Dantalian, symbolism thoughts

[branchandroot]

The three yomihime are ringing very significant Trimurti bells for me.



There are three of them, and so far they seem to line up very closely, functionally, with the Trimurti. The creator, Brahma, corresponds with the red yomihime (Rasiel) who releases the books. The preserver or maintainer, Vishnu, corresponds with the black yomihime (Dalian, the bounded world) who acts as custodian to the books, both releasing and retrieving them as needed. The silver yomihime (Flamberge, the fallen world) corresponds with the transformer or destroyer, Shiva, being party to the destruction of books.

Even their colors match fairly closely, Shiva being white, Vishnu blue (often dark enough to be close to Dalian's black), and Brahma clothed in red while his body color varies. There are a bunch of other little things that might be taken from the iconography of the Trimurti, but they're all more tenuous. Things like Flamberge's constant needling of Hal about being a pervert, and the sometime association of Shiva's tiger skin with erotic energy or passion.

This suggests that they will be both in conflict and in balance with each other. I'm guessing that they won't feel hostility toward each other, but their keykeepers may. The keykeepers, after all, are the human ones, the yomihimes' chosen and part of their ecology but not native to it.

The association of Dalian with the heart, Flamberge with the guts, and the Rasiel with the eye... that I'm not sure yet what to do with.

Further bits: Raziel is an archangel, the keeper of secrets or mysteries. Flamberge is "flame sword" and refers these days to a sword with a wavy blade. Dantalion is a demon who teaches "arts and sciences" and secrets, and appears with many faces.

The only referent I see for Dalian is a city in China, which I don't think is particularly toward. We'll see what else turns up over time. She might just be the most direct personification of Dantalion.

Comments

reposted to fix my html

[phoebe_zeitgeist]

OMG Flamberge! I cannot believe that it has dwindled in these benighted days to become nothing but a sword with a wavy blade. Here it is in James Branch Cabell's The High Place:

IT was really no affair of Florian’s, how these five vaguely-hued and quaintly appareled persons happened to be standing just behind him. They had not been there a moment ago: but Janicot seemed partial to these small wonder-workings, and such foibles, while in dubious taste, did not greatly matter.
So Florian was off again with his silver-laced hat, and Florian saluted these strangers with extreme civility. And Florian inquired of the gray and great-thewed champion if he knew of the whereabouts of Flamberge; and this tall man answered: “No. It was a fine sword, and I wore it once when I had mortal life and was very young. But I surrendered this sword to a woman, in exchange for that which I most desired. So I got no good of Flamberge, nor did anyone else so far as I could ever hear, for there is a curse upon this sword.”
“A curse, indeed!” said Florian, somewhat astonished. “Why, but I have always been told, monsieur, that the wearer of Flamberge is unconquerable.”
“That I believe to be true. Thus the wearer of Flamberge can get all his desires, and he usually does so: and, having them, he understands that the sword is accursed.”
“And did you too get your desire in this world, monsieur, and perceive the worth of it?”
“My boy, there is a decency in these matters, and an indecency. I got my desire. And having it, I did not complain. Let that suffice.”
With that, the speaker picked up his shield, upon which was blazoned a rampant and bridled stallion, and this tall gray squinting soldier was there no longer.

-- A total digression, but I couldn't resist. To me Flamberge will always be one of the great swords of legend, like Joyeuse and Excalibur; if it's become a generic name for any old sword I can't help feeling a little sad over it.

Re: reposted to fix my html

[phoebe_zeitgeist]

And okay, I have no idea why closing the italics tag does not work to get rid of the italics in the quote. But it doesn't; I proofread carefully this time.

Maybe I could blame the hurricane? Everything else seems to be its fault at the moment, after all.

Re: reposted to fix my html

[branchandroot]

Hurricane, phase of the moon, sunspots. Gremlins! Seriously, sometimes that's the only explanation.

Re: reposted to fix my html

[branchandroot]

Oh /sweet/. Even with just one episode so far, that looks like it could really suit the Flamberge character and her keykeeper.

(For one thing, she's in a straightjacket with chains around her ankles; seriously, you might like just how twisted this show is.)

But Hal, her keykeeper, is obviously not very /happy/ with his chosen job of destruction, and he knows it's going to consume him and be his death (or maybe fate) in the end.