#ch'in

[noosphe-re]

Heirloom Seal of the Realm of Qin Dynasty (via Wikipedia)

[intimacydarling]

Spoilers for Naamah's Kiss (do not read if you hate spoilers):

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Moirin's love affair with the dragon in the Ch'in Princess is my favorite thing. Like I love all of the dynamics that Morin goes through with her different lovers, they're all truly multi-dimensional, but the storyline with the Princess is just incredible.

I mean the Ch'in Princess strikes me as the kind of character described as "a girl who hates to sin" (Tori Amos reference), but she is used as a tool of revenge against her father's dynasty when a warlock slips a pearl, which is actually a sleeping dragon, into her drink before her wedding night and when her husband tries to consummate her marriage, the dragon is awoken within her and tears her bridegroom limb from limb. She has devastated her whole family, she is isolated from everyone and is very strong, like could rip the bars of her cage apart if she wanted, but she lives in fear that she is possessed by something horrible, something she doesn't understand, and she is terrified that she will hurt someone else, so she voluntarily stays in her quarters. She is also blindfolded because the dragon, which they falsely believe is a demon, only comes out when looking in a mirror where it is unable to see itself, but no one knows that. Because she is a Princess, all of the servants treat her respectfully, but they keep their distance in case she tries to hurt them too, afraid of her while being unable to defend themselves because if they do, it will be an act of treason. So the Princess is super lonely (or SupaLonely if you listen to BENEE) and doesn't trust herself and especially doesn't trust her sexuality.

Then Moirin comes to Ch'in with her martial arts master and her fellow student/lover Bo. Moirin, with her magical sight/healing/twilight is not only able to see the dragon but also speak to it and by using the twilight, show it's true reflection. The dragon becomes infatuated with Moirin and the love of a dragon is an eternal bond making Moirin equally infatuated with it. The Princess is grateful to Moirin for being able to communicate with the dragon and calm it, but her trauma around her sexual past and the cultural mores that prohibit lesbianism, make her experiences initially very very uncomfortable with the sexual energy Moirin shares with the dragon. But because she is so touch starved, so lonely, and because she knows that meeting the needs of the dragon will make her own life easier, she accepts the contact and companionship Moirin provides. Moirin is the only one, Princess included, who can understand the dragon so the Princess has to rely on her help in a way she has never had to before. The Princess is an accomplished swordswoman, very strong, prepared to be the ruler of an empire, only to have the tragic start to her burgeoning life as a woman be fucking destroyed by a magical foreign girl who is in love with the dragon inside her.

[30000songs]

#457 - Chinese Masterpieces for the Ch’in - Ancient and Modern - David Ming-Yueh Liang

I don’t remember how I got this but it kicks ass

81/100

[nanshe-of-nina]

Kushiel’s Legacy || Other Nations (and Peoples), part II

Bhodistan In Bhodistan, they are an ancient people, and they feared to turn from their multitude of gods, who are by turns capricious and compassionate. Yet they saw the light in him and would allow no harm to Blessed Elua, nor would they follow him, so he wandered singing, and people made the sign of peace and turned away.

Ch’in “I studied traditional medicine at the Academy in Marsilikos, but in the past year, we've been honored to have a great teacher from Ch'in at the Academy here, Master Lo Feng. It is a wondrous opportunity, for his folk almost never venture this far abroad, and they admit few foreigners to their country. Did you know that the Ch'in have a very different view of the healing arts?”

Drujan There was a pause. “Yes,” Ptolemy Dikaios said. “So I believe it to be. The Drujani rebelled against their Akkadian overlords a score and ten years ago, and were crushed mercilessly. Every surviving member of royal blood was put to the sword, the women raped and slain. And then ...” He spread his hands, a powerless gesture for all the rings that adorned his fingers. “Eight years ago, something changed. What it was, I do not know, for the Akkadians are loathe to speak of it. But that is when the bone-priests came, the Skotophagoti. Sometimes alone, and sometimes with comrades, merchants and mercenaries.”

Khebbel-im-Akkad They guard their women well in Khebbel-im-Akkad. So I had heard, and so I came to understand, from the despite and desire mingled in him. Lord Clavel had been denied access, and he raged at it. Once I discerned this, we got on well enough. If he had been denied the hareem, he had gold enough and had paid it for this afternoon’s pleasure. There was no question of exotic tastes learned abroad.

Persis He was captured in Persis, and shook his head smiling when the King put him in chains, and vines grew to wreath his cell. The tale of his wandering had come to reach the ear of Heaven, and when he was imprisoned, there were those among the angelic hierarchy who answered. Choosing to flout the will of the One God, they came to earth in ancient Persis.

Tatars The Tatar bristled with weapons, clad in furs and plated leather. In one hand he held a short spear, and the other a sword. Stamping his feet, he roared out a challenge in an unintelligible tongue. I never did learn to speak Tatar, or the myriad dialects of it. Joscelin merely bowed, crossed vambraces visible beneath the sleeves of his sheepskin coat. The hilt of his sword rode over his shoulder, untouched. He held his daggers instead.

Tsingani “Suriah, what’s a Tsingano?” “One of the travellers, the Tsingani.” Drawing a comb through my wet curls, she made a moue of distaste, the frown that leaves no unpleasant lines. “What have you to do with them?”

Yeshuites I knew of one noblewoman who professed to be a Yeshuite and required a particularly handsome and virile bodyguard to attend her for fear of persecution, and I knew what other duties he performed at length