[Part 9] those old glory days (China, capitals) [2/2]
anonymous
February 14 2010, 00:04:11 UTC
Xi'an laughs harshly. "If you had some history to boast about, you'd be using it to counter my words. You may be 大哥's capital now, but I'll always be 大哥's 京城."
"Stop!" China raises his voice over them, and they fall silent. "Today is New Year's Eve, and two of my most important cities have come to spend this important day with me. If the two of you care for me at all, you will not fight in my presence."
Xi'an curtsies to China, then says to Beijing, "For 大哥's sake, I won't argue with you in his presence." Beijing gives her an abrupt nod and replies, "Same."
"Then, Beijing," China says, "will you go prepare one of the other guest rooms for your sister?" Beijing nods and reluctantly leaves the foyer. China turns back to Xi'an and switches back to her topolect. "I apologize for his behaviour, 賢妹, though you didn't need to goad him, and you knew that your outfit would."
Xi'an pouts. "But I wanted to spend the end of the year with 仁兄 while wearing this!" And then, in a smaller voice, "You loved me the best then."
By now, China is used to the jealousy between the prominent cities that have been his capital at some point, though he still doesn't know how to, or if he even can, mitigate it. He sighs. "All of you are important to me in different ways. Don't tell anyone else, but you will always be my 京城, alright? No one will ever take that title from you."
Xi'an's answering smile is beautiful, and China sees in her expression, coupled with her clothing, a glimpse of the woman she had been at the height of the Tang Dynasty, a woman who intoxicated his people and foreigners alike. He has the sudden urge to give her an outfit that she really would have worn during that time, so he can once again see that woman.
"仁兄," she says, "will you call me by the name I used when I last wore this kind of clothing? The name of your 京城, as her people knew it. It's been a long time since I've heard it, since I thought I would have another opportunity to hear it. Please, just once during this visit."
It's been a very long time since he's spoken in Middle Chinese, but China will never forget her name from then. Under that name, she had been his greatest pride for a long period of his life and is still one of his greatest prides now.
"長安," he says, and she ducks her head, smiling.
"I'm glad I've always been yours when I'm strong, 仁兄."
--
Notes: Chunyun is a period of travel in China with extremely high traffic load around the time of the Chinese New Year.
仁兄 and 賢妹 are two polite, respectful ways of referring to an older brother figure and a younger sister figure, respectively, during Imperial China.
A topolect is basically the language spoken in a specific region. This is a term that more closely fits the Chinese conception of the varieties of spoken Chinese than the terms 'dialect' and 'language' do.
大哥 indicates that China is both much older than both Beijing and Xi'an and not their older brother by blood. My headcanon says that the provinces and cities are more like children of the nations than siblings. :3
京城 is the Imperial Chinese term for 'capital'.
Xi'an is the earliest city to become China's capital, the city that was China's capital for the longest number of years, and the city that was China's capital through the most dynasties.
This is my image of Xi'an, and this is my image of Beijing.
Re: [Part 9] those old glory days (China, capitals) [2/2]
anonymous
February 14 2010, 02:33:41 UTC
新年快乐，万事如意！
What a coincidence! I have just been reading a book called "The Imperial Capitals of China" while on my way to my grandmother's house to collect my red packets.Do you believe in synchronicity?
Re: [Part 9] those old glory days (China, capitals) [2/2]
anonymous
February 19 2010, 20:19:14 UTC
嘻嘻 难道你是同袍？？？！！！！ 咱们有缘啊～～～～ 新年快乐，虎年大吉！
Apparently 齐胸襦裙 was allowed to be worn by only rich women during the Tang Dynasty! :3333
And hehe I'm probably going try to make my own 齐胸襦裙 soon ^^;;; I hear that it's easy for it to fall down from girls who have worn it...I imagine the bow is very important in securing it, and of course making sure the measurements fit one's size~
Re: [Part 9] those old glory days (China, capitals) [2/2]
anonymous
February 14 2010, 05:55:18 UTC
this anon just came back from new year festivities and thinks that you are all sorts of wonderful. everything in here was accurate and the interactions were awesome and china's thoughts, <3 this is going into my headcanon. this is just asdfjkl; /love
moar, PLEASE? especially after seeing beijing's drool-worthy picture. some other fill set in this universe, or a sequel of sorts? agh. i wasn't expecting much, but mann was i wrong.
"Stop!" China raises his voice over them, and they fall silent. "Today is New Year's Eve, and two of my most important cities have come to spend this important day with me. If the two of you care for me at all, you will not fight in my presence."
Xi'an curtsies to China, then says to Beijing, "For 大哥's sake, I won't argue with you in his presence." Beijing gives her an abrupt nod and replies, "Same."
"Then, Beijing," China says, "will you go prepare one of the other guest rooms for your sister?" Beijing nods and reluctantly leaves the foyer. China turns back to Xi'an and switches back to her topolect. "I apologize for his behaviour, 賢妹, though you didn't need to goad him, and you knew that your outfit would."
Xi'an pouts. "But I wanted to spend the end of the year with 仁兄 while wearing this!" And then, in a smaller voice, "You loved me the best then."
By now, China is used to the jealousy between the prominent cities that have been his capital at some point, though he still doesn't know how to, or if he even can, mitigate it. He sighs. "All of you are important to me in different ways. Don't tell anyone else, but you will always be my 京城, alright? No one will ever take that title from you."
Xi'an's answering smile is beautiful, and China sees in her expression, coupled with her clothing, a glimpse of the woman she had been at the height of the Tang Dynasty, a woman who intoxicated his people and foreigners alike. He has the sudden urge to give her an outfit that she really would have worn during that time, so he can once again see that woman.
"仁兄," she says, "will you call me by the name I used when I last wore this kind of clothing? The name of your 京城, as her people knew it. It's been a long time since I've heard it, since I thought I would have another opportunity to hear it. Please, just once during this visit."
It's been a very long time since he's spoken in Middle Chinese, but China will never forget her name from then. Under that name, she had been his greatest pride for a long period of his life and is still one of his greatest prides now.
"長安," he says, and she ducks her head, smiling.
"I'm glad I've always been yours when I'm strong, 仁兄."
--
Notes:
Chunyun is a period of travel in China with extremely high traffic load around the time of the Chinese New Year.
仁兄 and 賢妹 are two polite, respectful ways of referring to an older brother figure and a younger sister figure, respectively, during Imperial China.
A topolect is basically the language spoken in a specific region. This is a term that more closely fits the Chinese conception of the varieties of spoken Chinese than the terms 'dialect' and 'language' do.
大哥 indicates that China is both much older than both Beijing and Xi'an and not their older brother by blood. My headcanon says that the provinces and cities are more like children of the nations than siblings. :3
京城 is the Imperial Chinese term for 'capital'.
Xi'an is the earliest city to become China's capital, the city that was China's capital for the longest number of years, and the city that was China's capital through the most dynasties.
This is my image of Xi'an, and this is my image of Beijing.
Reply
What a coincidence! I have just been reading a book called "The Imperial Capitals of China" while on my way to my grandmother's house to collect my red packets.Do you believe in synchronicity?
http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Capitals-China-Inside-Celestial/dp/1845950097
Tang dynasty has always been my favorite, especially the women's revealing clothes.Plump ladies like Yang Yuhuan were popular back then lol
How does one wear 齐胸襦裙 without it falling down? Even if you're fat and have a huge chest like me?
http://www.shyuou.com/newsedit.asp?id=223
I'm dying to own a set, though I don't even live in China.(foreign citizen)
Reply
Apparently 齐胸襦裙 was allowed to be worn by only rich women during the Tang Dynasty! :3333
And hehe I'm probably going try to make my own 齐胸襦裙 soon ^^;;; I hear that it's easy for it to fall down from girls who have worn it...I imagine the bow is very important in securing it, and of course making sure the measurements fit one's size~
Reply
moar, PLEASE? especially after seeing beijing's drool-worthy picture. some other fill set in this universe, or a sequel of sorts? agh. i wasn't expecting much, but mann was i wrong.
Reply
haha, author-anon does want to write moar in this verse but has no clue where to begin...-_-
Reply
I love your versions of the present Capital and the old one...
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment