Chapter 64: 623-628
Page 623
Hia Emperors
The Hia Dynasty (2205-1766 B.C.) is considered the first continuous dynasty of China, before what we now know as recorded history. For more, see this LINK
Also, from WIKI: The Xia Dynasty (Chinese: 夏朝; pinyin: Xià Cháo; Wade-Giles: hsia-ch'ao) of China is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as Records of the Grand Historian and Bamboo Annals. The Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun gave his throne to him. According to the traditional chronology based upon calculations by Liu Xin, the Xia ruled between 2205 BC and 1766 BC; however, according to the chronology based upon the Bamboo Annals, it is between 1989 BC and 1558 BC. The Xia Shang Zhou Chronology Project concluded with 2070 BC and 1600 BC. Although there are some scholars who have debated over whether the dynasty really existed, archaeological evidence points toward its existence. According to historical records, it was preceded by the period of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and followed by the Shang Dynasty.
Hsi and Ho
See page 622.
clogg'd and neuralgick
Hungover
Neuralgia- (pathology, neurology) An acute, severe, intermittent pain that radiates along a nerve. From WIKI
Page 624
Rajputana
Rājputāna, also called Rājwār, was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. It was ruled by the Rajputs, from the seventh and eighth century - and hence its name which literally means “land of the Rājputs”. Rājasthān, meaning “The Abode of the Rajas,” was formerly called Rājputānā, “The Country of the Rājpūts” (sons of rajas). From WIKI
"As above, so below"
See page 487.
Page 627
yuan
The yuan (sign: 元; code: CNY) is, in the Chinese language, the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. From WIKI
invisible-Handed god
Allusion to Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. From WIKI: In economics, the invisible hand, also known as the invisible hand of the market, the term economists use to describe the self-regulating nature of the marketplace, is a metaphor first coined by the economist Adam Smith... For Smith, the invisible hand was created by the conjunction of the forces of self-interest, competition, and supply and demand, which he noted as being capable of allocating resources in society. This is the founding justification for the laissez-faire economic philosophy.
Page 628
Mah-Jongg
Mahjong is a game for four players that originated in China. It was called (麻雀), meaning sparrow in ancient China. It is still the name most commonly used in some southern Chinese dialects such as Cantonese and Minnan, as well as in Japanese. However, most Chinese now call the game má jiàng (麻將). Mahjong involves skill, strategy, and calculation, as well as a certain degree of luck (depending on the variation played, luck can be anything from a minor to a dominant factor in winning). In Asia, mahjong is also popularly played as a gambling game. From WIKI
operatick Personage Miss Chen
Possibly a reference to Chen Yuanyuan
the Host
n. - A multitude of people arrayed as an army. From WIKI
the Pleiades
The Pleiades, companions of Artemis, were the seven daughters of the titan Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione born on Mount Cyllene. They are the sisters of Calypso, Hyas, the Hyades, and the Hesperides. The Pleiades were nymphs in the train of Artemis, and together with the seven Hyades were called the Atlantides, Dodonides, or Nysiades, nursemaids and teachers to the infant Bacchus. From WIKI
