The Emperor of Cantha

[ShadowSword]

Lately I've been wondering what way the people of Cantha regard the Emperor? As a simple man, a ruler, a demi-god (like Ancient Egyptian Phaoroahs) or a link to the Gods?

The lore doesn't say he is a god, merely regarding his title as 'Ascendant Emperor' (though this sounds vaguely mystical to me) though it does talk about his absolute rule. Meanwhile in the game I've seen NPC comments that suggest the Celestial Ministry has far more to do with the running of the Empire, which clashes with how the Manuscripts state it. Only other vaguely religious thing in the Manuscripts was the references to the Harvest Temple the Emperor makes a journey to and where Shiro killed the Emperor of the time. An interesting note is that Shiro apparently used the power of the Emperor's soul in the Jade Wind, something that hints to more than mortal powers.

He is apparently rarely seen by the normal people which seems to hint that he is above them and the Manuscripts do mention that a range of demi-gods include heroes of Cantha, which could potentially include the Emperor.
Another factor is in a screenshot from the Factions cinematic there was a mural that showed what looked like the Gods along with another unidentified figure which in my personal opinion was that it was a carving of an Emperor (Here's a link to a thread with the mural in question:http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=392098&highlight=cinematic (http://http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=392098&highlight=cinematic)). A tapestry in Kaineng City shows the Emperor along with what looks like Chinese lettering on the sides, however I obviously can't translate that.

So has anyone else found what the Emperor's role is in Cantha relevant to religion and management?

P.S I'd also appreciate it if someone who knows what the lettering might say will check out the tapestry. I would post a screen however my experiences with thumbnails and normal images has been erratic, especially when using Photobucket.

[Quintus Antonius]

The people of Cantha regard the Emperor as a living god among men.

This is reflected in the pre-order bonus miniguide:



...At the very top, in the middle of the ancient bamboo floor, he knelt and bowed his head before the carved stone statue there--a supplication from a god among men to the gods of men. (Pre-Order 4)

[hotdogtesting]

Well, with all the parallels to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean imperial court. I would liken the Celestial ministry to those ministers closest to the imperial court. This would mean that they do, in essence, rule the empire for the emperor. However, like any absolute monarchy, the emperor has the last say.

From the obvious inter-ministry rivalry, I would also say that the emperor acts similar to classic Chinese emperors... in that, he is a mediator between powerful ministers and their ministries. It is not so much the job of the emperor to decide as to make sure that no ministry becomes too powerful.

[halfthought]

the "acendent" might mean that he has ascended, (ai:closer to the stars)

[Zaxares]

The "Ascendant" part of the Emperor's title is given to Emperors who have become Ascended (or in the Factions story, have become Weh No Su). I don't remember where exactly I read this since I'm at work, but I believe it was in the Factions Manuscripts.

[lamlamlam]

Lately I've been wondering what way the people of Cantha regard the Emperor? As a simple man, a ruler, a demi-god (like Ancient Egyptian Phaoroahs) or a link to the Gods?

The lore doesn't say he is a god, merely regarding his title as 'Ascendant Emperor' (though this sounds vaguely mystical to me) though it does talk about his absolute rule. Meanwhile in the game I've seen NPC comments that suggest the Celestial Ministry has far more to do with the running of the Empire, which clashes with how the Manuscripts state it. Only other vaguely religious thing in the Manuscripts was the references to the Harvest Temple the Emperor makes a journey to and where Shiro killed the Emperor of the time. An interesting note is that Shiro apparently used the power of the Emperor's soul in the Jade Wind, something that hints to more than mortal powers.

He is apparently rarely seen by the normal people which seems to hint that he is above them and the Manuscripts do mention that a range of demi-gods include heroes of Cantha, which could potentially include the Emperor.
Another factor is in a screenshot from the Factions cinematic there was a mural that showed what looked like the Gods along with another unidentified figure which in my personal opinion was that it was a carving of an Emperor (Here's a link to a thread with the mural in question:http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=392098&highlight=cinematic (http://http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=392098&highlight=cinematic)). A tapestry in Kaineng City shows the Emperor along with what looks like Chinese lettering on the sides, however I obviously can't translate that.

So has anyone else found what the Emperor's role is in Cantha relevant to religion and management?

P.S I'd also appreciate it if someone who knows what the lettering might say will check out the tapestry. I would post a screen however my experiences with thumbnails and normal images has been erratic, especially when using Photobucket.


About those writing, since I am Chinese, can read some Japanese and can reconise korean charaters as well, I will say that it is nither mordern Chinese nor Japanese. Those are certainly not structured like Korean charaters should be as well. So I think they are made up characters, inspire by oreiantal words. But then they may be some from an even smaller nation (doubt it) or one of the long extincted character, but I have seen many and none are looking alike (in style-wise).
Well...there are some character looks a bit like the one in the center in those language (if one think hard adn start using imagination), but even with the matching characters, it make no sense. (or maybe its just badly written, but then they won't hang it up like that then..)

[hotdogtesting]

At first, I thought that they looked Asian as well... but, on closer inspection and after a bit of web searching, I realised that they resemble more closely a complex cuneiform. Of course, it could just be coincedental...

However, given that Chinese writing is much more fluid and contains mixtures of organic and linear iconographs... the existing Canthan writing system seems a poor replication.

[ShadowSword]

Ok, thanks for checking it out anyway. Guess thye really do regard him as a God, though obviousl on a slightly more approachable level.

[The Dawn Raven]

I thought an "Ascendant" ruler meant the title was Hereditary?

[Quintus Antonius]

No, "ascendant" means that they have ascended by means of becoming Closer to the Stars.