Geomantic Practice of Kralorela
Kralori Geomancers in Current Dragon Pass
Yin and Yang (Lor and Kra)
Alex Ferguson's Opinion about Kralori Geomancy
Gloranthan Western Logicians and Kralori
Joerg Baumgartner's Comment about Kralori Elements
Efendi's Opinion about Feng Shui Art
Creation Cycle and Destruction Cycle
Lunar Empire and Kralorela
History and Geomancy of Kralorela
Why there is no Great Darkness in Vithela?
What do they want to do in Dragon Pass?
Barbarian
Adventures---p.66
"From a distant eastern land, a caravan of silken priests arrives
at the high gates of Boldhome. They bring a new color and a new way of
listening that even the most sophisticated Lunars have never seen."
*Kralori
Geomancers in 17C Dragonpass
Kralori Geomancy is not so sophisticated as that of RW Chinese, for they
exclude the two extremes of Sky and Earth, for they thinks it indicates
Un Lo and Orxilli (?)
Hand Sign of
Kralori Geomancers
They make Honey Bee hub with their forefingers and thumbs (hexangular),
which means their cosmology Glorantha.
Dogsalu was born from Hakka (Doubt) and Chelen (Desire), see Peter Metcalph's
Idea Dogsalu = TarnGatHa, maybe this idea made a distance Kralori cosmology
from that of Vithelans.......
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~BLUEMAGI/LandofVithela.htm
Why they visits Dragonpass in 1620th S.T, Hero Wars? (See "Barbarian
Adventures")
"Both MaoTzen (Shang Hsa, called Jerem at that period) and Godunya
came here and experienced the magic of evil Hemkarbans (Dragonpass) for
their mastery of Elements, Fire (Red), Earth (Green) and Darkness (Black)
to raise them to overthrow former emperor, remember Dragon's Awakening
Shudder...."
They long planned to awake Earth Dragon in foreign land for their own use,
(They remember the damage of Dragon Awakening Shudder.) And they felt the
great presence of Dragonvein near the Stormwalk Mountain Hidden Valley,
unfortunately, it was recently occupied by North Evil Red Moon enforcers
and sorcerers who had their own plan to the Unknown Presence which had
great magical pulse to their ignorant big building (i.e. Temple of the
Reaching Moon.) But Kralori thinks they can exploit barbarian rebels (who
had their Ancient Memory with Youf and Hemkarban Way) to uprise against
them.
Maybe you might find some good inspiration from the
texts:
http://www.chinaknowledge.org/Literature/Diverse/shanhaijing.htm
*Yin and Yang (Lor and Kra?)
Alex Ferguson (Glorantha Digest):
My own notion of how the Kralori might see this as the ascending and
descending principles, respectively "kra" and "lo",
both seen as dragons. (Resemblence to the name of the country not coincidental.) Or as I think it was Greg that put it, the in-breath and out-breath of the Cosmic Dragon.
My hypothesis below is based on the cosmic duality of Lor = Yin, and Kra
= Yang.
In Real World, I-tuang is not simply an Art of Fortune Telling, through
64 dimensions of Yin and Yang (8*8), it tries to contain whole of phenomena
in the World to explain. Aside from "Occultist" Carl Gustav Jung's
insist on Synchronicity of events in time, I can see the beauty (and obsessional
compulsion?) of ordered Cosmology of Ancient China, at least, when I bought
it, which is similar reason I bought Spinoza's "Ethics".
http://www.sacred-texts.com/ich/index.htm
Plus
is Yang, Minus is Yin.
RW Eight folded Yin and Yang Map:
Sky
(+++)
Valley (++-)
Fire (+-+)
Thunder (+--)
Wind (-++)
Water
(-+-)
Mountain (--+)
Earth (---)
And two different maps exist for the eight directions. (N, W, E, S and
SW, SE, NW, NE)
See below about the Fu-Xi's Map and King Wen's Map:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/ich/icintr03.htm
Maybe I can simply apply Kra and Lor (Alex taught me) to the two principles,
or not.
Alex Ferguson:
<<I think the Kralori definitely have some sort of Feng Shui, or
in broader terms, geomantic, practice. (snip) ). I think this manifests
at every scale, from the geography of the whole land, which the famous
bridges must somehow tie in with, right down to the right way to lay out
a simple peasant single-room hovel. (In fact, I feel certain the
one echoes the other, probably on some sort of eight-point "material
principle" (he said, carefully avoiding the use of the word "element")
scheme -- say, one must place the cooker in the south corner of the room,
the privy pot in the north corner, the woodpile by the SW wall, etc.)>>
Henri Maspero: Great French Scholar of
Chinoilism
http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/daoist-world-today/academic-research-on-daoism/
pg6-4-8-3.asp
<<The term "Mysticism" is used for very many meanings,
and in usual case it ended to the "irrational" to the course.
But in the narrow categorization I want to use here, it is to commune and
identify themselves with Absolute....>>
*I think these Mechanical, human-centered structure is far more appropriate
for Glorantha West than "Mystical" East.
I agree, and that is why the European Philosophy of Enlightenment Age,
Chinese Culture was greatly revered. For its rationality, concept of civilian
control and the attitude of "take a distance from religion".
Excerpt from my LurNop note:
<<Elementalists of
Glorantha
Except a few of residents of Glorantha like Pharaohfs Holy Country, many
of them (like Troll, Orlanthi, Dara Happan, Teshnan, etcc) rejects the
equality of each elements aside from objective truth of it in a sense.
(See Hero Wars 1st Edition, p239-240 Elemental Progression) I think Kralori
Alchemists are in such minority and Pharaoh built his famous six magical
bridges to each countries copying with the Godunyafs way to the Seven
Bridges of Suam Chaw, between Hum Chang and Vaska Long. (It seems it has
some connection to Seven Provinces now sank under Suam Chow.)
(Joerg Baumgartnerfs Objection: Belintar made only one single magical
bridge which has one end firmly rooted in the City of Wonders and the other
one in the most holy place of each sixth Enear Stormwalk Mountain in Heortland,
near the Tarpit on Shadow Plateau, near Ernalda (or the Necropolis) in
Esrolia, near the Vent in Caladraland, near Seapolis in the Rightarm Isles,
and near Casino Town (not Clanking City) in God Forgot.
The Bridge is not a permanent construction, unlike the city-sized inhabited
bridges across the Suam Chow.
Godunya's bridges Eespecially the ones with the gaps Eserve as exercises
to enlightenment as much as as transportation and communication means.
Belintar's Bridge is a magical convenience with the side effect of providing
transport.)
RW Chinese Fortune-Telling Art and Principle of Yin and Yang was very important
and almost indispensable in Chinese Cosmology and a sort of state religion,
for their attach to historical record unlike to Hinduistic India.(See some
speculations of Journey to the West) I think this kind of Art also exists
in Gloranthac..though I donft know they still use Godlearnish (more attached
to Gloranthan objective truth?) System of Five Elements (Darkness, Sea,
Earth, Fire and Air) or similar to RW Chinese Five Elements as Peter Metcalph
pointed out in his gCrimson Gregh.
(Joerg Baumgartnerfs Other comments: There is one parallel between Kethaela's
Universe in a nutshell and Godunya. Godunya's participation in the Grand
Dragon project which had all the EWF as parts of the EWF dragon. Apart
from that, Belintar encourages his subjects to be true to their native
element, as his means to gain maximum magic out of his realm.
Maybe compare Sandy's article on elements (via
Lokarnos).)>>
Archexarch of Seven Dragons: He is the current Leader of Kralori Imperial
Army. See Argrath's Saga in King of Sartar, The fall of Red Moon. See also
my Kralori Night Sky, Seven Dragons can be found in the Night Sky as Constellations.
Efendi's Rationalist Logic (TI agreed
partly.)
<<The most well-known plan of Feng-Shui applied to City Design is
the composition of water in east and south,, mountain in north and west.
It seems that they are attributed to Four Beasts attributed dimensions,
dragon is water god, and tiger is in mountain, but how about bird and turtle?
Maybe I can attach Turtle to Watery realm. (But I don't know the North
Beast can be simply identified to "Turtle".)
<<See Rice Mother's Description in Auld Glorantha Prosopaedia, it
is the North
Divine Animal, Turtle and Snake in RW Four Dimensional Animals. (Recently
she was called Miyo.)
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/r.html#rice-mother
(TI)>>
IMHO, this composition was from the Glorious Days of Chang'An (Modern Xi'an)
that had east and south is water, north and west is mountain. It is apprent
that Chang'An is the strategic position and good for traffic, and the base
of Tang Dynasty (most prosperous age of RW China) was in the northwest
of Central Valley, and horses from that area were also a strength for them......
that was the reason why they positioned their capital to the west, not
east of their empire.>>
<<Feng-Shui is not so simple, many of modern Eastern People still
be deceived for its complicated logic and see the square shape of Ancient
City Plans and that of Earth Cult of glorantha. Is there any "rational"
reason they should make their city square? :-)
Excuse me....Recently I read too many feng-shui books and arts. If you
have interested in this topic, I could find some good (japanese) books,
not so superstitious, from good chinoiserist. (TI)>>
*Gloranthan Creation Cycle and Destruction Cycle
Godlearners systemized Five Mythic Ages, Darkness, Sea, Earth, Sky and
Air. (See Wyrm's Footprint: Gods and Goddesses of Glorantha) (But Greg
Stafford has taken more and more other local sources in the process of
his cultivating Glorantha, and consquently lost some (much?) importance
and it became light theme in the Hero Wars game, see 1st Edition page 239,
241)
Creation Cycle
Darkness -> Water
(Zaramaka from Styx)
Water -> Earth
(Ga from Sramak)
Earth -> Sky
(Aether from Gata)
Sky (and Earth) -> Air
(Umath from Aether)
Air -> Darkness
(Orlanth kills Yelm)
Destruction Cycle
Earth -> Darkness
(Kyger Litor conquered Hurtplace)
Darkness -> Sky
(See Four Arrows of Light and Komosha killed Korasting)
Sky -> Water
(Lorian invaded Dayzatar Realm)
Water -> Storm
(Storm Brothers raped Sea Goddesses (Piscoi))
Storm -> Earth
(Orlanth is a slave of Ernalda :-))
Compare them with Chinese traditional Five Elements
Creation
Cycle
Wood -> Fire
Fire -> Earth (Ash?)
Earth ->
Metal
Metal -> Water
Water -> Wood
Destruction Cycle
Wood
-> Metal
Metal -> Fire
Fire -> Water
Water ->
Earth
Earth -> Wood
You can made them into Pentagram......Try
it.
*Why do you want to make Kralorela another Lunar Empire? I think Lunar
Empire is similar to RW Ancient China.....?
Yes, I agree Greg used some Chinese (and Ancient MesoAmerica?) idea for
Pelorian Trilogy....
See Rice Mother's Description in Auld Glorantha Prosopaedia, it is the
North Divine Animal, Turtle and Snake in RW Four Dimensional Animals. (Recently
she was called Miyo.)
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/r.html#rice-mother
Why Godunya doesn't wear metal? Maybe he is applied in the cosmology of
Five Elements. Maybe he was attribute to Wood Element?
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/g.html#godunya
*God
Emperor Fu-Xi (Fu Hsi)'s Map
Sky (+++) South
Valley (++-)
Southeast
Fire (+-+) East
Thunder (+--) Northeast
Wind (-++)
Southwest
Water (-+-) West
Mountain (--+) Northwest
Earth (---)
North
My Image of Thalurzni's Mandala is that of Fu-Xi's map, for he made it
from the shape of serpents from water.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/f/fu_xi.html
http://www.chinaknowledge.org/History/Myth/myth.htm
I made his rune "Storm" as he literally vanished Four Former
Elements to Chern Durel. Maybe the map in a sense of latter (King Wen's
Map?) has Moon Rune as the "Balance" of Old Four (Darkness, Sea,
Earth and Sky) and New (Storm)..... perfectly my humble opinion.
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~BLUEMAGI/ThaEngFourGangs.htm
<<When HeenMaroun reigned Kerendaruth, he created four Virtues attributed
four Directions, North was Innocence, West was Intelligence, East was Wonder,
South was Pleasure. All were needs for limited human which still have no
access to Draconic Secret. But as Time passed, all Four depraved from end
and Edge. So Ignorance coming from Innocence, Materialism coming from Intelligence,
Illusion coming from Wonder, Indolence coming from Pleasure. So Daruda
changed his World and handed his Mundane Power to Thalurzni.>>
<<In Far Northeast, abandoned place after reign of Metsyla (Plutarch:
That place is now called Koromandol.) Shadow Cancer appeared as horrible
Power of Darkness which eating almost all of Creation and Light for her
appetite and hatred. As same as that place, in Chern Durel and Jankley
Bore, Earth Eater coming from Great Shrine root of Zeral Fen. It started
going forth to Southward more nourishment of Land Splendour. Secret Water
rising from Deep hidden Water under earth solid rock from southeast of
Kralorela and secretly plotted to breaking down surface to Depth of Water.
Finally in Upper Sky of southwestern dome of Heaven and Verenela, Star
Permutator selfishly changes the star orders and constallations while vacancy
of Maluraya, viceroy of the noon.>>
It seems Greg influenced by the Chinese myth that Emperor Shun banished
Four Monsters to the frontier and made them into the guardians of Four
Directions.
(Like Emperor Shun did to Demon Taotie: http://www.chinaknowledge.org/Art/BronzeMetal/taotiepic.htm
)
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/shun.html
*King Wen's (King Ji Chang's) Map
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/westzhou.htm#table
Sky
(+++) Northwest
Valley (++-) West
Fire (+-+) South
Thunder (+--)
East
Wind (-++) Southeast
Water (-+-) North
Mountain (--+)
Northeast
Earth (---) Southwest
http://www.sacred-texts.com/ich/icintr03.htm
*Analysis of Kralori History from Geomantics (How to make farfetched thesis):
After
Meng-zi (http://www.chinaknowledge.org/Literature/Classics/classics.htm#mengzi ) justified "revolution" (I don't know this japanese modern
translation is appropriate for the very Confucian concept, but it means
the change of dynasties allowed by the Tien, (Sky, Rightful Destiny or
Fate) ) And elemental attribution was always made in each changes of RW
Chinese Dynasties.....if I try to apply them into Kralori Emperors.....for
they don't have dynasty. Different from RW. (RW Reverse can be found again
in Kralorela (long remained one (draconic) dynasty in a sense) while Vormain
has experienced many (21!) dynasties.....)
According to
Creation Cycle
Metsyla Fire
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/m.html#metsyla
Shavaya
Earth
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/s.html#shavaya
(Sekever)
Daruda
Fire
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/d.html#daruda
Thalurzni
Storm
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/t.html#thalurzni
Mikaday
Darkness
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/m.html#mikaday
Vayobi
Water
(Sekever)
Vayobi (again)
Vashanti Earth
Yanoor
Fire
(ShangHsa) Water?
Godunya Earth
http://www.glorantha.com/library/prosopaedia/g.html#godunya
(Sheng
Seleris)
Godunya (again)
According to Destruction
Cycle
Metsyla
Shavaya
(Sekever) Storm (Fire)
Daruda Earth
(Water)
Thalurzni Darkness (Storm)
Mikaday Fire (Earth)
Vayobi Water
(Darkness)
(Sekever)
Vayobi (again)
Vashanti Storm (Fire)
Yanoor
Earth (Water)
(ShangHsa) Darkness (Storm)
Godunya Fire (Earth?)
(Sheng
Seleris) Water (Darkness?)
Godunya (again)
Maybe you don't see the beauty of these farfetched logic, but that is the
basic of so called Feng-Shui. Combining these, Yin and Yang, Five Elements,
Two Mystical Maps and each of birthing day to all of phenomena, Ancient
Chinese made very unique philosophy.....and RW modern feng-shui is no exception.
Please start from them, if you want to make another (paranoia) second world.......
*Why there is no Great Darkness in Vithela?
Martalak thought he experienced Nightmare, fought enemies long without
the Sun, Maluraya and Stars....outside the support of his father, Vith.
But he was wrong.
When returned the land beyond Sensan, he realised Only One day and Night
passed, Martalak realised he spent the outside of Vith's Blessing...(Vithelan
Perspective to Other Area: Storm Age and Great Darkness Age....? See Chinese
Legend...Dream of Handan.)
http://www.chinaknowledge.org/History/Zhou/mapZhanguo.JPG
*Closing Effect of Melib (Martin Hawley ignored that the channel unavailable
for closing in Four Scrolls of Revelation? Teshnos- Melib?)
Kralori Geomancers in Current Dragon Pass
Yin and Yang (Lor and Kra)
Alex Ferguson's Opinion about Kralori Geomancy
Gloranthan Western Logicians and Kralori
Joerg Baumgartner's Comment about Kralori Elements
Efendi's Opinion about Feng Shui Art
Creation Cycle and Destruction Cycle
Lunar Empire and Kralorela
History and Geomancy of Kralorela
Why there is no Great Darkness in Vithela?
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