Qiang Jin Jiu by Tang Jiuqing
[ GUIDES | Primer | Characters | Worldmap ]
Debauched wastrel of a noble gong vs. vindictive pretty boy shou.
Vicious dog vs. mad dog.
The Six Prefectures of Zhongbo were offered to the foreign enemies on a silver platter, and Shen Zechuan was taken into custody in the capital, reduced to a drowning dog1 loathed and condemned by all. Xiao Chiye followed the scent of the furor and made his way over. But instead of setting others on him, he kicked Shen Zechuan with his very own leg that rendered the latter an invalid. Who would expect this invalid to turn around and bite him in a counterattack until he was all drenched in blood? That was the start of an epic feud between both men who tear at each other every time they come face-to-face with one another.
“Fate wants to bind me here for life, but this is not the path I choose. The yellow dust2 submerged my brothers3 deep under. I have no wish to bow in submission to an illusory fate. The imperial edict can’t save my troops, and the imperial court can’t fill the stomachs of my mounts. I’m no longer willing to lay down my life for this purpose. I want to surmount that mountain. I am going to fight for myself.”
1v1, HE, HE, HE.
[Warnings]
◆ Main Couple: Xiao Chiye (gong) x Shen Zechuan (shou)
◆ There’s a yuri cp that are both important characters.
◆ Gong is even more of a scoundrel than the various gege in the earlier novels. (/eyes Cang Ji of Nan Chan)
Notes
◆ This is a BL (Yaoi) novel.
◆ This is a completed novel; translation is still ongoing. [Raws on JJWXC]
◆ Character Glossary
◆ There are also the audio dramas Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3 in Chinese! (See Masterlist for English Fan-Subbed)!
◆ Carrd: #1, #2
《将进酒》第一季 @猫耳FM
《QJJ》 Season 1 Audio Drama
《将进酒》第二季 @猫耳FM
《QJJ》 Season 2 Audio Drama
《将进酒》第三季 @猫耳FM
《QJJ》 Season 3 Audio Drama
Qiang vs. Jiang
The title, Qiang Jin Jiu (將進酒), is a poem by the renowned poet Li Bai (李白). There have been some argument for Jiang but it depends on your interpretation of its meaning (“please drink up/an invitation to wine” as opposed to “about to drink/bring the wine”). Here’s JJWXC’s reply about their common reading for the character 將.4
Other names:
◆ Please Drink Up!
◆ Invitation to Wine
◆ The Novel Where The Footnotes Are Longer Than The Actual Translation
Translator Notes:
[1] Not a historian. Discrepancies are to be expected.
[2] This novel… is going to be footnote intensive. (´・ω・`)
[3] Some of the offices’ names will be literally translated if I can’t find the corresponding English term for it in my sources.
[4] Hanyu Pinyu will be used for foreign names in this novel due to unfamiliarity with the language involved and to avoid mistranslations with the actual names in its original language. If we do get official subtitles someday, it will replace it in the translation (the same goes for titles).
[5] While the author mostly based the story on the governmental system of the Ming Dynasty with a combination of elements from the Qing Dynasty, please remember that it is a work of fiction after all and is not a 100% precise and factual representation of history itself.
[6] Will re-edit after the whole novel has been translated to weed out typos, standardize terms, etc. But feel free to point out inconsistencies or offer feedback! The final edit will be based on the uncensored traditional physical copy when it is released.
[7] Shen Zechuan is bae.
Sources (for titles and terms):
[1] Xie, B., & Mirong, C. (2013). A Brief History of the Official System in China.
[2] Zhang, Y., Xue, S., Xue, Z., & Ni, L. (2017). Chinese-English Dictionary of Ming Government Official Titles.
[3] Charles Hucker (n/a). A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China.
[4] Theobald, U. (n.d.). Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art.
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Bless Yunyun for the correction!
Footnotes
- 落水狗 literally a drowning dog or someone who is down and out having lost favor or power.
- 黄沙 Yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind, or dust storms is a meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia year round but especially during the spring months.
- 手足 not blood-related, but they are as close as brothers.
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