Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Dhe’nar Visual Art and the Tsara

08/01/2007

As is their nature, the Dhe’nar rarely engage in tasks for which there is no clear tangible, practical benefit. So it is with what passes for Dhe’nari art. The concept of “art for art’s sake” is not unknown amongst the First Born, but it is generally regarded as a waste of time. This is not to say that the Dhe’nar do not produce art, but rather that when they do so, there is always more to it than mere aesthetics.

Take, for example, Dhenari painting and sculpting. While a superficial look at the products of such may seem no different than that of other cultures, the Worker Caste, over the millenia, has devised a method of delivering a great deal of information through subtleties in the work. In this way, something such as a wall frieze can deliver a lesson, or even a full treatise, regarding important elements of Dhe’nar society.

An element of this “visual code” is the tsara - a series of hand gestures each of which possesses its own unique meaning based on finger and wrist position. It is rare indeed to find a representation of a humanoid in Dhe’nari art that is not performing a tsara of some sort.

Of course, as Dhe’nar are educated in the meaning of the tsara as part of the extensive training in their youths, many Dhe’nar use the tsara while communing amongst themselves as well. Use of the tsara is not a true “sign language” in that it does not replicate the full range of their spoken tongues. It is, however, useful in delivering discrete social and philosophical concepts, and thus can be used to supplement verbal communication, if so desired.

Examples of a few tsara and their meanings follow.

(This list is by no means comprehensive, and is merely provided as a small sample of possibilities. I was originally going to illustrate the hand positions, but felt that was probably irrelevant for a text based game and so translated them into Act commands instead.):

Agreement - One expresses one’s agreement with another. Often used while the issue one agrees with is being spoken, so that one can express his opinion immediately without having to verbally interrupt.
(XXXX extends the fingers of his right hand and grasps his thumb with his left)

Arkati - One or related to one
(XXXX forms a loose fist)

Ascendant - Used when discussing an Ascendant, in combination with Greeting if actually meeting one
(XXXX touches his ring finger to his thumb)

Ascension - Used when discussing a topic relevant to Ascension
(XXXX touches his index finger to his thumb)

Asceticism - One is eschewing material reward
(XXXX touches his ring finger to his palm while extending the others)

Bond - Signifies a bond with another, be it mental, physical, or spiritual
(XXXX folds his ring and little fingers, while extending the others)

Caste: One signs one’s own caste, never another’s

Temple
(XXXX extends his arm downwards, palm facing inwards)

Warlock
(XXXX extends his arm downwards, palm facing right)

Warrior
(XXXX extends his arm downwards, palm facing left)

Worker
(XXXX extends his arm downwards, palm facing outwards)

Comprehension - One understands the instructions given or the discussion at hand
(XXXX touches his index fingers together)

Disagreement - One expresses one’s disagreement with another. Used in the same manner as Agreement.
(XXXX extends the fingers of his left hand and grasps his thumb with his right)

Family - Signifies a blood relation with another
(XXXX touches his middle finger to his thumb)

Greeting - Less formal than a full bow, typically combined with a nod
(XXXX extends his little and index fingers, folding the others across his palm)

Instruction (request)
(XXXX turns his palm downwards, and folds his thumb across it)

Instruction (offer)
(XXXX turns his palm upwards, and folds his thumb across it)

Knowledge - One has knowledge of a given subject that one wishes to impart
(XXXX crooks his index finger)

Protection (requesting)
(XXXX turns his palm inwards, fingers extended)

Protection (offering)
(XXXX turns his palm outwards, fingers extended)

Warning - One is signaling another to take caution
(XXXX angles his hand upwards, extending his index and little finger)