dragonfly311 Posted May 2, 2012 at 08:16 PM Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 at 08:16 PM I am in the process of completing a book that blends eastern mysticism and martial tradition with western epic fantasy. I would like to use several Mandarin terms to express certain concepts and help capture the mood appropriate to the story. I would also like to avoid negative or offensive connotations/meanings with the terminology as well. I have no Mandarin language training, so what follows are my best attempts. There are presently four terms/concepts/phrases I would like some help with translating. Pinyin Romanziation is preferred but others are fine as well. Any help would be much appreciated! Here are the phrases I would like help with along with my attempts to express the concepts: 1. Mind-to-mind boxing, mind-to-mind fist, or joining of mind-to-mind boxing. This is the main character's martial style. For this, I am presently using xinyiquan (mind;heart, mind, boxing/fist), 2. Forbidden Forest. This is a magical taboo/off-limits forest region. I am presently using Jenyuan Shulin (forbidden, garden, grove of trees/forest), 3. Light Fallen or Those (people) fallen from light. This is a phrase for a group of people (monks/spiritual ascetcs/martial priests) who have turned away from the universal/celestial Light or universal/celestial qi. Alternatively, something like those fallen from truth, wisdom, purity, or heaven. These are the dark priests/bad guys... members of a fallen Order. I have several thoughts on this one: a. Wandan Guang (fallen from power, light), b. Liuxing langren (meteor, dissolute person), or c. Xingzhe Langguang (dissolute traveler from light), and 4. Flexible verse. This a novel poem structure I employ in the story akin to a haiku but with 5-7 syllables per line whereas a haiku is more strucutred at 5-7-5 syllables. For this, I was thinking Linghuo shi (flexible, verse/poem). Xiexie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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