AcolyteHey guys,When I was playing Elder Scroll 3(Morrwind),I found that there are lots of places that allude to Asian culture like Reincarnation，Dream of God，and Asian-style robe.It is strange to me as a Chinese to find so many Asia culture in a land of Elf. Because in fantasy culture circles of China and Japan,Elf is a a concept entirely of Western origin.
In fact，the word "Elf"itself is come form Norse mythology. And it is The Lord of the Rings, a novel which complete basic on Western Culture,which shaped the Elf of modern fantasy world.BUT today, there are ton of fantasy works like Warhammer,Warcraft,DND,and the Elder Scroll, relate Elf to Asia Culture. Some are intentional like High Elf in Warhammer Fantasy. Who live in a yin-yang island and uphold the concept of Balance. Or Night Elf in Warcraft 3 ,which use Torii (a holy symbol of Japan culture), to decorated their Moon Well.
Not to mention some……em……unfriendly stereotypes like high cheekbones, slanted eyes, mouse-like bread, clothing that confuses Chinese and Japanese styles, in some old school fantasy art like old DND book
Not to say I am offended.In fact lots of them are not hostile, and there are many Elf that just Norse Elf, But I am really curius about When and Why somebody relate a fiction so West to some thing so East,and why it become so papular
In fact，the word "Elf"itself is come form Norse mythology. And it is The Lord of the Rings, a novel which complete basic on Western Culture,which shaped the Elf of modern fantasy world.BUT today, there are ton of fantasy works like Warhammer,Warcraft,DND,and the Elder Scroll, relate Elf to Asia Culture. Some are intentional like High Elf in Warhammer Fantasy. Who live in a yin-yang island and uphold the concept of Balance. Or Night Elf in Warcraft 3 ,which use Torii (a holy symbol of Japan culture), to decorated their Moon Well.
Not to mention some……em……unfriendly stereotypes like high cheekbones, slanted eyes, mouse-like bread, clothing that confuses Chinese and Japanese styles, in some old school fantasy art like old DND book
Not to say I am offended.In fact lots of them are not hostile, and there are many Elf that just Norse Elf, But I am really curius about When and Why somebody relate a fiction so West to some thing so East,and why it become so papular
