Fu Ching Lan

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Fu Ching Lan

Information

Preferred title:	Not specified
Their Pronouns:	Not specified
Resides:	Angels
Status:	Active
Awards:	Visit the Caid Order of Precedence

Heraldry

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Fu Ching Lan

Persona

Enscribed by Fu Ching Lan:

During the reign of Zhu Di (1402-1424), known as the Yongle Emperor, I was born in the city of Nanchang, near the Tengwang Pavilion. Regarded as one of the Four Great Towers of China, this beautiful building, located on the east bank of the Gan River, was originally built by Prince Teng in 653 AD.

Named Fu Ching Lan, I was raised by my loving parents, Liang Liang and Fu Ching Wan, members of higher society who frequently visited the pavilion, called the Greeting Kindness Hall during that time. This was a time of great importance for China because of a senior court eunuch named Zheng He, who was also an explorer, an admiral of the royal fleet, and a very popular diplomat. The Emperor ordered Admiral Zheng to take the fleet of treasure ships on a series of trading expeditions ranging far and wide across the sea. My father was assigned as an ambassador, and were he went, so did I.

My beautiful mother was too delicate of a flower for such long journeys so she remained at home while I ventured with the fleet. First to the ancient Kingdom of Koryo (Korea) at the very young age of 7. It was here that we met General Yi Seong-gye, who would later rule as King Taejo. Thanks to my father's efforts a close relationship between our Kingdoms was established.

We even traveled as far as Nippon (Japan) and were received at the court of the Shogun who treated us with great respect, befitting a nation that owed tribute to the Dragon Emperor. The Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi greeted us warmly, even though he was sad because his father had recently died.

It was during those travels I was hard at work learning from my many tutors how to read and write in several languages, and all about court protocols, politics, geography, and seafaring. These where required by my father, whereas my mother wanted me to learn the arts of embroidery, calligraphy, and how to be a perfect wife for my future husband.  The death of the Dragon Emperor during battle against the dreaded Mongols put an end to our travels (and any thoughts of marriage for me) when his successor Zhu Gaochi suddenly called Admiral Zheng He and the fleet home. The new Emperor was not interested in any nation other than ours. Shortly after we returned from our great voyage, we were shocked to hear that he ordered the beautiful treasured fleet burned and canceled the trade agreements my father had worked so hard to establish.

Seeing the way the wind was blowing, my father took our family to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province and from there we traveled along the Silk Road to the ancient Indian kingdom of Magadha. It was like a sea voyage, except we had miles of land instead of sea to travel. Even so, as always, he established trade along the way for future business ventures, and to keep his family safe.

Alas, he was taken ill with a mysterious disease before his dreams could be realized. We got as far as the city of Lhasa, high in the mountains, where we were abandoned by most of our servants and tutors who wanted to go home to China. Only the two most loyal remained with us: my "uncles" Zhao Han and Deng Enlai. I had to teach Uncle Zhao all that I learned from my father so that we could pretend he was head of the family. Strangely enough, my mother found life in the mountain much to her liking.

Through much patience, diplomacy, and hard work, we established my father's dream of a thriving business for trading goods that went from China to India and beyond. But that was his dream; mine is to go far beyond that, to travel even farther than my father's imagination had taken him.

Offices & Positions

Chronicler, Barony of the Angels, 2000 - 2002
Minister of Arts and Sciences, Barony of the Angels, 2002 - 2003
Chief Lady-in-Waiting for Robert and Therese, Barony of the Angels, 2001 - 9/06/2003
Guildmistress, Crossed Bodkins Guild, Barony of the Angels, 2011 to Present
Chief Lady in Waiting for Peter and Gabrielle, Barony of the Angels, 1/14/2012 - 9/12/2015
Co-Webwright, Barony of the Angels (with Duchess Natalya de Foix), 11/8/2012 - 12/18/2014
Co-Chronicler, Barony of the Angels (with Baroness Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani), 5/29/2013 - 11/26/2014
Chronicler, Barony of the Angels, 11/26/2014 - 7/14/16
Social Media Officer, Barony of the Angels, 12/18/2014 - 7/14/16
Court Lady in Waiting to Their Majesties Conrad II and A'isha, 9/19/15 - 7/16/16
Minister of Lists, Barony of the Angels, 8/11/16 to 8/11/18
Court Lady in Waiting to Their Majesties Agrippa II and Bridget II 1/7/17-7/15/17
Court Lady in Waiting to Their Majesties Alexander and Tahira 7/15/17 to 1/6/18
Chronicler, Barony of the Angels, 09/14/17 to 09/12/19

Event Staff

Event Steward, Caid 12th Night 2004, 01/04/2003
Event Steward, Angels Anniversary 2004, 09/06/2003
Decorations, Altavia-Angels Yule 2014, 12/13/14
Co-Event Steward, Winter Festival of the Rose 2015, with Lady Arianna Foxford
Co-Event Steward, Altavia-Angels Yule 2015, with THL Nikolaos Phaistios

Classes Taught

Acrylic Banner Making Class, Filthy Dirty Collegium, February 2014
Blackrune Acrylic Banner Making Class, July 2014
Acrylic Banner Making Class, Great Western War 2014
Acrylic Banner Making Class, Great Western War 2015

Projects & Publications

Arts & Sciences Pentathlon 2003 - Embroidery; People's Prize
Arts & Sciences Champion, Barony of Altavia (with Lord Ryuusaki Raiden, for their combined efforts on the leather worked dagger sheath), 4/29/06

Associates

Sister in Flaxen Abbey

William Blackfox Award nominee for "The Seraph", 2003
William Blackfox Award 2014
- Winner, Best Graphics and Layout, "The Seraph," 2014
- Nominee, Best Newsletter, "The Seraph," 2014
William Blackfox Award 2015
- Winner, Best Article "How to Make Your Own Vinegar" by Master Donal O'Brien OL, Winter Issue 2014

Past and current issues of The Seraph can be found here. If you have any trouble accessing the newsletter, contact the Angels webwright.

SCA-Related Artwork
- Barony of the Angels Facebook page (Barony of the Angels)
- Altavia/Angels Joint Yule 2014 Facebook page (Altavia\Angels Yule)

Scrolls

(Click scroll thumbnail for more information)

Image Preview	Award	Recipient
	Harp Argent	Gwendolyn of Amberwood
	Detail of Harp Argent	Gwendolyn of Amberwood
	Angels A&S Championship Scroll	Made by Fu

Garb & Other Hand-Crafted Items

Coptic tunics researched, designed, and crafted by THL Fu Ching Lan and Lady Arianna Foxford for Baron Peter Cadarn and Baroness Gabrielle nicChlurain on the occasion of Angels Anniversary 2014

Baron Tunic - front	Baron Tunic - back	Baroness Tunic Dress - front	Baroness Tunic Dress - back
Hand-embroidered Dog roundel	Hand-embroidered Rhino roundel

Items created in 2015

Maestra Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani device	Baron John ap Griffin device	Chair covers for Maestra Flavia & Baron John	Paper parasol for Baroness Rutilia Fausta
Tunic for Baron Peter Cadarn	Detail, tunic for Baron Peter	Inkle-woven trim for Baron Peter's garb	Chair cover for Baron Peter
Chair cover for Baroness Gabrielle nicChlurain	Largesse for Kingdom of the Outlands	Greek garb for THL Nikolaos Phaistios	Greek garb for THL Nikolaos Phaistios

Items created in 2016

Viking Dress

Viking Embroidery

Russian Hat

Leather sporran, Calafia-Gyldenholt Friendship Tourney 03/05/2016

Items created in 2017

Aethelmerc bags

Arabic garment for Niko

Caid Gonfalon banner

Dragon Eggs

Elizabethan Cap Hat

Banners

Image Preview	Details
	Banner for THL Nikolaos Phaistios, 2016
	Banner for Lady Monique Marie Sauniere, 2016
	Banner for Lord Hugh ap Rhys, 2016
	Detail, Banner for Lord Hugh ap Rhys, 2016
	Banner for the lady Cassandra Collins, 2016
	Banner for Lady Briana MacCabe, 2016
	Gordon Clan Flag for Calafia-Gyldenholt Friendship Tourney, 03/05/2016
	Gordon Clan Banner for Calafia-Gyldenholt Friendship Tourney, 03/05/2016
	New Barony of the Angels banner, designed and painted by THL Fu Ching Lan
	New Barony of the Angels banner
	New Barony of the Angels banner
	New Barony of the Angels banner
	New Barony of the Angels banner
	Banner promissory won by Master Manus le Dragonier, made for THL Beatrice MacKelli
	Banner promissory won by Master Manus le Dragonier, made for THL Beatrice MacKelli
	Personal banner created for Baroness Gabrielle nicChlurain