a banquet set up with the aim of murdering a guest; a trap or a meeting contrived to harm someone. This refers to a famous event in 206 BC where the future Han emperor [[刘邦|劉邦|liu2 bang1]] escaped an assassination attempt by his rival [[项羽|項羽|xiang4 yu3]].

Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), late Qing dynasty statesman, diplomat, and general; a leader of the Self-Strengthening Movement who commanded the Huai Army and Beiyang Fleet.

a wide gap, gulf, or chasm; a clear line of separation or a barrier that is difficult to cross

good luck; a stroke of great fortune

Xu Beihong (1895-1953), a famous artist and influential teacher known for blending Chinese and Western techniques, especially his paintings of horses

a swan goose rising or flying in alarm

The foundation for a great undertaking; a magnificent legacy or business estate

Wong Fei-hung (1847-1925); famous martial arts master and traditional doctor from Guangdong who became a folk hero and the subject of many films and television shows

A large migratory goose with a long neck and brown-gray feathers; also called [[大雁|大雁|da4 yan4]].

Gu Hongming (1857–1928), also known as Ku Hung-ming; Malaysian-born scholar and translator known for his English-language works and for defending traditional Chinese culture and the monarchy.

great blessing; a happy lot

the feather of a swan goose

(literary) an erudite person; a learned scholar

(idiom) literally the plaintive whine of geese across the wilds; used to describe a land swarming with disaster victims or starving people, or to describe extremely difficult conditions

a great, enduring foundation, especially an imperial one or a kingdom

a large-scale masterpiece or monumental literary work; often used when praising the writing of others

(literary) a swan; any large bird like a swan or wild goose

To fully develop a grand plan or career; to put one's talents to use or ride the crest of success.

Lighter than a goose feather; used to describe something that has no value or is of no significance. Often used in contrast with [[重于泰山|重於泰山|zhong4 yu2 tai4 shan1]] regarding the significance of a person's death.

As light as a wild goose feather; used to describe things of little weight or significance, particularly a death of no value

To send a letter from afar; to correspond with someone. This idiom refers to a legend about a wild goose carrying a message tied to its leg while the envoy [[苏武|蘇武|su1 wu3]] was held captive by the [[匈奴|匈奴|xiong1 nu2]].

(767–?) Tang Dynasty historian and novelist; most famous for the legendary tale "The Everlasting Regret" ([[长恨传|長恨傳|chang2 hen4 zhuan4]]), based on the poem by [[白居易|白居易|bai2 ju1 yi4]]

(idiom) great and lofty ambitions, like a swan that can fly high and far

To move with a light and graceful posture, like a swan taking flight; used to describe the elegant movements or appearance of a beautiful woman.

possessing deep and wide knowledge; learned

literary term for an incoming letter, specifically one from a person far away

literally meaning "how can the swallow and sparrow know the will of the great swan"; used to describe how people with narrow minds or common goals cannot understand the grand visions of those with great ambition

Traces or vestiges left by past events; literally refers to the footprints of a goose on snow and mud, often used to reflect on the fleeting nature of human life

(literary) a masterpiece or great literary work; used as a polite term to refer to someone else's writing.

a masterpiece of great length and scope; a literary magnum opus

Literally "a swan goose flies high into the distant sky"; refers to running away or retreating into seclusion to avoid harm or trouble; to disappear without a trace. trace.

(478–525) Historian of the Northern Wei dynasty known for compiling the "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms" [[十六国春秋|十六國春秋|shi2 liu4 guo2 chun1 qiu1]]

Traces or marks left behind by past events; also refers to the [[雪泥鸿爪|雪泥鴻爪|xue3 ni2 hong2 zhao3]] idiom.

literally describes a scene where wailing geese are found across the land across the entire country

As weighty as [[泰山|泰山|tai4 shan1]] or as light as a goose feather; usually describes a death that is either for a noble cause or for a trifling reason.

(idiom) Describes a very clear distinction or boundary between two things, as if they were separated by the [[鸿沟|鴻溝|hong2 gou1]] canal.

A highly learned person with vast knowledge and broad insight.

Imperial Examination of Broad Learning and Great Eloquence, a special examination for recruitment of talented scholars into the government service

(historical) the Imperial Examination of Broad Learning and Great Eloquence, a special session held to recruit exceptionally talented and learned scholars during the Qing dynasty

an imperial examination for exceptionally talented scholars during the Tang and Qing dynasties; a variant name for the Boxue Hongci category

the Imperial Examination of Broad Learning and Great Eloquence, a special examination held during the Tang, Song, and Qing dynasties to recruit men of exceptional talent and literary skill

wild geese in flight crying mournfully; (metaphorically) refugees or homeless people who have been scattered by disaster or war

(literary) wandering geese crying in hunger, often used as a metaphor for refugees or people suffering in misery

(bound form) minister responsible for foreign relations and court protocol in imperial China

birth name of British-Chinese writer Jung Chang

a fleeting glimpse of someone or something beautiful; often describes the brief appearance of a graceful person or an impressive sight

the American Chinese dish chop suey, consisting of meat and eggs cooked quickly with vegetables such as bean sprouts, cabbage, and celery

literally "the goose comes and the swallow goes"; used to describe people who are constantly traveling or whose paths cross only briefly

Bochum, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany