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| Thread: Trivia time: The Sanctuary | |
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Jac
Hired Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 10:25 AM |
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Trivia time: The Sanctuary
Everyone has heard from the dev video that the Sanctuary theme is based on several Asian countries, namely Japan, China, India and Thailand. My little trivia for you is this: is there anything in the Sanctuary that is not Japanese-inspired? Let me start with one of the most obvious.
1. The Naga race as a whole is based on the Hindu mythology featuring snake deities of the same name.
Anything else?
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MrDragon
Supreme Hero
Eats people with Ketchup
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posted April 30, 2011 10:53 AM |
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Edited by MrDragon at 12:16, 30 Apr 2011.
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The Kirin or Qilin (original name) is a Chinese mythical creature though it's influence has spread through many parts of eastern Asia.
It is in fact known by a specific name in 9 different eastern languages.
The Coral Maiden is obviously a relative of the Medusa from Greek myth and was lopped with the Naga because it was easy to redesign a Medusa to fit amongst them by including the serpent's tail instead of legs and removing the wings she had in the original myth.
Which of course echo's many modern interpretations of Medusa, very few people seem aware that the Gorgons were often portayed with wings.
The town's design itself borrows about as much from Japanese architecture as it does from Chinese or Korean, their building styles are all roughly similar with subtle differences. (Edit: Upon closer inspection I'm going to say slightly more China then Japan.)
The snaky design of the walls however is an obvious visual reminder of a certain very famous wall in the way that it coils around and over the topography of the area.
Finally as a non-oriental influence again it seems the Greek have had their finger on the design as well, or specifically, modern interpretations of a greek myth, namely Atlantis.
[link]http://nsm05.casimages.com/img/2011/03/10//1103100746401266187794221.jpg[/link]
Especially evident in this screenshot or the reliefs on the doors and walls which bear close resemblance to modern media portrayals of Atlantian architecture, such as for example, in the game Age of Mythology (great game btw) or even Disney's Atlantis (was pretty meh for a disney film).
[link]http://nsm05.casimages.com/img/2011/03/10//1103100746371266187794213.jpg[/link]
This screenshot on the otherhand clearly is supposed to remind the viewer of the Japanese myth about the Dragon Palace beneath the sea.
Finally the actual fantastical terrain type which they make their home in is far more reminiscent of travel brochures for Korea and Theiland, much hotter and wetter then Japan or China.
Though I suspect they may also have drawn inspiration from south american countries.
Japan seems the primary source, but it is certainly not the only source.
Edit: Actually specifically a Sharkman, is a Japanese myth, called the Samebito.
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Davy
Known Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 12:10 PM |
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Also the shark warriors.
The myth of the fishman is from spain(and somewhere I've read it is from hawaii)
And the mizukami bears some resemblance to the undine/ondine,who are water elementals from european mythology.
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Avirosb
Promising
Legendary Hero
No longer on vacation
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posted April 30, 2011 12:52 PM |
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Edited by Avirosb at 12:52, 30 Apr 2011.
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Fishmen and elemental spirits, or just spirits in general are pretty much universal though.
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Jac
Hired Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 01:13 PM |
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Interesting... but wasn't the Dragon Palace supposed to have origins in Chinese myth? In the Chinese novel Journey to the West, one of the main characters is a Kappa of sorts.
The water theme I am guessing is a dash of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy that stresses on the perks of being flexible like water.
At any rate, this is how I view the Sanctuary faction as whole (with what we have seen at the moment):
75% Japanese
10% Chinese
7% Indian
3% Thai
3% Thai only because of what you guys posted lol, otherwise probably 0.
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MrDragon
Supreme Hero
Eats people with Ketchup
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posted April 30, 2011 01:30 PM |
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You're forgetting Hindu and "other".
And no, the Dragon Palace is the place where the Japanese deity Ryujin lives.
That is not to say that similar places do not exist in other mythology or tales such as Journey to the west, but Ryujin was a the Dragon god of the sea and his palace of coral (or crystal) beneath the waves is a very popular and interesting mythological icon with a lot of stories referencing it, such as the Samebito (Sharkman) who was exiled from it and longs to return to it after he atones for some past crime.
Personally I'd say it's about 40% Japanese and the rest is other sources, certainly the largest chunk, but it is not the majority of the faction.
Only 3 creatures are directly and purely japanese.
The Wanizame, The Kappa and the Yuki-Onna.
Beyond that only the Kenshi is a little bit Japanese because of the style of his armaments, the creature itself is a Naga and thus not specifically Japanese in origin.
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Davy
Known Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 05:02 PM |
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Quote:
Fishmen and elemental spirits, or just spirits in general are pretty much universal though.
yes but those are their origins .
@MrDragon:
Why is the wanizame purely japanese,I've never read anything about a japanese creature like that?
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MrDragon
Supreme Hero
Eats people with Ketchup
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posted April 30, 2011 06:03 PM |
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Because the Wanizame is obviously based on the myth of the Samebito which is according to the tale, specifically a shark man (despite the fact that the tale also claims he has a beard) from the Dragon Palace.
Even the Wanizame's black skin on his back conforms to the myth.
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Davy
Known Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 11:02 PM |
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Quote:
Because the Wanizame is obviously based on the myth of the Samebito which is according to the tale, specifically a shark man (despite the fact that the tale also claims he has a beard) from the Dragon Palace.
Even the Wanizame's black skin on his back conforms to the myth.
interesting I didn't know that^^
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Dexter
Known Hero
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posted April 30, 2011 11:26 PM |
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I do believe that the Mizu-kami, even though having a Japanese name, is themed by traditional Thai clothing.
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mlai
Adventuring Hero
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posted May 01, 2011 02:15 AM |
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I'm slightly disappointed that Sanctuary is so much based on Jpnese and Far East themes. I had hoped that it would be more based on Hindu myths and aesthetics.
Having been a teenage devourer of anime and console games, nowadays I'm pretty sick of everything and anything electronic-games-related having a Jpnese influence. Conversely, when's the last time you saw any PC/console game being based on India themes?
India is a rich and ancient culture, no less interesting than Japan, and exemplifies the word "exotic" much more to me.
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted May 01, 2011 02:37 AM |
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Would indeed make more sense though the Indian theme is already taken by academy. Or was.
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Lord_Immortal
Famous Hero
DoR Dev Team
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posted May 01, 2011 10:07 AM |
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Quote:
I'm slightly disappointed that Sanctuary is so much based on Jpnese and Far East themes. I had hoped that it would be more based on Hindu myths and aesthetics.
Having been a teenage devourer of anime and console games, nowadays I'm pretty sick of everything and anything electronic-games-related having a Jpnese influence. Conversely, when's the last time you saw any PC/console game being based on India themes?
India is a rich and ancient culture, no less interesting than Japan, and exemplifies the word "exotic" much more to me.
+1
Quote:
Would indeed make more sense though the Indian theme is already taken by academy. Or was.
The only indian creature taken by the Academy is the Rakshasa.Golems are jewish,gargoyles and gremlins european,mages have arabic touch,titans greek and Djinns totally arabic.
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Davy
Known Hero
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posted May 01, 2011 03:48 PM |
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Quote:
The only indian creature taken by the Academy is the Rakshasa.Golems are jewish,gargoyles and gremlins european,mages have arabic touch,titans greek and Djinns totally arabic.
but the design and style of the buildings are indiean(or arab?I am not quite sure),so I think if they ever make an indian faction they will probably make the academy more indian.
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