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 |   Enga mellom fjella: where from across the meadow, poems sing from mountains and molehills. |
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Enga mellom Fjella  Sentinel Marked as if you own me I bow before the Bitterroots and just like you my rocky soil, my withered grass lays prey to the empty sky. © Kåre Enga 2007 "Sentinel"   Reader's Choice of Poems: "'heart's home'" "Where grows the compost heap" "Waterlily" "Speak soft my name" "Wheat penny" Reader's Choice of blog entries from my old blog "L'aura del Campo" :"Death of Jeannie New Moon" "Winter: 18 Mas'il (December 29)" "In a garden of roses, baby" "Footprints in the snow, in memory of Nyia Page" "Guitarman, a gift for Gary. Aaron Marable's art." FACES     PLACES            Kåre  Enga~ until everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! And I let the fish go. ~ Elizabeth Bishop The Fish |
| I'm still not sure which characters will be the main ones. What I'm concerned about is that this is not a Hollywood good guys versus bad guys grade B movie. I've been watching too many Chinese/Taiwanese/HongKong and now Thai TV series to reduce it all to American Judeo-Christian black/white. Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism make it more a tapestry. It's set in Taiwan. Think bamboo, tea, rice. I want painted silk and tropical heat and downpours, not cold dark sooty drizzly industrial London. Could I make it film noir? Probably but again... edgy in silk. In other words, the silk may have a dark lining. Poh-Chok: Teenage 'boys' (maybe 15). URCHINS Younger 'useless' brothers of Chen and Li. They want to have fun flying their mini-dirigibles. They run afoal of their family, Hoan, most everyone. They're a bit mischievous, curious, unafraid and may be falling in love (if that happens it complicates everything). Perhaps Poh is more silk and Chok more steam? They are best friends so that adds some tension (individuality isn't a cultural trait). Hoan: Her name means 'mortal'; however... she's a daughter of a goddess of healing and can read minds without the mind-reader device. SPIRITUALIST? She wants to know what Poh-Chok know about whale-boats and flying-fish-and-dragons (dirgibles) and feather-kites (like hang gliders). She's a bit devious. The foreigners intrigue her as well. She knows Li-Chen through "common interests". She's a bit protective. She's on the outlook for pirates. Li-Chen: 2 young women (maybe 30) business partners. MERCHANTS. Li is Hakka and running the misty-mountain tea trade. Chen is Hokkien and has ties to the sea. Her family has rice fields. Trade with Japan or Hong Kong could prove lucrative. Trade with (Amoy/Xiamen)is essential. Chen speaks their language. Mrs. W.W.Walker: A Bloody Brit and all that suggests. An EXPLORER. A bored busy-body putting her nose into the tea trade and wherever else can amuse her. She's fascinated by the mini-dirigibles. Is she a villain? She's more like a pain-in-the-ass, and not a humorous one (although...). Does she write? A 'false narrative' by a clueless narrator would be appropo. As Chen notes: "The British. They come. They go." Hoan: "Hopefully, they don't stay." Kago-san: Japanese. A very low level DIPLOMAT collecting information. Interested in the tea and rice trade and how sake is being used as fuel. Interested in Li-Chen. Kwong: Hong Kong. An Asian-Brit. Not sure what role he'll play yet. May be interested in pirates and any opportunity that presents itself. An INVENTOR might be a nice addition. Since Kwong is available... it would make him more involved with Poh-Chok and lead to possible run-ins with Hoan. Mazu: goddess of sailors and the sea, and Beidi: god of the north and wind. SHENMO. The gods intervene in Chinese mythology and are praised/blamed regardless. Mo-sin-a are cryptids ("mischievous" mythological creatures). They have fled to the mountains of mist (where the tea is grown). Mazu is important to the entire region and therefore everyone. Beidi is fascinated by what Poh-Chok are up to, especially since one of the dirigibles is a tortoise (his symbol). Both are considered protective and positive (in a heroic way). Since there will be no hero versus villain the characters must provide tension with their common interests and clashing motivations. Curiosity creates problems. Li-Chen are merchants and although they want and can use information they are more "traditional". Same with Kago-san, Mazu, Beidi. Poh-Chok and Hoan are curious, perhaps too curious. Kwong may be curious as well. Mrs. W.W.Walker is nosy ('nuff said). It's a time of change. Intrigue between foreign interests (Japanese, Mainland (Qing), British, even American) and a shift in agricultural practices (apparently long-grain to short grain rice and oolong tea) and ongoing conflict with indigenous peoples (this may not be covered much) found mostly on the east coast and in the mountains. There's a romantic subplot. Could there be an adventure or mystery as well? Poh-Chok's spying on the whale-boats, junks, ferries, road vehicles from above shows great promise if they learn something they aren't supposed to know. With these characters, would a series of novellas be more appropo? It works for Nancy Drew! If not novellas ... linked chapters ... a series of subplots coming to the fore and then receding? If so, I'll have to flesh out the characters, knowing their personalities, preferences, quirks. The use of a favorite food works in various Thai TV series. Tian likes pig-brains; Med, chocolate; Thun, steamed egg; Knock is hyper-allergic to shrimp. And these details are used to tell the story. |
| 1. Location Taiwan, near Tainan (commerce, port, capital) and Lugang (port, fishing) and tea in the mountains (Dong Ding, Shan Ling Xi), rice in Changhua. Before the Japanese colonial period most rice grown in Taiwan was long-grained Indica rice, the Japanese introduced short-grained Japonica which quickly changed both the farming and eating patterns of the Taiwanese. Coffee introduced by British 1884 (not arabica) 2. Characters Hoan and Mrs. W. W. Walker are steampunk in attitude. Hoan <<Truth-pad>>, Mrs. W. W. Walker will be amused by <<goggles>> and <<mini-airships>> Chok and Poh may be susceptible as they're young. Which? In what way? Clothes = outward; actions? = inward. <<Goggles>> Love their <<mini-airships>> Li-Chen? As business owners are they more conservative? But ... their side-business is also covert. <<Truth-pad>> Kwong or Kago? Inward maybe but outward? Possibly...subtly as they want to work invisibly. Kwong with British. Kago with Japanese [tea]. Subtle rebels? They are away from home. Mazu and Beidi are stable. But as gods are they bored? EDGINESS each in some small way? Even the gods? Real-life characters whose path they may cross... Explorer Bailey. Good attitude, poor choice of clothes. Not! Japanese royalty (did resarch on this). 3. Devices TRANSPORTATION Flying-fish-and dragons: dirigibles theat use helium/hydrogen for lift/descent; propelled by rice-alcohol motors. Chok's dragon: 3 seater slender; a flashy toy; meant for speed. Poh's fish: 2 seater; love boat meant for viewing; slow Li-Chen's turtle: 4 seater round; meant for lifting weight; very slow. Birds: feathered hang-gliders; flap to ascend, glide; noiseless; 1 person. Li-Chen has a few used for messages. Motor-carts: land vehicle steam powered by alcohol fuel; usually slow. Hoan has a custom made one that is very fast (by design or by 'magic'? With Hoan this is always the unanswered question. She doesn't tell secrets... ever.) GOGGLES Night vision good for spying. Used by Poh-Chok. Also night-vision CAMERAS. TRUTH-PAD Like a ouija board or maybe just a black triangle [3 people] or square [2 or 4] Used by Hoan to trick Poh-Chok as she doesn't need a device to read their thoughts. Actually work? Doesn't matter to the story line at this point. For:
Also see "Elements of Steampunk " [ASR] by Richard ~ Shenanigans INC.  |
| "Journalistic Intentions" By June 30th YouTube Selections  Education, education, education The surprising absence (of children) Grifters Come in All Demographics DONE Memory fails us these days forgetfulness due to stress long vs short memory-possibly "Remember what? JI#5 " Fill in the Blank!  Insomnia is just another way to brand yourself "not normal". Black Crisis  Don't cry because it's over, smile because the onion soup will taste great. Max Kwoa What's meant to be will always end up online. Melisscious DONE In three words I can sum up everything I learned about life: Counting is easier than it looks."The weight of rice and tea [164] JI#6" Weird Names DONE  Dr. Akula"shark" in Russian, warships? "Whaleships? The Bard wants to know too, Dr. Akula. " CHOP Kids First linda@wickedhothillary.comDONE Oink Joint Rd.Pickled pigs feet is a type of pork associated with cuisine of the Southern United States, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, and Scandinavian cuisine. Generally speaking, trotters are a healthy choice with abundant protein. However, there are some studies that have shown potential risks present in the bones of trotters. One study investigated pig bone broth to better understand the heavy metals it contained. 哼哼 胡同 [hēng hēng hútòng] oink oink alley 猪蹄路 [zhū tí lù] trotters (pig feet) road "Oink Oink Lane [73]" Titles DONE  Holy Motors圣车 [Shèng chē] Holy Motors (Chariot) Shengmo! Hoan? and her chariot? "圣车 (Shèng chē) [159] JI#4: Holy Motors, Bard!" DONE Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceWith this, the book details two types of personalities: those who are interested mostly in gestalts (romantic viewpoints focused on being "in the moment", and not on rational analysis), and those who seek to know details, understand inner workings, and master mechanics (classic viewpoints with application of rational analysis, vis-a-vis motorcycle maintenance). Poh/Chok? A ying/yang balanced relationship? 禪宗飛船 [chánzōng fēichuán] zen dirigible "Zen dirigible [166] JI#7" DONE Doorways I Haven't OpenedMrs. W.W.Walker and Kago-san "Windows I have yet to look through [168] JI#8" DONE Orpheus DreamingWhat is the moral of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice? As the other answers have stated, the moral of this story is the importance of trust. Orpheus is tested in this story. He has every reason not to trust because he lost his wife, Eurydice, to a snake bite on their wedding night. That would shake anyone's faith in love, in fate, or in the gods. "Orpheus Dreaming for JI & the Bard" |
| Hoan looked at the foreigner coming through the side alley door tall, stiff in a silly hat. How did she walk in that outfit? With that long skirt dragging the dust, straps bound around the waist. How did she breathe? "Mrs. W. W. Walker" she said as if she was certain Hoan could understand and thrust out her hand. Amused Hoan bowed slightly before this comic vision and touched her fingertips. She flinched when Mrs. W. W. Walker grabbed and squeezed. Hoan was shocked. It was a custom among the British overlords in Hong Kong to act this way among themselves but their dainty women? Never. A young woman dressed in poor-man's black came in behind her. "You are Hoan. Milady is here to see you. I'm here to translate." The two guests exchanged words and then spoke to Hoan. "We are looking to buy some tea." "I am not a seller of tea." "But you know who is and you know who has the best and you know how to find it when there isn't any." "The shops have tea." "Not the best." Mrs. W. W. Walker was blunt... even in translation. "What kind of tea are you looking for?" "The kind that grows in the high mountains. The tea-of-the-mist." Of course. She would have heard of that myth, but better to play along. "You must speak to Li Vi of Li and Chen." Hoan gave directions and saw them off. No time for tea. No niceties. She watched them march down the alley. How can she move so fast in that finery? Oh, Hoan had better, she just didn't show off. She was in her everyday top and trousers. She looked like any other merchant. Why did they ask for her? How did they find her? She would find out sooner or later. She went across the alley and spoke to two young men. She intended to find out sooner. © Copyright 2021 Kåre Enga [178.72] (11.april.2021) "Invalid Item" |
| My process doesn't coincide with story-tellers. I'm just ... not. I need to paint a picture and I need my characters forming in my mind. A story follows. Venue: Taiwan. Specifically Anping the old Dutch naval base protecting the harbor of Tainan, the captal. Other places will be the mountain tea and coffee plantations, the rice fields north to a fishing harbor Lugang, across the Straight to Xiamen (a.k.a. Amoy, Ē-mûi). Time: circa 1890. Characters: Poh and Chok, younger brothers of Li Vi and Chen Rong who are businesswoman in the rice-sake and tea-coffee trade. Also Hoan and foreigners Kwong, Mrs. Walker and Kago-san who also are interested in what is going on in Tainan. Everyone has similar interests, just not similar attitudes or preferred outcomes. Silkpunk: airships (made from silk and bamboo), especially small two and three seaters used by the wealthy for racing and sport. Known as flying-fish-and-dragons because of the two most popular forms. Dirigibles. Whaleships (underwater ships). The fuel is sake-alcohol (to generate steam?) like for carts, new railroad, wind, helium for lifting (safer than sky lantern fires). The airships are good for espionage... as Li and Chen figure out, using Poh and Chok to take the risks (a.k.a. having fun). Genre: Not sure, but there's intrigue and minor/major disasters and a budding romance between two of the characters (it unfolds). There's no real violence. Yes, there is historical violence in the area but the tension is commerce and trade ... and secrets. No one is going to die (even if it appears that way) and the conflicts are more mental (as in a game) and emotional. Did come up with an idea for one of the silkpunk stories. One of the fish-and-dragon 魚和龍 (Yú hé lóng) boats 船 (chuán) has mechanical problems (valve?) and they (Chok or Poh or both) come down in a rice paddy. Well... the poisonous krait lives in rice paddies. Is one of them bitten? How bad? A krait-bite can kill in 2-5 hours? It adds to the tension of the relationship of Chok and Poh and may threaten their espionage. What part does Hoan play in this? Hmm... Note: I think 飛船 fēichuán (dirigible) would be used because of the rigid bamboo framework; 飛艇 fēitǐng (blimp) 飛魚 fēiyú (flying fish) ... so ... maybe 飛魚和龍 fēiyú hé lóng (flying fish and dragon) 鯨艇 jīng tǐng (whale boat/ship) Might be a nice way to start in the middle. Certain themes would immediately be established. Just tired thoughts. at 12:22 a.m. Krait bites: "This may help in species identification if the snake has not been seen. The few symptoms of the bite include: tightening of the facial muscles in one to two hours of the bite; inability of the bite victim to see or talk, and, if left untreated, the patient may die from respiratory paralysis within four to five hours." — Krait Bite — "We'd love to see pictures," Li Vi stated in an even tone. She had agreed with Chen Rong that the two boys were safer not knowing how important their 'play' was. They were so enthusiastic and already taking risks. The tea trade and sake trade brought in the money but knowing the movements of others could lead to opportunities if only to avoid the pirates. Poh, her younger brother, had said that he'd seen a whaleship moving in the depths. Chok had nodded, "I saw three." A pod of whaleships? How interesting. She remembered that Chen Rong had overheard that some of the fisher-folk feared them. She had mentioned this to her friendly rival Hoan who simply frowned. "They have reasons." Poh had the junk in view but Chok couldn't keep their fēichuán (flying boat) Blue Cloud still enough for a good picture. The junk had an interesting shadow below the squid gathering to the light of the lantern. From below the fēiyú (flying fish) would just look like a bobbing fish... out of water ... if anyone were looking thir way. The moon was a sliver in a cloudless sky. No one except the fisher-folk would be out at this hour. Chok swore, "We need to head to shore unless you want to swim. The valve's stuck. He'd opened it just a little so they could come closer for a better look. "One moment." Poh took a picture as Blue Cloud (藍雲 lán yún) steadied for a moment. "Got it." Poh whispered as soft as he could. Sound carried over the water. "I hope." Chok tried to close the valve but to no avail. Poh steered towards shore as they slowly descended. He aimed for open fields. Crashing into trees or buildings would be expensive, embarrassing and raise too many questions. And their older sisters' ire ... no use dwelling one that. They may not agree to pay for the repairs and both boys loved their toys. The rice field gleamed from recent rains. Poh wanted to set Blue Cloud down by a row of trees. easier to hide it if they had to. "Now." Poh barked. Chok opened the valve and they gently set down. "Good landing." "Always." They kept their voices low. They weren't sure how close they were to houses but a road was about one lǐ away (里 about 500 meters), far enough that if they found a good spot to hide Blue Cloud it wouldn't be noticed. If they were lucky. They shifted it into a spot between two small trees. Poh grabbed the camera as Chok opened the valve to make sure that a stray breeze wouldn't lift it and blow Blue Cloud away. They began to walk towards the road their trousers rolled up to keep them dry. Chok suddenly cried out and pointed. Poh only saw a rope until it swam away. Krait. "It bit me." Chok stated in a trembling voice. "What do I do?" "Don't move." Poh took the camera and strapped it on Chok's shoulders, then he lifted Chok unto his own and began to carry him towards the road. If Chok were lucky, the poisonous snake didn't get a good bite. If not, they had two hours, five max. At this time of the night? They were almost at the road when they saw a bobbing lantern passing by. They both cried out for help. It stopped and Poh set Chok down so he could climb the bank and beg for help. It was one of those new sake-fueled carts. He told the cloaked person that his friend had been bit by a krait and needed to see a doctor. With a nod the cart backed up. And whoever it was ... helped Poh get Chok unto the cart. Poh took a quick look at the wound but couldn't tell. With both settled in the driver took off. Slowly at first. Poh wondered whether they would make it in time. Chok was silent. Not a good sign. Poh held him to keep him from moving. So important to not move. The cart picked up speed, then began to move as if they were flying! Not an everyday cart, Poh thought. He watched the fields fly by as Chok closed his eyes. The driver entered a small village and blew the whistle. A middle-aged woman came to the door as soon as their rescuer knocked hard and yelled out. Poh and their rescuer lifted Chok and placed him where the doctor pointed. An older woman came out, listened to the doctor and went to get herbs for a poultice. They made Chok comfortable. He could barely speak. The venom was taking hold. The doctor examined the wound and applied a poultice as the old woman brought in soup and began to spoon it into Chok's mouth. "It will give him a better chance. Only time will tell." She whispered. Poh sighed. There was nothing to do but wait. He turned to thank their unknown rescuer as a lantern revealed her face. It was Hoan! And worse, she was smiling. © Copyright 2021 Kåre Enga [178.71] (8.april.2021) For "Invalid Item" or "Invalid Item" |
| The problem is Victorian England. I'm allergic to it having been wounded by the American version of "looking down one's nose at others" by some members of my family. On the other hand I grew up in a factory town that laughed at many Victorian ideals. So ... this is going to be difficult if I allow it to trigger my traumas. I'll try to forget the reign of Don One who epitomized the Bleeding White Nationalism that continues to stain America. Attitude? Yes, I have attitude. I grew up with people being mocked and demeaned (my mother just looked down her nose); my mother and father "tried to teach us better". And in some ways they did. That said, I'm going to have to keep sneering characters to a minimum. Also, I know very little about Victorian England and care to know less. I'm not an Anglophile like most writers at WDC. I grew up on Ibsen, Basho, and 3 encyclopedias. Ah ... defiance ... which means I need to find a way around this. 1. Placed in Taiwan. A place I've visited but don't know enough about to write like a native. So I'll include as much culture as possible as I go along. My saving grace is that I know enough to know that I don't know and have an idea which questions to ask. 2. Think of it as a work translated into English ... with an English speaking audience in mind. Tricky? Yes. 3. The main characters must have personas struggling with personal issues based in their own culture. The male/female angst is moot. Li Vi and Chen Rong are both in charge of their family fortunes. They are the smart "business ladies". The gay/straight masculine/feminine angst is also very Western. Taiwan, like many Asian cultures was homosocial. The "we're boys so we must fight with each other" and "we fit into boxes of right and wrong" is a sad comment on American society. Taiwan is mostly Han so . 4. This is placed before Mandarin was forced down the throats of the Taiwanese after 1945 during the reign of the KMT. My main characters speak Hakka and Hokkien. The Hakka valued education and the Hokkien rice and commerce. Being bilingual was a necessity (unlike the attitude of many Americans and British who don't understand why everyone doesn't speak God's language ... theirs). Japanese is useful, as is English (Hong Kong) and Portuguese (Macau) and Mandarin (Beijing). British colonialism is feared as it's a real threat. So I need a couple upper-class snoots that the main characters will have to deal with (present-day young English travel-bloggers may help with attitude). Koga-san. Trader from Kyushu [Japanese with a bit of Dutch... that's never mentioned]. (Koga is a common last name in Fukuoka but not further north). He's interested in trade and is very formal... but spying on behalf of the Imperium (Japan was expanding). Mrs W. W. Walker (nee Ida Rose Kent) [British] (1890s names: Mary. Anna. Elizabeth. Emma. Margaret. Rose. Ethel. Florence. Ida. Bertha. Helen. 1860s...?) Mrs Walker was a curious creature who coming from money, both inherited from family and her less-than-lamented husband, did as she pleased. With a keen mind and an insatiable thirst for searching places that would upset her sister, she visits Tainan which provides her with grist for her letters and photographs. (photography quite the thing in 1890... even aerial photography possible... used by the Chen and Li family). Mrs. J. F. Bishop (nee Isabella Lucy Bird) is a real live person from that era (1831-1904?) and her notes may be useful. Jan Kwong from Hong Kong. Of mixed Eurasian descent. (see Sir Robert Hatong) Multi-lingual 'trader', ostensibly in the tea trade ... hmm ... so says he. Hong Kong was a deeply segregated community run by the British for the British. Because ... not because the British were better, oh hell no, because the British were Best! All three are veddy upper-class but with reasons to engage the more 'common folk'. These three characters dovetail with the commerce of the Li-Chen family business: the tea-trade, the aerial spying, the rice-fuel... Hoan however is more interested in the 'pirate' trade which also draws attention from Koga, Walker & Kwong (which Hoan thinks of as a consortium or a 'conspiracy', both useful and dangerous). Who's playing who and for what reason provides the tension. "Side stories": A. There's a recurring theme in Asian film showing how relationships in past generations influence current ones. What were Li and Chen to each other in the past? Enemies? Lovers? This could disrupt or cement their present business agreement. Persuant to personal preferences I'm going to make this more than a momentary quid-pro-quo. The reader may think that the relationship is on the rocks ... but ... hint from the author (moi) it ain't. B. Yaoi is a film/book genre that uses Asian homosociality to hint at homoeroticism which hints at actual same-sex sexual relationships. It's also referred to as BL (Boy-Love) and is geared towards a young female audience. The background of rivalry, family, interference, cultural norms, violence ... appeals to different audiences. Again, hint the Chok-Poh relationship will unfold, may be uneven, may run up against convention (both would be normally be expected to marry) however this is Tainan, a port city, not backwards Inland China. It will not be violent. Stupid maybe, accidents maybe ... they ain't the brightest members of their families (that would be their older sisters). Also ... this relationship endures in some form. The reader may disagree (but they're wrong!). C. Interference by Immortals. Mazu is a goddess (based on a person who actually existed) and her presence (or absence) calms or roils the Seas. And the Seas cannot be ignored by fisher-folk. Also, there are typhoons. Hoan is almost immortal. She is the offspring of a famous goddess Bai Zu Shen. Her symbol is the black/white venemous krait (snake)? Kraits are found in Taiwan. (rice paddy, swimmer, 2 hours till...) But... is she good, evil or neutral? And why is she a pirate? Or is she a victim of pirates? Who are these pirates? The legend says that, after thousands of years of practicing magic power, the white snake Bai Su Zhen transformed herself into a young woman and fell in love with the human man Xu Xian. Together, they ran a hospital, saving lots of human lives with medicine and magic. However, this love between goddess and human was forbidden by the world of the gods and, eventually, Bai Su Zhen was imprisoned in a tower for eternity. Since then, the Chinese regard her as a symbol of true love and good-heartedness. 黑帝 Hēidì — Black Deity is ascendent during his season of cold and water (winter). The season is important so it needs to be woven in as a sub-text. He is symbolized by a black dragon and tortoise-snake. Bluegreen Dragon (青龍 Qīnglóng). Is Chok-Poh's flying-dragon airship a silkpunk qinglong? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Dragon Symbolizes East and Spring. Unfortunately it was used by the Qing Dynasty so it may have negative connotations as well... especially to Hakkas like Li. D. Use of color. This is winter (black). Yellow can denote a change of season to spring (green, blue-green). Chok-Poh are young and black should be their color (today black is common among young men in Taiwan) so... does flying-riding a blue-green dragon-boat send a message? White and red have very strong meanings of death and love and unless a subliminal message is being sent they can be avoided. E. Pirates. They do exist in the seas ... but are they actual characters or a mischaracterization by others? Hoan may seem like a pirate to others and for that reason either sought out, avoided or 'demonized'. The same could be said for Kwong and Koga. Is this merely an obsession of Mrs. Walker? Is this simply a red herring? Or a fish-net-full? COLORS: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/colours.htm Today: 1. Yellow is still reserved for royalty. Clothing and objects that are yellow in color still resemble a higher social status. Although each dynasty designated each official rank with their own color, yellow is reserved or the emperor himself. The color yellow and its shades are also the main color of Buddhism; thus it represents being free from worldly cares. YELLOW- nourishing, supporting, stabilizing, ripening, grounded, solid, reliability, sunbeam, warmth, clarity, royalty, good faith, empathy vs. anxiety Five Elements: Earth; Direction: Centre, zenith; Season: change of season (every 3rd month); Condition: damp, wind; Energy: stabilizing; Phase: Yin- Yang balance; Development: ripening; Planet: Saturn; Animals: naked (mankind); Celestial creature: (Yellow) Dragon, (Yellow) Qilin, Phoenix; Fruit: dates; Grain: rice; Action: thought; Sense: touch, taste; Sound: singing; Smell: fragrant; Taste: sweet, aromatic. Trigram bagua: K’un, Gen 2. Red is still used for happiness and joy. In fact, after the Ming Dynasty, only the Emperor's close relatives could have homes with red walls and yellow roof tiles. Peasants could only live in homes made with blue bricks and roof tiles. Today though, most houses are made of black tiles and white walls. RED - traditional bridal color, expansive, blooming, dynamic, enthusiastic, reaching upwards, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life; red purple brings luck and fame, money, recognition, propriety, creativity, joy vs. over excitation. Five Elements: Fire; Direction: South; Season: summer; Condition: heat; Energy: expansive; Phase: full Yang; Development: blooming; Planet: Mars; Animal: winged, especially poultry; Heavenly creature: Vermilion Bird, (Red) pheasant; Fruit: apricot; Grain: beans; Action: sight; Sense: touch; Sound: laughing; Smell: scorched; Taste: bitter; Trigram bagua: Li 3. Blue-green is still a symbol of spring when everything is filled with vigor and vitality. Therefore, someone that is hoping for longevity and harmony will decorate with blue-green colors. GREEN - growing, generating, sprouting, striving, refreshing, balancing, calming, healing, self assurance, foundation, benevolence, health, harmony, sensitivity, patience vs. anger Five Elements: Wood; Direction: East; Season: spring; Condition: windy, rain; Energy: generative; Phase: new Yang; Development: generative; Planet: Jupiter; Animal: scaled, especially dragon; Heavenly creature: (Azure, Green) Dragon; Fruit: plum; Grain: wheat; Action: countenance; Sense: sight; Sound: calling; Smell: rancid; Taste: sour; Trigram bagua: Xun/Sun, Zhen 4. White is a symbol of the unknown and purity. The color white is used during the time of mourning, death, and during ghost festivals. Therefore Chinese people will wear white during a funeral or while summoning ghosts. WHITE - mourning, contracting, withering, righteousness, pureness, confidence, intuition, strength, organization, death, ancestral spirits, ghosts, courage vs. sadness Five Elements: Metal; Direction: West; Season: autumn; Condition: dry, clear; Energy: contracting; Phase: new Yin; Development: withering; Planet: Venus; Animal: furred, especially tiger; Celestial creature: (White) Tiger; Fruit: peach; Grain: hemp; Action: speech; Sense: smell; Sound: lamenting; Smell: putrid; Taste: pungent, spicy, acrid; Trigram bagua: Qian/ Quian, Dui 5. Black is used as the symbol of winter and the westerly skies which behold the heavens. It is used for times of the unknown and for the winter months. BLACK - color for young boys (who will continue the family/ancestor lineages), delving into the depth of something, flowing, dormant, conserving, immortality, stability, knowledge, trust, adaptability, spontaneity, power, career, will, emotional protection, calmness vs. lack of will Five Elements: Water; Direction: North; Season: winter; Condition: cold; Energy: conserving; Phase: full Yin; Development: dormant; Planet: Mercury; Animal: shelled, especially tortoise; Celestial creature: (Black) Tortoise; Fruit: chestnut; Grain: millet; Action: listening; Sense: hearing; Sound: moaning; Smell: rotten; Taste: salty; Trigram bagua: K’an From "Invalid Entry" : For this week's assignment, I'm going to offer you a choice of plot lines. I want you to choose one and decide on a setting for it. Go to the Discussion Page and deliver a more polished synopsis of your elevator pitch that includes a bit of the prospective action with special attention given to what your venue, specifically, brings to the story, and why you chose it over any other place where it might have been set.Your sample story lines are as follows: 1. A well-meaning doctor, seeking a formula to regenerate amputated limbs, inadvertently creates monsters. 2. A group of fashion models use their looks and status to become close with captains of industry for the purposes of espionage, blackmail, or assassination. 3. Mysterious goings-on in an antique, curio, or pawn shop that almost always seems to be closed. 4. An airship full of explorers flying over a vast unexplored region discover . . . 5. An automaton is being used for nefarious purposes. 6. Continue to develop the one you originated in response to last week's lesson. From "Riding the water dragon (silkpunk): intro-excerpt. [70ab]" Elements Setting: Taiwan 1890s Silkpunk (flying-fish-and-dragons (airboats), airships, mechanical whales, steam, rice-alcohol-fuel) Conflicts: commerce and pirates, conventional cultural expectations at a time of change. Shenmo (immortals, gods): Mazu, Hoan Cryptids (mythological creatures): mo-sin-a Bromance/BL/Yaoi: Chok, Poh I want to create layers. Or maybe just hot-pot. For: "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" Plus: "Invalid Item" |
| Riding the water dragon Silkpunk (bamboo, paper, silk) is an evocative way of describing that mix of organic materials with machine-driven tech. FORWARD? "Running tea and coffee to the coasts while lifting rice and seafood to the mountain villages was a lucrative business for the Chen and Li families. Although they were Hokkien and Hakka they wedded their complementary interests into a business." Ever since the Taiping rebellion and the establishment of the Formosa Republic business had been brisk. Let the Inland courts of pomp and circumstance do and say what they wanted. Here on the Beautiful Island it was all about business and trade. The straights provided plenty of seafood, the rice fields plenty of rice for noodles, sake and fuel. The Japanese had been invited to build a railroad. The Hakka had started hotels staffed by Philippinos. The Hokkien fished and mountain people just wanted to be left alone. It was idyllic for many and came to be known as the Halcyon Decade, until the pirates saw an opportunity to live off the wealth and missionaries came to manipulate the misfortunate. Neither succeeded. Perhaps due to the unintended consequences of the Li and Chen families. Perhaps due to the tolerance and resiliance of the multi-cultural Formosans. Li Vi, eldest daughter and the family-business boss, wanted to sell tea to the world one shipload at a time. Chen Rong, the smartest daughter in her family (by far), wanted to fly seafood to Beijing and Tokyo. Li Chok the unwanted son just wanted Chen Poh the invisible one. But that's another story. Hoan... daughter of an Immortal... in spite of her name... just wanted her cut. Chen and Li hatched a plan to have Chok and Poh ride the air in two seater airboats that were all the rage among the wealthy youth. Everyone else had fancy fish or dragons but they had other ideas. The world was changing and they wanted to observe it discretely. They bought one and, dyed the silk blue-of-the-sea over blue-of-the-sky. It was shaped like a fish or a wisp of cloud. Seen from above or below it was practically invisible. So, they sent their brothers to spy on the airships (dirigibles) that ferried people to and from Tainan and Xiamen, the sea-ferries and fishing vessels, the underwater boats that swam like whales driven by steam engines. The "fish-and-dragons" were super-light, bamboo framed, covered with silk, with a helium bladder to help it rise, a release valve to slowly descend, (equipped with mandatory parachutes of woven silk in case it crashed), shaped like a cigar, a baffled "tube" running though it from mouth to anus to control speed, a ridge to right it, flippers of fish and dragon feet to steer it. Just a toy-for-boys, of no real use. Li and Chen had found another use... and intended to blackmail a pirate... They fashioned another with a green top over grey, that looked like a tortoise or a mossy rock, to be used on cloudy days to fly over the mountains. They were happy that their younger useless brothers (Chok and Poh) thought this was fun and just a joke; at least they were keeping each other amused... and out of trouble. Plus, what news they brought helped business. But... Hoan was not as amused that they were finding out her secret hiding places. This threat from above was merely a nuisance ... so far ... but ... © Copyright 2021 Kåre Enga [178.70a] —A calm night in winter— "Their airboats rising like one of Pingxi's sky-lanterns. A deep-blue/light-blue flying-fish out of water, a blue-green sea dragon soaring." The young naive friends, Chok and Poh, rose in Li's blue-green three-seat dragon, tethered to a pole like a kite. It was past midnight, an hour when good people were fast asleep or fishing by lanterns for squid. It was calm with a crescent of moonlight, no one suspected them. If anyone were up and out they would only see a blue-green dragon and swear that they needed to cut back on the sake. But, the calm was deceptive. Mazu (媽祖), Goddess of the Sea a protector of the fisher-folk, had caught a cold, gone south to take a nap and the mô-sîn-á [魔神仔], mischievous tricksters, were out and about. © Copyright 2021 Kåre Enga [178.70b] Elements Setting: Taiwan 1890s Silkpunk (flying-fish-and-dragons (airboats), airships, mechanical whales, steam, rice-alcohol-fuel) Conflicts: commerce and pirates, conventional cultural expectations at a time of change. Shenmo (immortals, gods): Mazu, Hoan Cryptids (mythological creatures): mo-sin-a Bromance/BL/Yaoi: Chok, Poh I want to create layers. Or maybe just hot-pot. For: "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" "Invalid Item" |
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