Some Othard questions... geography, lore and customs

[Raikai]

Hello there! I'm a returning roleplayer with a few questions that I couldn't find precise google answers for, more specifically regarding Othard. I'd greatly appreciate any help, so here it is:

1) It's safe to assume that Hingashi is directly inspired in the japanese culture, Doma inspired in chinese culture and the Azim Steppes inspired in mongolian culture?

2) There are anything like Geishas in either society? Men can partake such jobs?

3) How thaumaturgy is presented in the Far Eastern culture? They are priests too, like in Ul'dah? The only real manifestation I've seen on this is Sadu and her powers, but without any further explanation on its background.

4) How's the naming convention for surnames for Hingan midlanders? I've seen many of the forenames inspired in japanese, but not the surnames...

Thanks!

[Brightamethyst]

1 - Basically. Lots of differences obviously, but that's the the idea at least.

2 - Hildibrand.

3 - Eorzean thaumaturgy doesn't necessarily exist in the same way in other parts of the world. There are many ways of manipulating aether to use magic. Thaumaturgy is just a style.

4 - No idea.

[Anonymoose]

1. Pretty much. ("Adjust as necessary.")

2. There are professions like geisha but make sure to get the terminology straight or you'll accidentally invoke the asinine prostitution labels.

3. Thaumaturgy is a distinctly Eorzean "school" of magic, but - just like the geomancers are kinda like conjurers - the onmyoji are kinda like thaumaturges.

4. "Far Eastern" is presently considered a "clan" of Hyur, so we'd need a separate guide.

[Vidu]

In regards to that second question I recommend the weaver questline - its basically about a Maiko (a Geiko/Geisha in training) and her mentor, aswell as a guy whos a fan of both of them and pays you to design new customes for their dances.

[Raikai]

Ah, thanks! Going to check out the quests then. Hopefully more cultural details will be presented in the next encyclopedia.

[Wyssahtyn]

1. Doma is Nara era Japan, Hingashi is Tokugawa (Edo) era Japan in some variation of sakoku, and the Steppes are Mongolian.

2. Yes to both. Hildibrand dresses up as a taikomochi at one point in his SB arc, and if I recall correctly, there're a few geiko NPCs in Kugane that are involved in sidequests and such.

4. For Far Eastern names, we can expect to borrow from Raen Auri naming conventions. That is, "official" surnames are reserved for the warrior and ruling classes. Commoners, that being merchants, peasants, artisans, etc., take on unofficial names that typically reflect their professions. In actual in-game practice, however, NPCs typically use their Far Eastern name and an Eorzean appellation related to their name's meaning (note that this method is typically used when NPCs appear in duties, and I cannot recall if it is also used in cutscenes). Examples are Yugiri Mistwalker, Oboro Moonrise, Makoto the True, so on and so forth. You're best off using this latter method in my opinion.

[Cilia]

1. Hingashi and Doma are both Japanese inspired. The Steppe is indeed based on Mongolia.

2. Geisha / courtesans are prominent in both societies; Kugane has an entire red light district (Sanjo Hanamachi) while Yotsuyu was known to have been... owned by a Doman brothel. Hildibrand shows up in one of his 4.x quests, and while people are surprised it's not because he's male at all, but because they hadn't requested a male.

3. Other than Sadu apparently practicing what we know as Thaumaturgy, the East seems to have its own magical traditions. They are probably similar to the Eorzeans' in practice, but with a different history behind it.

4. Not sure... I'd need to comb Kugane for people with both a first and last name, I suppose.

[TinyRedLeaf]

1) Doma is a mix of Chinese and Japanese cultures. I don't know how the inference to Nara Japan took root, but to me it's most definitely wrong, because such an analogy doesn't account for the look and feel of Yanxia as a whole. The naming conventions, customs and costumes of the Doman people are certainly Japanese in inspiration, but the landscape and architecture is most certainly Chinese. Yes, I know Nara Japan was consciously modelled after Tang China, but geomancy and the Qitian Dasheng, aka Sun Wukong, in the Swallow's Compass are decidedly Chinese, not Japanese. Even the name, Yanxia, is Chinese (it means the Swallow's Gorges). Hinganshi is much easier to place, as its analogy with the early Edo Shogunate is very easy to spot.

2) Courtesans existed in all cultures, and certainly in Chinese and Japanese history. But, as far as I know, it was mainly in Japan that they are seen as a distinct professional class deserving of a certain level of respect. Geisha clearly operate in Kugane's pleasure and theatre district. As for Doma, well, that was the unfortunate fate of Yotsuyu, who was made to do more than just "entertain" guests.

3) Thaumaturgy is distinctively Ul'dahn. But other cultures will likely manipulate aether in similar ways.

4) As suggested, it's a good bet you can refer to raen naming conventions for hyuran Hinganshi surnames.

[Raikai]

1. Doma is Nara era Japan, Hingashi is Tokugawa (Edo) era Japan in some variation of sakoku, and the Steppes are Mongolian.

2. Yes to both. Hildibrand dresses up as a taikomochi at one point in his SB arc, and if I recall correctly, there're a few geiko NPCs in Kugane that are involved in sidequests and such.

4. For Far Eastern names, we can expect to borrow from Raen Auri naming conventions. That is, "official" surnames are reserved for the warrior and ruling classes. Commoners, that being merchants, peasants, artisans, etc., take on unofficial names that typically reflect their professions. In actual in-game practice, however, NPCs typically use their Far Eastern name and an Eorzean appellation related to their name's meaning (note that this method is typically used when NPCs appear in duties, and I cannot recall if it is also used in cutscenes). Examples are Yugiri Mistwalker, Oboro Moonrise, Makoto the True, so on and so forth. You're best off using this latter method in my opinion.

Actually Raen Auri names appear like regular japanese name + surnames on the character creator screen, randomizing the names... But you're right about what we actually see ingame with Yugiri and Oboro..

[Wyssahtyn]

The information regarding Raen naming conventions was taken from the Race Naming Conventions thread that is pinned at the top of the lore forum. Not even sure what you're trying to correct me on anyway.