The Twelve Kingdoms Forum

I have read the novel translations for the Sea God in the East, The Vast Sea in the West on otyaku.com. But it hasn't been translated fully, it ends on chapter 3. For those who have read the full japanese version or chinese, what happens compared to the anime? In the anime its supose to be different. I know from the prologue, both are abandoned as children. In the anime they only show Rokuta abandoned and Syouryuu's people being wiped out. It would be great if some could spill the beans on the novel. Unforunately I can't read Japanese or chinese. Give me spoilers! If its comes out in english, I will still read it. Thanks ahead of time.
Shanonn

Here's a link to a thread that discusses one very small part of the book:

viewtopic.php?t=384&highlight

I also would like to learn more of the book version

Thanks nightcaser. It is interesting he was married with children(a child who didn't belong to him). I wonder if thats why he preferred hookers. Because he got burned. Just a thought.
Shanonn

He didn't have a kid. Just a wife. He was making the point that he could have a kid from one of the other concubines his family retained. The emporers of Japan and China didn't marry - they chose their heir from one of the children he fathered from a concubine. Probably a similar tradition happened with the local clan lords - if they didn't have an heir from their wife it was okay to look elsewhere.

I think he was just the stereotypical younger son who wasn't expected to grow up to be anything. He had two older brothers - both of whom were highly regarded. He just sat around and partied in town and probably his father was so into the other two boys he didn't care what Naotaka did.

that is not true - the emperor does marry (in china at least- im not too sure about japan)

the wife he marries first is the empress and he can have lots of other wives. The empress is more carefully chosen than other wives.

the emperor's heir is the first born son of the empress but emperor can change which son becomes the crown prince if the eldest son of the empress is just too stupid or unfit to rule.

later on, there were emperors who do not reveal their choice of heir until on their deathbed.

hope that explains things.