"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 1

[dragonyphoenix]

Li Cong's fate is such a strong Clue to the bad turn the regime has taken Yes, I thought that too. And I like your point of how a lack of Confucian scholars at court is a rebuke. I hadn't thought of it, but yes.

"paying respects to Buddha today" what exactly this is and why it would necessitate her resting at the Manor afterwards confuse me. I'm not sure what it is but I think it's meant as a character reference. She pays proper respect to the gods. It tells us she's a good person. But that's a guess. And I'd say that the temple was far away but why wouldn't there be a temple in a big city?

I think it's the same Confucian scholar in both the book and the drama. When prince Mu Qing goes to fetch the scholar, isn't he asked, in the drama, if his surname is Li?

Re: Chapter 1

[x_los]

- Re Mu Qing going to fetch the scholar, in the drama he can do so, and in ch 1 of the book here, we learn the man's died in ignominy.
- Yeah I think there has to be something about--a temple the royal family has access to inside the imperial city proper, or something, and maybe? Protocol around the relatively simple journey makes her staying overnight in her discrete manor there make sense.

Re: Chapter 1

[dragonyphoenix]

The scholar who died is Li Cong. I believe the scholar that Mu Qing fetches is someone else. The scholar who comes to the debate admired Li Cong and must have been a close friend as he recognizes Li Cong's token which is what draws him out of seclusion.

I like your thinking on the temple and protocols. I can definitely see that being the reason she has to stay at her palace after visiting the temple.