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Dwarfism in Daxia: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Elder Dwarves.jpg|thumb|Elderly Daxian dwarves]] | [[File:Elder Dwarves.jpg|thumb|Elderly Daxian dwarves]] | ||
In ancient [[Daxia]] dwarves and pygmies were seen as people that had been cursed by deities at birth or whose parents were being punished for some transgression. These beliefs led dwarves to be shunned or exiled from their communities at best and persecuted or killed at worst. Ancient | In ancient [[Daxia]] dwarves and pygmies were seen as people that had been cursed by deities at birth or whose parents were being punished for some transgression. These beliefs led dwarves to be shunned or exiled from their communities at best and persecuted or killed at worst. Ancient [[Daxia]]n religions sometimes made use of dwarves in rituals, and many times the dwarves did not make it out unscathed. There are ancient records that document attempts to cure dwarfism by officials. These attempts included rearranging a dwarves organs as it was believed the limbs had shriveled due to poor blood circulation and moving bigger organs to the chest would somehow remedy this. | ||
While these attitudes and superstitions changed very little through the centuries, the arrival of Christianity and its doctrines of mercy and equality before God saw some limited shift in public attitudes. Still, dwarves could usually only make a living as objects of fun and derision, working as part of entertainment troupes or 'freak' shows, as servants to the wealthy or as menial laborers. Significant official changes in the societal status of dwarves only came about with the advent of the Qian dynasty. | While these attitudes and superstitions changed very little through the centuries, the arrival of Christianity and its doctrines of mercy and equality before God saw some limited shift in public attitudes. Still, dwarves could usually only make a living as objects of fun and derision, working as part of entertainment troupes or 'freak' shows, as servants to the wealthy or as menial laborers. Significant official changes in the societal status of dwarves only came about with the advent of the Qian dynasty. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The last | [[File:Dendera_Bes_01.JPG|thumb|Carved relief of an ancient dwarf, predates the Xie dinasty]] | ||
The last [[Daxia]]n dynasty is known to have included through its history a significant number of members born with dwarfism and it banned the killing of dwarves, who were often preyed upon for the supposed miraculous properties of their body parts. Noble-born dwarves were not the only ones able to attain high office in this period, but base born dwarves too served as royal eunuchs, bureaucrats, craftsmen and there even was a dwarf who attained the rank of fleet admiral. The Qian court created many positions that were filled exclusively with dwarves. The Keeper of Imperial Shoes was a dwarf responsible for the crafting, storage and maintenance of the Emperor's shoes. Likewise the Stool Groom was a dwarf official who maintained the imperial stocks of toiletries, assisted the Emperor in his personal hygiene and excretion if necessary, and applied perfumes and lemon scented oils on the monarch after the deed. The High Gardener was a dwarf official who maintained the [[Imperial Lemon Grove]] and other palace gardens. These positions were salaried ones and prestigious for they kept these office holders in constant close proximity to the monarch. For their protection and patronage of dwarves the Qian came to be known as the dynasty of dwarves. | |||
The favor of the Qian was not reserved for domestic dwarves, foreign ones were also appreciated and feted. The [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] was the first to take notice of this trend by sending Don Juan Fonseca as its first ambassador to the court of the Qian. A dwarf of noble descent, Don Juan | The favor of the Qian was not reserved for domestic dwarves, foreign ones were also appreciated and feted. The [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] was the first to take notice of this trend by sending Don Juan Fonseca as its first ambassador to the court of the Qian. A dwarf of noble descent, Don Juan successfully negotiated for the opening of economic relations between the two nations and stayed in his post for eighteen years, becoming somewhat of a socialite who mingled with [[Mirzak]]'s upper crust and maintained several mistresses. Other nations followed suit through the years such as [[Kiravia]] in 1715 with ambassador plenipotentiary Iğuriv D.S. Tōmtor, the diminutive envoy introduced [[Kiravia]]n whiskey and the game of checkers to the court. | ||
The patronage of dwarves by the Qian backfired harshly after the collapse of the imperial system, as dwarves were equated with the old dynasty and seen as complicit in the corruption and mismanagement of the nation by the late Qian rulers. While some dwarf officials were indeed corrupt and self serving, the vast majority of the dwarven population were entirely ordinary citizens. Many dwarves were forced out of the cities and denied employment during the early years of military rule. The promulgation of the Basic Law banning many forms of discrimination and the rising military oppression helped dissipate any residual ill will against dwarves as they were later seen as just as oppressed as everybody else. In modern day [[Daxia]] dwarves are mostly treated as any other citizens, although some still choose to form their own separate communities. Such is the case of dwarf section of the town of [[Lunara]], populated and run entirely by dwarves. The Basic Law also grants dwarves some notable benefits such as exemption from service in the military and protections against being tossed or labeled emergency food supply. | The patronage of dwarves by the Qian backfired harshly after the collapse of the imperial system, as dwarves were equated with the old dynasty and seen as complicit in the corruption and mismanagement of the nation by the late Qian rulers. While some dwarf officials were indeed corrupt and self serving, the vast majority of the dwarven population were entirely ordinary citizens. Many dwarves were forced out of the cities and denied employment during the early years of military rule. The promulgation of the Basic Law banning many forms of discrimination and the rising military oppression helped dissipate any residual ill will against dwarves as they were later seen as just as oppressed as everybody else. In modern day [[Daxia]] dwarves are mostly treated as any other citizens, although some still choose to form their own separate communities. Such is the case of dwarf section of the town of [[Lunara]], populated and run entirely by dwarves. The Basic Law also grants dwarves some notable benefits such as exemption from service in the military and protections against being tossed or labeled emergency food supply. | ||
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<gallery mode="packed" widths="180px" heights="200px"> | <gallery mode="packed" widths="180px" heights="200px"> | ||
File:Lord minimus.png|alt=Don Juan Fonseca|Don Juan Fonseca, [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] ambassador to the Imperial Qian court from 1652 to 1670. | File:Lord minimus.png|alt=Don Juan Fonseca|Don Juan Fonseca, [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] ambassador to the Imperial Qian court from 1652 to 1670. | ||
File:Dwarf director.jpg|alt=Lu Chin|Lu Chin, | File:Dwarf director.jpg|alt=Lu Chin|Lu Chin, [[Daxia]]n film director and actor. | ||
File:Admiral Zhu Bolin.jpg|alt=Zhu Bolin|Ono Mingio, Qian Grand Secretary to Emperor [[Tengu]] | File:Admiral Zhu Bolin.jpg|alt=Zhu Bolin|Ono Mingio, Qian Grand Secretary to Emperor [[Tengu]] | ||
File:Enano3.jpg|alt=Eunuch|Eunuch of the Imperial Palace | File:Enano3.jpg|alt=Eunuch|Eunuch of the Imperial Palace | ||