BRIDGE OF BIRDS
A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was
by Barry Hughart
For Ann and Pete
Caveat Oriens
prolepsis (prō lep’ sis), n., pl. -ses(-sēz). 1. Rhet. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance. 2. the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one.
The Random House Dictionary of the English Language
Caveat Occidens
Chen. To stand still. To gallop at full speed.
Wan. A small mouth. Some say a large mouth.
Ch'he. Devoid of intelligence, deficiency of wit, silly, idiotic. Also used for borrowing and returning books.
Pee. A dog under the table.
A dog with short legs.
A short-headed dog.
Maou Tsaou. A scholar not succeeding and giving himself over to liquor.
— The Chinese Unicorn, edited, from Chinese-English dictionaries, by Thomas Rowe; printed for Robert Gilkey (private circulation).