Character Name Pronunciation Guide
Curious to how the name in The Girl, the Gate and the Dragon are supposed to sound? You can hear the audio book reader Mesmi say the names below (red links):
Gongshi (gong suh): the statue spirits
Jin (jin):lion cub statue spirit
Zuqiu (zoo-choh): a game similar to soccer
Mountain Maitreya (mount-in my-trey-ah): the Buddha statue as large as a mountain
Songzi NiangNiang (song-zuh nee-ung nee-ung): Deity of childbirth statue spirit
Xianren Qi Ji (shen-ren chee-gee): Immortal riding the rooster (found on Chinese rooftop ridges) statue spirit
Confucius(cahn-few-shus): famous Chinese philosopher statue spirit
Da Shizi (Dah shuh-zuh) Large Cat, what Jin’s mother calls his father
Baosheng Dadi (bou-shung dah-dee): Deity of Medicine statue spirit
Shou (shoh): Deity of Longevity (Hospital statue)
Goddess Nuwa:(goddess new-wah) the Goddess who created people
Pulao:(poo-lou) small dragon-like mythical creature known for its loud voice (found on large bells) statue spirit
Magu (mah-goo): immortal attendant to the Queen Mother Goddess of the West statue spirit
Qilin (chee-leen): a horned mythical creature (sometimes known as a Chinese unicorn) statue spirit
Jiaotu:(jeou-too) a mythical creature with a head like a lion and a body with a thick shell like a snail (used on doorknockers to symbolize security) statue spirit
Lan Caihe:(lun tsai-huh) one of the Eight Immortals whose gender is ambiguous and is the patron of flowers statue spirit
Wuniang (oo-nee-ung): Dancing girl statue spirit
Yue Lao (yeh-lou):Deity of marriage statue spirit
Tai (tie):A woman who befriends Jin
Mei Hua (may hwa): the girl who sacrificed herself for the bell
Cangjie (tsung jeh): God of Writing statue spirit