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'''Yi Ti''' is a nation and region in [[Essos]] located east of [[Qarth]] and the [[Bone Mountains]] and bordered by the [[Jade Sea]] to the south. Nearby islands in the Jade Sea are [[Leng]] and the [[Isle of Whips]]. North of Yi Ti are the [[Great Sand Sea]], the [[Shrinking Sea]], and the [[Bleeding Sea]]; a great river runs south from the Bleeding Sea through Yi Ti to the Jade Sea. Located east of Yi Ti are the [[Mountains of the Morn]], the [[Shadow Lands]], and [[Asshai]].{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} In the [[Common Tongue]], things relating to Yi Ti are known as "YiTish".{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Leng}}
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The realm of the YiTish civilization is known as the [[Golden Empire of Yi Ti]],{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond}} which was, according to legend, preceded by the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]]. Maester [[Yandel]] speculates the YiTish civilization was contemporary with the [[Realm of the Fisher Queens|realm]] of the [[Fisher Queens]], whereas the YiTish priests insist that mankind's first towns and cities arose along the shores of the Jade Sea, dismissing the rival claims of the [[Sarnori]] and [[Ghiscari]] as the boasts of savages and children.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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==Region==
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The land of Yi Ti has thick, green patchwork farmland and a dense and sweltering jungles.{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} Rumors have it that [[basilisk]]s roam the jungles of Yi Ti.{{Ref|AGOT|23}} There is a trade route from Asabhad to Yin along the coast of the Jade Sea.{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} The [[Five Forts]] guard the northeastern marches of the empire.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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Throughout Yi Ti a great web of stone roads, built during the reign of the Eunuch Emperors, ensure travelers can cross the lands of Yi Ti without much trouble. These roads are said to be equal to the dragonroads of the [[Valyrian Freehold]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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The [[zorse]]s of the [[Jogos Nhai]] have been bred by crossing regular horses with certain horselike creatures from the southern regions of Yi Ti.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}} [[Daenerys Targaryen]] remembers that [[basilisk]]s infest the jungles of Yi Ti.{{Ref|aGoT|23}}
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===Cities===
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Yi Ti has more cities than any other land in the [[known world]], and according to [[Lomas Longstrider]] they are much larger and more splendid than cities in the west. According to [[Colloquo Votar]] there are three older cities buried beneath every YiTish city.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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Known cities in Yi Ti include [[Yin]] and [[Jinqi]], along the coast of the [[Jade Sea]], and [[Tiqui]] further to the north near the [[Great Sand Sea]]. The city of [[Asabhad]] is located at the western boundary of Yi Ti near the [[Bone Mountains]] and the [[Jade Gates]].{{Ref|tloiaf| The East}} Five massive fortresses known as the [[Five Forts]] are located along the northeastern boundaries of Yi Ti, situated between the [[Bleeding Sea]] and the [[Mountains of the Morn]].{{Ref|tloiaf| The East}}
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During the time of the [[Golden Empire of Yi Ti]], several cities served as the capital city, depending on the reigning dynasty. The grey, indigo, and pearl-white emperors ruled from [[Yin]], located on the shores of the [[Jade Sea]], the scarlet emperors ruled from [[Si Qo]], which they constructed in the middle of the jungle, and which has seen fallen and reclaimed by the jungle. The purple emperors ruled from [[Tiqui]], located in the western hills, and the maroon emperors ruled from [[Jinqi]]. In the present day, under the rule of the azure emperor [[Bu Gai]], Yin once again is the capital of Yi Ti.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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Over the last two thousand years, a dozen YiTish cities and a hundred towns, and many farms and fields have been reduced to ruins by the zorseriders of the [[Plains of the Jogos Nhai]].{{Ref|twoiaf|The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}}
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===People===
 
[[File:YiTi man by Douglas Wheatley.jpg|thumb|300px|A YiTish man, by Douglas Wheatley for ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
 
[[File:YiTi man by Douglas Wheatley.jpg|thumb|300px|A YiTish man, by Douglas Wheatley for ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'']]
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Men from Yi Ti are bright-eyed and wear [[monkey]]-tail hats.{{ref|AGOT|54}} The people of northern [[Leng]] in the [[Jade Sea]] are YiTish, while the south of the island is inhabited by the [[Lengii]].{{ref|AWOIAF}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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Yi Ti is ruled by a [[god-emperor]]. [[Lomas Longstrider]] onces described Yi Ti as "the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes, ruled by one god-emperor." Of old, the god-emperor were extremely wealthy and powerful, and commanded large armies. In present times, however, three men claim the title of god-emperor, while their power does not extend past the cities in which they live. Instead, the hundred princes rule their own realms as they see fit, as do the brigands, priest-kings, sorcerers, warlords, imperial generals, and tax collectors outside their domains.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
'''Yi Ti''' is a nation and region in [[Essos]] located east of [[Qarth]] and the [[Bone Mountains]] and bordered by the [[Jade Sea]] to the south. Nearby islands in the Jade Sea are [[Leng]] and the [[Isle of Whips]]. North of Yi Ti are the [[Great Sand Sea]], the [[Shrinking Sea]], and the [[Bleeding Sea]]; a great river runs south from the Bleeding Sea through Yi Ti to the Jade Sea. Located east of Yi Ti are the [[Mountains of the Morn]], the [[Shadow Lands]], and [[Asshai]].{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} In the [[Common Tongue]], things relating to Yi Ti are known as "YiTish".{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}{{ref|TWOIAF| Leng}}
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The [[Lion of Night (god)|Lion of Night]] is a god in Yi Ti.{{ref|affc|34}} The religion as practiced by the [[Church of Starry Wisdom]] supposedly originates from Yi Ti, with the [[Bloodstone Emperor]] of Yi Ti being seen as the first High Priest. The religion still persists in many cities throughout the [[known world]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
The realm of the YiTish civilization is known as the [[Golden Empire of Yi Ti]],{{ref|TWOIAF| The Bones and Beyond}} which was, according to legend, preceded by the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]]. Maester [[Yandel]] speculates the YiTish civilization was contemporary with the [[Realm of the Fisher Queens|realm]] of the [[Fisher Queens]], whereas the YiTish priests insist that mankind's first towns and cities arose along the shores of the Jade Sea, dismissing the rival claims of the [[Sarnori]] and [[Ghiscari]] as the boasts of savages and children.{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}
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Yi Ti was one of the earliest civilizations where literacy arose. The most ancient YiTish records are cherished and jealously guarded.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
==About==
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===Economics===
[[Lomas Longstrider]] called Yi Ti "the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes, ruled by one god-emperor." The power of the [[God-Emperor]] has since fallen and extends no further than the walls of his own city, but the hundred princes rule their own realms as they see fit, as do the brigands, priest-kings, sorcerers, warlords, imperial generals, and tax collectors outside their domains.{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}
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One of their major exports is saffron.{{ref|ACOK|40}} Other exporting goods include spices and silk.{{ref|fab|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} Traders from Yi Ti travel to [[Vaes Dothrak]] to trade.{{Ref|agot|36}}{{Ref|agot|54}} [[Wine]]s from Yi Ti can be found as far west as [[Pentos]].{{Ref|aDwD|1}}
  
The land of Yi Ti has thick, green patchwork farmland and a verdant rainforest.{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} Rumors have it that [[basilisk]]s roam the jungles of Yi Ti.{{Ref|AGOT|23}} Known cities in Yi Ti include [[Yin]] and [[Jinqi]], along the Jade Sea coast, and [[Tiqui]] further to the north near the [[Great Sand Sea]]. The city of [[Asabhad]] is located at the western boundary of Yi Ti near the [[Bone Mountains]] and the [[Jade Gates]]. There is a trade route from Asabhad to Yin along the coast of the Jade Sea.{{ref|TLOIAF| The East}} The [[Five Forts]] guard the northeastern marches of the empire.{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}
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Yi Ti is legendary wealthy. Its princes live in houses of solid gold, and eat sweetmeats with pearls and jade powdered over it.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}  
  
Yi Ti is ruled by a god-emperor, but true power may reside within the region's various princedoms. It has had various ancient capitals, including Tiqui.{{ref|AWOIAF}} The [[Lion of Night (god)|Lion of Night]] is a god in Yi Ti. One of their major exports is saffron.{{ref|ACOK|40}} Yi Ti is also known for its wine.{{Ref|aDwD|1}}
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[[Braavos]], [[Pentos]], and [[Volantis]] are known to trade with Yi Ti.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}}
  
==People==
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Yi Ti also used to trade with the [[Kingdom of Sarnor|Sarnori]] when that kingdom still existed.{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}}
Men from Yi Ti are bright-eyed and wear [[monkey]]-tail hats.{{ref|AGOT|54}} The people of northern [[Leng]] in the [[Jade Sea]] are YiTish, while the south of the island is inhabited by the [[Lengii]].{{ref|AWOIAF}}
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
===Early Legends===
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===Great Empire of the Dawn===
According to legend, all the lands between the [[Jade Sea]] and the [[Shivering Sea]], the [[Bone Mountains]] and the [[Grey Waste]], were all once controlled during the [[Dawn Age]] by the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]], centered around Yi Ti.  This realm's first emperor was the only-begotten son of the two major deities in Yi Ti's religion, the Lion of Night and the Maiden-Made-of-Light, known as [[God-on-Earth]]. It is believed he had a hundred wives and reigned for ten thousand years, before ascending into the stars to join his forebears.
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{{Main|Great Empire of the Dawn}}
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According to scribes of [[Yin]], all the lands between the [[Jade Sea]] and the [[Shivering Sea]], the [[Bone Mountains]] and the [[Grey Waste]] were all part of the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]] and fell under the control of the [[God-on-Earth]], the only son of The [[Lion of Night (god)|Lion of Night]] and the [[Maiden-Made-of-Light]]. He is said to have had a hundred wives and to have reigned for ten thousand years, before ascending into the stars to join his forebears. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the [[Pearl Emperor]], who ruled for a thousand years. He was followed by the [[Jade Emperor]], the [[Tourmaline Emperor]], the [[Onyx Emperor]], the [[Topaz Emperor]], and the [[Opal Emperor]], who all reigned for centuries. Each successive ruler had a shorter reign and faced rising problems, as mankind grew greedy and corrupt.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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The Opal Emperor was succeeded by his daughter, the [[Amethyst Empress]]. Her younger brother slew her and usurped the throne, and event which is remembered as the Blood Betrayal. He proclaimed himself the [[Bloodstone Emperor]] and began a reign of terror, practicing dark magical arts and necromancy. He cast down the true gods to worship a black stone which had fallen from the sky. According to the annals of the east, the Blood Betrayal is attributed as the cause of the [[Long Night]], as it caused the Maiden-Made-of-Light to despair and turn her face away from mankind, while the Lion of Night sent the generation-long winter to punish mankind. In the chaos that followed, the Great Empire of the Dawn collapsed.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
Dominion then passed to his eldest son, known as the Pearl Emperor, who ruled for one thousand years.  In turn, he was followed by the Jade Emperor, the Tourmaline Emperor, the Onyx Emperor, the Topaz Emperor, and the Opal Emperor.  Each successive generation had shorter reigns and faced rising problems, as mankind grew greedy and corrupt.  Monstrous beasts from the surrounding wastes pressed against their borders, while lesser kings grew prideful and rebellious.  When the daughter of the Opal Emperor succeeded him as the Amethyst Empress, her envious younger brother slew her and usurped the throne, and event which is remembered as the Blood Betrayal.  Her brother then proclaimed himself the Bloodstone Emperor and began a reign of terror, practicing dark magical arts and necromancy, and he cast down the true gods to worship a black stone which had fallen from the sky. In the annals of the east, this legend of the Blood Betrayal is attributed as the cause of the [[Long Night]], as it caused the Maiden-Made-of-Light to despair and turn her face away from mankind, and the Lion of Night sent the generation-long winter to punish mankind for its wickedness.  In the chaos that followed, the Great Empire of the Dawn collapsed.
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According to [[Colloquo Votar]], as recounted in his ''[[Jade Compendium]]'', a legend from Yi Ti claims that disaster during the Long Night was only averted by "the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail".{{Ref|twoiaf|Ancient History: The Long Night}}
  
Though these magic-filled legends are widely believed in Yi Ti, there is as little proof for any of it as ancient legends about the Dawn Age from Westeros, which are similarly filled with heroic figure such as [[Durran Godgriefs]], or the [[Grey King]] of the Iron Islands who warred with gods and lived for a thousand years.{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}
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The [[maester]]s of the [[Citadel]] in [[Oldtown]] doubt that the Great Empire of the Dawn ever truly existed, but most do agree that Yi Ti's culture is very ancient, and a few believe they were contemporary with the [[Fisher Queens]] on the western side of the Bone Mountains.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
===Ancient History===
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===Golden Empire===
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After the collapse of the [[Great Empire of the Dawn]], the Golden Empire of Yi Ti began. Since the end of the [[Long Night]] eleven dynasties of emperors have ruled over Yi Ti, eached known by a color honorific. Some of them ruled no more than half a century, while the longest ruled for seven hundred years. The transitions of power between dynasties did not always occur peacefully, and on four occasions, the end of a dynasty led to a prolonged period of civil war and anarchy. The longest of these lasted more than a hundred years.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
Yi Ti's current civilization is one of the oldest in the world, stretching back to the end of the [[Long Night]] itself, and possibly earlierWhether or not the legends of a "Great Empire of the Dawn" before the Long Night are true, Yi Ti was already old when Valyria and Old Ghis were young, and it has endured long after both of them have crumbled into ruin.
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Under the sea-green emperors, Yi Ti reached the apex of its power. During the reign of god-emperor [[Jar Har]], [[Leng]] was conquered. His sons further expanded the power of Yi Ti; [[Jar Joq]] [[Great Moraq]], while [[Jar Han]] exacted tribute from [[Qarth]], [[Old Ghis]], [[Asshai]], and other lands.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
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[[Chai Duq]], the fourth of the yellow emperors, married a noblewoman of [[Valyria]], and kept a [[dragon]] at his court.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
Maester [[Yandel]] did not provide much material on Yi Ti in ''[[The World of Ice & Fire]]'' - not because there was too little to say, however, but because there was far too much.  Yi Ti was one of the first civilizations to develop and preserve a literate culture, and thus its recorded history stretches back across the eight thousand years since the Long Night. Meanwhile, men from Westeros know only a vague outline of Yi Ti's history, based on scraps of information from their jealously guarded scrolls.  Ultimately, Yandel feared that even sharing what he did know of Yi Ti (much of it inaccurate) could fill so many chapters that they wouldn't fit in his current book, and thus it remained beyond the scope of his current work.{{ref|TWOIAF| Yi Ti}}
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During the past two thousand years, Yi Ti has often fought against raiders of the [[Jogos Nhai]], whose lands are located to the north. According to Maester [[Yandel]], the raiders of the Jogos Nhai have reduced a dozen YiTish cities, a hundred towns, and farms and fields beyond counting to ruins. To combat these attacks, many imperial generals and three god-emperors invaded the [[Plains of the Jogos Nhai]], but these attacks usually did not end well, as the Jogos Nhai would usually evade capture for such long periods of time that the YiTish invaders would give up and go home.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
Some of the great wealth acquired by [[Corlys Velaryon]] during his [[The Nine Voyages|nine voyages]] was from Yi Ti.{{ref|TWOIAF| Jaehaerys I}}
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[[Lo Han]], forty-second scarlet emperor, invaded the plains three times without success, returning home after being unable to catch his enemies. After Lo Han's death, his son, [[Lo Bu]], assembled a mighty host, supposedly of three hundred thousand men, and led his force into the plains, leaving a burning wasteland behind everywhere he went. During his campaign, millions of Jogos Nhai were killed. During the last two years of the struggle, the rival clans of the Jogos Nhai united against Lo Bu under a woman called [[Zhea]], whose riders eventually descended upon Lo Bu's host, slaughtering them all. Lo Bu was among those slain. Zhea had his head stripped of its flesh and his skull dipped in gold, so it could serve as her drinking cup. Every [[jhattar]] of the Jogos Nhai since Zhea has drunk fermented [[zorse]] milk from Lo Bu's skull.{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}}
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Around [[100 BC]], the island [[Leng]] broke free of Yi Ti, although the northern two-thirds of the island are still under the control of the descendants of the original YiTish invaders.{{Ref|twoiaf|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}}
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On the first of his nine great voyages, [[Corlys Velaryon]] sailed to Yi Ti and Leng{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}} on the ''[[Sea Snake]]'',{{Ref|fab|The Heir of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} returning with such a large amount of spices, silks, and jade, which made [[House Velaryon]] the wealthiest house in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] for a while.{{Ref|fab|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}
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In the present day, Yi Ti is ruled from [[Yin]] by the seventeenth azure emperor, [[Bu Gai]]. However, the amount of power he has is weak compared to older god-emperors, ad the local governors and tax-collectors have carved out a hundred different princedoms among the provinces. In [[Carcosa]], located on the [[Hidden Sea]], an exiled sorcerer lord resides, who claims to be the sixty-ninth yellow emperor. In addition, a general called [[Pol Qo]] has named himself the first of the orange emperors, using [[Trader Town]] as his capital.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
  
 
==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
 
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[Daenerys Targaryen]] remembers that [[basilisk]]s infest the jungles of Yi Ti.{{Ref|aGoT|23}} In the Western Market of [[Vaes Dothrak]] Dany sees a fat cloth trader from Yi Ti haggling with a [[Pentos]]hi over the price of some green dye, the [[monkey]] tail on his hat swaying back and forth as he shakes his head. {{Ref|aGoT|54}}
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In the Western Market of [[Vaes Dothrak]] [[Daenerys Targaryen]] sees a fat cloth trader from Yi Ti haggling with a [[Pentos]]hi over the price of some green dye.{{Ref|aGoT|54}}
  
Before ''Khal'' [[Drogo]]'s body is burnt on his funeral pyre Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] begs [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to come east with him, to Yi Ti, [[Qarth]], the [[Jade Sea]] and [[Asshai|Asshai-by-the-Shadow]], to see all the wonders yet unseen. {{Ref|aGoT|72}}
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Before ''Khal'' [[Drogo]]'s body is burnt on his funeral pyre Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] begs Daenerys to come east with him, to Yi Ti, [[Qarth]], the [[Jade Sea]] and [[Asshai|Asshai-by-the-Shadow]], to see all the wonders yet unseen. {{Ref|aGoT|72}}
  
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
 
===''A Clash of Kings''===
In [[Qarth]] [[Xaro Xhoan Daxos]] tries to entreat Daenerys to accompany him on his pleasure barge to the Jade Sea. He suggests that they journey around Yi Ti to search for the dreaming city of poets and to sip the [[wine]] of wisdom from a dead man's skull.{{ref|aCoK|40}}
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In [[Qarth]] [[Xaro Xhoan Daxos]] tries to entreat [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to accompany him on his pleasure barge to the [[Jade Sea]]. He suggests that they journey around Yi Ti to search for the dreaming city of poets and to sip the [[wine]] of wisdom from a dead man's skull.{{ref|aCoK|40}}
  
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
In [[Meereen]] Daenerys Targaryen reminds Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] that after Khal [[Drogo]]'s death he had asked her to go with him to Yi Ti and the [[Jade Sea]].{{Ref|aSoS|71}}
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In [[Meereen]] [[Daenerys Targaryen]] reminds Ser [[Jorah Mormont]] that after Khal [[Drogo]]'s death he had asked her to go with him to Yi Ti and the [[Jade Sea]].{{Ref|aSoS|71}}
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
[[Garin (Orphans)|Garin]] tells [[Arianne Martell]] that according to sailors in [[Planky Town]], grey plague, possibly referring to [[greyscale]], has broken out in Yi Ti.{{ref|AFFC|21}}
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[[Garin (Orphans)|Garin]] tells Princess [[Arianne Martell]] that according to sailors in [[Planky Town]], grey plague has broken out in Yi Ti.{{ref|AFFC|21}}
  
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
 
===''A Dance with Dragons''===
When in the cellar of [[Illyrio's manse]] in [[Pentos]], [[Tyrion Lannister]] notices that Illyrio has wines from the fabled east in his stock, one of which is from Yi Ti.{{Ref|aDwD|1}}
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When in the cellar of [[Illyrio's manse]] in [[Pentos]], [[Tyrion Lannister]] notices that Illyrio has wines from the fabled east in his stock, including wines from Yi Ti.{{Ref|aDwD|1}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{references}}
 
{{references}}
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{{Regions}}
 
{{Regions}}

Revision as of 17:48, 9 June 2019

Yi Ti is a nation and region in Essos located east of Qarth and the Bone Mountains and bordered by the Jade Sea to the south. Nearby islands in the Jade Sea are Leng and the Isle of Whips. North of Yi Ti are the Great Sand Sea, the Shrinking Sea, and the Bleeding Sea; a great river runs south from the Bleeding Sea through Yi Ti to the Jade Sea. Located east of Yi Ti are the Mountains of the Morn, the Shadow Lands, and Asshai.[1] In the Common Tongue, things relating to Yi Ti are known as "YiTish".[2][3]

The realm of the YiTish civilization is known as the Golden Empire of Yi Ti,[4] which was, according to legend, preceded by the Great Empire of the Dawn. Maester Yandel speculates the YiTish civilization was contemporary with the realm of the Fisher Queens, whereas the YiTish priests insist that mankind's first towns and cities arose along the shores of the Jade Sea, dismissing the rival claims of the Sarnori and Ghiscari as the boasts of savages and children.[2]

Region

The land of Yi Ti has thick, green patchwork farmland and a dense and sweltering jungles.[1] Rumors have it that basilisks roam the jungles of Yi Ti.[5] There is a trade route from Asabhad to Yin along the coast of the Jade Sea.[1] The Five Forts guard the northeastern marches of the empire.[2]

Throughout Yi Ti a great web of stone roads, built during the reign of the Eunuch Emperors, ensure travelers can cross the lands of Yi Ti without much trouble. These roads are said to be equal to the dragonroads of the Valyrian Freehold.[2]

The zorses of the Jogos Nhai have been bred by crossing regular horses with certain horselike creatures from the southern regions of Yi Ti.[6] Daenerys Targaryen remembers that basilisks infest the jungles of Yi Ti.[5]

Cities

Yi Ti has more cities than any other land in the known world, and according to Lomas Longstrider they are much larger and more splendid than cities in the west. According to Colloquo Votar there are three older cities buried beneath every YiTish city.[2]

Known cities in Yi Ti include Yin and Jinqi, along the coast of the Jade Sea, and Tiqui further to the north near the Great Sand Sea. The city of Asabhad is located at the western boundary of Yi Ti near the Bone Mountains and the Jade Gates.[1] Five massive fortresses known as the Five Forts are located along the northeastern boundaries of Yi Ti, situated between the Bleeding Sea and the Mountains of the Morn.[1]

During the time of the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, several cities served as the capital city, depending on the reigning dynasty. The grey, indigo, and pearl-white emperors ruled from Yin, located on the shores of the Jade Sea, the scarlet emperors ruled from Si Qo, which they constructed in the middle of the jungle, and which has seen fallen and reclaimed by the jungle. The purple emperors ruled from Tiqui, located in the western hills, and the maroon emperors ruled from Jinqi. In the present day, under the rule of the azure emperor Bu Gai, Yin once again is the capital of Yi Ti.[2]

Over the last two thousand years, a dozen YiTish cities and a hundred towns, and many farms and fields have been reduced to ruins by the zorseriders of the Plains of the Jogos Nhai.[6]

People

A YiTish man, by Douglas Wheatley for The World of Ice & Fire

Men from Yi Ti are bright-eyed and wear monkey-tail hats.[7] The people of northern Leng in the Jade Sea are YiTish, while the south of the island is inhabited by the Lengii.[8][2]

Yi Ti is ruled by a god-emperor. Lomas Longstrider onces described Yi Ti as "the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes, ruled by one god-emperor." Of old, the god-emperor were extremely wealthy and powerful, and commanded large armies. In present times, however, three men claim the title of god-emperor, while their power does not extend past the cities in which they live. Instead, the hundred princes rule their own realms as they see fit, as do the brigands, priest-kings, sorcerers, warlords, imperial generals, and tax collectors outside their domains.[2]

The Lion of Night is a god in Yi Ti.[9] The religion as practiced by the Church of Starry Wisdom supposedly originates from Yi Ti, with the Bloodstone Emperor of Yi Ti being seen as the first High Priest. The religion still persists in many cities throughout the known world.[2]

Yi Ti was one of the earliest civilizations where literacy arose. The most ancient YiTish records are cherished and jealously guarded.[2]

Economics

One of their major exports is saffron.[10] Other exporting goods include spices and silk.[11] Traders from Yi Ti travel to Vaes Dothrak to trade.[12][7] Wines from Yi Ti can be found as far west as Pentos.[13]

Yi Ti is legendary wealthy. Its princes live in houses of solid gold, and eat sweetmeats with pearls and jade powdered over it.[2]

Braavos, Pentos, and Volantis are known to trade with Yi Ti.[14]

Yi Ti also used to trade with the Sarnori when that kingdom still existed.[15]

History

Great Empire of the Dawn

According to scribes of Yin, all the lands between the Jade Sea and the Shivering Sea, the Bone Mountains and the Grey Waste were all part of the Great Empire of the Dawn and fell under the control of the God-on-Earth, the only son of The Lion of Night and the Maiden-Made-of-Light. He is said to have had a hundred wives and to have reigned for ten thousand years, before ascending into the stars to join his forebears. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the Pearl Emperor, who ruled for a thousand years. He was followed by the Jade Emperor, the Tourmaline Emperor, the Onyx Emperor, the Topaz Emperor, and the Opal Emperor, who all reigned for centuries. Each successive ruler had a shorter reign and faced rising problems, as mankind grew greedy and corrupt.[2]

The Opal Emperor was succeeded by his daughter, the Amethyst Empress. Her younger brother slew her and usurped the throne, and event which is remembered as the Blood Betrayal. He proclaimed himself the Bloodstone Emperor and began a reign of terror, practicing dark magical arts and necromancy. He cast down the true gods to worship a black stone which had fallen from the sky. According to the annals of the east, the Blood Betrayal is attributed as the cause of the Long Night, as it caused the Maiden-Made-of-Light to despair and turn her face away from mankind, while the Lion of Night sent the generation-long winter to punish mankind. In the chaos that followed, the Great Empire of the Dawn collapsed.[2]

According to Colloquo Votar, as recounted in his Jade Compendium, a legend from Yi Ti claims that disaster during the Long Night was only averted by "the deeds of a woman with a monkey's tail".[16]

The maesters of the Citadel in Oldtown doubt that the Great Empire of the Dawn ever truly existed, but most do agree that Yi Ti's culture is very ancient, and a few believe they were contemporary with the Fisher Queens on the western side of the Bone Mountains.[2]

Golden Empire

After the collapse of the Great Empire of the Dawn, the Golden Empire of Yi Ti began. Since the end of the Long Night eleven dynasties of emperors have ruled over Yi Ti, eached known by a color honorific. Some of them ruled no more than half a century, while the longest ruled for seven hundred years. The transitions of power between dynasties did not always occur peacefully, and on four occasions, the end of a dynasty led to a prolonged period of civil war and anarchy. The longest of these lasted more than a hundred years.[2]

Under the sea-green emperors, Yi Ti reached the apex of its power. During the reign of god-emperor Jar Har, Leng was conquered. His sons further expanded the power of Yi Ti; Jar Joq Great Moraq, while Jar Han exacted tribute from Qarth, Old Ghis, Asshai, and other lands.[2]

Chai Duq, the fourth of the yellow emperors, married a noblewoman of Valyria, and kept a dragon at his court.[2]

During the past two thousand years, Yi Ti has often fought against raiders of the Jogos Nhai, whose lands are located to the north. According to Maester Yandel, the raiders of the Jogos Nhai have reduced a dozen YiTish cities, a hundred towns, and farms and fields beyond counting to ruins. To combat these attacks, many imperial generals and three god-emperors invaded the Plains of the Jogos Nhai, but these attacks usually did not end well, as the Jogos Nhai would usually evade capture for such long periods of time that the YiTish invaders would give up and go home.[2]

Lo Han, forty-second scarlet emperor, invaded the plains three times without success, returning home after being unable to catch his enemies. After Lo Han's death, his son, Lo Bu, assembled a mighty host, supposedly of three hundred thousand men, and led his force into the plains, leaving a burning wasteland behind everywhere he went. During his campaign, millions of Jogos Nhai were killed. During the last two years of the struggle, the rival clans of the Jogos Nhai united against Lo Bu under a woman called Zhea, whose riders eventually descended upon Lo Bu's host, slaughtering them all. Lo Bu was among those slain. Zhea had his head stripped of its flesh and his skull dipped in gold, so it could serve as her drinking cup. Every jhattar of the Jogos Nhai since Zhea has drunk fermented zorse milk from Lo Bu's skull.[15]

Around 100 BC, the island Leng broke free of Yi Ti, although the northern two-thirds of the island are still under the control of the descendants of the original YiTish invaders.[15]

On the first of his nine great voyages, Corlys Velaryon sailed to Yi Ti and Leng[17] on the Sea Snake,[18] returning with such a large amount of spices, silks, and jade, which made House Velaryon the wealthiest house in the Seven Kingdoms for a while.[17]

In the present day, Yi Ti is ruled from Yin by the seventeenth azure emperor, Bu Gai. However, the amount of power he has is weak compared to older god-emperors, ad the local governors and tax-collectors have carved out a hundred different princedoms among the provinces. In Carcosa, located on the Hidden Sea, an exiled sorcerer lord resides, who claims to be the sixty-ninth yellow emperor. In addition, a general called Pol Qo has named himself the first of the orange emperors, using Trader Town as his capital.[2]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

In the Western Market of Vaes Dothrak Daenerys Targaryen sees a fat cloth trader from Yi Ti haggling with a Pentoshi over the price of some green dye.[7]

Before Khal Drogo's body is burnt on his funeral pyre Ser Jorah Mormont begs Daenerys to come east with him, to Yi Ti, Qarth, the Jade Sea and Asshai-by-the-Shadow, to see all the wonders yet unseen. [19]

A Clash of Kings

In Qarth Xaro Xhoan Daxos tries to entreat Daenerys Targaryen to accompany him on his pleasure barge to the Jade Sea. He suggests that they journey around Yi Ti to search for the dreaming city of poets and to sip the wine of wisdom from a dead man's skull.[10]

A Storm of Swords

In Meereen Daenerys Targaryen reminds Ser Jorah Mormont that after Khal Drogo's death he had asked her to go with him to Yi Ti and the Jade Sea.[20]

A Feast for Crows

Garin tells Princess Arianne Martell that according to sailors in Planky Town, grey plague has broken out in Yi Ti.[21]

A Dance with Dragons

When in the cellar of Illyrio's manse in Pentos, Tyrion Lannister notices that Illyrio has wines from the fabled east in his stock, including wines from Yi Ti.[13]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Lands of Ice and Fire, The East.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.
  3. The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Leng.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
  6. 6.0 6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys VI.
  8. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire.
  9. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
  10. 10.0 10.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
  11. Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 36, Daenerys IV.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.
  14. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands.
  16. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Long Night.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  18. Fire & Blood, The Heir of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
  20. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
  21. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.