons (alluding to five sons of Ton Yen - Shan who all took high degrees) 六合 six cardinals - Math, E.S.W. above below 七巧 seven changeables - 7 pieces of a puzzle 八仙 eight genii 九長 nine long - stands for in sense of long life. 十全 ten complete 對手 hands opposite

Chowry 塵尾 a Buddhist emblem, a yak's tail, used in China as a flyflapper 拂蠅. The chowry under the 普 chin dynasty, was the work of a great conversationalist.

The imperial lodge of Japan is not a 16 pettalled chrysanthemum. Mr. [Haite'?] has shown that this so called flower is really a device representing the sun.

The roofs of adjoining houses ar e never built in the same level.

Houses & graves face the south, because the annual animation of the vegetable kingdom with the approach of summer comes from that quarter; the deadly influences of winter from the north.

Names for fingers thumb = 大指 pointer = 食指 a tasting finger middle = 中指 the middle finger 3d 無名指 nameless finger little 小指 little finger

Fingers 1-10 expressed as follows:- 1 close fist hold up thumb. 2 [close fist hold up] fore and middle fingers 3 [close fist hold up] middle, 3d, & little finger 4 Hold up 4 fingers, knuckles towards spectator, thumb concealed. 5 Hold up open hand palm to spectator 6 Close fist, hold up thumb & little finger 7 [Close fist, hold up] thumb, fore, & middle finger 8 [Close fist, hold up] thumb & fore finger 9 [Close fist, hold up] forefinger like a hook 10 [Close fist, hold up] fore & middle finger crossed.

[Fngi?] Games = 弗似山 or 富士山 (1) the incomprable hill (2) or learned scholar's hill

Form 6, [?] to 7, [?] separate characters are required to print modern Chinese newspapers, with marbletype

character 公 prefixed to opium (公烟 company opium) and other goods is a survival of the days when the name of the celebrated "Kumpani" was sufficient guarantee for the quality of its goods. This trade mark ([sketch] V(U) E I C) had acquired such a well-earned reputation at Canton, that it was considered unnecessary to examine any package of merchandise that bore it. A simple exhibition of musters were made, when transactions were concluded, and the original packages forwarded unopened to all parts of the empire ..... By the Chinese the Company was known as Kung Se; the characters signify 'United Affairs' - Hunter "The Fankwae at Canton p 30

Giles prefers the word sinologist to sinologue but doubts whether the better word can now come into use or displace the older one.

Other notes

The odd numbers belay to the Yang a male principle. Number one is regarded as the beginning of the male principle. Number nine is regarded as the completion of the Yang.

The orange means good patience because it has same sound as used for lucky 尺只 the foot measure of the Chan dynasty supposed to be the length of a woman's forearm, and divided into eight inches - Giles

In Fenchow at wedding the locks on the large cupboards in the bridal chamber are all open probably by [?] magic to insure that the bride's womb will be open to conception.