Qiyan
Very often the word is translated as 'singing girls' or 'singing slave girls'. This is inaccurate though: There were also older Quiyan. Also, they were skilled entertainers, and their skills were more than singing; it included for example dancing, composing music and verse, reciting historical or literary anecdotes (), calligraphy, or shadow-puppetry. Other translations include courtesan, musical concubines, or simply women musicians.