"Nirvana in Fire"/"Lang Ya Bang" Group Read: Discussion Post for Chapters 1-4

[x_los]

We're taking a break from poetry to read Lang Ya Bang/Nirvana in Fire. We did try this before, over a year ago, but now we're doing it in concert with a larger Discord of people. If that's your preferred book-club method, contact superborb for an invite.

I'll be on there, but also doing a weekly post with thoughts over here. Feel free to join in/discuss here if Dreamwidth is your preferred method.

If anyone is interested in dankodes running further poetry content during or after NiF, please let me know what you'd be keen to discuss. I'm happy to work with you on that. I'll probably ask this again once NiF draws to a close.

For the first week, we're discussing chapters 1-4 of Lang Ya Bang. This discussion will draw to a close, and the next session will open, on May 9th.

Chinese text: https://sj.uukanshu.com/book.aspx?id=17338
English translation: https://merelhyn.tumblr.com/post/641747965727358976/the-langya-list-epubpdf

SPOILER POLICY: I personally don't give a fuck or even like to give unearned credence to the concept, so since I'm writing the post, anything's fair game.

Comments

Re: Chapter 4

[superborb]

I think this is in the tradition of 'only the emperor gets multiple concubines and everyone else is ahistorically monogamous unless we need convenient concubines'.

I think block of ice like 'icy demeanor'.

YYJ is so much more immediately obviously socially adept here.

Re: Chapter 4

[halfcactus]

+1 I also think FL being icy pertains to his demeanor and inexpressiveness. Him laying his head on MCS’s lap is supposed to be, I suppose, some kind of moe gap?? Iirc MCS describes it as a sajiao moment, clearly he thinks FL id adorable, but no one else is convinced. XD

He’s definitely characterized differently here, not as pouty as drama!FL.

Re: Chapter 4

[x_los]

Which is odd bc in my head, at least at the moment, he's still extremely drama!FL. It's going to take me a bit to stop back-reading the drama characters over this version thereof. x_x

Re: Chapter 4

[x_los]

Though at least in the drama, Jingyan has a concubine at the moment and later acquires a wife as crown prince. And I think there's some discussion of Prince Yu's wanting Banruo as a concubine.

'Feels' is what gets me, maybe.

Yeah we do see, much earlier or just easier, YYJ's facility with these situations.