Some thoughts on the geography of Yunmeng Lake (云梦湖)
In the context of the Tang Dynasty, could I suggest that Lucheng ((鹿城)) is the prototype of the capital of the "golden age" – Ancient Chang'an/长安 (modern Xi'an/西安)?
I just was very impressed when I learned that Jinling/金陵 is the old name of modern Nanjing/南京.
Then I thought…
🤔If this is true, then the distance between these cities is over 1,000 km. In the Tang Dynasty, this journey would certainly have taken several weeks on horseback, not to mention traveling on foot.
The legend "I am very rich, I come from the cultured and luxurious southern capital, and you cannot verify my biography because it's too far" is indeed very reliable.
Now, if we look at the Google map, the direction from Lucheng/Chang'an (Xi'an) to Jinling (Nanjing) is due east! (And a little to the south)
There seems to be a linguistic detail here: Dongfang Qingcang introduced himself as "An Eastern gentleman from an Eastern city."
In the real Tang Dynasty, Jinling was a city of poets, silk, and incredible river landscapes.
This adds additional charm to the image of Dongfang Yuanwai: Moon Supreme is trying on the mask of a southern aesthete✨