Golden Turtles: Difference between revisions
imported>Sol Pacificus The chancellor is a title of the Tang dynasty. That the leader of the Golden Turtles happened to always manage to get himself appointed to that post (or be recruited from that post) doesn't mean that the title of the Golden Turtle leader is itself Chancellor. |
imported>Sol Pacificus No edit summary |
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Among their secret members was the ''[[jiedushi]]'' [[An Lushan]], but his deep-seated rivalry with Yang Guozhong culminated in a violent schism in 754 and the formation of An's splinter group, the [[Yeluohe]]. Choosing to wage his power struggle in open battle, An Lushan dragged the entire nation into a catastrophic civil war in 755 which forced the intervention of the Order's archenemies, the [[Hidden Ones]]. By the war's end, both the Golden Turtles and Yeluohe had been decimated with their leaders assassinated. | Among their secret members was the ''[[jiedushi]]'' [[An Lushan]], but his deep-seated rivalry with Yang Guozhong culminated in a violent schism in 754 and the formation of An's splinter group, the [[Yeluohe]]. Choosing to wage his power struggle in open battle, An Lushan dragged the entire nation into a catastrophic civil war in 755 which forced the intervention of the Order's archenemies, the [[Hidden Ones]]. By the war's end, both the Golden Turtles and Yeluohe had been decimated with their leaders assassinated. | ||
==Etymology== | |||
The Chinese name of the Golden Turtles, ''jīnguīdài'' (金龜袋), literally translates to 'gold turtle bag', referring directly to the pouches holding golden tortoise token which were used during the reign of Empress Regnant [[Wu Zetian]] as identification for officials of rank three and higher. These tokens in the shape of turtles were also cast in silver and bronze, which were issued to officials of rank four and five respectively. Upon seizing the throne, Empress Wu had changed the fish-shaped tokens previously used for the same purpose to that of a turtle design to symbolize the new era. In the same vein, those same fish tokens had in turn originated in the decree of the Tang founder {{wiki|Emperor Gaozu of Tang|Emperor Gaozu}} to replace an older design based on rabbits.<ref name="Special 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty Special 1|Special 1]]</ref> | |||
After she was ousted in 705 and the Tang dynasty was restored, {{wiki|Emperor Zhongzong of Tang|Emperor Zhongzong}} immediately reverted the turtle badges to fish badges, and within the next five years, the entire turtle bag system was abolished. Nonetheless, the golden turtle lingered on as a symbol of high status, inspiring Chinese affiliates of the Order of the Ancients to adopt it as their code name. By 754, it had thoroughly cemented itself as their organization's avatar.<ref name="Special 1" /> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Fifty years after the death of Empress Wu Zetian,<ref name="Special 1" /> the Golden Turtles were ascendant in the Tang court.<ref name="Dynasty 7">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty 7|Chapter 7]]</ref> So entrenched they were in the state apparatus that they were not only able to constantly secure their [[Templar leader|leader]]'s appointment as a chancellor but conversely came to mandate by tradition that only a chancellor could be chosen to lead them.<ref name="Dynasty 7" /> The long reign of [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang]], while regarded as a prosperous and peaceful golden age,<ref name="Special 1" /><ref name="Dynasty 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty 1|Chapter 1]]</ref> came under increasing control from behind-the-scenes by a series of prime ministers affiliated with this shadowy organization.<ref name="Dynasty 7" /> | |||
Most notable of these Golden Turtle ministers was [[Yang Guozhong]], whose enmity with another Golden Turtle, the ''[[jiedushi]]'' [[An Lushan]], would eventually erupt into violent conflict.<ref name="Special 1" /> As the Tianbao (天寶) era neared its climax,<ref name="Dynasty 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty 1|Chapter 1]]</ref> the oblivious and elderly Emperor grew wearier and wearier of governing, entrusting ever greater duties to Chancellor [[Yang Guozhong]], such as in the promotion of officials, while also showering endless favours upon An Lushan, who never failed to ingratiate himself to him.<ref name="Dynasty 5">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty 5|Chapter 5]]</ref> | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' | ||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{ACD}} | {{ACD}} | ||
[[zh:金龟袋]] | [[zh:金龟袋]] | ||
[[Category:Order of the Ancients]] | [[Category:Order of the Ancients]] | ||
Revision as of 06:03, 16 December 2020
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
The Golden Turtles (Chinese: 金龜袋) was a branch of the Order of the Ancients which had entrenched itself within the court of the Tang dynasty. So successful was their infiltration that they were able to ensure that their leader was always a chancellor, as was Yang Guozhong in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.
Among their secret members was the jiedushi An Lushan, but his deep-seated rivalry with Yang Guozhong culminated in a violent schism in 754 and the formation of An's splinter group, the Yeluohe. Choosing to wage his power struggle in open battle, An Lushan dragged the entire nation into a catastrophic civil war in 755 which forced the intervention of the Order's archenemies, the Hidden Ones. By the war's end, both the Golden Turtles and Yeluohe had been decimated with their leaders assassinated.
Etymology
The Chinese name of the Golden Turtles, jīnguīdài (金龜袋), literally translates to 'gold turtle bag', referring directly to the pouches holding golden tortoise token which were used during the reign of Empress Regnant Wu Zetian as identification for officials of rank three and higher. These tokens in the shape of turtles were also cast in silver and bronze, which were issued to officials of rank four and five respectively. Upon seizing the throne, Empress Wu had changed the fish-shaped tokens previously used for the same purpose to that of a turtle design to symbolize the new era. In the same vein, those same fish tokens had in turn originated in the decree of the Tang founder Emperor Gaozu to replace an older design based on rabbits.[1]
After she was ousted in 705 and the Tang dynasty was restored, Emperor Zhongzong immediately reverted the turtle badges to fish badges, and within the next five years, the entire turtle bag system was abolished. Nonetheless, the golden turtle lingered on as a symbol of high status, inspiring Chinese affiliates of the Order of the Ancients to adopt it as their code name. By 754, it had thoroughly cemented itself as their organization's avatar.[1]
History
Fifty years after the death of Empress Wu Zetian,[1] the Golden Turtles were ascendant in the Tang court.[2] So entrenched they were in the state apparatus that they were not only able to constantly secure their leader's appointment as a chancellor but conversely came to mandate by tradition that only a chancellor could be chosen to lead them.[2] The long reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, while regarded as a prosperous and peaceful golden age,[1][3] came under increasing control from behind-the-scenes by a series of prime ministers affiliated with this shadowy organization.[2]
Most notable of these Golden Turtle ministers was Yang Guozhong, whose enmity with another Golden Turtle, the jiedushi An Lushan, would eventually erupt into violent conflict.[1] As the Tianbao (天寶) era neared its climax,[3] the oblivious and elderly Emperor grew wearier and wearier of governing, entrusting ever greater duties to Chancellor Yang Guozhong, such as in the promotion of officials, while also showering endless favours upon An Lushan, who never failed to ingratiate himself to him.[4]
Appearances
References
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