For this week’s #FourGodsFriday, I was debating on posting my writing playlist for the first book (though if you guys would like to see it, just let me know!) but instead, I want to post a video depicting what the music of the time would have sounded like. It’s hard for us to imagine music from 3,000 years ago, and songs like this one were ones Gen and the wealthy class of China would have heard on a regular basis, though folk songs were plentiful for every walk of life. Music was a crucial part of life and like in most cultures, was seen as not only a way to entertain, but to convey emotions or situations that may not be so easily said in words alone. Many Chinese idioms reference musical instruments or singing, as do poems and legends. A fun fact to do with the Four Gods in particular is that the Fenghuang is said to represent the pentatonic musical scale and is said to be a master of vocal performances. The Fenghuang is also said to favor musicians and will sometimes sing with them if they find the melody pleasing. As far as the human realm goes, princes of Gen’s standing would also be expected to have an understanding of and some respectable level of skill in musical arts and poetry.
This song, simply called “Your Collar,” or “Lapel” references someone haunted by the memory of their lover, particularly the green color they had a penchant for wearing. I know it’s nothing specific to the gods or characters, but I always find glimpses into the past like these fascinating and I hope you do, too.
That’s all for this week! Just to let you all know, there won’t be any segment next week due to the holiday weekend. Hope you all stay well for the upcoming holidays! See you in a few weeks!
It’s #FourGodsFriday! This week, I’m deep into NaNoWriMo, so here’s a video about some of the other gods in Chinese mythology that appear in the story among the four main guys.
This week for #FourGodsFriday, I’ll be discussing
architecture of the Si Ling compound. In Chapter 3 of Prince of the North, Gen
notices that the “palace” the Si Ling live and work in is nothing like the
palace he is used to. He describes it as being round in shape with four floors and
one central courtyard/garden area for socializing and for meals. This structure
is based off of the Fujian tulou
structures (although I admit that most tulou
would have been constructed centuries after the time period that Prince of the
North takes place in.) The reason I based the palace off of these fortresses is
because 1) In Chinese myth, Heaven is round and Earth is square, so the round
shape is representative of Heaven, 2) I needed a building that 4 or more people
could live, work, and thrive in without having to run from one end of a
gigantic complex to another (If any of you have seen old Chinese palaces, the
distance between some of the buildings and offices is astounding), 3) Tulou are built to be in accordance with bagua principles, or the eight trigrams that work with the harmony of yin and yang, which fits perfectly for an organization that works in harmony.
Now let’s talk about the tulou
of reality: tulou are earthen
fortresses constructed by the people of Fujian province, mainly the Hakka
people. Once finished, their walls can average about 6 feet thick and they are
known for being earthquake-proof and wind-proof. Many of the tulou of Fujian date back to the 1300 and 1400s (while still
remaining functional, too! Many families still live in these fortresses today).
The largest tulou is around 254 feet
in diameter and most stand at 3 to 5 floors. The most interesting thing about tulou fortresses is that they house
families and people as equals. No section or wing is larger nor more elaborate
than another, and everyone’s private quarters are of the same quality. While
larger groups would have larger sections of the tulou for their family, every family is ranked equally when living
together in the tulou, which is
another reason I wanted to base the Si Ling mansion off of this structure: once
inside, all four men are equals.
As for the Si Ling mansion, the rundown is thus:
There are 4 wings: Qinglong, Xuanwu, Baihu, and Zhuque. Each
wing is color coordinated to match the astrological colors of each sign,
Qinglong is decorated in blues and greens, Xuanwu is decorated in greens and
blacks, Baihu is decorated in whites and golds, and Zhuque is decorated in
reds, pinks, and oranges. The communal areas are situated between the Qinglong
and Zhuque wings, as well as in the center of the palace. They are decorated in violet and burgundy. Each wing (aside
from the communal wing, which is smaller) takes up an equal amount of square
footage of the mansion and each sign owns the four floors within their wing
going vertically from bottom to top.
1st floor- courtyard, kitchens, and dining areas. Private
kitchens and dining rooms are sectioned off for each member, but a communal
kitchen is available off of the courtyard.
2nd floor- offices, studies, pharmacies, and laboratories.
The offices and libraries are on this level, and a public office sits above the
communal kitchen for all four to use if need be.
3rd floor- bathrooms. Bathhouse areas are on this
floor.
4th floor- private wings and bedrooms. All bedrooms are
located on the top level, and although only the 4 members of the organization
live in the mansion at a time, each wing contains up to 4 separate bedrooms for
guests, family, or other deities who may require it.
Observatory- The observatory is a separate building off to
the east side of the mansion and is used for all astrological work.
Like most tulou, the Si Ling mansion only has one gate on
the west side, which leads directly to other buildings in Heaven such as the
Flower House and the palace of the Jade Emperor. Unlike earthly tulou, there is
a main staircase connecting the bedrooms to the courtyard, and this staircase
is located on the inner side of the south wing. However, staircases also link
the other wings to their floors and courtyards, but these are located in the
inner corners of each wing.
An example would be something like this, found in the Zhengchenglou fortress:
That’s all for this week! I’ll be back soon with some updates!
As promised this week, I’m going to introduce the 4 Qilin clans. Unlike the Long or the Fenghuang, the Qilin do not have separate tribes within their social structure, but have clans that do certain duties within the tribe as a whole. Also, because the Qilin have clans instead of regional tribes, their clans are much more diverse than the Long and Fenghuang tribes. Each clan has Qilin that practice a mix of beliefs and have mixed Han and non-Han cultures. (For example, some Qilin are known to cater to multiple gods and religions, as well as their practitioners.) This isn’t a mythological introduction to Qilin, for that go here. The clans are named after different animals and traits they possess. Let’s get started!
Longma (龍馬) Clan (Also called the Scaled/Scaly Clan)- This clan of Qilin are responsible for most if not all of the high-ranking leadership positions. They are the Qilin sent to the mortal realm to act as messengers and omens. This specific clan reports directly to the Jade Emperor and Xi-Wangmu, and they exist as emissaries that also serve the mortal emperor. Culturally and appearance-wise, this clan is the most assimilated with traditional Han culture, but many hold non-Han traditions and customs.
Deer (鹿) Clan (Also called the Antler Clan)- These Qilin are the most pacifistic of the clans and are known for being in charge of healing and medicine. It is said that some of the Qilin in the Deer Clan have mastered the art of making the potion of immortality. Culturally, this clan practices a mix of Han cultures (Hakka, Hoklo, etc.) but has been known to have those that assimilated with cultures to the west such as Tibetan or Uyghur culture and practices.
Tiger (虎) Clan (Also called the Striped Clan)- The Qilin in the Tiger Clan are known for being skilled in martial arts as well as the mystic arts that go with their practice. At the same time, the Tiger Clan also has the reputation for being the best warriors out of the whole tribe. Generally, these Qilin are the ones sent to punish mortals for injustice. This clan mainly identifies with traditional Manchu cultural practices, but they also are close with Han traditions and customs, particularly those of the people who would later become the Hakka.
Giraffe (長頸) Clan (Literally “Long-Necked” Clan)- These Qilin, as their name would suggest, are known to be the most eccentric of the bunch. They are known for being very skilled in the arts and music, but are also skilled scholars and ambassadors since they usually possess a spirit for adventure. They are the smallest clan out of the four and the Giraffe clan was specifically formed by Qilin who broke off from the other three clans to pursue their own interests. This is also the most diverse clan out of the three, as they practice and identify with cultures from everywhere in what is known as China today.
That’s all for this week, sorry it’s so short! Next week I’ll be giving a huge in-depth look at the Si Ling mansion and compound. I’ll be covering it’s architecture, design elements, and the reason for why it was built the way it was. See you next week!
I’m back with another #FourGodsFriday! And I’m sorry about last week, I completely spaced doing a segment, but we’re back on track this week. I know I said I was going to cover the Qilin tribes, and I most likely will next week, but this time, I want to talk about the god Xuanwu.
A few FGF ago, I went into detail about the role of each god in traditional Chinese myth and astrology, but I didn’t really go into depth about the god Xuanwu (a different Xuanwu than in the Si Ling Order) and Gen’s role as a representation of that god.
Xuanwu’s origins tie him to the Tortoise-Snake of the Si Ling and also pin him as guardian of the North, just like his animalistic namesake in the Si Ling. Originally a Daoist deity, his origins are somewhat of a conundrum as some pin his origins with the Xuanwu of the Si Ling who was later anthropomorphized into a more human form, some say he was already somewhat divine when he achieved his full immortality, which there are two main versions of this story.
In original myth, Xuanwu was said to be a prince of a wise king, and his mother conceived him after she had a dream that she swallowed the sun. Troubled by the suffering of humankind that he witnessed growing up, he left to study the Dao on Mt. Wudang and ascended to immortality after 42 years. To this day, Xuanwu is an extremely important god for those who practice Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and most other martial arts in China. Once he ascended, it is rumored that the gods had to replace his human body with a divine one, but when they threw out his digestive system to replace it, his stomach and intestines transformed into a tortoise and a serpent.
The second version is less happy and much more gruesome. Another lesser told story is that Xuanwu was born a butcher, but was a horrific and cruel person who had no morals and no care for other living things. One day, he was out walking and a woman going into labor begged for his help. He stopped to help the woman, who promptly transformed into the goddess of mercy, Guanyin. Guanyin told Xuanwu to repent for his sins, and realizing the error of his ways, Xuanwu ripped his stomach and intestines out with his own two hands and washed them in the river. The river turned black with evil, and when he ascended, his two organs morphed into demons that he later was sent to subdue. In some tellings, he killed them triumphantly, in others, they changed into a tortoise and a serpent who repented and offered to serve him for the rest of their lives as his generals.
Gen’s story was loosely based off of the first and most popular telling of the myth, and in TFG, the story is told to imply that Gen is Xuanwu. But Gen is a character all his own whose story is only loosely based on the mythology, but he achieved immortality through studying the Dao, but his requirements were different. He ascended much like the original god did, but his escapades with the other three gods are unique to his character. I can’t reveal much more because of spoilers. 😛
Next week I’ll cover the Qilin tribes! Stay tuned!
#FourGodsFridays: Long Tribes
For this week’s #FourGodsFriday, I’m going to introduce the Dragon tribes. For one of the first #FourGodsFridays, I did an overview of the four Fenghuang tribes. The dragons of TFG also group by region, but they also note their different tribes by color. (And by color, I mean astrological colors denoted to each region.) Their tribal names aren’t actions or special meanings like with the Fenghuang, but are names of the four original Dragon Kings. Let’s get into it!
Ao’shun Long (敖順龍, also called the Northern Long or the Black Long) – The dragons of the Ao’shun tribe are usually the calmest and quietest of the four tribes. Acclimated to cold weather and waters, these dragons are mainly water and earth dragons that have mastered the art of ice magic. While these dragons are known for being kind, yet solitary, they are also the sturdiest out of the four tribes, though they prefer not to fight, but if driven to, they are a force to be reckoned with. Out of all the tribes, these dragons look the most human when taking on human forms. Hair colors range from black to brown and their scales are usually black, gray, silver, or dark green. Culturally, these dragons mimic traditions that are similar to the Manchu people.
Ao’qin Long (敖欽龍, also called the Southern Long or the Cinnabar Long) – The dragons of the south are the most humble out of all the tribes, and as these dragons are most connected to the people of the rural hills of southern China. The Ao’qin are mainly of the water and storm variety, being able to generate storms out of the warm air coming from the South China Sea. Despite their kindhearted and generous personalities, these dragons have problems with growing defensive too quickly. When taking on human forms, the Ao’qin possess lighter hair colors, ranging from brown to dark red. Scale colors are usually all shades of red, but can also be orange and gold. Eye colors can range from black to amber. Culturally, this tribe mimics the traditions of the Yue and Hakka peoples of southern China.
Ao’guang Long (敖廣龍, also called the Eastern Long or the Azure/Blue Long) – The dragons of the east are the strongest and most boisterous of the four tribes. Occupying many of the top spots in the Long tribe as a whole, the Ao’guang Long are considered the authority of everything in the tribe, much to the other three tribal groups’ dismay. The head of the entire Long tribe as a whole is usually from this group as is the dragon who occupies the Qinglong position of the Si Ling. The most aggressive of the dragons as well, this tribe makes the best warriors the Long have to offer. Earth and water dragons dominate this tribe, and their skills are mainly directed to ocean waters. Dragons in this tribe look the most unusual when taking human forms, as their hair colors can range from black to shades of dark blue and dark green, with their eye colors featuring the same colors. Scale colors feature all shades of blue and green. Culturally, this tribe has similar traditions to the Hoklo people of southeast China.
Ao’run Long (敖閏龍, also called the Western Long or the White Long)- The western tribe of Long are prided on being the tribe most skilled in the arts. Hailing from dry and mountainous regions, these dragons are friendly, welcoming, and are known not only for their hospitality, but their resilience as well. Since water is plentiful in the form of ice and isolated lakes, these dragons are mainly of earth and treasure stock, having more affinity toward ground and metal magic than water. The Ao’run tribe is also the tribe closest to the Fenghuang, as these dragons have a fascination and love of the sky. But don’t let their welcoming nature fool you, if threatened, these dragons can cause major earthquakes and thunderstorms and they are very protective of their loved ones. Hair colors usually are lighter shades of brown and white, even young dragons can have white hair in this clan. Eye colors range from brown to gold and their scales are generally white or ivory. These dragons have adapted to Uyghur culture of the Xinjiang region, but more remote members of this tribe take after the people of Tibet.
And that’s it for this week! I think I may make this a series and continue next week with the Qilin tribes. Stay tuned!
For this Four Gods Friday, I’m going to go in depth on the function of the Si Ling Organization. This concept, as with most in the TFG universe, are taken straight from Chinese mythology, but I have taken some creative liberties with the symbols. Let’s get to it!
In ancient Chinese culture when people were still trying to understand the cosmos, the heavens were divided into four different quadrants: north, south, east, and west. These quadrants were ruled by four sacred beasts: The Black Tortoise for the north, the Vermillion Bird for the south, the Azure Dragon for the east, and the White Tiger for the west. Though this concept existed in Chinese culture for thousands of years, these four beasts were not solidified in these records until the Han Dynasty, which is when TFG begins. Each beast had a number of stars in their quadrants that they ruled over. Historical records speculate that astronomers and astrologers of the times used these four beasts as a guide to make predictions about natural events or signs from Heaven. Others say that these beast themselves ruled over the fate of the Chinese empire. This latter telling is the version I use in TFG. Now, most records say that these four symbols are called Si Xiang (四象) in Chinese, but I use Si Ling in TFG because that signifies that they are the Four Sacred Beasts (which includes the Qilin) rather than simply four astrological symbols, even though that is their main function.
Let’s talk about these creatures themselves, starting with the Tortoise. In Chinese myth, the Tortoise has agency over water and is represented by the color black (the color of water). Its season is winter and the Tortoise, along with the serpent usually coiled around it, is seen as a symbol of longevity and wisdom. The Tortoise, along with the other three gods has seven ‘mansions’ (stars used to determine lunar position) in its arsenal, and reigns over stars in the Sagittarius, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Pegasus constellations. In TFG, I combine this symbol with the myth of the god Xuanwu, who is depicted as a warrior god of the north and is accompanied by a tortoise and a serpent at all times. Some records say they were his cursed intestines and stomach that he ripped out of his own body when he tried to repent for his past sins, others state that they were formed out of his mortality when he ascended and he subdued them and recruited them as his generals.
Next up is the Vermillion Bird or sometimes misnamed as the Phoenix of the south. The Vermillion Bird is often said to be a type of Fenghuang, but the Vermillion Bird is not a Fenghuang, but merely a different type of mythical bird. The character of que (雀) in Zhuque, actually determines that it is a sparrow-like bird, not a chimeric entity like the Fenghuang is. In TFG, Zhuque is merely a position title a Fenghuang can acquire, and is equivalent to a position of a prince/princess or duke/duchess in the Fenghuang rankings. The Vermillion Bird has agency over fire and is represented by the color red. Its season is summer and is a symbol of nobility and respect, as the Bird is said to be selective about what it eats and where it likes to perch (though the same is said for the Fenghuang.) However, unlike the other three gods of the Si Ling, the Vermillion Bird is usually not considered a god or worshipped outside of the four symbol context and is not often used in other imagery, hence the common confusion about whether the creature is a Fenghuang, as their appearances are often similar. The seven mansions of the Vermillion Bird are mainly found in the constellation Hydra.
The Dragon is probably the most signature creature of Chinese mythology, but the Dragon of the Si Ling is a jack of all trades. This Dragon has agency over earth (not water, as is sometimes mistaken because of the dragon’s azure color) and is represented by the color green/blue. The qing (青) in Qinglong describes a rich teal, but can also be used to describe a deep shade of green. Its season is spring and it is also usually considered as the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, due to its sovereignty over the east and its azure color to match. Because it is considered one of the Four Dragon Kings, this guy is considered regal and powerful and is worshipped outside of the four symbols context, especially by seafarers or fisherman who may be trekking out into the Dragon’s waters. This Dragon was also the one to appear on the royal flag of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The seven mansions of the Azure Dragon are located mainly in the constellation of Scorpio, but it also has mansions in Virgo and Sagittarius.
And finally, we arrive at the White Tiger. Now, some of you who have beta read or have been following these segments are probably wondering where the Qilin comes in. The Qilin was the original creature associated with the west, however, the Tiger later replaced it due to it representing the quadrant better in astronomical records. The Qilin/Tiger in this context have agency over metal (I interpret these abilities as weaponry and magical abilities including lightning) and are represented by the color white. Their season is autumn and both symbols were heavily revered by the ruling class. The Qilin and Tiger overlap in the sense that they are both obsessed with virtue and justice, and they are both associated with the king. The Qilin appears when a virtuous king is born or dies (see more about Qilin and Chonglin here) and the Tiger is seen as a mythical being due to its white color (which symbolizes longevity in this case) and because it has the character for “king” (王) written on its forehead in its stripes. The Tiger, unlike the somewhat pacifistic Qilin, is seen as a god of war and militaristic values, however, both beasts offer protection from evil spirits. The seven mansions ruled over by the Qilin/Tiger are stars positioned mainly in the constellations of Orion and Taurus, but also includes stars in Aries and Andromeda.
That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoyed it and as always, I’ll be open for questions and comments. Until next time!
#FourGodsFriday: Beta Reader Insights
It’s #FourGodsFriday! This week I asked one of my beta readers to help me by contributing her ideas to Four Gods Friday. Here’s what she came up with:
Beta: “You should have Gen have a dream like the one he has in Chapter 1. In this dream, he comes upon the goddess Bobina. She’s wearing a sparkling gold gown and a bad wig. Next to her is her sacred moose. He gives him three challenges he must overcome.”
Me: “What challenges?”
Beta: “1: He must die. 2: He must bring himself back to life. And 3: He must touch the moose.”
Me: “So aside from dying, that doesn’t sound too bad.”
Beta: “But the moose is really fast…and it can climb trees…like a koala.”
Me: “Thanks. I’ll consider it.”
These are the conversations I have with my betas sometimes.
AUTHOR | HISTORIAN | ARTIST 