alliance (esp. originally of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty)
eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent (in Japanese mythology)
guardian and tutor of a nobleman's child
know your enemy, know thyself, and you shall not fear a hundred battles
aquatic animal; aquatic fauna
to strengthen; to beef up; to put on a firm basis; to ensure; to secure
dyeing; printing; blue and white ceramics (china, porcelain)
Secretariat (Tang-dynasty China)
tiger's tail; gooseneck loosestrife (species of flowering plant, Lysimachia clethroides); Asplenium incisum (species of spleenwort)
royal line; royal descendants
annexation; merger; swallowing up
in fooling the enemy first deceive your allies
the nine nearest generations of relatives
(the two persons' sides) being evenly matched in ability
gold paper; gold cloth; ground of gold (e.g. on folding screen)
dated; date; fixed; external
(family) relationship; connection
gymnastics; physical exercises; artistic gymnastics; gymnastics competition; physical education (class); PE
de facto marriage; common-law marriage
concerning; per; on account of
extremely cold feeling that makes one feel numb; sharp pain that is almost numbing; heartrending; touching the heart
winding; meandering; sinuous; zigzag
to loosen the reins; to let up on (someone)
able official; capable official
to continue for a long time; to undergo a repeated series
to administer affairs of state; to attend to government affairs
(personal) guarantor; (personal) surety; person providing a character reference
left utterly helpless; have no one to turn to; unapproachable
snide remark; insinuation; sly dig; disguised reproach; indirect criticism
good bargain; (a) find; godsend; (a) steal
the Emperor's voice; beautiful voice; beautiful sound