(historical) Dukes, princes, or local rulers who governed parts of the country under the emperor during the Zhou and early Han dynasties.

Wuhou district of Chengdu City in Sichuan province

two-character Chinese surname

Hussein or Husain; refers to the Muslim leader or various notable figures such as Saddam Hussein.

the second of the five ranks of nobility in ancient China; a noble title equivalent to a marquis

princes and marquises; collectively refers to high-ranking officials and the aristocracy

(503–552) A general during the Northern and Southern dynasties period who rebelled against the Liang dynasty in the Hou Jing Rebellion; briefly declared himself emperor before being defeated.

Minhou County in Fuzhou City, Fujian province

A temple dedicated to the memory of [[诸葛亮|諸葛亮|zhu1 ge3 liang4]]. The most famous is in Chengdu, Sichuan, but others exist elsewhere, such as in Nanyang, Henan.

a state ruled by a vassal or feudal lord, particularly during the Zhou Dynasty

General of the late Eastern Han dynasty who served under the warlord Cao Cao and was defeated at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219 AD

Minhou, a county in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province

(literary) high-ranking nobles or feudal lords; also known as [[通侯|通侯|tong1 hou2]] or [[彻侯|徹侯|che4 hou2]]

Houma, a county-level city in [[临汾市|臨汾市|lin2 fen2 shi4]], Shanxi Province

the ruling class; high-ranking officials; specifically kings, nobles, generals, and ministers

Houma, a county-level city in [[临汾市|臨汾市|lin2 fen2 shi4]], Shanxi Province

(idiom) to hold the emperor hostage and command his vassals in his name; to use the name of a superior or a powerful person to order others around

(historical) a marquis with a fief of 10,000 households, the highest noble rank during the Han dynasty; later used to refer to any high-ranking official or noble

Marquis Wen of Wei (died 396 BC), ruler of the State of Wei during the early Warring States period; known for his patronage of scholars and for establishing Wei as a powerful state through the recruitment of talented officials.

respectful name for Hou Ying, a recluse and strategist during the Warring States period who assisted Prince Xinling of Wei

A rebellion against the Liang dynasty in 548 led by the general [[侯景|侯景|hou2 jing3]], which led to the death of Emperor Wu and severely weakened the Southern Dynasties.

(literary) the family of a nobleman or high official

to be granted a title of nobility and appointed as a high-ranking minister; to reach the pinnacle of power and status

Han Dynasty scholar and official, relative of Xiahou Jian, known for his work on Confucian classics and for being half of the duo known as the Great and Small Xiahous

legendary pearl of the Marquis of Sui; a metaphor for an extremely rare and valuable treasure

The gap between a powerful, wealthy family and common people is vast; used to express that once someone enters a high-ranking household, they are as inaccessible as if they were across the ocean.

hereditary title bestowed on the descendants of Zengzi [[曾参|曾參|zeng1 shen1]] (the title for Confucius' descendants is [[衍圣侯|衍聖侯|yan3 sheng4 hou2]])

(literary) a marquis with an extensive fief, or a general granted such a title for military achievements in distant border regions

Hou Ying (?-257 BC), a hermit and gatekeeper in the state of Wei during the Warring States period who served as a strategist for [[信陵君|信陵君|xin4 ling2 jun1]] and helped save the state of Zhao from Qin.

Famous scholar and writer (1618–1654) of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, noted as one of the Three Great Prose Masters of the Early Qing; his romance with the courtesan Li Xiangjun is the subject of the play [[桃花扇|桃花扇|tao2 hua1 shan4]]

(literary) One of the five zones of territorial administration in ancient China, located outside the royal capital; in the Xia dynasty system it was 1,000 li away, while in the Zhou system it was 500 li away.

To wear the clothes of high officials and eat precious food, describing a lifestyle of great extravagance and luxury.

a woman holding the rank of marquise or the wife of a marquis

once entering the gates of a noble family, one is as unreachable as if in the depths of the ocean; used to describe the difficulty of meeting someone once they have joined the elite or high society

Used to describe a high official's residence or a powerful family's house as being so heavily guarded and strictly controlled that common people cannot enter; also used to describe former lovers or friends being separated by social status and unable to meet.

dukes and marquises, the two highest of the five orders of nobility in ancient China

Principality of Liechtenstein, a landlocked country in Central Europe

(literary) title of respect used for feudal lords, high officials, or people of high social status; similar to "your lordship" or "your excellency"

an ancient plucked string instrument with many strings and a harp-like design

Western Han Dynasty scholar from Dongping (in modern Shandong); a founder of the 'Xiahou Junior' school of Classic of History studies who served as junior tutor to the crown prince and was famously paired with his relative [[夏侯胜|夏侯勝|xia4 hou2 sheng4]] as the 'Great and Small Xiahous'.

Xiahou Dun (died 220 AD), a famous military general serving under the warlord [[曹操|曹操|cao2 cao1]] during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period.

official name for Andorra, a landlocked microstate in southwestern Europe

nobility title granted to the Eastern Han diplomat and general Ban Chao for his service in the Western Regions

A famous early Western Zhou dynasty bronze vessel discovered in Jiangsu, featuring an inscription of over 120 characters describing the investiture of the Marquis of Yi by King Kang of Zhou; it is an essential historical artifact for studying the Zhou enfeoffment system.

to confer the title of marquis or a high rank of nobility upon someone

(literary) an archery target; a target used in ancient archery contests

highest title of nobility during the Qin and Han Dynasties, later renamed to avoid a naming taboo

official name of Monaco, a microstate located on the French Riviera in Western Europe

to drag one's hem at the gates of the nobility, referring to the practice of seeking patronage or serving as an attendant to the powerful