Can anyone help me? I am looking for someone familiar with Asian culture, that may help me with a scene I am writing. The POV character is something like Asian royalty preparing for a very important ceremony.
I am having trouble with verbs and adjectives, as well as terminology regarding the kimono her handmaiden is helping her into. Can anyone suggest a link or offer any insight on kimono their, parts, symbolism, etc?
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
I believe Jamie Ford is Japanese American. there's someone on Liberty Hall that is Asian-American, I think, who has talked about submitting to an Asian sci-fi magazine, but I don't remember that person's name. I'm sure Goatboy would know.
Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :
Thanks. I'll keep my eyes peeled for those two.
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
they've both posted here in the last few days.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
It might not hurt to try reading MEMOIR OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden (they made a movie of it recently). The book tells quite a lot about fancy Japanese clothing like kimonos and what goes with them.
Thanks Kathleen. That link had a helpful key to what I need. "How to wear a kimono" which gave classical steps on how to put one on, which can be altered into someone else putting it on for her.
I feel compelled to make this scene seamless(No pun intended) it seems only right to give justice to such a beatiful ritual, I have imagined. I have read and seen the recomended "Memoir of a Geisha" fantastic! Thanks again.
Posted by JamieFord (Member # 3112) on :
I'm actually 1/2 Chinese, but I've written a lot of Japanese characters. That link that Kathleen posted is a great resource.
Kimonos (and dress in general) are a great way to "show not tell" about a character's class, marital status, etc. She could be wearing a furisode kimono to indicate her status as a single woman, it could be purple/black to show she's a descendant of a Daimyo family (feudal lords), that kind of thing.
Women's kimonos can have a dozen or more components, not counting footwear. Even there, simple things like traditional geta shoes can come in different varieties, usually pertaining to geography and weather.
Is there something particular you're looking for?
Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :
The character is not an actual Asian. She is the matriarchal leader of a Tribe that has descended over the past few thousand years from a Japanese colony ship.
I have worked out most of the issues regarding terms and process of putting one on. I suppose now I am looking for details of her Kimono, which should be for the most important ceremony.
A ceremony of passage and Conception. Maybe colors and or patterns that may best represent that. I might be going overboard, but I want this to be great.
Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :
I am thinking about a kamon (family crest) that I will turn into the tribe crest.(there are seven different tribes)