Throughout the entire series, in translation, Dongfang calls Orchid just a little flower spirit. But in the book and in the drama, he actually calls her 小花妖 Xiǎo Huāyāo a little flower demon.It starts back in the second episode, when he doesn't know her name yet. But the funny thing is that he doesn't call her that right away. Before this she forces him to return her hair, which of course impresses him. And then she begins to explain that one can't take away someone's work, thereby justifying her intention to release the criminal from the pagoda. And after that Dongfang begins to call her 小花妖 Xiǎo Huāyāo.
Of course, I wanted to learn more about this nickname in order to understand what meaning was put into these words, because he called her that until the very end, although he used it less often in the last episodes.
A few facts. The translation of the word demon in Chinese mythology is significantly different from what we are used to. By the way, the same word is called Ying Zhao. It seemed strange to me that demons turned out to be cuties, but when you learn more about the meaning of this word, you understand why you didn't perceive it quite correctly.
For us, demons and devils are more similar in meaning. If we are not talking about the Devil, then devils are the same demons. But they don't in Chinese mythology.
妖 yāo - demons or alternatively translated as monsters. Born when an animal, plant, or even an inanimate object absorbs spiritual energy over a long period of time and then gains spiritual awareness. Not inherently evil, although many have antagonistic relationships with humans.
魔 mó - devils or alternatively translated as fiends. Evil spirits/creatures of remarkable power and cruelty. Similar to the demons and devils of Western mythology. In some novels, evil cultivators emulate them by practicing devilish cultivation methods and committing atrocities in their pursuit of power.
Some novels consider Demons and Devils to be a single species (妖魔 Yaomo), others as distinct species (妖族 Yao race / 魔族 Mo race).
魔 is sometimes translated as "Demon", which can be confusing at times (particularly when 妖 is also used in the novel).
However, this is not all. I dug through the material and found something interesting.
妖 yāo Initially, this is a female image. A mix of two images of a woman and a baby that are superimposed on each other. The beauty of a woman who hasn't yet submitted, the extraordinary one.
Original meaning: beautiful, magnificent. Enchanted girl, charming girl. Extended: inappropriate behavior, demonic spirit. Witchcraft, demon, magic.
The words demonic, gorgeous, beautiful are closely intertwined in the meaning of this word. This is a demoness, a witch, a sorceress.
Other translation variants are abnormal, bizarre, phenomenon, goblin, evil, magnificent, charming, fascinating.
I believe this is important that it's a female image, and not just a demon. So Dongfang admits her feminine essence.
I think that the closest thing to European culture is the image of a witch, or rather even a sorceress. Beautiful, rebellious, dangerous, powerful. Like Triss and Yennefer from the Witcher, if you're familiar with this universe.
So it's on the verge of a compliment and an insult. Some women are offended when they are called witches, while others are flattered. Maybe this is another reason why Orchid interrupts him so abruptly and tells him not to distract her. Not only because he says that she has features of the moon tribe, but also because he uses such an address to her. This is a curious question. But it's debatable.
Also, it's perceived as the opposite of a fairy. Fairy and sorceress, beautiful and sweet against beautiful but wicked.
I also found an agave plant, one of the varieties of which includes the name demon. 妖炎 (yāo yán Demon's flame). It has spikes. Considering that Orchid is a plant, this adds a new meaning, the orchid with thorns.
Anyway, it's pity that in the English version they refused to use this nickname, because I think it adds more colors to the relationship between Lanhua and Dongfang.
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