Chinese Culture & Armor in Total War: Warhammer III : 全面战争:战锤 III 契丹




With the release of the exciting trailer for Warhammer III: Dawn of Grand Cathay which prominently featured a Chinese analogue state, I would like to take some time and point out some of the cultural allusions and armor references. Please bear with me that I am only a recent fan to the Warhammer universe through audiobooks and audio- dramas so my interpretation of their version of Grand Cathay's lore will be from a novice's perspective. That said, even without a robust understanding of the Chaos Gods and Grand Cathay's special relations with Skaven, the high elves, nor its influences on the Empire's Hellstorm batteries, I could still recognize the specifically Chinese elements that are being referenced. So without further babble, lets began with the worldbuilding in Grand Cathay.

THE CELESTIAL DRAGON EMPEROR 

It would seem Grand Cathay's key figures are heavily influenced by the Daoist (or at least traditional Chinese folk mythology) Pantheon. The Dragon Emperor himself- a living deity in many ways is very similar to the mythical Jade Emperor 玉帝. In traditional Chinese mythology, the immortal Jade Emperor presided over a heavenly court 天宫 in a palace upon the clouds. As the supreme deity in Daoist and traditional Chinese pantheon the Jade Emperor reigns over a celestial bureaucracy with many gods overseeing the affairs of the mortals and many powerful Daoist immortals as his generals and warriors. 

I have seen people comparing this shot of Cathay to James Cameron's "Avatar" and especially the sequence regarding to its Hallelujah Mountains. However since both of these shots likely took inspiration from the real mountains in Zhangjiajie, China, it's not surprising both looked similar to the OG real thing.

In the famous epic "Journey to the West" the tempestuous Monkey King ran amok in the Jade Emperor's court- and bulldozed through the entire Chinese Pantheon in an epic brawl referred to as "Havoc in Heaven" 大闹天宫. (expertly and humorously summarized by Overly Sarcastic Productions.) Since we know that the Monkey King- at least Warhammer's version of the Monkey King is indeed in this universe, having the Dragon Emperor's realm secluded in the clouds is rather appropriate. 

MOON EMPRESS

In the lore of Warhammer it is stated that the Moon Empress is also highly revered as the Dragon Emperor and their children ruled the empire. It's pretty clear that the idea of her is heavily inspired by the idea of Ying/ Yang duality, where the Dragon Emperor- being male is akin to the forces of the sunny Yang while the Empress- being female is contra positioned as that of the Moon. However a deeper analogue for her in my opinion might be the Queen Mother of the West 西王母 Xi Wangmu (pronounced Shi Wang Mu) - or styled as "Lady Queen Mother" 王母娘娘 Wangmu Niangniang. 

In Daoist mythology, the Queen Mother of the West is an ancient Chinese goddess who tends to the Peaches of Immortality, she served as a guardian to all Daoist women, and is married to the Jade Emperor. 


Queen Mother of the West: Drawn by Snow Fish, a master illustrator of Chinese mythology

ARMORS

CATHAYAN HEAVY CAVALRY/ CATAPHRACT- JIN DYNASTY ARMOR (1115–1234) 


Seeing the cavalryman depicted in such a distinctive lamellar armor I'm pretty sure that they are inspired by medieval China's Jin dynasty (1115–1234)'s Iron Pagoda Cavalry- it's name Tiefutu 铁浮图 is derived from an archaic rendering of a Buddhist metaphor into Chinese 浮图 that sometimes could be referred to as a shrine/ temple, or the Buddha Himself. The Iron Pagoda Cavalry played an aggressive role in Jin's attempted conquest of the Song dynasty in the south. 


The Iron Pagodas were completely armored from head to toes in heavy lamellar armor- with only their eyes and hands exposed. Their horses were also completely encased in armor as well, covered on all sides with thick barding of lamellar plates and padded cotton. They were also given a versatile array of weapons, aside from their customary lance, they were also equipped with a bow and full quiver, at times a large two handed cutting sword. 


CATHAYAN HEAVY INFANTRY- JIN DYNASTY ARMOR (266–420)


Here is where things might get a bit confusing. Because as I noticed through the trailer, some of the heavy infantry were also dressed in this fashion, although a key element that stood out is the fact that the soldier's distinctive iron collar is not a part of the helmet itself but instead part of a collar that is attached to the upper part of his torso. Thus instead of the Jin Iron Pagoda armor of medieval China (1115–1234), these soldiers may have been more influenced by the armor of the much earlier Jin dynasty in 3rd century China (266–420.) Yes, Jin AND Jin, although in English both are spelled as Jin, in effect the 2 dynasties had completely different characters 晋 and 金 and are pronounced differently in Chinese. And even more confusingly enough, BOTH the Jins were known for their heavy cavalry.


Jin dynasty horseman of the 3rd Centur AD. Around the time of the fall of the Han dyansty and the Three Kingdoms, cavalry armor became significantly heavier in the aftermath of the Three Kingdoms period and the 3 centuries of disunity that followed. Lamellar fauld pieces protecting the leg began to appear during this period, secured by the rider's belt. Catahpracts where most of the warhorse was covered in heavy armor also appeared during this period. Both the Jin and the northern- steppe led dynasties of China made use of very heavy horsemen.

 



CATHAYAN GUNNERS- MING GUNNERS 



Visually, Grand Cathay's gunners look like they are heavily inspired by Ming dynasty (1368–1644) arquebusiers/ musketeers. In the later part of the Ming dynasty, especially after wars with the Japanese pirates in the 1560s and 1600, the Ming dynasty began to adopt early modern firearms 神机 Shenqi "Divine Machines" or Folan 法兰 "Frankish" Guns from the west, namely the Ottomans. Because China had already long been familiar with volley fire since the early middle ages, the Ming gunners were drilled to maximize their fire. One of the 3 elite imperial guard units was equipped with muskets and was known as 神机营 or the "Divine Machine Battalion."



Illustration of a 1639 Ming musketry volley formation.





DRAGON CANNON- QING DYNASTY LONGSHEN PAO "DRAGON CANNON"



Definitely one of the most ridiculous and excessively ostentatious designs right? Especially considering the brass gilded and painted dragon head relief? Well, despite the almost prototypical Steampunk design, China actually does have cannons that have ornate dragon relifs carved on to them.


Three-Wheeled Wooden Vehicle with Chinese Dragon Cannon  龍身炮 (Longshen Pao) - 
lit: "Dragon Bodied Cannon." Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China, 1875. The dragon carving for the cannon- especially the bronze wrought barbels (whiskers) looked almost like its lifted out from a steampunk fantasy setting, but what's quite hard to comprehend is that this is indeed an actual weapon fielded by the Qing army. 

An example of this type of cannon was taken by Russian photographers in 1875. By this time China's military technology had fallen dangerously behind- especially against the western forces from Europe. However, in a domestic capacity, the Manchu- led Qing dynasty was still able to triumph against many internal rebellions. They were likely based on the Ming dynasty "Thunder Roaring Cannon" which fires explosive fragmentation shells.



CATHAYAN HEAVY INFANTRY- KOXINGA'S "IRON MEN" HEAVY ARMOR


Some of my readers have informed me that they find this type of armor strange and do not at all reflect the design aesthetics of China. Including elements of essentially a pointed medieval European helmet and a strange bulky lamellar design. And while admittedly this design is rather somewhat incongruous of the traditional notions of Chinese armor. Not sure if either CA or many others knows this, there is a type of Chinese armor that's somewhat similar to this. The "Iron Men" 铁人 armors of the famous Ming loyalist general Zheng Chenggong- better known as Koxinga in the west. 


"THE IRON MEN"

Koxinga made his name because in the last days of the Ming dynasty, he took control of much of the eastern coast of China along with Taiwan (from the Dutch) and founded a Ming loyalist kingdom there. The general's elite soldiers were known as his "Iron Men" and they were reportedly encased in heavy armor that covered both their upper and lower bodies with exception to their hands and eyes. They wore a protective mask over their face and likely had a spike over their helmet like some Manchu helmets.

A print from 'Reise nach Java, Formosa, Vorder-Indien und Ceylon' by Albrecht Herport, an artist, soldier of the Dutch East India Company or the VOC, and witness of the battle between Koxinga and the Dutch defenders. Koxinga himself was inspired by the use of heavy armors by the Manchus, the Japanese, and also the Europeans and created these units. When his commanders protested that raw men would be unaccustomed to fight in such heavy gears it was mandated they would train with heavy sand bags tied to their feet at all times. Only the most athletic and promising soldiers were selected to ranks of the "Iron Men"


They were Koxinga's crack vanguard troops and were some of the best soldiers the Ming loyalists had to offer. Originally numbered some 3000 men, their strength eventually increased to 10,000. They were rigorously trained and equipped with extremely heavy armor. Their training was such that they were forced to perform their drills in armor and with heavy sandbags tied to their legs. In war they were both disciplined and suicidally brave, and in battle were known to obediently butcher as ordered, and if ordered on suicidal attacks, charge without hesitation nor complaints. Sources from the Dutch soldiers themselves recorded they were utterly terrified of these fanatical soldiers. 

An interpretation of the "Iron Troop" 铁人 from Age of Empires 3. He wears a heavy armor of reversed brigandine, whereby the square iron plates that's usually sewn within the armor is instead exposed to the outside.

What's more, the "Iron Men" were also equipped with a variety of arms. They could be modularly equipped as either spearmen with rattan shields, pikemen, or great swordsmen wielding the curved two handed horse- chopping Zhangmadao. In addition, all of the "Iron Men" were trained in archery and equipped for it. When the situation required they could fill up a variety of roles. Only their hands are left exposed and some times their feet to give them purchase during scaling attacks.

BONUS ROUND: CHINESE KAIROS FATEWEAVER


Speaking of a showcase of Chinese culture and Tzeentch, there is actually a happy analogue between the two elements. In China, the thunder deity Leigong 雷公 (lit "Duke of Thunder") is actually a celestial inquisitor that swoops down on evil doers and mortals that abuses the dao for evil. He is often depicted as a blue half man- half bird creature with either bird or bat wings and shoots storms and thunder from his mace and hammer. 


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Comments

Muramasa said…
Well made post once again, and in addition the Dragon Emperor’s children rules the provinces and the state of Grand Cathay it’s mentioned in the lore he lets them rule in his place while him and his wife contemplate on the world in the floating city of Weijin. It’s obvious all the dragon heirs of the Emperor are based on the 4 dragon Kings. You have Miao Ying Storm Dragon the ruler of the northern provinces and Supreme Matriarch of Nan-gay representing the black dragon, Zhao Ming the Iron Dragon ruler of the Western Provinces and lord of Shang-Yang representing the white dragon, then we will see the Eastern Dragon (got a feeling he will be important in regards to the Monkey King and his staff) heir who will be blue/green and the Southern Dragon heir who will be vermillion red. The center provinces is possibly where Weijin and the Dragon Emperor is located represented the Yellow Dragon. They are also slightly based on the Four Symbols of the Chinese Constellation as well.
Dragon's Armory said…
Oh interesting, I would love to read up more about them, are their any links to these sources?
Sounds like pretty rad lore.
Muramasa said…
Four dragon kings
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King

Four Symbols
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Symbols

TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER III – AN INTRODUCTION TO GRAND CATHAY
https://www.totalwar.com/blog/total-war-warhammer-3-grand-cathay-faq/

Warhammer blog post on Grand Cathay
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/09/14/watch-grand-cathay-come-to-life-in-an-epic-collaboration-for-total-war-warhammer-iii/
Dragon's Armory said…
Thank you kind sir,
reading through it now :D
Everyone makes this analogy with iron pagodas - and ironically, among the whole bunch of very cavalries in Chinese history - it's them(or rather this period) whom they remind the least.

Fine details of their armor just don't add up for the Song period. Jin(晋)+ ironically Ming(in details how this armor is actually worn) - sure.
Dear sir, what a great post, thank you very much.

For the CATHAYAN HEAVY INFANTRY I believe it's based a bit more on the Song Dynasty heavy infantry armor (宋步人甲) instead of the Jin Iron Pagoda.


https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv4136863
Dragon's Armory said…
Yes the Song also did have very heavy infantry, especially later in the Southern Song, where they relied upon a very professional infantry force against the steppe invaders and deployed effective anti-cavalry tactics.

Though that being said, although in the silhouette the figures does resemble both Song heavy infantry and Jin heavy cavalry, the tact that the iron collar was an extension from the shoulder and neck of the armor and not attached to the helmet makes it more similar to the cavalry armor of the earlier Jin dynasty of 3rd century AD
Dragon's Armory said…
Also- well met, thank you for your input.
Bob said…
Awesome write up. Can you tell me the source for the cataphract photo? It's interesting to see Chinese swords with large crossguards, particularly for arming swords.
Dragon's Armory said…
Sure thing! It's a image for reconstructed Jin dynasty (3rd century) horseman's armor readily found on Chinese forums about Chinese heavy horsemen. Because the image was so readily found I do not know the original publisher of it. I have the same image in some of my generic Chinese text books about but they just have generic names like "3 Kingdoms era"- and I see this image being posted but they do it more like a visual throwaway. Though there were several reconstructions graphs of Jin armor that had almost the exact same silhouettes. In my post I just inversed the image to make it black and white.

I will say the crossguard they depicted is visually very suspect for me as well. For I haven't seen a crossguard like this from the swords of either the late 3K period, Jin dynasty, or the Xianbei- led Northern dynasties after this period. Crossguards were indeed seen before- such as in these instances:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8a/ca/09/8aca095135ff12074df947de62a0a7f3.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/15/70/83/1570835c484d624583b6cda03de5b1e6.jpg

But these were part of a Sha- a Han dynasty spear with guards that looks like European partisans.

However just because I have not seen material evidence specifically for it that does not precluded it from existing. Unfortunately since I do not know who created the image and what they were reffing I cannot tell you if indeed there were guards as prominent as those swords.

Cheers.
Bob said…
Interesting. Initially, I thought it might have been the artist taking some artistic liberty with the drawing, but given how good the proportion is, I thought it was very unlikely. The thing is, I saw another drawing a long time ago from the Ming Dynasty that also shown a large crossguard on an arming/bastard sword. The wielder was holding it in its sheath and had the pommel aiming upwards almost like how Christian knights would use their sword as a makeshift cross. But I've never seen actual findings of arming or bastard swords with large crossguards on Chinese swords before, so when I saw this image, I thought there might be more info on it.