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[[Image:Jade Sea.png|thumb|right|200px|A map showing the location of the Jade Sea.]]
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[[File:Jade Sea.png|thumb|350px|A map showing the location of the Jade Sea.]]
'''The Jade Sea''' is a large body of water that lies several thousand miles to the east of [[Westeros]]. The continent of [[Essos]] encloses the sea like a large bay, forming its western, northern and eastern shores. Major ports on the Jade Sea include [[Qarth]], [[Yi Ti]], and [[Asshai]].<ref>[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/season2/#!/locations/red-waste/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 map, Red Waste entry]</ref>
 
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{{Quote|I heard you lost your mind during a storm on the Jade Sea.|[[Balon Greyjoy]] to [[Euron Greyjoy]]|Home}}
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The '''Jade Sea'''{{Ref|GOT602}} is a large body of water located in the far east of [[Essos]]. Its western end connects to the [[Summer Sea]] at the Straits of [[Qarth]], and from that city ships from many nations travel eastwards to the great trading centers along its shores, including the Golden Empire of [[Yi Ti]] and the forbidding sorcerer-city of [[Asshai]].
   
It is known as an exotic location and the source of valuable trade goods. However, the voyage from Westeros to the Jade Sea and back again is a risky undertaking lasting months or even years on end, and only the hardiest traders dare to make the voyage. Even so, many traders (and smugglers) dream of saving up enough resources to make the trading circle around the Jade Sea, for while it is long, the profits from its successful completion will allow a merchant to live rich and comfortably for life.<ref>[[Complete Guide to Westeros]]: Robert's Rebellion - Davos Seaworth</ref>
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Many valuable trade goods, such as rare spices, gems, and silks are found along the Jade Sea, but few [[Westeros]]i have ever traveled far enough to reach their sources. The mercantile route from [[Westeros]] to the Jade Sea and back - known as the "trader's circle" - is very long and dangerous; the round trip can take two years, and only the hardiest merchant ships dare to make the voyage. Even so, many traders (and smugglers) dream of saving up enough resources to make the trip, for while it is long, the profits from its successful completion will allow a merchant to live richly and comfortably for life.{{Ref|H&L205}}<ref>[[The Summer Sea]]</ref>
   
==In the books==
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==History==
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===Background===
In the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels, the Jade Sea lies approximately three thousand miles to the east of Westeros. It is connected to the [[Summer Sea]] by the Straits of Qarth, also called the Jade Gates. Qarth lies at the westernmost end of the sea, Asshai at the south-easternmost end.''
 
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The plant required to make the infamous poison known as the [[strangler]] is found only on a few islands in the Jade Sea.<ref>"[[Poisons]]"</ref>
   
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 6|''Game of Thrones'': Season 6]]===
It is unclear whether the Jade Sea is a massive, landlocked bay connected to the Summer Sea (similar to the relationship between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean), or a totally distinct ocean which separates Essos from the southern continent of [[Sothoryos]]. At this time it is unclear if Essos or Sothoryos forms the south coast of the Jade Sea.
 
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During his time away from the [[Iron Islands]], [[Euron Greyjoy]] went [[raiding]] as far east as the Jade Sea. While there he apparently lost his mind during a storm, and had to be tied to the mast of his [[Silence|ship]] to prevent him from jumping overboard. After the storm passed and he was released, Euron cut out the tongues of the entire crew - as he later glibly explained - because he needed silence.<ref>"[[Home]]"</ref>
   
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===[[Game of Thrones: Season 8|''Game of Thrones'': Season 8]]===
Traders from Westeros, the Free Cities and the [[Summer Islands]] are known to perform the 'trader's circle' around the Jade Sea, stopping at every port to trade goods before taking them back to Westeros, usually via [[Slaver's Bay]] and [[Qarth]]. A single voyage to Asshai and back, performing the circle, can make a merchant crew rich, but it's also extremely hazardous. This kind of voyage can take two years or more.
 
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During her speech after the [[Battle of King's Landing]], [[Daenerys Targaryen]] promises her army that they will free the world from tyrants from the [[Summer Isles]] to the Jade Sea.<ref>"[[The Iron Throne]]"</ref>
   
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==In the books==
In addition to the named locations above, a major power on the Jade Sea is [[Yi Ti]].
 
 
In the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels, the Jade Sea is connected to the [[Summer Sea]] by the Straits of [[Qarth]], also known as the Jade Gates. Qarth lies at the westernmost end of the sea, Yi Ti is in the middle of the northern shore, and Asshai is to Yi Ti's southeast.
   
 
The southern extent of the Jade Sea is unknown: it is unclear whether the Jade Sea is a massive, landlocked bay connected to the Summer Sea (similar to the relationship between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean), or a totally distinct ocean which separates [[Essos]] from the southern continent of [[Sothoryos]].
Early previews of ''The Lands of Ice and Fire'', a collection of maps of the ''Song of Ice and Fire'' world, indicate that George R.R. Martin has radically reconceptualized the Jade Sea and its coastlands from what has appeared on the HBO maps (which are based on earlier drafts). In the new version, the Jade Sea now forms the southern coast of Essos, with Qarth located at the north-western edge of the sea rather than the south-western. A large island now separates the Summer Sea from the Jade Sea, with Qarth guarding the northern straits into the Jade Sea. There also exist southern straits (which run between the island and the continent of Sothoryos) into the Jade Sea. A towering mountain range now separates the Dothraki sea from unknown lands further east. Asshai is located at the north-eastern edge of the sea, roughly due south-east of Qarth and about as far from Qarth as Qarth is from Valyria.
 
   
 
Traders from [[Westeros]], the [[Free Cities]] and the [[Summer Isles]] are known to perform the "trader's circle" around the Jade Sea, stopping at every port to trade goods before taking them back to Westeros, usually via [[Qarth]] and [[Slaver's Bay]]. A single voyage to Asshai and back, performing the circle, can make a merchant crew rich, but it's also extremely hazardous. This kind of voyage can take two years or more.
Whether HBO will change its maps to match ''The Lands of Ice and Fire'' or whether the TV and books will now have different maps for Essos and the Jade Sea remains unknown.
 
   
==See also==
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===Location===
 
''The Lands of Ice and Fire'', a collection of maps of the ''Song of Ice and Fire'' world, show that George R.R. Martin has radically reconceptualized the Jade Sea and its coastlands from what has appeared on the HBO maps (which are based on earlier drafts). In the new version, the Jade Sea now forms the southern coast of Essos, with Qarth located at the north-western edge of the sea rather than the south-western. A large island, Great Moraq, now separates the Summer Sea from the Jade Sea, with Qarth guarding the northern straits into the Jade Sea. There also exist southern straits (which run between the island and the continent of Sothoryos) into the Jade Sea, known as the Cinnamon Straits. A towering mountain range, the Bone Mountains, now separates the [[Dothraki Sea]] from the unknown lands of the Further East. Asshai is located at the eastern edge of the sea, roughly due southeast of Qarth and about as far from Qarth as Qarth is from [[Old Valyria|Valyria]].
* [http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Jade_Sea The Jade Sea at A Wiki of Ice and Fire]
 
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Despite speculation that HBO would change its maps to match ''The Lands of Ice and Fire'', the subsequently aired seasons retained the same outline for Essos. This implies that the TV show and books have differing versions of the same continent, although since these lands are supposed to be mysterious and unknown to the Westerosi, it may be an intentional, albeit retroactive, in-universe error.
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
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{{Seas navbox}}
 
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==External links==
[[Category:Geography]]
 
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*{{AWOIAF}}
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{{Known world}}
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{{Further East}}
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{{Bodies of water}}
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[[Category:Jade Sea| ]]
 
[[Category:Seas]]
 
[[Category:Seas]]
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[[de:Jademeer]]
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[[pl:Morze Nefrytowe]]
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[[ru:Нефритовое море]]
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[[uk:Нефритове море]]
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[[zh:玉海]]

Latest revision as of 12:32, 7 January 2024

Jade Sea

A map showing the location of the Jade Sea.

"I heard you lost your mind during a storm on the Jade Sea."
Balon Greyjoy to Euron Greyjoy[src]

The Jade Sea[1] is a large body of water located in the far east of Essos. Its western end connects to the Summer Sea at the Straits of Qarth, and from that city ships from many nations travel eastwards to the great trading centers along its shores, including the Golden Empire of Yi Ti and the forbidding sorcerer-city of Asshai.

Many valuable trade goods, such as rare spices, gems, and silks are found along the Jade Sea, but few Westerosi have ever traveled far enough to reach their sources. The mercantile route from Westeros to the Jade Sea and back - known as the "trader's circle" - is very long and dangerous; the round trip can take two years, and only the hardiest merchant ships dare to make the voyage. Even so, many traders (and smugglers) dream of saving up enough resources to make the trip, for while it is long, the profits from its successful completion will allow a merchant to live richly and comfortably for life.[2][3]

History

Background

The plant required to make the infamous poison known as the strangler is found only on a few islands in the Jade Sea.[4]

Game of Thrones: Season 6

During his time away from the Iron Islands, Euron Greyjoy went raiding as far east as the Jade Sea. While there he apparently lost his mind during a storm, and had to be tied to the mast of his ship to prevent him from jumping overboard. After the storm passed and he was released, Euron cut out the tongues of the entire crew - as he later glibly explained - because he needed silence.[5]

Game of Thrones: Season 8

During her speech after the Battle of King's Landing, Daenerys Targaryen promises her army that they will free the world from tyrants from the Summer Isles to the Jade Sea.[6]

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Jade Sea is connected to the Summer Sea by the Straits of Qarth, also known as the Jade Gates. Qarth lies at the westernmost end of the sea, Yi Ti is in the middle of the northern shore, and Asshai is to Yi Ti's southeast.

The southern extent of the Jade Sea is unknown: it is unclear whether the Jade Sea is a massive, landlocked bay connected to the Summer Sea (similar to the relationship between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean), or a totally distinct ocean which separates Essos from the southern continent of Sothoryos.

Traders from Westeros, the Free Cities and the Summer Isles are known to perform the "trader's circle" around the Jade Sea, stopping at every port to trade goods before taking them back to Westeros, usually via Qarth and Slaver's Bay. A single voyage to Asshai and back, performing the circle, can make a merchant crew rich, but it's also extremely hazardous. This kind of voyage can take two years or more.

Location

The Lands of Ice and Fire, a collection of maps of the Song of Ice and Fire world, show that George R.R. Martin has radically reconceptualized the Jade Sea and its coastlands from what has appeared on the HBO maps (which are based on earlier drafts). In the new version, the Jade Sea now forms the southern coast of Essos, with Qarth located at the north-western edge of the sea rather than the south-western. A large island, Great Moraq, now separates the Summer Sea from the Jade Sea, with Qarth guarding the northern straits into the Jade Sea. There also exist southern straits (which run between the island and the continent of Sothoryos) into the Jade Sea, known as the Cinnamon Straits. A towering mountain range, the Bone Mountains, now separates the Dothraki Sea from the unknown lands of the Further East. Asshai is located at the eastern edge of the sea, roughly due southeast of Qarth and about as far from Qarth as Qarth is from Valyria.

Despite speculation that HBO would change its maps to match The Lands of Ice and Fire, the subsequently aired seasons retained the same outline for Essos. This implies that the TV show and books have differing versions of the same continent, although since these lands are supposed to be mysterious and unknown to the Westerosi, it may be an intentional, albeit retroactive, in-universe error.

References

External links