ARTWORK TARGETTED FOR RETURN
It is well known that during the nations period of mourning a large number of important art-works and artefacts left the nation after checks on their safe-keeping were sadly neglected. Since the coronation of Dragon-Emperor Tielin efforts have been made to stop the export of any piece of art of historical or national value. The government have also begun efforts to identify where items have already left the nation and where possible bring them home. This had lead to a very unlikely first step as a team of experts have traced a significant amount of Lijiangian art to a private gallery in the capital of East Moreland, Northfort. The David III gallery is privately owned by the King of East Moreland but is open for free to the general public. It is currently estimated that the King has around 100 examples of a dying art, Paper-Cutting, on display in the gallery and it is suspected that many more are perhaps in Northfort Palace. It is understand that King David purchased these prior to becoming King however it is not known exactly how he acquired them. It is understood that the Dragon-Emperor has contacted the King directly asking for permission to have people inspect the collection. Should permission be granted the delegation visiting East Moreland would include High Lord of MùgǔJiang Guangtai. The High Lord is a respected collector of art work himself and his younger sister is a artist who resides at the Sanctury of the Two Dragons. Speaking following a meeting at the Imperial Palace Guangtai discussed the potential mission. "The 120 year period of mourning has created several problems for our Empire, we are now economically playing catch up as our trade policies are 120 years out of date. We have to rapidly close the gap and bringing art work back to the Empire would seem to many a low priority. For me we need to bring the lost art and history home at the same time as we step into the world. When you engage with the world it is inevitable that your homeland is influenced, that is not a bad thing as there is much we can happily learn from across most nations in Mundus, we can however still ensure our uniqueness as a nation survives by ensuring we take pride in what our scholars, artists, artisans or other skilled craftsman have produced."
The art of paper cutting is a traditional art that has been recorded to having existed for at least 1800 years. It was at one time a favoured art form among the noble women of the Golden Enclave where several ancient examples of the practice are still on display following their creation by historical Dragon-Empresses and Queens. The practice see's extremely thin paper, usually red in colour, cut in intricate patterns and scenes before being mounted on silk. It is custom that a piece of art is done on a single piece of paper meaning extreme care must be taken. Red paper cuts are a tradition gift at the Feast of Dragons and represent good fortune for the year ahead. Despite their popularity as a gift they are in many cases today not considered works of art as High Lord Guangtai's artistic sister Xiuli explained. "Today there are very few people, perhaps no more than 10, that can truly be considered masters of this art form in our nation. Go back two, maybe three hundred years that would have been thousands. We all see in the lead up to the Feast of Dragons stalls and shops selling hundreds of 30cm square paper cuts that look bold and beautiful, but they are made in factories by computer and cut out by machines. It is my hope that if we can show these are from Lijiang then King David will allow us to bring them home."
The hope of potentially returning these objects was supported by High Lord Guangtai who explained "The Moreland monarch authored the Cultural Exchange Treaty Organisation. Currently we are not a member of this but it has at its heart the idea of a nations historic past being in their own keeping. It is my hope that King David will, if we can show proof, stand by the spirit of his created treaty. Perhaps if their King shows good faith we may be open to joining the Organisation."
The potential visit will be the first by a government official from Lijiang to East Moreland that is ever recorded.
"WHY RETURN" SAYS BUSINESS WOMAN
Beth Qiuxia is a 39 year old business-woman from Bakkermaya who is respected as a restaurateur in several Bakkermayan provinces. Her restaurants, named BQ Bistro, have successfully blended Lijiang cuisine with that of the various islands of Bakkermaya and have made her an estimated fortune of around $30million. She is the daughter of a Lijiangian military veteran who moved to Bakkermaya as a chef following his military service. Beth Quixia was 18 months old when the family made the move and as a result she has been brought up in Bakkermaya all her life however her parents have instilled in her belief in the Two Dragon faith and she is fluent in Lijiangian. Following news though that the Dragon-Emperor was keen to see citizens who have moved abroad return home the business-woman has questioned why anyone would wish to do so. In a recent TV appearence in Bakkermaya she was asked whether she intended to go back to Lijiang and said, "I fail to see why anyone would choose to with the exception of a few nations on Mundus. Lijiang is a nation that is still in the 20th Century at best and as a result those of us who have left would essentially be going through a time warp if we return home. If we take myself and my family as an example. If we were to return home now we would find ourselves as wealthy but struggle to make a success there. We would not be able to own land as we are not nobles, we would need the support of a noble to gain land and as such they'd likely expect a high sum of money to do that. Once back there we'd be in a nation desperately trying to catch up in terms of lifestyle, luxuries, even civil liberties with the rest of Mundus. As a woman I would be expected to be some subservient wife and mother splitting time between raising children, cooking for my husband and going to Temple. That is not a lifestyle I would want. Women in Lijiang are essentially a commodity for their family. Look at the Dragon-Emperor himself. He takes women as Concubines to keep his bed warm meanwhile marries 16 year olds having executed their fathers. Women are not allowed to inherit titles or land and women have very little say over their own futures. Why return? No sane woman would."
The Dragon-Emperor has spoken of hoping to attract people with Lijiang heritage back home so the nation can benefit from their experience. Lord Kexing, the High Lord of the Imperial Council responded to Beth Qiuxia's words saying, "It is true that in many ways our Empire needs to play catch up. Our system of life though has created a nation that has protected its people from the dangers of the outside world for its entire history. We have a people proud of their homeland and now the period of mourning is over we have a Dragon-Emperor who is forward thinking and shall drive us forward. Miss Quixia makes him sound like some woman abusing monster but that is far from what I have seen with him. He is a man who loves his family, his people and his Empire and I know he shall ensure in a short time people like Miss. Quixia will be rushing to return to the Empire to take advantage of the prosperity he will create."
With an estimated maximum of 1million Lijingians overseas it is hoped at least 25% of these will return home this year. So far since the Dragon-Emperor announced he would make it simpler to return a total of 873 families have made contact with their local embassies to enquiry about returning home.