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cienie-isengardu · 3 years

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Lin Kuei: ORIGINS / ARCHITECTURE

RELIGION <> ORIGINS / ARCHITECTURE <> FOOD <> FOR THE LIN KUEI <> ART <> CRYOMANCERS <> LIN KUEI SOCIETY <> MONEY & MATERIAL GOODS

The continuation of the morgianesffs-blog’s list of questions about Lin Kuei. For the formalities, the original questions:

If you had to match the Lin Kuei with a dynasty, what one would it be? (I know the 2021 movie has the opening in the Ming dynasty, so the Lin Kuei is at least that old, but given that movie Bi Han hasn't aged in 400 years, and was taken is a child, its probably much older) (and also know the game probably cherry picked random Chinese things it liked).

AND

In the spirit of potential future writing, I'm trying to find a building that would make a good substitution for Lin Kuei temple.

I've tried looking up ancient Chinese military barracks/forts, and have found some stuff, but is all exterior. Anyone know of any locations (or several I can cobble together) that would make good inspiration fodder?

By no means I’m familiar enough with Chinese history to pick any dynasty but sources are consistent in this regard - Lin Kuei is an old organisation. How old however varies from one source to another. So we have:

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero’s Prime Guide:

Somewhere in the northern most parts of Asia, there exists a secret clan of assassins and thieves known as the Lin Kuei. This group has existed for centuries and thrives on the evil intention of the people who pay for their services.

Mortal Kombat 11’s intro:

Sub-Zero: Lin Kuei style predates Shaolin.

Kung Lao: But you still cannot beat us, Grandmaster.

Sub-Zero: That is a spurious claim, Kung Lao.

The quick research on wikipedia gives me this: Shaolin Temple was built around 495 and the Shaolin monks began to create fighting systems of their own around 581–618. If we based the calculation on real dates, the Lin Kuei could be even 1500+ years old.

Mortal Kombat book by Jeff Rovin (1995):

He tingled with pride – and burned with fresh hatred for Yong Park – as he thought of the rich history of the breed to which he belonged. Formed in A.D. 1200, the ninjitsu were entrusted with the protection of the shoguns in ancient Japan. The Lin Kuei was a breed of ninja that moved from Japan to China in 1310.

(note: this quote is contrary to generally accepted MK lore that states ninjutsu was brought to Japan by Takeda, the rogue Lin Kuei member. Still, even in this “timeline” the Lin Kuei clan would be at least 700 years old)

Mortal Kombat Conquest TV, Episode 3: Cold Reality

[Shang Tsung] A group of mortals.

[Vorpax] Mortals.

[Shang Tsung] Assassins.

[Vorpax] Who are they, Shang?

[Shang Tsung]: The Lin Kuei, an ancient sect. Their training is in deepest secret as is their code. They are silent, swift and always lethal.

Note: The serial takes place in Great Kung Lao’s times, something around 400-600 years ago and Lin Kuei is already described as “ancient”.

Mortal Kombat Comics “Kitana and Mileena” retold the fall of Edenia, in which Lin Kuei took part.

Kitana is 10.000 years old at present time and it is usually assumed she was a young child when Edenia fell. The comics didn’t specify the time frame of this event but Lin Kuei were already a formalized group with cryomancer in the ranks. It is possible that Lin Kuei could be, if not ten then at least a few thousand years old.

The mentioned sources are independent stories that can be seen as unique timelines but all make Lin Kuei from a few centuries to even a few thousands years old which is a pretty long existence. This in turn makes Lin Kuei one of the oldest and continuously existing factions we know about.

Sadly, there is little to none solid information about how and by whom the clan was formed and in what socio-economic and political context. Yet, considering how cryomancers are the prominent group and how their (ancient) powers are kept in high regard, some part of the clan were in fact fugitives from Outworld and their origin likely influenced the process of creating clan.

I used to see the existence of the clan as a sort of deal between native Earthrealmians and immigrants from the other realms, especially concerning cryomancers. As in, clan getting warriors with special powers for smuggling the runaways to Earth and helping them to adapt into new culture and environment. However now, I lean more into the theory that Lin Kuei was a union between minor families and tribes (immigrants and outcast) that slowly changed into nation-like formation thanks to which they could maintain their independence and neutrality in the face of interdimensional and internal earthly conflicts while working solely for the clan’s benefit. From various sources we know that Lin Kuei has and accepts family units (the genealogical line of Sub-Zero brothers or Grandmaster and Sektor’s blood ties). As far as I know Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition is the only one source that has a mention of “houses” that could refer to certain families, including cryomancers / Sub-Zero:

The blood ties and their importance in itself are a very interesting aspect considering how friendship alone was seen as a weakness, as was stated by the Conquest TV series.

Once again, the sources did not give a strict time frame nor background, but if Lin Kuei was truly an ancient, few thousand years old organisation, their existence may predate the earliest Chinese dynasty and kept their cultural differentiation for ages. The same could happen, if Lin Kuei was just a few hundred years old, the clan still may not be directly influenced by and/or connected to Chinese culture, thus the architecture may not have a direct reference to a specific dynasty. Or it could be a reverse process, the Chinese military and/or artistic culture could be influenced by Lin Kuei. It is hard to tell, since the sources gave little insight into cultural connection between various factions but I would like point out that Asia and Outworld share a lot similarities when it comes to architecture and art (especially dragon image?) which raises a question what the cultural exchange looked like before realms were separated by Sindel’s magic to spare Earthrealm from ill fate of Edenia and in result creating Mortal Kombat Tournament. There is also a possibility that Lin Kuei was influenced by their Outworld origins, which seems still living memory when it comes to cryomancers and their ties to “Arctika” that may not refer to Earthrealm region per se, but to some cryomancer lost homeland or cultural heritage. Lin Kuei knew and used secret passages to Outworld and had also extensive knowledge about the other realm so they could, in theory, be a carrier of influences, cultural or material exchange between Earthrealm and Outworld. Another thing to think about is that Lin Kuei doesn’t mind adapting an already existing place for their own use, as was seen in Mortal Kombat Armageddon in which their Temple was actually once the Temple of Delia (the great sorceress & wife of god Argus). Most likely the building was chosen for pragmatic reasons rather than any artistic sense or admiring different cultures.

As for architecture alone and possible real-life references, I wonder, were Lin Kuei truly a Chinese clan, as older sources liked to refer to them. This feeling is supported by the lack of such references in the current timeline!Sub-Zero's BIOs and how Lin Kuei cryomancers seem to care just for their lost heritage (the mentioned ties to Arctika seen in games, including MK11 cosmetics) than for any ties to human governments or nationality. Mythologies also suggest that Lin Kuei’s Temple was “somewhere in the northern most parts of Asia” which sounds more like Siberia than territory of China. Of course, Lin Kuei could change place of living several times through the long period of history or even have more than one place existing at the same time, which is true for the modern era (Mortal Kombat X comics). Wherever Lin Kuei Temple truly is, the clan is living high in mountains or in general, a naturally hard-to-reach place and rather cold climate.

Interestingly, Mortal Kombat wikipedia states that Lin Kuei means “Forest Demon” or Forest Chief, so who knows, they could change their residence - environment - over the years until they reached the abandoned Temple of Delia - thus the more Asian or Outworld or mixed styles of both architecture seen in current sources (Mortal Kombat X and 11, Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms).

Sadly, I do not have any specific real-life buildings to offer, but I personally think it is worth checking Asian cliff buildings through a google search. As for references from sources, the gallery on Lin Kuei Palace’s wiki page is a good start and here are some samples from games and animated series showing the interior:

Mortal Kombat X

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

and it is worth to check out Mortal Kombat Armageddon walkthrough “Lin Kuei Palace”

As the final note, Lin Kuei is an old organisation so the architecture does not have to be homogeneous and changeless. Still, it must be resistant to harsh conditions first and foremost. At the same time, at least in the old timeline, the clan used an ancient Temple of Dalia, so their headquarters interior could have more sacrum-like style than spartan one. Surprisingly, Lin Kuei likes detailed crafts contrasting with their brutal warrior culture. Which just shows how complex is the history and the nature of Lin Kuei.

#mortal kombat #my analysis #lin kuei #cryomancers #sub zero #can't help with real-life buildings i'm still trying to wrap my mind how Lin Kuei Temple should look like #the current timeline makes it looks like asian architecture but the armageddon dunno

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