明末清初

late Ming and early Qing / around the middle of the 17th century

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God

bright / opposite: dark 暗[an4] / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods

late Ming / first half of the 17th century

tip / end / final stage / latter part / inessential detail / powder / dust / opera role of old man

Qing (Wade-Giles: Ch'ing) dynasty of imperial China (1644-1911) / surname Qing

clear / distinct / quiet / just and honest / pure / to settle or clear up / to clean up or purge

(of water etc) clear; clean / quiet; still / pure; uncorrupted / clear; distinct / to clear; to settle (accounts)

at first / (at the) beginning / first / junior / basic