Fan Chuo

“ Wikipedia↑ Or possibly Mángchéng​, should you be a historical linguist investigating possible phonetic etymologies.↑ Possibly not literally referring to silk but rather to some other fine form of cloth.↑ The phonetics are literally 「娑羅籠」 (suō​luó​lǒng​) , which breaks down semantically as (dance/frolic/lounge) + (lightweight fabric; with this ancient meaning specifically preserved in Japanese - or a gauze) + (covering) and we could reasonably modernize as "casual light-fabric cover-garment". ”

“ Clothing Original Translation 其蠻丈夫一切披氈,其余衣服略與漢同,唯頭囊特異耳。 The married men all wear drapes over their shoulders, (their?) other clothes are not dissimilar to the Chinese, though their tóu ​náng​ (頭囊; lit. 'head pocket'; ie. apparently a form of traditional native headgarb) are particularly beautiful. 南詔以紅綾,其余向下皆以皂綾絹。 Nán​zhào​ (南詔) uses fine red silk, and all the others use coarser grade black silk. ”

“ Women and courtship Original Translation 南詔有妻妾數百人,總謂之詔佐。 The Nanzhao harem is several hundred women, exclusively for the imperial family. 清平官、大軍將有妻妾數十人。 The prime minister and generals each have tens of women. ”

“ To the east lay the upper Mekong valley (known as the Lancangjiang in Yunnan) , itself not a highly developed region and of probably of rather dubious utility in trade. To the west was even less development and more mountains, leading through jungle to what is now still a very wild region, the Kachin state of Burma.) ↑ Dictionary suggests 60-70, but correcting for the era this seems a more likely end of the range.↑ I have reservations about interpretation here due to the topographic and cultural barriers in place between this region and China's Xī​'ān (ie. Tang Dynasty capital) ​... ”

“ Festivals and holidays Original Translation 每年十一月一日,盛會客,造酒醴,殺牛羊,親族鄰裏更相宴樂,三月內作樂相慶,帷務追歡。 On the first day of the eleventh lunar month every solar year, a great meeting is convened, fruit wine is prepared, cattle and sheep or goats [7] are slaughtered, and friends and relatives celebrate amongst one another for three months, putting business aside to embrace the pleasures of life. 戶外必設桃茢,如歲旦然。 Outside those of a appropriate [sexually mature] age elope together in nature. ”

“ Greater bureaucratic/geopolitical region of the time.↑ Note that this could also be Qín​zàng​, though semantically this makes little difference it may shed light on potential phonological importation from reconstructed period languages.↑ The selection of the character 族 to describe the inhabitants perhaps could be taken to suggest that some significant portion of them are not of Han Chinese descent, though this is very much an assumption.↑ 尚書 / 吏中↑ 祠部↑ 持節冊↑ ie. ”

“ If this meant the modern area in Guangxi, our geographic scope just significantly widened... but this is considered extremely unlikely to be a correct line of interpretation.↑ A little bit indirect in translation, but seems to be accurate in intent. Remember that in Confucian court morals of the time, family conflict was deeply taboo.↑ Could do with some reaffirmation. ”

“ In attempted reconstruction it would appear to imply from visual analysis of the left-hand radical of this character "piece" or "chunk" and the right-hand radical somewhat "meat-like" which makes perfect sense in context.↑ Interesting explained as 州溪源 meaning "river-plain", "river or stream" and "origin", implying "flatlands, valleys and high-altitude locations alike".↑ ie. Implying bravery in facing the enemy.↑ ie. implying flight in the face of the enemy. ”

“ Specifically, the identification of Méng​'ēn​ (蒙恩) as a personal identity.↑ At a guess this phrase is likely referring to earlier incarnations of modern languages falling with the Tibeto-Burman group.↑ This part is screaming for some mapping.↑ Almost certainly referring to the Nanzhao people, now bolstered with the increase population and intermarriage of the Black Barbarian households.↑ Based upon the reported distance and the subsequent paragraph, this is likely to be the lower modern Yunnanese portion of the Red River Valley, or an area directly adjacent — ie. ”

“ Alternatives, however, seem even less likely.↑ No reason is given, and if indeed this is a personal name one wonder what the source for this correction may be.↑ Using the anachronistic interpretation of 子 as 'north'.↑ 一更時↑ Taken from one interpretative paradigm, this could strongly suggest wood-only crossbows. Crossbows do remain popular in the region today. ”