The Zhao Family
Simplicity Zhao, a first-time visitor to Shanghai who falls for high-class courtesans and cheap prostitutes alike.
Second Treasure, sister of Simplicity who comes to Shanghai in search of him and ends up as a courtesan.
Madam Hong, mother of Simplicity and Second Treasure, sister of Benevolence Hong.
Clever, originally a servant girl at the Wei house in Generosity Alley, she later joins the Zhaos’ establishment and strikes up a relationship with Simplicity.
Flora Zhang, a friend of Second Treasure who accompanies her to Shanghai and, like her, becomes a courtesan.
Nature Shi, the scion of a well-known family and Second Treasure’s regular client whom she hopes to marry.
Hall of Beauties on West Chessboard Street
Woodsy, a courtesan in this second-class house.
Jewel, a virgin courtesan and sister of Woodsy.
Mama Yeung, the maid of the house.
Lichee Zhuang, owner of a lottery store and a regular client of Woodsy.
Fortune Shi, a regular client of Jewel and Third Treasure of Tranquillity Alley. He entices Second Treasure and Flora Zhang into prostitution.
Lai the Turtle, the son of a high-ranking government official, is an uncouth man disliked and feared by all the courtesans he visits.
The Zhou House in Sunshine Alley
Orchid Zhou, Twin Pearl’s real mother and head of this first-class establishment.
Twin Pearl, leading courtesan of the house.
Twin Jade, a new girl purchased by Orchid Zhou.
Twin Jewel, a courtesan who feels displaced by Twin Jade.
Mama Yang, a maid in the Zhou house.
Golden, the maid with a reputation for being an unfaithful wife.
Worth, Golden’s husband and a manservant of the house.
Eldest, the son of Worth and Golden.
Clever Baby, a servant girl of the house.
Benevolence Hong, uncle of Simplicity Zhao and regular client of Twin Pearl. He owns a ginseng store in South End and often runs errands for Lotuson Wang.
Modesty Zhu, younger brother of Amity Zhu and regular client of Twin Jade.
The Huang House in Generosity Alley
Second Sister Huang, owner of this first-class house and quite well known when she was young.
Green Phoenix, leading courtesan of the house who purchases her own freedom.
Gold Phoenix, a virgin courtesan of the house.
Pearl Phoenix, a courtesan of the house considered lazy by everyone.
Mama Zhao, the maid of the house.
Little Treasure, a servant girl of the house.
Prosperity Luo, a regular client of Lute Jiang and later of Green Phoenix. He is an official with the rank of alternate magistrate.
Promotion, the steward of Prosperity Luo.
Vigor Qian, the favorite client of Green Phoenix. He lives on Avenue Road.
Mrs. Qian, wife of Vigor Qian, an easygoing woman.
Gold Flower, a girl bought by Third Sister Chu and placed temporarily in the Huang house.
The Lin House in Generosity Alley
White Fragrance, leading courtesan of the house.
Green Fragrance, a virgin courtesan and younger sister of White Fragrance.
Amity Zhu, older brother of Modesty Zhu and a regular client of White Fragrance.
Whistler Tang, Amity Zhu’s business partner and an occasional client of Green Fragrance.
Devotion Yin, a young man of some literary fame and a regular client of Green Fragrance.
The Wei House in Generosity Alley
Sister Wei, owner of this top-class establishment.
Sunset, a top-class courtesan.1
Mallow Yao, a regular client of Sunset and a henpecked husband.
Mrs. Yao, wife of Mallow Yao, a woman prone to jealousy.
Dragon Ma, a regular client of Sunset and private secretary to the official Harmony Qi.
The Li House in East Prosperity Alley
Fair Sister Li, real mother of Water Blossom and owner of this first-class house.
Water Blossom, leading courtesan of the house who wants to marry Jade Tao. The frustration of her wish leads to ill health and an early death.
River Blossom, a childish virgin courtesan.
Big Goldie, the maid of the house.
Beckon, a servant girl in the house.
Jade Tao, Water Blossom’s lover who wants to marry her. His family objects to his taking a prostitute as wife.
Big Feet Yao’s House in East Co-prosperity Alley
Snow Scent, a courtesan working for herself.
Little Sister, Snow Scent’s maid and Clever’s aunt.
Elan Ge, a Chinese banker and regular client of Snow Scent.
Wenjun Yao, a tomboyish courtesan who finds favor with Second Bai Gao.
Second Bai Gao, a young man of some literary fame who finds the normal run of courtesans unattractive.
Generosity Alley
Grace Yang, a courtesan suspected of involvement in a gambling scam.
Thrive, Grace Yang’s maid.
Crane Li, a regular client of Grace Yang and nephew of Pragmatic Li. He is a gambler who is cheated by everyone.
Second Kuang, Crane Li’s steward and a client of the low-class prostitute Third Pan.
Laurel Zhao, a courtesan in her midtwenties who is an opium addict. She rents rooms in the same house as Grace Yang.
Belle Tan, a first-class courtesan.
Cloud Tao, a regular client of Belle and elder brother of Jade Tao. He lives in the Old City.
East Civic Peace Alley
Lute Jiang, a first-class courtesan and Prosperity Luo’s regular girl until he took up with Green Phoenix.
Tigress, a servant girl at Lute Jiang’s, probably so named because she was born in the year of the tiger.
Script Li, a regular client of Lute Jiang and Bright Pearl of Tripod Alley. He is a high-ranking official and a man of great wealth.
Co-security Alley
Clever Gem, a first-class courtesan.
Ocean, Clever Gem’s maid.
Big Silver, Clever Gem’s servant girl.
Cloudlet Chen, owner of a lottery shop and a regular client of Clever Gem.
Constant Blessing, Cloudlet Chen’s steward and a client of the low-class prostitute Second Wang.
Hall of Spring
Love Gem, sister of Clever Gem and a courtesan in this second-class house.
Great Prosperity Alley
Third Sister Chu, mother of Perfection and formerly a well-known figure in the brothel world.
Perfection Chu, a young married woman who has just become a streetwalker.
Pragmatic Li, a regular client of Perfection and an old client of Bright Pearl. A miser, he prefers the cheaper girls.
Nobility Alley
White Orchid, a second-class courtesan.
Sister Gold, White Orchid’s maid.
Pine Wu, a regular client of White Orchid. He comes from the same hometown as Simplicity Zhao and works in a foreign firm.
Clement Zhou, the owner of a gambling den who teams up with Pine Wu in a scam.
Iron Hua, a regular client of White Orchid.
Tripod Alley
Bright Pearl, a wealthy semiretired courtesan who is getting on in years.
Lucky Spring Alley
Constance Zhang, Lotuson Wang’s new flame. He helps her set up her business.
Lotuson Wang, a regular client of both Constance and Little Rouge of Floral Alley. He is an official who deals with affairs related to foreigners.
Talisman, the steward of Lotuson Wang.
Floral Alley
Little Rouge, a first-class courtesan and Lotuson Wang’s regular girl until he met Constance.
Pearlie, Little Rouge’s maid.
Goldie, Little Rouge’s servant girl.
Little Willow, an opera actor and Little Rouge’s lover.
Thatch Fang, an older man with literary pretensions. He later marries Laurel Zhao.
Jade Wenjun, a courtesan with literary pretensions.
Tranquillity Alley
Third Treasure, a virgin courtesan.
Bamboo Hu, bookkeeper at Cloudlet Chen’s lottery shop and a regular client of Third Treasure.
Auspicious Cloud Alley
Cassia Ma, a second-class courtesan who wins Mrs. Yao’s trust.
Security Alley
Third Pan, a low-class prostitute.
Verdure Xu, a regular client of Third Pan and a rather rough character.
Longevity Zhang, the steward of Amity Zhu and a client of Third Pan. He is the lover of the maid Golden.
Beaten Dog Bridge
Second Wang, a low-class prostitute.
Rustic Zhang, a regular client of Second Wang and cousin of Flora Zhang. He comes to Shanghai with Simplicity Zhao and manages to find a job.
Rustic Retreat
Harmony Qi, a wealthy elderly Chinese official who prides himself on being a champion of young lovers.
Aroma Su, a courtesan who comes back into the business when she fails to get along with the wife of the man she married. Her sister, Essence, is one of Qi’s concubines.
Pendant, a teenage member of Qi’s private theater troupe whose sexual favor he enjoys.
Hairpin, a teenage member of Qi’s private theater troupe whose sexual favor he enjoys.
Note
1. [For an explanation of the distinction between top-class and first-class courtesans, see “The World of the Shanghai Courtesans.” E.H.]