江湖

Wikipedia has articles on:

• 江湖 (Written Standard Chinese^?)
• 江湖 (Cantonese)
• Jianghu (English)

江湖

1. (literally) rivers and lakes

   • 泉涸，魚相與處於陸，相呴以溼，相濡以沫，不如相忘於江湖。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     泉涸，鱼相与处于陆，相呴以湿，相濡以沫，不如相忘于江湖。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Quán hé, yú xiāngyǔ chǔ yú lù, xiāng xǔ yǐ shī, xiāng rú yǐ mò, bùrú xiāngwàng yú jiānghú. [Pinyin]

     When the springs are dried up, the fishes collect together on the land. Than that they should moisten one another there by the damp about them, and keep one another wet by their slime, it would be better for them to forget one another in the rivers and lakes.

2. (figuratively) all corners of the country; (around) the whole country
3. (figuratively) society, community
4. (figuratively) wandering life; private and plebian domain beyond the control of the government; underworld
5. (figuratively) place of residence of a hermit; reclusive place
6. (figuratively) vagrant; itinerant (entertainer, quack doctor, swindler etc.)
7. (figuratively) old experienced person; man of experience

江(こう)湖(こ) • (kōko) ^{←かうこ (kauko)?}

1. the rivers and lakes
2. the secular world, the world outside the court

   Synonyms: 世の中 (yononaka), 天下 (tenka)

3. (Buddhism) a retreat

江(ごう)湖(こ) • (gōko) ^{←がうこ (gauko)?}

1. the rivers and lakes
2. (Buddhism) Short for 江湖僧 (gōkosō).
3. (Buddhism) Short for 江湖会 (gōkoe).