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Kuei-Jin MAGE Lexicon

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Need help with pronunciation? Check out the Kuei-Jin Basics Page

See also - the Kuei-Jin Wraith Lexicon

And the Kuei-Jin Disciplines Page

Another Beuatiful AsianBa Gùa Zhâng
The martial art "eight trigram palm," said to have been created by a Daoist hermit (read: Immortal) during the Qing dynasty (AD1644-1912). All movements in Eight Trigram Palm are based upon the eight trigrams of Chinese astrology. During the Qing dynasty the imperial bodyguards were required to master this martial art.
Bên Mìng
Fundamental destiny.
Dà Chén
A high ranking official in the Emperor's court; Royal Courtiers. Among mages this is the formal title given to their Custos, especially those whom safe-guard the chantries.
Dà Fà Shi
A kind of Daoist priest who specialises in exorcising ghosts and demons. In M:tA they would be best described as a Craft of mages who focus on the spheres of Spirit and Entropy. They have a particularly nasty reputation among supernaturals for the ruthless efficiency with which they perform their jobs.
Dà Rén
A polite form of address to an acknowledged superior (i.e. a city official or wealthy merchant). This is the old form for "sir", "madam", "lord", or "lady". Custos often address the mages they work for with this term.
Dâ Shôu
Hired thug; hatchet man. A common nickname for HIT Marks.
Dào
The Way. The Universal All. It is what existence is. All things are connected to the Dào and influenced by it by means of Qì, the manifestation of Dào at the quantum level. As a philosophy, Dào teaches that to become one with the Dào we must empty the mind of contrived thought, empty the body of contrived actions, and empty the soul of contrived passions. In this way will we live a harmonious life. As a religion, Dào applies this rather esoteric philosophy at the practical, everyday level by facilitating the relationship between the community and the spirit world. In M:tA, the Dào is all of these things, but centred around teaching the mage how to reach that inverse ecstatic high that flatlines the ego and frees up the mind long enough to tune completely into the Way and change reality. The focus for this is each mage's particular style of martial arts.
Dào Jiào
The name of the religion based on Daoist doctrine. It takes the philosophy of Dào and makes it accessible to the everyday man. Through ritual-laden ceremonies and conjunctional magic, the Dào priests (specially trained laymen) maintain the spiritual and social harmony of the community they live in. Daoist temples are exquisitely ornate and colourful as they are the homes to countless numbers of gods and demons.
Dào Shi
A Daoist priest. Like their spiritual cousins, the Dà Fà Shi, the Dào Shi are very adept at controlling, manipulating, and in some cases, destroying, supernaturals on this side of the barrier between worlds. In M:tA terms, they are a kind of un-Awakened mage who performs static (hedge) magick.
Virtue; intrinsic power. Book II of the Way and Its Virtue (Dào Dé Jìng) by Lao-Tzu is devoted to this and how it functions with the Dào.
Fâ Lì
Supernatural power. The spiritual gifts of the Garou.
Fâ Shù
Magic arts. The cantrips of Changelings. (You don't actually believe in faeries, do you?)
Fêi Cùi
Ancient jade. The most expensive (and purest) jade one can find. The Dà Fà Shi actively seek out this kind of jade to use against wraiths, but no-one is exactly sure why (you'll have to ask the wraiths, but don't expect them to answer you).
Fèng Húang
Phoenix
Feng Shûi
"Wind and water." All things are part of the universal clockworks, and Feng Shûi is the knowledge of how it all relates, and if it's out of whack, what to do about it. Anyone can learn the skills necessary to do Feng Shûi, but true mastery takes a life time. With it, one can see and recognise the Qì of any person or location, and manipulate it (although using Feng Shûi on a physical location involves a lot of interior decorating).
Feng Shûi Shi
A Feng Shûi priest. Those who spend their lives mastering the art of Feng Shûi.
Gong Fu
"Meritorious action." The almost supernatural skill some people possess at performing skills of the body, such as martial arts and calligraphy.
Gong Tíng
Imperial court. The actual physical place where the nobles gather.
Gû Dài
Ancient times. The Mythic Age.
Guài Wù
Monster or freak. Fomori.
Guan
Hypostasis, or manifestation, of the One (Dào). A mage's Avatar. (Note: This word is slightly questionable as it's a very specialised term used amongst Daoist priests and acolytes.)
Guan Xì
"Relationship." Face. The single most important element in Chinese culture. Almost all social interaction outside of immediate family circles centres around giving and receiving face. Guan Xì in China is a subtle art, and those that go about it clumsily are an embarrassment to all involved.
Gûi
Ghost. Can be the ghost of any living thing, whether it's a tree, an animal, or a person. Wraiths are usually called Gûi Hún, however, which means ghost of a human soul.
Gùi Fei
The highest ranking imperial concubine. The queen, but not the empress.
Gûi Shén
"Ghost god." Those gods who've lost their way and virtue and become "demons." In M:tA, these would be infernal Demons (because Yìn-Yáng is both light and dark combined, a demon cannot be demonic without a heavenly side - thus they are ghosts of the gods). Throughout Chinese history, gods usually start out as demons and later become good through a process known as Míng Mó, or "investiture of the demon."
Hé Shàng
A Buddhist monk. Western monks (Jesuits and what not) are Xiu Dào Shì.
Hei Lóng Shén
"Black dragon gods." The Nephandi of Asia. Some mages speculate that they come from the future, but most masters of Time scoff rather loudly at this. It should be noted that the Hei Lóng Shén have a very strange affinity with technology and this makes them especially dangerous.
Hei Shé
The Black Snake or Dark Warrior.
Hòu Zùo Lì
Backlash; the term Chinese mages use to refer to what Western mages call 'paradox'. In the East, this is a natural reaction that occurs when a mage pushes to hard against the Dao. (Hòu Zùo means 'backlash' and Lì means 'power'.)
Húang Dì
Emperor. Comes from the name for the first (mythological) Emperor of China.
Húang Shàng
"Your majesty." Said only when addressing the Emperor of China, never to Western royalty.
Hún
"Cloud soul." The eternal soul that is born over and over again through many lives until it eventually ascends into heaven after having learned the lessons it needs to. This soul is composed of 3 parts, according to tradition, each part being formed from shards of the three Pure Ones (Heaven, Earth, and the Seam - also known in Western terms as Statis, Dynamism, and Entropy, although entropy is a misleading term; in fact, there isnt even a word in Chinese for it).
Hún Dùn
Original Chaos. The Seam that maintains the balance between Heaven (Stasis) and Earth (Dynamism) by simultaneously destroying and creating random elements of both. Since the Sundering, however, it has never regained its original equilibrium and is more Yìn than Yang. In the West, this is the force of Entropy.
Hûo
Fire; One of the five Primal Elements. Corresponds with South, the color red, Phoenix, and the planet Mars. Among mages it is the primordial essence.
Jiang Shi
Chinese vampire. A blood-sucking revenant or a wraith trapped on the living side of the Wall between Worlds. It is a cross between a Western vampire and a ghost.
Jiào Pài
Mystick tradition. One term for the Akashic Brotherhood in Chinese is the Wû Lín Jiào Pài.
Jin
Metal; gold. One of the five Primal Elements. Corresponds with West, the color white, Tiger, and the planet Venus. Among mages it is the pattern essence.
Jing Líng
The word for the mischievous spirits and sprites of nature. The souls of plants, stones, and rivers. True faeries and naturae.
Jing Súi
Tass.
Jîu Lóng Hùi Yì
The Council of 9 Dragons. The true name for the Chinese Akashic Brotherhood. In China's past, before her mages had much contact with the West, there were 9 little dragons, all warring with one another over various ideological differences. When the West forced its way into China, the little dragons banded together in order to present a united front against the Western mages. They formed the Council of 9 Dragons, which later, publicly, became the Wû Lín Jiào Pài. The true name for this alliance of Chinese mages remains a secret, as does their closely guarded agenda.
Ke Xúe Guài Rén
"Science monster person." The constructs created by the Technomancers. Another name for HIT Marks, but it can be applied to any artificial life form.
Kòu Tóu
To prostrate oneself before an acknowledged superior, such as the Emperor or a particularly powerful city official.
Kun Lún
A sacred mountain in Daoist literature, the land of the Immortals. In M:tA, it is the Chinese Brotherhood's largest horizon realm.
Láng Zhòng Rén
"Wolf People." The Garou.
Lâo Hû
Tiger.
Lâo Shi
Teacher. A polite form of address for any one who is considered an 'expert' in their field and hence capable of teaching. This is a more common form of address than "master worker."
Lî Táng
Ceremonial hall.
Líng
The initial seed of Qì that gives every living creature that animating spark of life. Without it, one's Qì will never develop and they will never be in touch with the Dào, a fate worse than death.
Líng Hún
Living soul.
Lóng
Dragon
Lóng Mài
"Dragon vein." An old form word for Node, used more commonly among the Wolf People. Historically, these were nexuses of spiritual energy that the Emperor and his relatives would seek out. Once located, they would inter the remains of their ancestors in them in order to bring prosperity to the kingdom. The enemies of the Emperor would try to find the Dragon Veins and desecrate them so that the Mandate of Heaven would be taken away from him.
Mèi Lì
The strange powers of Vampires. Literally means "glamour" and in everyday speech refers to the almost magical charisma famous personalities possess.
Méng Zhû
Leader of an alliance or the founder of a great school or temple. The leader that represents the Chinese mages is called the Wû Lín Méng Zhû.
Miào
Temple or shrine (almost always Daoist). Buddhist temples cum monasteries are called Sì Yuàn or Sì Miào. Temples for organisations or brotherhoods (such as the Shaolin) are written name + Sì (i.e. Shao Lin Sì).
Míng Jiào
"Clear teaching." A good faction or temple.
Mó Fâ
"Sorcery or witchcraft." Arcanos.
Mó Gûi
Demon; devil; monster. To various people it has equally various meanings. To the mages of China, the Mó Gûi are Banes and other such evil spirits dedicated to the apocalypse.
Mó Shù
White magic. What mages call "static" or "hedge" magick in the World of Darkness.
Mó Shù Shì
White magic priest. Hedge magicians.
Wood. One of the five Primal Elements. Corresponds with East, the color azure, Dragon, and the planet Jupiter. Among mages it is the Questing essence.
Ní Gu
A Buddhist nun.
Pú Rén
Servant. Traditionally, poor families would sell their children to the wealthy merchant class in order to make extra cash. These children would then be slaves for the rest of their lives unless the families could afford to by them back.
Breath; heavenly energy. The force present in everything, binding it to the Dào. In M:tA this is Prime or Quintessence. It is that ephemeral spiritual quality that all living things possess that binds them to the Dào.
Shén
"Deity." Gods whose virtue remains intact and who haven't sunk to the level of demons (the Chinese believe that is easier for a god to be a demon than to be a god). For mages, these are the Celestines and Incarna. Gods, it should be noted, can come from anywhere (unlike in the West) and anyone has the potential, upon death, to become one. They are not necessarily good.
Shén Míng
"Celestial radiance." A measure of how enlightened one is. Arete.
Shèng Tû
Holy ground. A node.
Shèng Sûo
Occupied holy ground. A node with a chantry built over it.
Shì Ba Chén Dì Yù
The traditional word for Hell, literally "18 storey earth prison."
Shì Fù
Master worker. A polite form of address for Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as masters at some meritorious action (skill), such as martial arts. As this is a very traditional word, it is usually reserved for monks and nuns, martial arts masters, and hei shôu, or people who work with their hands such as mechanics and plumbers.
Shûi
Water. One of the five Primal Elements. Corresponds to North, the color black, the Dark Warrior, and the planet Mercury. Among mages it is the Dynamic essence.
Tài Jiàn
Eunuch.
Tài Jí Chúan
The Daoist martial art of T'ai Ch'i Chuan. Not only is it one of the most effective unarmed combat styles ever created, is also one of the healthiest forms of exercise around. Literally means ultimate fist.
Tian
Heaven; sky.
Tóu Tai
Reincarnation.
Earth. One of the five Primal Elements. Corresponds to Center, the color yellow, Dragon, and the planet Saturn. Among mages it is the Infinite essence.
Wáng Hún
Dead soul. Revenants. The Risen.
Wáng Shì
Royal court. The people comprising the Emperor's imperial circle of advisors, lovers, and friends.
Wû Dâ
The acrobatic combat performed in Chinese opera. Many famous martial artists, including Jacky Chan (Chén Lóng), got their start in the Peking Opera performing this style.
Wû Lín Jiào Pài
The Chinese Akashic Brothers. Their real name, Council of the 9 Dragons, remains unknown to those outside the Wû Lín.
Wû Lín Sì
An Wû Lín temple or monastery.
Wû Lín Zhong Rén
Members of the Wû Lín Jiào Pài.
Wu Shi
Shaman; sorcerer. A Mage.
Wû Shì
Palace guards. Other translations include "knight" or "warrior." This word was borrowed by the Japanese to form the word "bushi."
Wû Shì Dào
A word borrowed from the Japanese meaning "warrior way" (bushido). Most of the Chinese Wû Lín believe this philosophy is counter-productive to Ascension.
Wu Shù
Black magic. Dynamic magick. The magic of the Wu Shi.
Wû Shù
Martial arts. Tradition maintains that the First Form was taught to a small monastery of monks and nuns by the Bodhi Dharma when he came over from India for a visit. Originally, it was a series of exercises designed to unify a healthy body with a healthy mind, but as the centuries passed, the monks refined it into the 5 Animals style of martial arts, a highly acrobatic and flashy combat form that uses moves inspired by the natural, uncontrived movements of different animals (monkey, snake, tiger, etc).
Wu Pó
Witch. Sorceress.
Xian Tian
The universe before creation. The pre-Sundering Cosmos. Also called Anterior Heaven by Western translators and scholars. Literally it means "first heaven".
Xìan Zháng
City or provincial magistrate. The old form is Xìan Lìng.
Xi Xîe Gûi
Strictly vampires of Western origins. Never refers to native Chinese-style vampires.
Xíe Jiào
"Wicked teaching." An evil faction or temple.
Xíe Qì
An evil presence possessing a location. Wyrm taint.
Xiu Dào Yuàn
A Western monastery, namely Jesuit. This never refers to Chinese monasteries.
Xúen
Obscure. Mystery (as in a Mystery of the Universe).
Xúen Nû
The Dark Maiden. A deity or Incarna.
Yao Mó Gûi Guài
Old form for Faeries. Always implies evil or mischievous.
Yìn-Yáng
Balance or harmony. Yìn represents the female, or dark, aspect while Yáng is the male, or light, aspect. One cannot exist with the other, and, in fact, one is an intrinsic part of the other. When one aspect reaches its apex, it transforms into the other.
Yin Qì
An evil presence possessing a person or animal. Wyrm possession.
Jade.
Yúen Qì
The original energy of the universe, from which everything comes - including the gods.
Yù Húang Dà Dì
The Jade Emperor, the mythological ruler of Heaven. In M:tA, he is supposed to have been the first Oracle.
Yù Zan
Jade hairpin. Often used by female assassins for killing.
Yù Xî
The Imperial Jade Seal.
Yúen Fèn
Fate.
Zhao Shì
A sphere of magick. Each sphere is named according to the dragon that represents it.
Zùi Chúan
"Drunken fist." The style of martial arts that, when performed, looks as if the performer is drunk.

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