당기세 "outs" 기승냥, and then tries to proposition her

This lovely fan art print, illustrated by Arutean is from the scene in Episode 7 of Empress 기/Ki after 당기세/Tangqishi discovers 기승냥/Ki Seung Nyang is a woman. It is the beginning of a very hostile, years long interaction where one can't immediately eliminate the other, without there being profound political cost. Therefore, they have to learn to deal with each other. 하지원 and 김정현/Ha Ji Won and Kim Jung Hyun do an excellent job in demonstrating the animosity and hatred the two characters have for each other. 기승냥 hates 당기세 because he killed her mother. 당기세 hates 기승냥 because she’s 고려/Goryeo, but he is also intensely attracted to her.  Strangely, I can't help but be intrigued by their interaction, even though I know full well 당기세 is an unapologetically horrible person. This print is available for purchase at www.sageukparadise.com

Add a little bite to your room decor, or keep it in a highly visible space in your work area as personal motivation on how to effectively deal with a co-worker you consistently clash with. (And how in the end, you will eventually be the one who wins, because let's face it, 당기세 is a bit of a dumbass).

**But, there’s an additional interesting layer to Tangqishi’s revelation about Ki Seung Nyang, when he is able to determine that she is a woman from the scent on her neck. According to the book “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World,” by Jack Weatherford, scent was a very culturally significant attribute among the Mongols. It was used to identify others, and it was considered a part of a person’s soul. Initially, as a Westerner, when I first saw that scene, it seemed kind of odd, but not as odd to other Westerners who had a hey day with that. (What? A girl smells like dirt and sweat)? However, after reading the Genghis Khan book, and currently reading another book about Mongol textiles and fashion, where they also touch on the issue of scent; it actually makes a lot more sense. According to “Mongol Court Dress, Identity, and Global Exchange,” there was a ban on bathing with water for religious reasons (due to scent being connected to the soul), and clothing that had already been worn, and had the distinct scent of someone else on it was frequently given as a very honorable gift. In the future, I will blog a little more about the Mongols, as their relationship to Korea, and much of Asia and Europe, is actually exceedingly significant, and provides just one more layer of insight while watching K-Dramas that are dated Late Goryeo era and later.

 

Print available here: https://www.sageukparadise.com/sageuk-paradise/p/empresskifanart

11x17 Empress Ki Anime Fan Art Prints — 사극 Paradise