Definition
- **Nüshu (女书):** A unique, syllabic script historically used exclusively by women in Jiangyong County, Hunan. It was a secret language of sisterhood, poetry, and lament, passed down through generations of women. In this novel, its appearance as a medium for a death-pledge or a safe-conduct letter adds an extra layer of cultural peculiarity—a secret code for a secret transaction between a reclusive abbess and a strange traveler. - **The Ao-Jing Sect (袄景教):** This is a fictional, corrupted fusion of two historical religions. The “Ao” (袄) refers to **Zoroastrianism** (Bái Huǒ Jiào, the “White Fire Religion”), which entered China along the Silk Road. The “Jing” (景) refers to **Nestorian Christianity** (Jǐng Jiào), a branch of Christianity that flourished in Tang Dynasty China. The real-world sects were distinct, but here they are blended into a single, shadowy, flesh-ritual-worshipping cult that owns the *Thousand Greats Record*. - **Writing death letters (绝笔):** In Chinese literary and historical tradition, a *jué bǐ* is a final poem or letter written just before death, often by scholars, martyrs, or warriors, to express their last thoughts, regrets, or defiance. Li Huowang performing this act underlines his sincerity and the immense tragedy of his situation. - **Flesh-skin letter (皮书):** The idea of writing on human skin is drawn from extreme, archaic forms of oath-making and grim folk horror. It implies a bond that cannot be broken by mere ink and paper—a transaction sealed with the body. Jingxin using her own skin to write a recommendation shows the gravity of the favor.