Week 7 - Part VI (The Inner Sanctum) Chaptser 8 -13

[Edward C. Patterson]

Well, we've made to the dead center of the book (not so dead, eh?)

Chapter 8 - The Three Myrobalens

1 - Well now you know what Silky had in his store chest. Why do you think Sung Yi-di wants them?

2 - Ch'u Bai-dui is a bit more than an herbalist and the joss stick reading is a common enough practice in most Chinatowns. However, what do you believe there three fruit are, could be and why three of them?

Chapter 9 - Warrior and Guide

1 - This is the only time sine The Jade Owl Bei-jing opening scene that I've given the point of view to Thomas Ch'en. Why do we have it now?

2 - In fact, what is the purpose of this entire chapter, a chpater which seems to Hold up the Action? (You might not be able to answet this question until after Chapter 13)

Chapter 10 - Bugs and Tar Pits

1 - What axe is the author grinding regarding the differences been tween the two museums? Any guesses why?

2 - Does this scene put a different light on Xiao Win-t'o?

Chapter 11 - Mistress and Master

1 - This scene reminds us that Audrey was once part of a proud profession. Which one?

2 - The tien-xin rite is first mentioned here and also new name of the red stone (he-sha - the Black Warrior). What Chinese religion are these rites part of?

Chapter 12 - Wham! Bam! Boom!

What can I say except, whew! If I were to write opera and that opera was Aida, this would be it.

1 - Did the events suprise you?

2 - Were you able to follow the movements of glimmers and ch'i in this chapter?

3 - Do you see the purpose of Chapter 9 now?

Wham! Bam! Boom!

Chapter 13 - To the Distant Shore

1 - Quests are quests. Our characters have followed them (I call them warrants) many time (and will contiue to doso), but there's a point when even the most dauntless hero puts on the brakes, especially our very human heroes. What is the warrant now, and not dictated by that damned owl (who still hasn't appeared once in this work, mind you).

This is a natural ending for a book at this point, but now the fun begins. Pieces are sent to the four winds and our China hands really do not have enough knowledge to corral them. So . . . to China . . . and Part VII - Taking Instruction.

Ed P

[dnagirl]

Chapter 8 - The Three Myrobalens

1 - Well now you know what Silky had in his store chest. Why do you think Sung Yi-di wants them?  I think she wants to use them, maybe to bring Niu-wa back to life?  I’m still confused by the whole feather/owl/egg relationship to be honest.

2 - Ch'u Bai-dui is a bit more than an herbalist and the joss stick reading is a common enough practice in most Chinatowns. However, what do you believe there three fruit are, could be and why three of them?  Maybe an antidote to the poison that Sung Yi-di is making?  I assumed three just because it was a repetition of that number.

Chapter 9 - Warrior and Guide

1 - This is the only time sine The Jade Owl Bei-jing opening scene that I've given the point of view to Thomas Ch'en. Why do we have it now?  To see the exhibit through a different set of eyes?

2 - In fact, what is the purpose of this entire chapter, a chpater which seems to Hold up the Action? (You might not be able to answet this question until after Chapter 13)To let us know the paintings are still alive and have power?

Chapter 10 - Bugs and Tar Pits

1 - What axe is the author grinding regarding the differences been tween the two museums? Any guesses why?The Museum of Natural History is more of an entertainment center, built on amusement and the need to always entertain.  It’s more of a farce of history as opposed to real history and I’m assuming the axe you have to grind is the replacement of the appreciation of true historical elements with the whizz-bang of flashing lights and showtunes.  The intellectuals vs. those who go to museums to pretend they are intellectual.  Personally, I have the same axe to grind.  I watched a historic 150+ year old hotel, an architectural beauty, get torn down and replaced by a CVS drugstore and it made me sick.

2 - Does this scene put a different light on Xiao Win-t'o?  Seems the tables may be turned a little bit between himself and Pelesar.  Win-t’o definitely seems more in charge of the situation.  He also seems to have his own plan for Pelesar…if Win-t’o goes down, he’s taking Pelesar with him.

Chapter 11 - Mistress and Master

1 - This scene reminds us that Audrey was once part of a proud profession. Which one?  She played and sang at the opera.
 
2 - The tien-xin rite is first mentioned here and also new name of the red stone (he-sha - the Black Warrior). What Chinese religion are these rites part of?  ?

Chapter 12 - Wham! Bam! Boom!

What can I say except, whew! If I were to write opera and that opera was Aida, this would be it.

1 - Did the events suprise you?  Yes!

2 - Were you able to follow the movements of glimmers and ch'i in this chapter?  Yes.

3 - Do you see the purpose of Chapter 9 now?  Yes!

Wham! Bam! Boom!

Chapter 13 - To the Distant Shore

1 - Quests are quests. Our characters have followed them (I call them warrants) many time (and will contiue to doso), but there's a point when even the most dauntless hero puts on the brakes, especially our very human heroes. What is the warrant now, and not dictated by that damned owl (who still hasn't appeared once in this work, mind you).  They have to go get Silky back and Tadzio.  They also are going to have to get those d*mn feathers back.

[Edward C. Patterson]

DNAGirl:

The egg, feathers etc will clarify. Rowden and company don;t get it yet either.

The axe to grind is exactly corret. Bear i mind that John Battle Hall (The Museum of East Aian Ats and Culture) is based on the deYoung Museum, which was torn down and replaced with a crack barrel set of earthquake proof building and the Chinese exhibits now reside in San francisco City Hall. I loved the deYoung and the demise of the building is an important element for the last two books.

This book is seeped in Taoism, and these rites are taoist.

The myrabalens have nother ame, which if I gave it to you  I'd spoil the book's ending.

I delighted that I took you off guard with the Wham! Bam! Boom! The only way I could bring that off was to educate the reader with the placement of every element in the Wam Bam Boom scene, BEFORE we got to the scene. Therefore, the Warrior and Guide sequence walks through the placement of every element in John Battle Hall. By the time we get to the action chapter, I don't need to set up the furniture (he food yes, but not the set). It was done in Chapter 9.

So it's off to . . . Shang-hai and this time I'm taking you into the nitty gritty world of Chinese Taoist and Folk culture. fasten your seat belt.

Ed P

[Ann in Arlington]

Chapter 8 - The Three Myrobalens

1 - Well now you know what Silky had in his store chest. Why do you think Sung Yi-di wants them?

  Oh oh.  I read this chapter so long ago I've forgotten. . .oh, wait, the yellow feathers, right?

2 - Ch'u Bai-dui is a bit more than an herbalist and the joss stick reading is a common enough practice in most Chinatowns. However, what do you believe there three fruit are, could be and why three of them?

many mystically significant things come in threes.  I'd guess each fruit has a different property and will be needed at some point in his further adventures.

Chapter 9 - Warrior and Guide

1 - This is the only time sine The Jade Owl Bei-jing opening scene that I've given the point of view to Thomas Ch'en. Why do we have it now?

drat. . . .once again, not recalling . . . .but I'd guess it's simply to get that 'inscrutable oriental' point of view.

2 - In fact, what is the purpose of this entire chapter, a chpater which seems to Hold up the Action? (You might not be able to answet this question until after Chapter 13)

  yeah. . .sorry, again, not recalling well enough. . . .but, knowing you, it is significant -- perhaps I should go back and re-read.

Chapter 10 - Bugs and Tar Pits

1 - What axe is the author grinding regarding the differences been tween the two museums? Any guesses why?

you got a problem with dinosaurs?  But mostly, I think you don't like modern architecture -- I gather the real world counterpart you're describing is major Ugliness. . . . . . 

2 - Does this scene put a different light on Xiao Win-t'o?

well, he's hard to figure out.  At the beginning of JO, he was definitely a bad guy, but kind of got converted.  But he is still more or less the 'godfather' of Chinatown, so he's certainly not squeaky clean.  He doesn't like dealing with Pelesar, that's for sure.  The guy must have some hold over him. . . . . .

Chapter 11 - Mistress and Master

1 - This scene reminds us that Audrey was once part of a proud profession. Which one?

she was an opera singer

2 - The tien-xin rite is first mentioned here and also new name of the red stone (he-sha - the Black Warrior). What Chinese religion are these rites part of?

Taoism?   -- I really do need to get out that "Oriental Philosophies" text from HS.   

Chapter 12 - Wham! Bam! Boom!

What can I say except, whew! If I were to write opera and that opera was Aida, this would be it.

1 - Did the events suprise you?

well, you know, when Pelesar said Silky should turn over the stone to him at the top of the 'hill' by the last banner, it did occur to me that having a powerful red stone so close to those banners when Nick was in the room could be a problem. . . .I'd forgotten about the feathers but of course they're active too. . . . I was a little surprised that Nick or Rose didn't cotton on to what was happening more completely and sooner. . .but Rose seems to be a bit off her feed lately as seer.

2 - Were you able to follow the movements of glimmers and ch'i in this chapter?

I think so. . .Nick was communicating mostly with Tadzio. . . . .sometimes with Rowden. . . .so the question is, is Nick still "in" Tadzio who went through the banner. . .so in this world he is in something like a coma but living through T in the past. . . .gotta get to chapter 13. . . . .

3 - Do you see the purpose of Chapter 9 now?

. . . . um. . . . .I guess I should repread that. . . .wait, is that where Nick showed off how he can see and manipulate the chi?

Wham! Bam! Boom!

  Indeed!

[Ann in Arlington]

Ah!  Just read prior comments. . .yes. . . .the chapter where you described how the hall was set up. . .I do sort of recall thinking, but we know that because it's just like chicken cage hill. . .but I guess the idea was to have it fairly fresh in the reader's mind so that when the inadvertent triangulation occurred we'd be ready.

FWIW, I too am saddened by the destruction of a historic building solely for the purpose of building a modern one. . . .and in SF I expect earthquake-proofing a 100 year old building would be astronomically expensive.  That said, if it withstood 1906, one could argue it doesn't need much fortification!    But, I have to say that, while I like a quite museum filled with exhibits for looking at and reading about, a little bit of hands-on and interactivity can be a good thing.  Kids WILL be bored if there's nothing interesting for them to look at or hear about. . . .so, while I don't think a museum should be like a playground, exactly. . . .I think it's good when there are knowledgeable, kid-loving docents who can show and explain things to kids to get 'em interested in 'that boring old history stuff'.

[Ann in Arlington]

Chapter 13 - To the Distant Shore

1 - Quests are quests. Our characters have followed them (I call them warrants) many time (and will contiue to doso), but there's a point when even the most dauntless hero puts on the brakes, especially our very human heroes. What is the warrant now, and not dictated by that damned owl (who still hasn't appeared once in this work, mind you).

This is a natural ending for a book at this point, but now the fun begins. Pieces are sent to the four winds and our China hands really do not have enough knowledge to corral them. So . . . to China . . . and Part VII - Taking Instruction.

O.K.  So they clearly have to try to find Silky and Tadzio. . . .who are presumably with Pelesar who is not likely to take real good care of either of them.  I guess I missed what happened to Connie -- except they slipped her a ruffie and left her in some storage room, which was apparently a significant storage room -- and Sung Yi-Di. . . . .I was a little afraid Nick would be in a coma until Tadzio came back as he'd have been connected to him. . . . .

[Edward C. Patterson]

These are fun chaptyers. As for the destruction of museum buildings, I still miss the original DeYoung Museum (John Battle Hall), bnow replaced by a hideous asortment of buildings, and the Chinese art is still in SFD City Hall.

Ed P