Li Yu - The Carnal Prayer Mat

[81] The story is Feng Menglong's "The Old Student Repays a Debt of Gratitude Over Three Generations."

[82] The allusion is to the Han dynasty general Han Xin, who was "ashamed to be ranked with Jiang and Guan." Jiang was Zhou Bo (enfieffed as Marquis Jiang); Guan was Guan Ying. See Han Xin's biography ( Shi ji , 92).

[83] From the Poetry Classic . See The Book of Songs , p. 253.

[84] A variety of the guess-fingers game in which the winners are given the titles of the top examination graduates.

[85] The Old Scholar: the perennial failure.

[86] See The Analects , p. 64.

[87] Lang sheng ( sound of waves ) is a pun on lewd sounds .

[88] This is a Taoist technique of male rejuvenation.

[89] In a famous story Wang was supported in his studies by Gui Ying and swore vows of eternal love. Then, after succeeding in the civil service examinations, he married someone else. After Gui Ying had killed herself, her ghost claimed Wang's life.

[90] A Buddhist notion, it denotes a salutary shock administered by a religious mentor.

[91] East of the River was the base from which Xiang Yu, a contender for the empire during the decline of the Qin dynasty, launched his campaign. In defeat, he spurned the idea of returning and beginning all over again. The Pure Land is the Buddhist Western Paradise, which holds the hope of perfect happiness.

[92] In the Zhou dynasty, the states of Wu and Yue were legendary enemies.

[93] A reference to Sudhana, whose visits to religious luminaries occupy much of the Huayan Sutra .

[94] The goddess of mercy.

[95] The quotation is from Mencius . See D. C. Lau, trans., Mencius , p. 52. Confucius condemned the use of burial images because he thought they encouraged human sacrifice.

[96] The quotation is adapted from Mencius , where Confucius is described as defending his composition of The Spring and Autumn Annals . See D. C. Lau, trans., Mencius , p. 114: "Those who understand me will do so through the Spring and Autumn Annals ; those who condemn me will also do so because of the Spring and Autumn Annals ."