Each entry lists English, Chinese characters, pinyin, and a one-line meaning. Bookmark this page and use Ctrl/Cmd+F while playing or watching trailers — quick lookups beat memorizing every Tang-era name upfront.
How to use this glossary
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Start with Shazhou's Return to Tang in 10 Minutes.
Growing list
We add entries as we publish more Culture articles for Blood Message.
Places
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shazhou | 沙州 | Shāzhōu | Tang prefecture centered on Dunhuang; uprising site in 848 |
| Dunhuang | 敦煌 | Dūnhuáng | Main city of Shazhou; home of Mogao Caves |
| Guazhou | 瓜州 | Guāzhōu | Neighboring prefecture liberated with Shazhou in 848 |
| Hexi Corridor | 河西走廊 | Héxī Zǒuláng | Silk Road strip between Gobi and Qilian Mountains |
| Chang'an | 长安 | Cháng'ān | Tang capital (modern Xi'an); destination of the messengers |
| Liangzhou | 凉州 | Liángzhōu | Key Hexi city; captured by Guiyi Army in 861 |
| Mogao Caves | 莫高窟 | Mògāo Kū | Buddhist cave temples near Dunhuang; UNESCO site |
People & groups
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang Yichao | 张议潮 | Zhāng Yìcháo | Leader of 848 Shazhou uprising; first Guiyi Army governor |
| Zhang Yitan | 张议潭 | Zhāng Yìtán | Zhang Yichao's elder brother; envoy to Chang'an, stayed at court |
| Wuzhen | 悟真 | Wù Zhēn | Monk who led the only messenger team confirmed to reach Chang'an |
| Li Pi | 李丕 | Lǐ Pǐ | Tianjun garrison commander who escorted Wuzhen's team east |
| Guiyi Army | 归义军 | Guīyì Jūn | "Army Returning to Righteousness" — Tang frontier command based in Dunhuang |
| Emperor Xuanzong (mid-Tang) | 唐宣宗 | Táng Xuānzōng | Tang emperor (846–859) who received Wuzhen; praised the western heroes |
Events & concepts
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return to Tang | 归唐 | Guī Táng | Chinese game title; political and emotional reattachment to the Tang court |
| An Lushan Rebellion | 安史之乱 | Ān Shǐ Zhī Luàn | 755–763 civil war that weakened Tang and led to Hexi loss |
| Tubo / Tibetan Empire | 吐蕃 | Tǔbō | Power that ruled Dunhuang ca. 787–848 |
| Jiedushi | 节度使 | jiédùshǐ | Tang military governor; Zhang Yichao's court title |
| Silk Road | 丝绸之路 | Sīchóu Zhī Lù | Trade network linking China to Central Asia and beyond |
| Bianwen | 变文 | biànwén | Popular narrative storytelling form; includes Zhang Yichao tales |
| Dunhuang manuscripts | 敦煌文书 | Dūnhuáng Wénshū | Documents from Library Cave and other finds; vital historical source |
Game-specific
| English | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Message | 归唐 | Guī Táng | International title vs Chinese title (different words, same project) |
| The messenger | 信使 | xìnshǐ | Courier carrying news; playable role is a fictional composite |
| Ten teams | 十队 | shí duì | Historical redundancy plan — multiple identical messages, separate routes |
Missing a term? Tell us in article comments — we expand this glossary as Blood Message Culture grows.