paisley fabric distinguished by its swirling pattern of shapes.
palanquins Formerly used in eastern Asia, a palanquin is an ornate chair, often covered by a roof to protect the inhabitant and carried on the shoulders of servants using two poles fastened to the chair.
pandanus fronds the narrow, spiny leaves, used in weaving mats, from the palmlike pandanus tree.
pantomimed here, communicated using hand gestures.
peat dirt highly organic soil derived from peat, decomposed vegetable matter used as a fertilizer and, in some countries, as a fuel.
pediatrics the medical field that specializes in the care of infants and children.
Peiping means "Northern Peace"; present-day Beijing, the capital of China.
peony here, the tree peony, a woody-stemmed perennial with large white- or rose-colored flowers that bloom on three- to four-foot stalks. Tree peonies, which grow slowly, are native to western China but have been hybridized in the United States and throughout the world.
peroxide a chemical solution used as a disinfectant to kill germs.
pestle a tool used for grinding or mashing food.
phoenix notes Traditionally, only one phoenix, a fictional bird from ancient eastern Mediterranean lore, lives at any given time. The one-of-a-kind phoenix lives its five-hundred-year life span, then climbs onto a funeral pyre and sets itself aflame. From its ashes springs a worm that develops into a new phoenix decked in radiant red, purple, and gold plumage. The Chinese believe that the song of the phoenix is especially beautiful, and that the phoenix has an appreciation for human music.
pigeon-toed feet turned inward, in the shape of an inverted "V."
poppies flowers admired for their beautiful petals; perennial Oriental poppies are best known for their red blossoms with blackish-purple centers.
prodigal wastefully extravagant.
proxy a stand-in, or substitute; although the rooster that No Name Woman's soon-to-be-husband sends to her is intended to be a goodwill gesture, that he sends a rooster rather than meeting her himself indicates traditional China's low regard for women.
purple dromedaries one-humped camels; "purple" dromedaries are only imaginary.
quarries excavation pits from which materials such as stones, minerals, or coal are mined.
red carp an inland-water fish common throughout North America, Europe, and Asia; the red carp derives its name from its reddish-colored scales and fins.
red money Giving money is one of the many customs associated with the Chinese New Year, a fifteen-day festival beginning either in late January or early February. The focus of the celebration is the payment of debts, housecleaning, and the ending of quarrels to prepare the way for a peaceful new year. Often the money is given in red envelopes.
rheumatism inflammation of muscles or joints, causing stiffness and pain.
rictus a facial grimace.
Romany Romany is a catchall word that means gypsy, the language that gypsies speak, and the location from which gypsies come, although Romany is not a physical country or place.
runners long, narrow tablecloths.
