Some quick notes on Nie Huaisang’s nickname 一问三不知
🤔 This is translated as “Head Shaker” in the official English version, but it means more than that
🤔 I’ve previously covered this in the cql subs critique, but here’s a more detailed explanation
Ok so! We first see Nie Huaisang referred to as 一问三不知 in Ch 21 of the novel. In this scene, Wei Wuxian is talking to a man who claims to know a lot about the happenings in Qinghe.
This same conversation takes place in cql ep 34.
Quite literally, 一问三不知 means “ask once (一问), and hear three ‘I don’t knows’ (三不知)”.
According to modern writer Deng Tuo 邓拓, the three unknowns refer to three different stages for any situation in a person’s life:
始: the beginning, or the origin of the event. In other words, the background and history of the event, and what caused it to happen in the first place
中: the middle, or the process. In other words, what is currently happening, how and whether the event is developing or devolving, and other factors and the reasons behind them
终: the end or conclusion. In other words, how the event was eventually resolved, the impact, and what is supposed to happen next
Deng Tuo covered this in his piece 《变三不知为三知》, or “Turning three unknowns into three knowns”.
In sum, 一问三不知 is a rather elegant moral lesson — an admonition to always consider and understand thoroughly the history, process, consequences, and interconnectedness of things before making a judgement or decision.
The earliest mention of 一问三不知 was in the pre-Qin text 《左传·鲁哀公二十七年》. In this anecdote, a certain general, Xun Yin 荀寅, gave inaccurate information to his superior Chen Chengzi 陈成子 on the enemy’s plans and was admonished as a result. In response, Xun Yin said with regret, “今我三不知而入之,不亦难乎” / “today I’ve made a report without thinking through the three unknowns. Am I not making the situation worse?”
There is an additional layered meaning to 一问三不知! While it largely refers to someone being uninformed about the origin, process, and conclusion of a situation, it can also refer to someone who is deliberately pretending to know nothing about anything.
Whoever in the cultivation world gave Nie Huaisang the title of 一问三不知 likely figured he lacked a clear understanding of events. In truth, the title was especially appropriate because he understood more about the “three unknowns” than he cared to let on.
Finally, it’s funny when you contrast Nie Huaisang’s title of 一问三不知 against that of the man Wei Wuxian was talking to, 清河百晓生 (reflected in the English translation as “The Know-It-All of Qinghe”). This title quite literally means “Qinghe man who knows of a hundred matters”.
It’s clear that there are gaps in this man’s knowledge — despite his boasts, he doesn’t know very much. In contrast, Nie Huaisang appears not to know anything, but he does!
My original explanation of 一问三不知 from ep 34 of the cql subs critique, para 349
References
一问三不知
三不知
今我三不知而入之,不亦难乎
Enjing (novel raws)
Original post on Twitter
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I have a list of random nicknames for most of the MXTX characters that my friends and siblings use, and Nie Huaisang's nickname is Amy, so I thought this would be funny
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