#which translates to 'born in purple' which was a title given to the sons born to a reigning emperor

[darabeatha]

/  I talked before about the paralels of the myths that surrounded king A.rthur and C.onstantine XI in a post before, but it has never crossed my mind to think about how his design could reflect this; basically tsun sent me a post on reddit where someone gave a possible explanation for the drastic change of color on C.onstantine’s outfit in his final ascension (going from black+magenta to white/marble-ish color + magenta) and the way it makes s o much sense has me y ellin g tbh-

(r.eddit post)

[vivacissimx]

Hey, how are you? I asked you yesterday if I still could ask you about certain wisps you made and you said yes. So here we go…

First what you mean by Kingdom of heaven/ Dany origin story if Rhaella slayed, that’s sounds a quite funny topic, what is the plot?Second have you written anything about TOJ, I always found the mystery surrounding it and all the speculations people make quite interesting to say the least, I mean c’mon it’s Jon Snow birthplace.

Finally for hotd- verse I’m interest in “life on dragonstone” because I love the Targaryens and I want to know more about their life in their home island, especially for Rhaenrya after all it was her seat for more than 24 years (I think).

But only share your wisps if you want to. 😊Also if I was supposed to only ask you one thing, I’m sorry, just choose one of the three. I’m just a very curious person and given the opportunity (and also the courage) I will inquiry people about every single subject. Thanks I’m advance. 👏🏼

yeah the more the merrier!

kingdom of heaven

the premise of this is that aerys dies at duskendale (rip bozo) and that rhaegar became a boy king type at 16. however this is a rhaella POV so not too much on that, i do want to explore the distance between rhaegar and rhaella--esp with him now in the shoes of aerys. she's developed a psychogenic itch issue over time as a result of the abuse which causes rhaegar to worry & employ a few of her ladies to keep him apprised of her condition, which she understands as him "spying" on her.

i wanted to play with rhaegar's whole reading ancient texts at 3 thing as being helped along by rhaella's gift with tongues/translation, maybe even an interest in history. and given aerys' mentioned growing refusal to cooperate with the iron bank, there now being a need for an ambassador to be sent to braavos in order to negotiate the repayment structure.

rhaegar, who's been trying to connect to rhaella via books like how they bonded when he was a kid, comes to think rhaella would actually be a good addition to the party doing this & she agrees because she realizes one day that she's never left westeros. there she meets the tattered prince who is employed as her bodyguard (she has a complex about the kingsguard considering aerys' kingsguard didn't keep her safe). they bond over these empty titles they have that caused them so much pain & suffering and yknow it's a daenerys origin story so you can guess what happens next !

“Seed born of your royal father,” Pycelle blusters. “With all due respect, your Grace, to the Queen, to whom I have provided services over many a year but this child is not… born in the purple chambers, so to speak.”

“Rather blown in with the wind, hm?” the new Queen speaks. Perhaps impertinently, but Lyanna Stark’s face is yet soft with the fat of pregnancy, and a babe of her own lies in the royal nursery. Rhaella releases a pain she did not know she held and sees her son’s wife with a clarity she could not, in years before.

Rhaegar holds Rhaella’s blessed bundle in his own arms. He has not yet looked up.

Rhaella wishes to go to him—an old ache that she has always tamped down, a reflexive you are not allowed you will taint him you are watched and found wanting ringing through her fingers. The itch threatens her. A first since Braavos.

It is left to him to fill the distance, then. 

Him to raise his face so bright and measured, find her eyes with his own, so much darker than hers, yet of her and her son still. “Daenerys Windblown,” the King softly says, in front of all the Council. “Princess Daenerys Targaryen, the Windblown. Long awaited.”

“Perhaps one day she shall be Queen," Lyanna adds, defiant, denying any other the chance to speak. To which Rhaella can think only of Braavos' salty streets instead, and festival masks crowned with seashells—and freedom from all such premonitions

TOJ / all candles fall quiet

this is just vibes lol i like the chatty chattyness of two people newly in luv

“Fine, then. Your turn.”

Rhaegar hums, pretends to think about it. “The Others. The Others take this, the Others take that.”

Lyanna frowns. “You jape me. I heard southron men say it often at that last grand tourney. We Northerners are surely not the only ones who would say this.”

“Southroners say it, certainly,” he concedes, “yet not half so often. In the streets of King’s Landing, you will oft hear Maegor’s teats, or Seven Hells.”

She snorts. “Seven this, Seven that.”

“Shall the Others take them too?” he teases, and she groans. “You’re terrible!”

“Apologies,” he murmurs, bringing her hand to his mouth and brushing his mouth across her skin, rubbing his nose at the knuckle of each finger. Gods be good, her skin is always so comfortingly cold. “Your turn.”

“Arbor Gold?” she tries, and he arches a brow.

life on dragonstone

meant to be a slice of life with the rhaenyra/laena/harwin/laenor/daemon/qarl hexagon going on. i LOVE this dynamic that george gave us by accident i assume, i think it's so interesting & it's the one thing in fire & blood that i desperately wish had an equivalent in the main story.

Life has not gone quite according to plan, admittedly. Rhaenyra doesn’t wonder if perhaps… in the future, should her sons look back, how they might think of her. Of the choices she’s made, whether the love she has given them has been enough to make up for all the horror they have been subjected to? 

No, that is not fair to herself, Rhaenyra does not believe. They will not be children forever. She has walked into her life with her eyes wide open and her children will do the same. Laenor did, when she wed him, Daemon as well, Harwin always professed to. Rhaenyra has never asked anyone to accept what they could not for her sake, nor would she take upon herself more than she could handle simply in love’s name. Everything she has ever done is by her own free choice.

Perhaps Laena knew that better than anyone. It is this loss that Rhaenyra feels most keenly, as one who would be a mother to Laena's girls.

[shijiujun]

Okay I’ve decided to do a single rec after I finish one novel hahaha because if I wait to get around to it all it’ll never happen! Anyway because @sarah-yyy​​ has been reading it and I’ve gotten a lot of asks/replies on this, I’m just going to do one huge list for one of my faves so everyone knows what’s going on and where to find things XD

- Part of Min’s ‘Why You Should Read’ Series -

Summary: 

This is set in a historical setting where men can marry other men, but it’s usually reserved for sons who were not borne by the official main first wife of the patriarch of the family, i.e. a son born by a concubine in a family may be forced to marry a man to keep him from being able to become the next family’s patriarch for example. This is because any family’s next leader needs to be able to have children with a wife who married in as a zheng shi (lawful wife), and not a ce shi (second wife) or any other concubines/mistresses etc. Most of these men who marry other men have to take them as their zheng shi and lawful spouse in a sense, and the same goes for the royal family.

The story starts with third prince Jing Shao, who was forced to marry Mu Han Zhang, a Marquis’ second son, by the Empress and Emperor, thereby officially and effectively cutting him out of the race for the throne. He’s mocked by the public as everyone knows what this means, and for the next 10 years, he neglects Mu Han Zhang, blaming him for his predicament, and deliberately showers his three other concubines with affection in front of him, but 10 years later, when Jing Shao is accused of treason, everyone leaves him except for Mu Han Zhang. They are chased to the edge of the cliff by soldiers, and Mu Han Zhang dies in his arms having taken an arrow meant for him earlier, and Jing Shao jumps off the cliff with his dead body, and promises that if there’s a next life, he will do everything Han Zhang says, and love him.

He wakes up immediately on the night of his marriage with Han Zhang, and realizes that he’s been given a second chance to make everything right. Han Zhang is definitely afraid of him, humiliated and angry when he first wakes up after how rough Jing Shao was with him earlier on their wedding night, and he has no memories of their past life. Jing Shao then sets to SHOWER HAN ZHANG with affection, love and basically everything, because he realized that this is the only person who stayed by his side until the end, and then he falls in love with Han Zhang properly this time, and also deals with every single person who maligned and schemed against him in his previous life, with Han Zhang by his side.

Read: 

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Not Available | Novel Translations | Manhua (You’ll have to download the KuaiKan app, the chapters are currently all free)

Characters:

1. 景韶 Jing Shao - 3rd Prince and is the first out of his three other brothers to be given a title 成王 (cheng wang). He’s referred to as 王爷, and also 小勺 (xiao shao) by Han Zhang. Went out on his first war when he was 14, and was thus given a title before any of his brothers. He’s known for being a merciless, cold and fierce army general/commander, but this was before his second life with Han Zhang, where he puts on like his doting mode and is basically a dumbass XD who listens to Han Zhang with a lot of trust, which is cool and all.

He marries Han Zhang when he’s 19, and in his first life he was very reluctant and resistant, and neglected Han Zhang for 10 years, until he was charged with treason and hunted down. 

In his first life he wanted to snatch the throne, even from his blood-related brother Jing Chen, but more out of spite than anything else because he felt he was dealt an unfair hand by having to marry Han Zhang. Not only that, but Jing Shao is not his father’s favourite son, and he always felt that the emperor was biased against him. Anyway, a huge accumulation of daddy and anger issues, which is fair.

When he realizes that Han Zhang died for him, he decides he will be good to Han Zhang if they are reborn in their next life.

2. 慕含章 Mu Han Zhang - The 2nd son of Marquis Bei Hou’s, born to a concubine. He’s called by his 表字 which is 君清 (jun qing) by Jing Shao. Official First Wife Bei Wei Hou-furen and her son (who is in line to inherit the Marquis title from his father) has bullied him all his life, and wanted to push him into greater desperation by marrying him to Jing Shao, knowing he will suffer at the hands of the supposed merciless/heartless wangye. He has a weak body because of an accident when he was younger, and in his first life he was really sick after being neglected for 10 years, and knowing this in their second life, Jing Shao does everything he can to take care of him.

He is incredibly smart, has a brain for business and sales, and is also very good at handling people, especially scheming ones. He aids Jing Shao in the beginning of their second life, and then Jing Chen later as well, as both brothers begin to fight to put Jing Chen on the throne, against the 1st and 4th Princes. Is an incredibly good tactician in war as well.

3. 景琛 Jing Chen - 2nd Prince, Jing Shao’s blood related older brother who is handsome af too. His title, given later in the novel, is 睿王 (rui wang). He was misunderstood by Jing Shao in the first life as Jing Shao thought it was his brother who led to him marrying Han Zhang, and because he’s not very good at expressing himself and shows his concern to Jing Shao by nagging at him, Jing Shao always thought he hated him. In their second life, Jing Shao already knows that Jing Chen loves him and did a lot for him in his first life, and so trusts his brother and supports him right off the bat, because Jing Chen is indeed the most suited person for the throne.

He has a wife and a concubine, 3 sons and 2 daughters at this point. He ends up helping Jing Shao a lot, and when he realizes that Han Zhang is way more adept at politics and the whole scheming thing than Jing Shao is, he begins trusting Han Zhang a lot more as well! There’s a surprise with Jing Chen hahaha which I loveee and could see, but wasn’t sure until they confirmed it in the last few chapters AHAHAHAHA.

Other Notable Characters:

1. Song Ling Xin (Second Wife) on the left, and two other concubines on the right

They’re pretty much vying for Jing Shao’s attention, but at this point apparently he hasn’t slept with any of them before. Song Ling Xin is the daughter of the Military Department’s Head Song An, and Jing Shao married her initially out of interest. The right most concubine (I forgot her name oops) was a gift given to him by his oldest brother, the 1st Prince. The two of them played a huge role in Jing Shao’s downfall back in his first life, and so in his second life, he especially detests Song Ling Xin. Plus the three of them keep bullying Han Zhang in the beginning, but thankfully Jing Shao is like: “Anything my Jun Qing wants”. They don’t stay around for long either, watch as Jing Shao gets rid of them like he’s swatting flies.

2. Xiao Yuan & Zhou Da-Ge

This is another male couple who’s been married for 7-8 years if I recall. Xiao Yuan is one of Jing Shao’s important allies and friends in the second life, because in Jing Shao’s first life, this was one of the only young officials in court who spoke up for him when the accusations of treason came about. Zhou Da-Ge is his husband, who is a cook running a restaurant in the city. Whenever Zhou Da-Ge bullies Xiao Yuan in bed a little too much, Xiao Yuan punishes him by making him wear colourful clothes out (pink, bright yellow, purple, etc.) and thus he has a reputation for being eccentric and a weirdo, but oh well, all for love.

3. Gu Huai Qing

One of Jing Shao and Jing Chen’s most powerful allies, and he becomes blood-sworn brothers with Jing Shao without realizing who he is. Later he takes a liking to Jing Chen.

(Will update with photos when they come out, but they’re a bit further into the story so we won’t have them for a few months yet ahahaha)

Amazing Scenes:

Jing Shao & Han Zhang first looks in the manhua

Jing Shao being THAT clingy husband and helping Han Zhang to wear his clothes properly so cute!!!!!

Han Zhang and Jing Shao in their first lives (10 years later), about to die, sad and then Jing Shao jumps down the cliff with Han Zhang’s corpse, regretful cuz he a dumb bij

Jing Shao unable to resist kissing Han Zhang’s cheek, realizes what he’s doing, and gets embarrassed LMAOOOO 没出息!!!!!!! (This is different from the novel, because in the novel Jing Shao just kisses and is done with that, the embarrassment part is drawn in only in the manhua hahaha)

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

Jing Shao is like, he does a 180 entirely and he is very cognisant of all his faults and what he did wrong previously, and how badly he treated Han Zhang, so he legit forces his brain to go “I will listen to Jun Qing from now on” and he really sticks to it!

Loves kissing and teasing Han Zhang, but doesn’t force him into bed after their wedding night, and instead goes to Xiao Yuan and asks for tips on how to make his partner feel less scared about sex

The both of them end up with a pet tiger?!! That’s called Xiao Huang (little yellow) LMAO

They nap together a lot which I love <3333

Jing Shao knows he’s bullied at home, so when they go back to the Marquis Bei Hou manor, he holds Han Zhang’s hand in front of everyone to let them know Han Zhang has someone to back him up

Brings Han Zhang to war because he “cannot concentrate if Jun Qing isn’t with me at all times” - and asks for special permission to do so

Han Zhang notes that since he married Jing Shao, as the ‘wife’ he is supposed to serve Jing Shao, but it’s always Jing Shao serving him - Getting water for him, bringing him to baths, putting clothes on for him, putting food in his plate if it tastes nice, massaging his back and waist etc. - and best is he doesn’t have to deal with any in-laws?!! HAHAHA

Jing Shao gets revenge on those who hurt Han Zhang when he was younger for him, and the outcome is pretty hilarious but well-deserved

EPILOGUES are cute af!!!!

[bookofjin]

Biography of Sima Gan

[From JS038]

The Majestic Empress Zhang gave birth to Emperor Jing [Sima Shi]; Emperor Wen [Sima Zhao]; the King of Pingyuan, Gan.

Lady Fu gave birth to King Wencheng of Runan, Liang; King Wu of Langye, Zhou; the Marquis of Qinghui village, Jing; King Wu of Fufeng, Jun.

Lady Zhang gave birth to the King of Liang, Rong.

Lady Bai gave birth to the King of Zhao, Lun.

Liang and Lun are in a separate Biography.

[In JS059, they were respectively the First and the Third of the Eight Kings.]

The King of Pingyuan, Gan [b. 232? d. 26 February 311], courtesy name Ziliang, as young, due to being the son an Excellency, was in the time of Wei enfeoffed Marquis of Anyang village. A little later he was moved to Commander of the Palace Gentlemen who Consoles the Army and advanced his feudal rank to Marquis of Pingyang district. When Emperor Wu walked the eastern stairs, he was enfeoffed as King of Pingyuan, with an estate of 11 300 households, given drums and flutes and two extra horses, and additionally the clothes of a Palace Attendant.

At the beginning of Xianning [275 – 280], dispatched the various kings to go to their states. Gan was truly ill, and by nature his reasoning was not regular, yet he was rather pure, unassuming and withdrawn, and simple in feelings and desires. Because of that specially decreed to keep him [at the capital].

At the end of Taikang [280 -289], he was designated Brilliantly Blessed Grandee, concurrently Palace Attendant, specially making use of gold insignia and purple ribbon, ranking next to the Three Ministers.

When Emperor Hui was enthroned, he was advanced to Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Left, Palace Attendant like before, to wear sword and shoes in the high hall, and to enter court without hastening.

Gan, although king of a great state, did not serve to his utmost, he was transferred to vacancies, surely due to talent and ability [?]. Although he had the blessing of a feudal title, he similarly did not be himself [?], As salary he received cloth and silks, all were exposed and stored up to rot and decay.

If it was dark and rain then he set out in a calf chariot, and from the inside opened the chariot. Someone asked his reasons. He replied, saying: “That which opens exposed ought to be inside.” [?]

Court gentlemen going to him, although communicating family and name, were certain to be made to set up chariots and horses at the outer gates, some in the end by evening did not see [him]. At the time when having obtained an audience, he repaid the the meeting with people, and was likewise simple, sincere, respectful and humble, [as if?] earlier [there was] no deficiency or mistake [?]

From beginning to end, when a beloved concubine died, and had been prepared for funeral, Gan did not nail the coffin, but set her up later within an empty room. For several days he alone went in to look at her, sometimes acting excessive and vile. Only when her corpse was ruined then he buried her.

When the King of Zhao, Lun, assisted the government , he used Gan as General of Guards. When Emperor Hui returned to the correct [his restoration], he again became Palace Attendant, concurrently Grand Guardian.

At the King of Qi, Jiong's pacification of the King of Zhao, Lun, the the imperial clan and the court gentlemen all oxen and beer to acknowledge Jiong [?]. Gan alone held at his breast a hundred cash, and when he saw Jiong he pulled it out, saying: “The King of Zhao was rebellious and disorderly. You was able to righteously take the lead, this was to your merit. Now [I] use a hundred cash to congratulate you. However, great power is a difficult occupation, [you] can not but be careful.”

[It is difficult to get the distinction across in English, but the word translated as “you” here and just below, ru 汝, was hardly polite usage in the early 4th century.]

Jiong was assisting the government when Gan came to him. Jiong set out and welcomed him with a a bow. Gan entered and occupied his couch. He did not instruct Jiong to sit, but spoke to him, saying: “You must not imitate the White girl's boy,” his thoughts pointing to Lun.

[I assume Sima Gan's “white girl 白女” is a reference to Sima Lun's mother Lady Bai 柏夫人. (MC baek白 = “white”, MC paek柏 = “cypress”).]

When Jiong was executed, Gan wept for him bitterly, talking to left and right, he said: “The imperial clan daily declines. Though this boy was extremely able, yet [they?] also murdered him. After today there is danger!”

When the King of Donghai, Yue, rose up righteously and arrived at Luoyang, he went to pay visit to Gan. Gan shut the gates and did not communicate. Yue halted his chariot for a good while. Gan then sent people to apologize and send him away, and yet he himself was at the gates peeping at him. During that time, [people] were not able to interpret his thoughts, some talked of him having an illness, some that he was veiling his tracks by it [i.e. going into seclusion, withdrawing from the world.].

In the 5th Year of Yongjia [311 AD] he passed away. At the time he was 80 years old. It happened that Liu Cong robbed Luo and there was no time to spare to confer a posthumous title.

[Sima Gan died 26 February 311. Luoyang fell 13 July. If his age of 80 is precise, he was born in 232 AD. At that time his mother, Zhang Chonghua, would have been 44 sui!]

He had two sons. The Heir, Guang, passed on early. The second son, Yong, accordingly in the middle of Taixi [290 AD] was enfeoffed Duke of Ande county [and became] Cavalier in Regular Attendance. He always was a good scholar. Meeting with the difficulties, the whole family was obliterated and wiped out.

[nofomoartworld]

Hyperallergic: Exploring Turkey’s Political Crises Through Symbols of Byzantine Supremacy

Viron Erol Vert, “Long Live Your Balls” (2017) (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)

BERLIN — Born in the Purple, currently on view at Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, is an exhibition by Berlin and Istanbul–based artist Viron Erol Vert. The show unfolds through many different rooms, creating a bizarre ambiance reminiscent of a family home where patterns, everyday objects, photographs, books, and melodies are collaged into large-scale installations. Shoes must be taken off before entering the first room, where viewers walk through carpeted floors and Turkish rugs lit by shiny, ostentatious chandeliers, while fragments of Nina Simone’s “Strange Fruit” emanate from another room.

Born in the Purple, installation view

Vert’s interdisciplinary work questions political, historical, and cultural paradigms and the intrinsic role of power in these structures. The pieces evoke a nostalgic, intimate atmosphere charged with humor, while also evidencing a fragile process of cross-cultural identity. The artist’s eccentric mix of ancestral roots (Levantine, Greek-Orthodox, Armenian, Arab, and Sephardi) is key to the aesthetic and conceptual framework of the exhibition. The use of purple in lighting, drapes, and carpets references the luxurious hegemonic status and ruling class of the Byzantine Empire, when purple dye, obtained from sea snails, was extremely expensive to produce. These longtime traditional elements shape culture and thinking, setting up the following inquiries: How are Istanbul’s ancient supremacy paradigms relevant to recent history and culture? And how are these driving forces shaping current political and existential crises?

Viron Erol Vert, “An Armenian in the Kitchen, a Greek in Bed” (2017)

The phrase “born in the purple” is the literal translation of the Greek word Porphyrogennetos, an honorific title from the Byzantine Empire that was given to the emperor’s son or daughter, who was born in a special chamber called a Porphyra. As part of the exhibition, Vert encourages guests to join The Polyphora Club, a discursive, open space within a room that is the largest installation in the show. The Polyphora Club invites international thinkers, artists, curators, and researchers — like Turkish activist and writer Defne Koryürek, Doctor of European Ethnology Dr. Jonas Tinius, and New York–based artist, curator, and critic Mohammad Salemy — to share and discuss urgent political and philosophical questions that are not only relevant to Turkish sociopolitical complexities, but have become global to the point of complete abstraction and intricacy. Lectures, conversations, symposia, video screenings, and open conversations take place once or twice a week, and during these events, delicious Turkish food is shared. Presented by Australian, Berlin-based cook and artist Denise Palma Ferrante, these traditional Istanbulian recipes extend the theme of the show into the culinary sphere, reflecting Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences.

“The Polphyra Club” during Mohammad Salemy’s symposium

“The Polphyra Club” during Mohammad Salemy’s symposium

The artist’s interest in mythological content is an engaging element in his work, revealing the fluid interaction between an individual’s subjective construction of identity and the construction of history as an “official” narrative. Myth is explored through a contemporary perspective, comprehended as the foundation for social dynamics and subconscious thought processes. For instance, in “Long Live Your Balls” (2017), an installation using two different rooms at the end of the hallway, lead sculptures and neon lights are put together, while a poster portrays a blown-up image of an eye gradually shutting, frame by frame. The image of the open eye, installed in one of the rooms at a high-altitude, descends to the floor, then rises into the following room when the eye is finally closed. The interplay of mediums functions as a dialectical disclosure of today’s multicultural societies in the Middle East and Europe, using the rhetoric of propaganda alongside classical and contemporary art media. The works on view become an active, ontological theater where layers of content — archeology, history, memory, family — evolve into a fragile, uncertain arena that is neither in the realms of poetics nor politics.

“Porphyrogennetos” (2017), an abstract video animation with psychedelic forms descending, growing, and moving, is the piece accompanied by Nina Simone’s voice. The video discloses a phenomenological space, perhaps an alternating reality — similar to the space of dreams — that invites the viewer to detach from the geopolitical, cultural paradigms where ideological power structures reign.

The long-explored connection between the poetic and the political is developed and expanded in Born in the Purple. Yet a sense of absence, a missing part, is always present in Vert’s work. This lack of completeness may be the driving force behind his subjective construction (or deconstruction) of identity, which is never fully understood.

Viron Erol Vert, “How Nice the Gladioli Are” (2017)

In “The Polphyra Club”

Born in the Purple continues at Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien (Mariannenplatz 2, 10997, Berlin ) through August 27.

The post Exploring Turkey’s Political Crises Through Symbols of Byzantine Supremacy appeared first on Hyperallergic.

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