Khitai was a realm of the Far East of Hyboria.[14]
Its civilization, people and culture were originated in the Pre-Cataclysmic Age. Khitai itself became synonymous with ancient knowledge and lore.[1]
The Khitans themselves were convinced of their cultural superiority and attempted to isolate themselves from the western "barbarians," by which they meant any foreigner. The terrain of their area favored them, as to the west of Khitai lay the vast Wuhuan Desert. Few travelers would risk crossing the desert and facing its nomadic tribes. Still the Khitans constructed a Great Wall as further protection from potential invaders.[1][verification needed]
History
Origins in the Pre-Cataclysmic Age[]
The people,[15][1] traditions and civilization of Khitai came from the Pre-Cataclysmic times.[1]
Hyborian Age[]
Great War with Khitai[]
Khitai entered at some point a conflict known in Turan as the "Great War with Khitai". Little is known of the conflict, apart that Amir of Khawarizm participated on the Turanian side, and that he hinted that the conflict caused massive casualties to the Khitans.[16]
God-Emperor's rule[]
Khitai fought and defeated the Chua barbarians, but the son and heir of the Emperor was killed at the moment of Khitai's great victory over the Chua. After this victory, only Yamatai dared to challenge Khitai.[17]
Dragon Emperor's rule[]
Years later, the Emperor died, and was succeeded by his grandson Won Chu who became known as the Dragon Emperor, served by the Dragon Guard.[17]
In the early days of King Conan's rule over Aquilonia, Yah Chieng took over, pillaged, and ruled over Paikang. He sent a demon abduct Conan's wife, Zenobia as a sacrifice for a dark ritual.[18]
Dignitaries from Khitai were present in Khorala, capital of Ophir, for the Feast of Mitra.[19]
Legacy[]
Khitai apparently became known as China,[20] and Paikang is accepted as occupying the site of modern Peking (though the description of the vegetation open that assertion to doubt).[21]
Facts[]
Geography[]
The area within the wall was vast and diverse. Urbanized areas, fertile plains, bamboo jungles, and taiga forests were all part of Khitai.[1][verification needed]
The land included also great deserts, volcanoes,[2] and "Lava Hills".[22]
South of Paikang was the so-called Lost Jungle.[1]
Politics and Economics[]
There were many city-states, though Paikang reigned supreme among them, earning it the position of capital. It benefited from its location at the far end of a major trade route and was a center of industry and commerce. The marketplaces of the city offered drugs, silks, spices, gold, silver, jade, jewelry, artwork, and magical equipment.[1][verification needed] Khitai also produced dyes.[23]
Khitai found itself at odds and in conflict with Yamatai,[6][17][9] Turan,[16] or the Chua barbarians.[17]
Flora and Fauna[]
Waterfowls, buffaloes, leopards and tigers were common.[1]
The Lost Jungle was home to the poisonous Black Lotus and to the Gray Apes.[1][24] or Silver Apes.[25]
Red Apes inhabited the Lava Hills of Khitai.[22]
The Skirri had their hive-cities in the great deserts and volcanoes.[2]
Religion[]
There was no state religion, and many gods and demons existed in Khitai.[1] There were allegedly a thousand[26] or nine thousand gods, including Cheng-Ho, goddess of the moon,[27] Yun[28] (who was worshiped by prayers and incense),[29] Nagu,[30] Ghanizar (an elephantine-headed, four-armed god),[31] the Seven Dragons,[9] the Dragon-Lords.[18] the Sky-Dragon, the Great World-Tortoise,[11] Shou-Lao, Dark Ch'angh,[8] the Four Jade Kings, the Lords of Jade and Jasmine,[32] the Sky-Goddess, the Great God Kuei,[6] and the Lord of the Tigers.[17]
They also worshiped the Emperor of Khitai as a true god,[12][33] or like one.[9] He was known as the Lord of Heaven and Earth.[17]
The Dark Gods, which included Kuro, Prince of Darkness, offered deals to mortals. They were seemingly either demons or evil deities. Their realm was located in a misty swamp in Khitai, and Kuro could be met at the Temple of Kuro in the outlands of Khitai. They were served by Akema who came to mortals to offer them deals, stalked them, and collected debts and penance.[30]
Rituals of human sacrifice weren't uncommon.[1]
Until he was taken away, the alien Yag-Kosha was worshiped in the Lost Jungle[34] by the Priests of Yun.[1]
Customs[]
There are various rules regarding the decorum around the Emperor:
- By the time of the God-Emperor, the Emperor did not eat in front of anyone because such actions were beneath him.[12] While not eating, when the Emperor declared the end of the banquet, "when the Emperor [was] done eating", everyone was done, and the food was removed from the hall.[17]
- All Khitans bowed before the Emperor,[12] for it was death for Khitans to look at the Emperor without first looking at the ground. A bowing not low enough was interpreted as an insult.[17]
Armory[]
Among the weapons originated from Khitai were the Khitan throwing stars (used notably by the assassin cultists of the Brotherhood of Sahb Delanzar.[35] The Khitans also used bows, notably powerful composite bow made of wood, split horn, and dried animal sinews,[14] and double-curved bows.[1]
National Defenses[]
The Dragon Guard served as the Emperor's "strong right arm".[17]
The Khitan Fleet was the naval component of the Khitan forces.[6][17]Points of Interest
- Great Wall - Western border[36]
- Lost Jungle - South western[37]
- Wan Tengri - Westernmost city
- Northern Khitai
- Western Khitai
- Kusan - minor kingdom, satellite kingdom of Khitai
- Kusan - Capital of Kusan
- Kathai - City-state[38]
- Mountains of Night
- Kusan - minor kingdom, satellite kingdom of Khitai
- Khun-Lun - City or stronghold
- Hive-cities of the Skirri in the great deserts and volcanoes
Residents
- The God-Emperor - Emperor and God of Khitai circa 10,000 BC
- The Dragon Emperor (Won Chu) - Emperor and God of Khitai circa 10,000 BC, succeeded to his grandfather, possibly the God-Emperor
- Kuchum - Commander of the Khitan Fleet, formerly pirate in disgrace
- Yagu Clan
- Heku
- "Genjis" / Prince Kobe, son of Heku
- Yag-Kosha (Yog) - Alien worshiped by the Priests of Yun until his enslavement by Yara
- Turghol - Warrior, adventurer
- Yah Chieng - Most notorious sorcerer of the Age of Conan, conqueror of Paikang, slain by Conan
Notes
- Robert E. Howard conceived Khitai as a Hyborian analogue to China.[39] The name was possibly inspired from "Cathay", another name for China.
- In Conan the Barbarian #206, Khitai was stated to be set in "southeast Asia".
- In Marvel Comics, "Cathay" was used to name Khitai at least once.[2] "Kathai" was the name of an original Khitan city-state.[38]
See Also
- 28 appearance(s) of Khitai
- 1 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Khitai
- 1 minor appearance(s) of Khitai
- 107 mention(s) of Khitai
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Khitai
- 3 image(s) of Khitai
- 13 article(s) related to Khitai
- 22 citizen(s) of Khitai
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Khitai's profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Conan Saga #97 ; Bestiarie of Thoth-Amon: the Skirri
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #57
- ↑ Conan Saga #96 ; A Red Sonja Comics Chronology: It's Never Too Late...?
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 3) #18 ; Curse of the Nightstar - part two: Sustenance and Survival
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Savage Sword of Conan #191 ; Jade Coils in Black Khemi - Skull on the Seas Part II
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #95 ; Contents
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Savage Sword of Conan #192 ; The Cape of Dark Dreams - Skull on the Seas Part III
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Savage Sword of Conan #195 ; Thunder Beneath Yamatai
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #27
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Savage Sword of Conan #190 ; Skull on the Seas
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 3) #22 ; Land of the Lotus - part four: Bound by Tradition
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 3) #20 ; Land of the Lotus - part two: The Bandit's Bravado
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Arms and Armors
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #35 ; A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part IV, Khitai's entry
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Conan the Barbarian #29 ; Two Against Turan!
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 Savage Sword of Conan #194 ; The Witch-Queen of Yamatai
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 King Conan #8
- ↑ King Conan #18
- ↑ Blockbusters of the Marvel Universe #1 ; Great Cataclysm's profile
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Savage Sword of Conan #38 ; A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part VI: Paikang's profile
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 King Conan (Vol. 2) #1
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #45
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #36 ; A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part V: Lost Jungle's profile
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 3) #19 ; Land of the Lotus - part 1: The Scholar's Mercy
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #35
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #32
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #34
- ↑ Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Gods and Worship
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Savage Sword of Conan #132 ; Master of the Broadsword
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #212 ; The Blood of Bel - God of Thieves Part II
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #193 ; Death In a Land Unknown - Skull on the Seas Part IV
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 3) #23 ; Land of the Lotus - part five: Escape from the East
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #4
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #125 ; At the Altar of the Goat God
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #13 ; Map
- ↑ Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Map
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Savage Sword of Conan #95 ; Night of the Rat!
- ↑ Marvel Art of Conan the Barbarian #1