Cultural Influences in MDZS Masterpost
Prelude
Summary
Chapter 1(1)
Chapter 1(2)
Link to main archive for Tumblr mobile
Link to main archive for Tumblr desktop
Link to my Ko-Fi if you like what I’m doing
almost home
noise dept.
$LAYYYTER
Stranger Things

Andulka
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
taylor price
Peter Solarz
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

izzy's playlists!
Not today Justin

JBB: An Artblog!
Jules of Nature
🪼
ojovivo
hello vonnie
todays bird

oozey mess
styofa doing anything

roma★

seen from United Kingdom
seen from Ireland
seen from Germany
seen from United States
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seen from South Africa
seen from United States
seen from Nepal
seen from Argentina

seen from United States
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seen from Canada

seen from Malaysia

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@catasstrophui
Cultural Influences in MDZS Masterpost
Prelude
Summary
Chapter 1(1)
Chapter 1(2)
Link to main archive for Tumblr mobile
Link to main archive for Tumblr desktop
Link to my Ko-Fi if you like what I’m doing
the power of friendship? no. the power of saying things that make ur friends so angry u immediately get the “several people are typing”
Hi, I'm sorry to bother, but do you have any good sources on Chinese names and their characters or have any advice on naming your Chinese characters? I am writing a book that is set in fantasy China and is inspired by the genre. Thank you
No bother! I'm afraid I don't have any off the top of my head, but I do offer paid sensitivity reading services that include consulting for Chinese character OC names. If that's not your thing, it looks like a combination of behindthename and wikipedia might be able to do the job. I hope that helped!
love the phrase 'methinks'. me does think. thinketh me do.
YOU
things that always make me happy: serial commenters. there are three types
1) reading a longfic chapter by chapter, leaving an increasingly emotional comment on every chapter, descends into keysmashes near the end: outstanding
2) read one fic by accident, clicked the author name, now working steadily through the backlog and commenting on everything, I wake up to an AO3 inbox full of enthusiasm: precious beyond words
3) the longterm serial commenter whose comment begins with I don’t even know this fandom but because they have followed me from somewhere else: stunning. humbling. magical.
these are all *chef’s kiss* and I want to add one more: 4) left a comment a while ago, comes back and leaves another comment on the same fic, telling you that they’re coming back to reread the fic: angels. blessings. lifesavers.
OK but real quick here: how many times can I comment on the same fic before it gets creepy???
IT NEVER GETS CREEPY
He wants some bread… 🥖🥐 Twitter I Instagram
[ID: A digital drawing of the front of a bakery, a small dragon sits outside on the front steps staring up into the window. Outside it’s dark and raining, the light from the bakery is warm orange, the window full of shelves of bread. The bakery is called “Indigo’s”, and on the window reads “bakery cafe”. /End ID]
[Image description: The same dragon now lays on a pile of bread with some chunks torn out of them, fast asleep in the backroom of the bakery, near some sort of fire with the racks of different kinds of bread all around the storage area. They are safe and full. Description on post reads, “He got his bread.” End ID]
Oh thank god
yelling laozu
tis I, euro from twt. I come to bring you ....
the yelling laozu
Purchasing Chinese MXTX books
For people looking to purchase the Chinese versions of MXTX novels - use books.com.tw. These are legal, official print versions in traditional characters and they can ship within Asia and outside of Asia (including the United States). I have compiled direct links below.
MDZS
Wuji vol 1: This is vol. 1, censored, in simplified Chinese. Officially linked by MXTX on weibo.
Uncensored versions, traditional characters:
MDZS vol 1
MDZS vol 2
MDZS vol 3
MDZS vol 4: 18+ locked, you need to make an account to see this and order. Search 魔道祖師四完(新裝版)《陳情令》 原著小說. Includes incense burner extras.
If you search 魔道祖師 特裝版 you can get the deluxe set (vol 1-4 with a wangxian fanart booklet and other extras). Also 18+ locked.
Other MDZS extras (traditional characters): Intrusion, Iron Hook, Lotus Seeds, Yunmeng:
MDZS extras text only
MDZS extras text with merch
TGCF (uncensored, all traditional characters)
TGCF vol 1
TGCF vol 2
TGCF vol 3 and 4 are not out yet, coming August 30, 2021, available for preorder: vol 3 | vol 4
TGCF deluxe version with extra art and merch:
TGCF deluxe vol. 1 and 2
TGCF deluxe vol. 3 and 4
SVSSS (uncensored, all traditional characters)
SVSSS vol 1
SVSSS vol 2
SVSSS vol 3
No deluxe version as far as I can tell, but please correct me if I’m wrong.
Last updated 06 August 2021.
Reblogs are welcome!
a guy walks in with two puncture wounds on his neck like “u should see the other guy” and then a vampire walks in covered in those cartoony lipstick kiss marks
i’m really glad this post was a hit with the gays
I had to draw this
what mxtx said: on translation
hi everyone :) i thought i’d write something up about how english language cnovel fandom interprets and does, or doesn’t, have access to the original authors of the novel.
i want to take a specific instance of a moxiang tongxiu interview answer and look at the different interpretations fandom has had of it, in this case, the infamous “everyone in modao zushi but wangxian is straight” line.
Keep reading
fan language: the victorian imaginary and cnovel fandom
there’s this pinterest image i’ve seen circulating a lot in the past year i’ve been on fandom social media. it’s a drawn infographic of a, i guess, asian-looking woman holding a fan in different places relative to her face to show what the graphic helpfully calls “the language of the fan.”
people like sharing it. they like thinking about what nefarious ancient chinese hanky code shenanigans their favorite fan-toting character might get up to—accidentally or on purpose. and what’s the problem with that?
the problem is that fan language isn’t chinese. it’s victorian. and even then, it’s not really quite victorian at all.
Keep reading
white eyes and chinese looks: the observation effect in fandom racism
this essay originally looked a lot different. it was originally just about whitewashing in the mo xiang tong xiu fandom. however i’m uncomfortable writing that essay. and not because i’m scared people will be mean to me, or because i don’t know what to say.
the problem is that in mxtx fandom, public incidents of racism are consistently mined for entertainment. and whether or not the white people who enjoy drama sleuthing intend it, turning racism into a spectacle creates a chilling effect on people of color’s ability to talk about racism.
i’m going to talk about this in three parts: first, a case study in racism as entertainment; second, my personal reflections on that event; third, the broader historical-cultural context for talking about china, suffering, and entertainment.
Keep reading
I saw your post about the translation and the really messy pronunciation guide. do you think maybe it would help if a lot of people emailed seven seas or maybe a petition or something to explain why it's bad and hurtful and something as alternative.
I know it won't fix the hurt that's happened. but a chance for change might at least be something?
I cant have very strong feelings since I'm white and monolingual. but learning the pinyin(?) or the standard romanization of the words isn't very hard. people will pronounce the words however in their head. if they want to learn how to pronounce it isn't hard to look it up online. maybe if they even had like a qr to a video/audio of proper pronunciation would be better.
maybe even a mini guide to pronouncing words written like with the accents (or how you call the lines above some letters?)
idk I feel really disappointed at the translation team and I feel sad for the people hurt by it. If there's something that could be done to help then I want to help. it's too late to un-purchase for me (maybe a return, but I haven't recieved it yet and won't for a long while.) but I can live without buying the new books until they decide to fix the problem.
I know a lot of people were so hype for the English release but it's a bit of a bitter taste now.
sorry that's long and maybe super insensitive sounding. if there is maybe a way to help then I do want to help.
Thanks for reaching out! I do think writing to the publisher might help, if only to make sure that your voice is heard since the issue isn't just that the guide was upsetting for some native speakers and CN+diaspora people, it's also that new fans who are not CN native speakers will most likely have a rough time trying to learn how to pronounce the words using it.
I think your feelings are valid as well - I appreciate your consideration and awareness in this case because you're putting your trust in the books as a source of information about the media you like and then the information is wrong, even upsetting, which doesn't feel good.
The common standard romanization of CN words is called hanyu pinyin (汉语拼音) and the little marks on top (diacritics?) help to denote the four tones used in pronunciation. I have had a few people say that hanyu pinyin is not very intuitive for individuals coming from certain language backgrounds, and the thing is, it's never going to be easy learning a new language, especially one as notoriously difficult and so different from English as Chinese. Pronunciation isn't going to be easily summarized into a few pages, and I strongly recommend that anyone trying to learn how to say the words right use an audio guide or a language coach since there are many sounds in CN that don't have an easy equivalent in EN.
I wouldn't go so far as to pin blame on any specific parties involved in this, mostly because moving forward and fixing it would probably be better than finding someone to take responsibility for it! I've considered either removing the pronunciation guide pages or pasting over it with nice paper/just the names in CN then in hanyu pinyin if/when I do get the physical books, if you're into options for what to do with the books when you get them.
About the pronunciation guide in the MXTX official EN books
I'm still staving off my knee jerk reaction, but I managed to gather my thoughts about the pronunciation guide in the MXTX official EN books. How it's going to go is disclaimer > what happened > is it that bad > how I feel > what else can be done.
Disclaimer
I'll do my best to be nuanced and neutral-ish about it, but seeing as this is relatively personal I'm also going to make sure I don't minimize myself and how I feel. Idk why you'd be looking for nuance on social media, but I do think there's a certain degree of responsibility that we have over the things we say in public.
This isn't meant to denigrate the team of people who worked on the EN official translation or the people who have bought/are planning to buy the books, I'm not looking to yuck your yum. Please enjoy the things that make you happy, especially during the holiday season!
I'm mostly neutral about the books, actually. Since I have the good fortune to be fluent in CN and as CN diaspora living in an Asian majority country, I have access to the traditional CN and simplified CN versions. CN people and diaspora are not a monolith as they are diverse with vastly different perspectives, so my experience is most likely not universal and I'm not trying to speak on behalf of anyone.
What happened
So if you or your friends bought a copy of the MXTX EN official translation, you'll notice that the book contains a pronunciation guide so we can learn how to say the names of our favorite characters and places. They use English sounds and words to describe how these words should be pronounced, which at best is a fair approximation of the actual pronunciation, and at worst is unfortunately wrong.
I have seen pronunciation guides like these in books like English fantasy novels and if I remember correctly [Language] for Dummies books, and I do think that they do serve the purpose they were written for, but I am curious why alternatives such as hanyu pinyin, the standardized romanization system I personally learned when I went to a Chinese medium school, bopomofo (zhuyin/kaopu I think?) which is another common CN learning system medium that uses symbols, or even the International Phonetic Alphabet (or other pronunciation guides like Wades-Giles) were not used.
Is it that bad?
Of course, EN and CN are vastly different languages and in many cases you'd be hard pressed to find the equivalent sound of a word in another language. It would be difficult for a non native speaker to pronounce sounds if they're not familiar with it or if they haven't encountered it before. It's normal to want to be able to say the names of people and places right, and fans of the work will be referring to the pronunciation guide to be able to do so.
Unfortunately, some of it is wrong, and that means that people who are trying to learn will be relying on a source that isn't exactly correct. I do think it's a good thing to help people learn, and I think putting in effort is better than no effort at all, but does this approximation of pronunciation actually help, or does it spread misinformation that causes more harm than good?
How I feel
For a lot of CN diaspora (I use this here because I am CN diaspora) the pronunciation of names is a sensitive, personal topic. I have an English name, a Chinese surname and a Chinese given name with two syllables, and some of my earliest memories involve me just not bothering to introduce myself with my Chinese name because I didn't think they would be able to pronounce it correctly, and I didn't think they would bother trying to do so in the first place.
In fact, I've had my name made fun of or just dismissed outright because it was too much to deal with, and that did make me wonder why more difficult (to my younger self) names like Siobhan and Sean and Dean and Blaiyyid were pronounced correctly, but not mine. Am I not worthy of personhood too?
Combine that with the complicated feelings surrounding knowing English because I come from a country colonized by British rule for centuries and being told that the English that I know is less than simply because I don't come from Australia, the US or the UK, and well. That knowledge that I am seen to be less than just because I don't fit into this specific niche box does kind of hurt.
I haven't made fun of the pronunciation guide and I just don't really want to interact with the books in any way right now because my feelings are still too raw about it, but I do know people who make fun of the guide as a way to cope. If I don't laugh about it or maintain some distance in some way, I'll cry, actually, so I'm off social media for a bit until the book hype dies down. It would help a lot if there's a specific tag for the MXTX EN translation of the books, actually!
I do think that making fun of the guide feels different when it comes from a person who is CN or CN diaspora versus from a person who isn't - the thing is that this name issue is something that a lot of people live with, and it's not something I can step away from whenever it's convenient for me, and it doesn't feel great to have something that I can't and don't want to change about myself be made fun of. It's only funny when we're laughing together, and frankly, the pronunciation guide was actually pretty offensive and reminiscent of a lifetime of microaggressions stacked on top of each other for me.
If you're making light of the situation, I do think it is your right to, but if you could spare a moment to consider how your friends feel about it, just to hold space for them if they need it, that would be really great, especially if you're non-CN. It's also perfectly valid to just not deal with it at all!
What else can be done
The thing is, I'm kind of baffled that this was the route chosen when there were serviceable alternatives like an introduction to pinyin or a QR code leading to an audio pronunciation guide. This pronunciation guide could have been left out and the readers who were invested would have found a way to find the correct pronunciation, since these works have live actions, donghua, audio dramas and a robust fan base to draw from. Google also has an audio pronunciation aid.
I guess how I feel about this is that it's not enough to just have the intention not to offend - hurt is still hurt and harm is still harm, whether it's the feelings of people who have had their names erased and made fun of, or the feelings of people who rely on this guide to do better but unfortunately fall short through no fault of their own.
For the record and just to cover all my bases, it doesn't make a difference to me if the pronunciation guide was okayed by the translator team or if it was written by someone who's CN or CN diaspora, this is just meant to be me getting how I feel out into the void - I'm not particularly interested in debating any of the points I've made here, but please be at least civil in the replies etc and keep in mind that CN people aren't a monolith and that they can and do disagree with each other.
I'd like to think that this pronunciation guide was well intentioned and done out of ignorance, probably because the alternative makes me really sad, but now that I've said it and it's out there, I think we can do better, even if it's not that deep for some of us.
From this Twitter thread
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to write a crossover/for multiple MXTX works?
Nope! You only need to write about one MXTX work - for example, your work can be 50k Wangxian, with no featured characters from any other MXTX novels.
Q: Why is this event so long?
The schedule in the interest check was tentative. Here is our updated schedule:
April 1 - May 1: Writer signups
April 1 - July 1: Artist and beta signups
June 1: Writer check-in #1, fic header due (think a fic summary; we explain in detail later on!)
July 1 - July 14: Artist and beta claims
July 14: Artist and beta assignments given
August 1: Artist check-in #1
September 1: Writer and artist check-in #2, 30k wip minimum due
November 1: Writer and artist check-in #3
November 30: All works due
December 1 - 14: Posting period
We’re condensing the event so posting happens during December. This gives writers a ~6 month period to write. Since we’re requiring a 50k minimum fic, we want writers who may have other commitments (work, life, other fandom events) to have plenty of time to write.
Q: How can we join the Discord server?
A link to the Discord server will be given to participants at the end of the signup form! :)
Q: What if I already have a beta reader or artist I want to work with?
You can sign up as a pair, and let us know if you are welcome to other artists drawing for your work/beta reading your work or not.
Q: Can minors participate?
We have decided that minors will not be able to participate in our Big Bang event, due to turnout and the nature of MXTX’s works.
Q: What if I’m 17 now but 18 before July 1?
You can participate!
Q: Can it be something we’ve written already?
It cannot be something that is already posted. Otherwise, we cannot control the progress status of your work, although we would like you to keep in mind that it will be affiliated with our event.
Q: Will beta readers include sensitivity readers, or is that something the writer should figure out themselves?
Beta readers do not include sensitivity readers; we will not have signups or provide sensitivity readers for this event specifically. However, we will have resources for writers to have access to, linked both on the AO3 collection and in the Discord server.
Q: What if there is content I would rather not draw/beta for?
Artists and beta readers will claim their top 3 fics based on the writer submitted fic headers; you have control over fics you would rather (and rather not) work with.
Q: Will we need to show an art portfolio?
No, an art portfolio is not necessary. Do be aware that the first check-in for artists is in August, and make sure you are able to commit to the check-in schedule.
Q: What do fic check-ins consist of?
The first check-in, about two months into the event (June), will require a fic header from writers. Headers include fandom, ALL ships (main and side), the rating, content warnings (including any “spoilery” info), and a general summary of the fic’s plot. At this point, writers should have decided and started a fic they are committed to. This header will be for claims by artists and betas in July.
The second check-in will be a little past the halfway point, and will require a 30k+ rough draft. This will be in September.
Q: What do artist check-ins consist of?
There will be three check-ins. The first, on Aug 1 (1 month after claims start) will require the rough draft/sketches for all pieces. The second, Sep 1, will require lineart for all pieces, or at least 40% competition of the overall load depending on the artist’s preferred style. E.g. 1 roughly coloured piece, 2 drafts. The third, Nov 1, will be for all pieces to be colored or at least 90% completion. Any edits beyond this point will be between artist and writer.
Q: Can I, a writer, collaborate with another writer in this event?
Unfortunately not, as this is not a collaborative challenge between writers.
Q: Can I write a crossover between MXTX’s works?
Yes :)
Q: Are there any other limitations or requirements for the story?
Besides being MXTX-related and 50,000 words, not at all. You can write whatever pairing, rating, etc. you want.
Q: Who are the mods?
We have five mods! This account follows them all. They are @tamakomarket @aroceu @soursoppi @catasstrophui and @/littlebasketbun (on twitter)
Q: Can artists change the number of works we commit to after claims?
Yes! Life happens. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to scale back so we can assign pinch-hitters appropriately.
Q: Will I be penalized for dropping out?
No. If you need to drop out, you will not be barred from this event or from any future events. Please let the mod team know ASAP if you are going to drop out so we can find alternative assignments for your collaborators.
Q: Do I need to be familiar with all three MXTX works to participate?
Nope! You only need to create content/beta for the work you choose - e.g. a Scum Villain-only fan is just as welcome as someone who loves all three MXTX works equally!
Q: Can I write my fic focused on my OC?
For this exchange, fics should be focused around canon MXTX characters. OCs in minor roles (e.g. Wangxian solve a case fic brought to their attention by an OC) are welcome.
Q: Can we write a fic that is also part of another event (like the kinkmeme?)
Yes. Keep in mind that the fic will be part of both collections.
Q: Can I write my fic in a language other than English?
Due to the mods being English speakers and to ensure ease of communication between writers, artists and betas, fics are required to be written primarily in English. As this is a Chinese fandom, writers are allowed to use Chinese in their fics as long as the majority of it is in English.
Q: Is there a central theme we have to adhere to, or are we allowed to choose what to write about?
As long as your fic focuses on canon MXTX characters, writers may explore whatever themes and settings they like. AU, canonverse works, and anything in-between is welcome.
We’ve updated our FAQ! Let us know if you have more questions in our askbox :)
It’s coming…
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is this event so long?
The schedule in the interest check was tentative. Here is our updated schedule:
April 1 - May 1: Writer signups
April 1 - July 1: Artist and beta signups
June 1: Writer check-in #1, fic header due (think a fic summary; we explain in detail later on!)
July 1 - July 14: Artist and beta claims
July 14: Artist and beta assignments given
August 1: Artist check-in #1
September 1: Writer and artist check-in #2, 30k wip minimum due
November 1: Writer and artist check-in #3
November 30: All works due
December 1 - 14: Posting period
We’re condensing the event so posting happens during December. This gives writers a ~6 month period to write. Since we’re requiring a 50k minimum fic, we want writers who may have other commitments (work, life, other fandom events) to have plenty of time to write.
Q: How can we join the Discord server?
A link to the Discord server will be given to participants at the end of the signup form! :)
Q: What if I already have a beta reader or artist I want to work with?
You can sign up as a pair, and let us know if you are welcome to other artists drawing for your work/beta reading your work or not.
Q: Can minors participate?
We have decided that minors will not be able to participate in our Big Bang event, due to turnout and the nature of MXTX’s works.
Q: What if I’m 17 now but 18 before July 1?
You can participate!
Q: Can it be something we’ve written already?
It cannot be something that is already posted. Otherwise, we cannot control the progress status of your work, although we would like you to keep in mind that it will be affiliated with our event.
Q: Will beta readers include sensitivity readers, or is that something the writer should figure out themselves?
Beta readers do not include sensitivity readers; we will not have signups or provide sensitivity readers for this event specifically. However, we will have resources for writers to have access to, linked both on the AO3 collection and in the Discord server.
Q: What if there is content I would rather not draw/beta for?
Artists and beta readers will claim their top 3 fics based on the writer submitted fic headers; you have control over fics you would rather (and rather not) work with.
Q: Will we need to show an art portfolio?
No, an art portfolio is not necessary. Do be aware that the first check-in for artists is in August, and make sure you are able to commit to the check-in schedule.
Q: What do fic check-ins consist of?
The first check-in, about two months into the event (June), will require a fic header from writers. Headers include fandom, ALL ships (main and side), the rating, content warnings (including any “spoilery” info), and a general summary of the fic’s plot. At this point, writers should have decided and started a fic they are committed to. This header will be for claims by artists and betas in July.
The second check-in will be a little past the halfway point, and will require a 30k+ rough draft. This will be in September.
Q: What do artist check-ins consist of?
There will be three check-ins. The first, on Aug 1 (1 month after claims start) will require the rough draft/sketches for all pieces. The second, Sep 1, will require lineart for all pieces, or at least 40% competition of the overall load depending on the artist’s preferred style. E.g. 1 roughly coloured piece, 2 drafts. The third, Nov 1, will be for all pieces to be colored or at least 90% completion. Any edits beyond this point will be between artist and writer.
Q: Can I, a writer, collaborate with another writer in this event?
Unfortunately not, as this is not a collaborative challenge between writers.
Q: Can I write a crossover between MXTX’s works?
Yes :)
Q: Do I need to write a crossover/for multiple MXTX works?
Nope! You only need to write about one MXTX work - for example, your work can be 50k Wangxian, with no featured characters from any other MXTX novels.
Q: Are there any other limitations or requirements for the story?
Besides being MXTX-related and 50,000 words, not at all. You can write whatever pairing, rating, etc. you want.