Yi Ti

Yi Ti
Information
Location	Essos, Jade Sea

"The marvels of Yi Ti and Asshai pass through our markets."

―Xaro Xhoan Daxos

Yi Ti is a region located in the far east of Essos. It is located at the eastern limits of known world, beyond the Jade Sea and to the east of even Qarth. It is sometimes mentioned in the same breath as Asshai as an extremely remote part of the world from Westeros. Merchant ships from Yi Ti and Asshai regularly visit Qarth to conduct trade.

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Yi Ti is one of the fabled lands of the mysterious east, along with Asshai, Bayasabhad, Kayakayanaya, and Shamyriana. The Lands of Ice and Fire confirm that Yi Ti is an immense nation, stretching around the northern coast of the Jade Sea. Its northwestern border is just a few hundred miles east of Qarth and it extends to just a few hundred miles due north of Asshai. The nation is tropical in climate, with immense jungles just inland stretching northeast towards the unexplored, remote parts of eastern Essos. Centuries of human civilization, however, have carved out vast patchworks of green farmland from the verdant rainforest (its climate and agricultural patterns are somewhat similar to southern China).

Yi Ti is inspired by China and the Far East from real-life history. Elio Garcia and Linda Antonsson, who run Westeros.org and co-wrote the World of Ice and Fire sourcebook with George R.R. Martin, have confirmed this. As Linda put it, "if anyone in the Westeros-Essos continuum looks East Asian, we're talking Yi Ti." Elio said Yi Ti was "definitely inspired by Imperial China," particularly its rule by divine god-emperors.

Yi Ti's capital city is Yin and other major cities include Asabahd and Jinqi. These three cities are each located on the mouth of a substantial river. The island-nation of Leng lies just off the coast of Yi Ti, but is not controlled by it. Yi Ti is ruled by a series of divine god-emperors, or perhaps it was at some point in the past. Several of these god-emperors originated from the city of Tiqui, one of the nation's ancient capitals, which is located in northern Yi Ti east of Bayasabhad.

Yi Ti's major exports include saffron and wine. The Lion of Night is a noted deity of the region. Yi Ti is also known for its merchants who wear hats made from monkey tails. Representatives from Yi Ti sometimes trade at the eastern market of Vaes Dothrak. Saffron from Yi Ti travels along trade networks all the way to Westeros, but it is a very expensive spice which only very rich noblemen can afford. Davos Seaworth mentions that saffron is worth more than gold in Westeros, though he only tasted it once during a feast on Dragonstone when King Robert sent him half a fish seasoned with saffron.

Thus far, no named characters from Yi Ti have appeared in the books.

See also

• Yi Ti on A Wiki of Ice and Fire

References

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