O-Ma and Shu Tomb
奧 瑪 舒
o ma shu
Showing posts tagged A:TLA
O-Ma and Shu Tomb
戰 means ‘war’
O-Ma and Shu Tomb
Inscription one:
男女相隔二地
會于此峰A man and a woman separated by two regions
(they) meet (date) at this mountain peak
Note: read the picture right to left, top to bottom. The inscription is, once again, in seal script.
Cave of Two Lovers
The sign at the entrance says ‘Lover’s Cave’. The font of the calligraphy is called:
Seal script 篆书 zhuànshū is an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy. It evolved organically out of the Zhōu dynasty script (see bronze script), arising in the Warring State of Qin. The Qin variant of seal script became the standard and was adopted as the formal script for all of China in the Qin dynasty, and was still widely used for decorative engraving and seals (name chops, or signets) in the Han dynasty. Ever since, its predominant use has been in seals, hence the English name. The literal translation of its Chinese name 篆书 (zhuànshū) is decorative engraving script, because by the time this name was coined in the Han dynasty, its role had been reduced to decorative inscriptions rather than as the main script of the day.
Note: There’s so much cooler stuff out there then boring 'Times New Roman-esque’ font for Chinese characters. Want some cool Chinese fonts? Go here to download the Seal Script font I used in the picture.
Nice Underwear
Sokka is wearing a combination of the Japanese Etchū Fundoshi 越中褌
and the Chinese Di Bi Kun 犊鼻裈. You’re welcome.
Image source: One
Cave of Two Lovers - Elephant Trunk Hill
The river dent where Aang, Katara and Sokka meet the hippies is modeled on Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin in the south of China.
The Elephant Trunk Hill 象鼻山is a landmark and tourist attraction in Guilin, Guangxi, China.
Elephant Trunk Hill is the symbol of the city of Guilin. It got its name because it looks like an elephant drinking water. The round opening that would be under the elephant’s trunk is known as Water-Moon Cave because at night the reflection of the moon can be seen through the arch and it looks like it is under the water and floating on the surface of the water at the same time. Elephant Trunk Hill and Water-Moon Cave are located at the confluence of the Taohua River and the Lijiang River.
Note: The opening sequence is also modeled on the Li river scenery.
Image source: One
Money, money, money!
The money Aang tries to buy the Waterbending Scroll with, and the stone coins the Earth Kingdom army uses to fight are both based on ancient Chinese coins.
Note the other cool coins shapes.
Earliest Chinese round coins:
The earliest round coins appeared in 350 BCE. These coinds are called 半兩 ban liang, which means half a liang. A liang is the Chinese ounce, consisted of 24 銖 zhu, and was the equivalent of about 16 grams.
“When Qin united the world, it made two sorts of currency:
that of yellow gold, which was called yi and was the currency of the higher class; and that of bronze, which was similar in quality to the coins of Zhou, but bore an inscription saying Half Ounce, and was equal in weight to its inscription.”
Not to be confused with the sycee - also known as yuanbao 元宝 - the Chinese gold or silver ingot.
Fang is a Chinese Dragon (as are Ran and Shao)
The horns of a deer.
The head of a camel.
A demon’s eyes.
The neck of a snake.
A tortoise’s viscera.
A hawk’s claws.
The palms of a tiger.
A cow’s ears.“
Shake well before use!
Note: Imperial dragon have FIVE claws, lesser dragons only three or four.
Other recipes include:
belly of a clam
scales of a carp,
wings of a bat,
and claws those of an eagle
What’s different?
Chinese dragons are associated with water, not fire:
Initially, the dragon was benevolent but the Buddhists introduced the concept of malevolent influence among some dragons. Just as water destroys, they said, so can some dragons destroy via floods, tidal waves and storms. They suggested that some of the worst floods were believed to have been the result of a mortal upsetting a dragon.
Chinese dragons are occasionally depicted with bat-like wings growing out of the front limbs, but most do not have wings, as their ability to fly (and control rain/water, etc.) are mystical and not seen as a result of their physical attributes.
Never give up, never surrender!
Translation of the wanted poster:
承烈火君命緝捕艾洛祖寇
二叛賊.艾洛将軍曾為平西
巨龍．祖寇*王子曾為火帝
儲君. 二賊違反國令．
拒絕征剿水族蛮子及捉拿
降世神通.格殺勿論．
By orders of the Fire Lord:
Arrest the rebellious traitors Iroh and Zuko. General Iroh, the Dragon of the West. and Prince Zuko Crown Prince to the Fire Lord.
The (two) traitors disobeyed imperial orders to eliminate the Water Tribe Savages and to capture the Avatar. Deathly force permissible.
The knife:
The knife Uncle gave to Zuko says: 非戰不屈 Never give up without a fight.
The font/calligraphy used is - once again- either Oracle Bone script or Seal script.
For your amusement I present google translate:
Jun Ming Cheng fire
Arrest Yi Luozu Kou two Panzei.
Aiello General who Pingxi dragon.
Royal crown prince who fire ancestral Kouwang Zi.
Erzei violation of state order.
Manzi refused Zhengjiao aquarium and capture incarnate supernatural powers.
Shoot to kill.
Fire Nation and Thai Architecture
In the first episode of season two we see Uncle and Zuko at a spa in a Fire Nation colony in the Earth Kingdom. The architectural style of those houses is influenced by Thai architecture. Compare the shape of the roof, the ornamentation and the stilts.
A traditional Thai house is usually built as a cluster of physically separate rooms arranged around a large central terrace. The terrace is the largest singular part of the home. An area in the middle of the terrace is often left open to allow the growth of a tree through the structure, providing welcome shade. The tree chosen is often flowering or scented.
For more and better information:
Want one? also, image source