Below is a glossary of cultivation terms discussed in Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. More information on terms commonly found in wuxia, xianxia, and xuanhuan novels can be found here.
Cultivation[]
Typical cultivation focuses on manipulating spiritual energy from the Dantian, using the Golden Core to store spiritual energy. This allows the practitioner to perform a number of feats such as inedia, flying with swords, and slaying demonic creatures.
Demonic Cultivation[]
- Main article: Demonic Cultivation
Founded by the Yiling Patriarch Wei Wuxian, the defining characteristic of demonic cultivation is the utilization of resentful energy from dead humans.[1]
Golden Core[]
- Main article: Golden Core
Where spiritual energy is stored and controlled in the body.
Meridians[]
Meridians (经脉, jīngmài) are the network of channels in the body through which spiritual energy flows. Acupoints are a type of meridian.[2] Striking someone's acupoints or other meridians can subdue, immobilize,[3] or kill them,[4] depending on which meridians are struck.
Qi[]
Qi (气, qì) is the vital energy that exists in all things. There are four major subtypes of qi: yang energy (阳气, yáng qì), yin energy (阴气, yīn qì), spiritual energy (灵气, líng qì), and resentful energy (怨气, yuàn qì).[2]
Qi Deviation[]
A dangerous condition that arises from incorrect or dangerous cultivation practices. For example, Qinghe Nie Clan's reliance on storing resentful energy in their sabers leads to a long history of disturbed temperament and death from qi deviation among their leaders.[5]
Technical Terms and Practices[]
Battle Array[]
Tactical formations used by cultivators attacking an enemy together.[2]
Cultivation Partner[]
- Main article: Cultivation Partner
Refers to a married couple who cultivates together.
Cultivation Clan[]
- Main article: Cultivation Clan
The main societal structure of the cultivation world.
Inedia[]
A Daoist fasting technique (辟谷, bìgǔ) associated with achieving immortality.[6] According to Wei Wuxian, those who practiced inedia could go without food and drink for three to four days without experiencing a decline in spiritual and physical energy.[7]
Killing Intent[]
Killing intent (煞气, shàqì) is a murderous aura a person emits when they desire to harm someone.[2] For example, Yu Ziyuan hid her killing intent against the Qishan Wen Clan in caution of Wen Zhuliu.[8]
Lotus Position[]
A cross-legged meditative position for training or calming the mind and spirit.[2] For instance, Wei Wuxian meditates in the lotus position shortly after his revival in the body of Mo Xuanyu.[9]
Night-hunt[]
- Main article: Night-hunt
Cultivators commonly refer to the practice of traveling to places to exorcise evil beings as “hunting.”
"No Precedent Shall be Set"[]
A phrase referring to preventive measures that are only effective until they are breached. Once breached, these measures cannot be fixed. For example, a house's threshold can keep stiff-legged Fierce Corpses at bay, but once the corpse finds a way over the threshold, the fierce corpse can attack at any time.[10]
Qiqiao[]
The seven holes in a person's face: ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. These can bleed when under extreme duress.[11]
Swords and Sabers[]
Flying swords and sabers are used as weapons throughout the cultivation world. By standing atop the blade, cultivators can also use their swords as a means of transportation.[12]
These weapons are capable of releasing light known as sword glares (剑光, jiànguāng),[13] a powerful energy attack released from the edge of their blade.[2]
Swords and sabers can be summoned to their owners via chanting a Sword Incantation[14] or by using a Hand Seal (掐诀, qiājué)[15] a Daoist hand and finger gesture.[2]
Creatures[]
A general classification of creatures discussed between Wei Wuxian and Lan Qiren include:[16]
- Yao (妖, yāo) are formed from living, non-human beings.
- Examples include the Damsel of Annual Blossoms and the Xuanwu of Slaughter.
- Demons (魔, mó) are formed from living humans.
- Ghosts (鬼, guǐ) are formed from dead humans.
- This includes Ghosts, Water Ghosts, Fierce Corpses, and conscious fierce corpses like Wen Ning and Song Lan.
- Monsters (怪, guài) are formed from dead, non-human beings.
Gods and goddesses, such as the Heavenly Maiden on Dafan Mountain, fall under their own unique category.[17]
Units of Measurement[]
Cun[]
One cun (寸, cùn) is a traditional Chinese unit of measurement, equal to about three and a third centimeters.[18] In the novel, Wei Wuxian's original body was less than one cun shorter than Lan Wangji, but in Mo Xuanyu's body, he is over two cun shorter.[19]
Zhang[]
One zhang (丈, zhàng) is a traditional Chinese unit of measurement, equal to about three and a third meters.[20] In the novel, Wei Wuxian estimates the distance from the Heavenly Maiden to Jin Ling to be less than two zhang.[17]
Grading[]
The cultivation world follows the system of Ten Heavenly Stems for grading.[21]
- Jia (甲, jiɑ̌): first, equivalent to an A.
- Yi (乙, yǐ): second, equivalent to a B.
- Bing (丙, bǐng): third, equivalent to a C.
- Ding (丁, dīng): fourth, equivalent to a D.
- Wu (戊, wù): fifth, equivalent to a E.
- Ji (己, jǐ): sixth, equivalent to a F.
- Geng (庚, gēng): seventh, equivalent to a G.
- Xin (辛, xīn): eighth, equivalent to a H.
- Ren (壬, rén): ninth, equivalent to a I.
- Gui (癸, guǐ): tenth, equivalent to a J.
References[]
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