Have you ever noticed that there is something off about the Moon?
Every night when you look up into the sky, you will always find the same picture, a full moon. The moon never changes, it has no lunar cycle. Most will pass this off by saying the developers didn't feel it was a necessary.
Usually I'd be inclined to agree. Many of you probably haven't even noticed, or if you have you didn't think much of it. But this is a special case, The mentions of the moon are far to many to ignore, for example: Mondstadt means “Moon City” and Liyue means “Jade Moon, or Glazed Moon”, but references do not stop there, many items are associated with the night sky, Primogems are stars, Resin is in the shape of a crescent moon not to mention the Blessing of the Welkin Moon.
References to the moon persist through the ingame books, in Moonlit Bamboo Forest, Heart's Desire, The Drunkard's Tale, The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies. All these books and more all reference the Moons and it's light But all this may still not be enough to justify a Lunar cycle.
Then how about the prophecies in regards to the cataclysm, the crimson moon that we see in the "we will be reunited" trailer, then there is the kingdom of Khaenri'ah that fell to these events, and the name of that kingdom "The Eclipse dynasty" So all these references to the moon and yet they just didn't put it in?
It makes me think the whole thing was done on purpose. The occurrence of a fall moon, happens when the earth is in-between it and the sun. You'd think that the Moon would be hidden in the earths shadow, but the Moon is actually a few decrees offset, enough so that it receives the light of the sun.
So if Teyvat uses similar logic to the real world, the way for the moon would remain full, is if: The world and the moon orbit the sun, but the Moon remains behind. The moon and the sun are fixed in place and the world rotates, or the world is fixed and the sun and the moon orbit around at a fixed speed, resulting in the world being consistently between the two.
The only other explanation is if the moon itself is emitting it's own light. But before we delve into Teyvat's equivalent to the flat earth theory, let's explore the origins of the moon.
Many of the texts I mentioned earlier, talk about the origins of the Moon in further detail. These books also share other things in common, but we'll save that for next time.
For now we'll just focus on the Moon. Let me read an exert from the Moonlit Bamboo Forest Vol.3, as told by a mysterious figure in the wood.
“"Long ago, three bright moons once hung high the night sky. These three moons were sisters, their years numbering more than that of the Geo Archon and their year of birth dating before the very bedrock upon which Liyue Harbour now rests.
The moons were daughters of prose and song, sovereign over the night sky. They navigated the heavens above in their silver carriage, alternating with one another thrice a month.
If the reign was not promptly passed from one sister to the next, a terrible disaster would occur that very day. These three luminous moons shared but one love, the stars of daybreak.
Only at the fleeting moments when day and night converged could one of the three sisters pass the fading stars and gaze upon the chambers of the morning stars. Moments later, as the new dawn would break over the horizon, the carriage would quickly ferry the night’s sister away.
The three sisters shared an equal affection for their one and only love, much like the affection they shared for one another" before I read on I will outline a how these sisters are references in other books with a few other details.
In the “Records of Jueyun” there is a mention of the “Lunar Palace” and in Heart's Desire they're names are revealed as Aria, Sonnet and Canon and that they parted by death in a great catastrophe.
So let's read on: "But this was all before the world was smashed against the tides of great calamity. With time, disasters overturned the sovereign carriage and laid ruin to the halls of the stars.
The three sisters of the night turned against one another, leading to their eternal parting by death. Only one of their pale corpses now remains, ever shedding its cold light..."
The never changing moon that we see in the night sky is the corpse of a former Goddess and the disaster that ensued during their demise was so great it left the stars in ruin. But I believe these Moon sisters still hold significance today... specifically when it comes to that island in the sky.
By now you are probably familiar with this symbol because it's use is scattered throughout Teyvat when it comes to things that are tied to the Gods and Celestia. It is called the Triquetra,
It has had many meanings throughout history and within many religions. This makes it very hard to pin-point exactly what the symbol means but I personally believe it is in
reference to the Three Moon Goddesses.
In Neopaganism, it means “The Maiden, Mother and Crone”, the Triple Goddess. They represent different phases of the Moon, and the female life cycle. The symbol when encompassed by a Circle, it signifies a Union.
Would it be a stretch to say in Teyvat this symbol actually represents, actually Aria, Sonnet and Canon, the three Moon Goddesses and that Celestia's orgins are tied to them?
Then would this explain why deep within this Domain, behind this Irminsul tree, a tree that played a key role in the rituals where these ancient civilizations communicated with Celestia directly.
We have that very same symbol inlaid into the wall but with a link that is broken. Does this symbol represent the parting of these Three sisters, leading to their demise? Did the ancient civilizations know about this event, and lets not forget that we offer resin in the shape of crescent moons to these trees to receive gifts.
But this isn't really answering our original question, so to seek possible answers, we must look to the unreconciled stars.
When seeking the cause of the falling stars and the origins of Leonard tale on Pilos Peak, we travelled to Musk Reef with Mona. We find Scaramouche waking from a daze from touching the fallen star, he turns to us and says discovered something terrifying, the stars, the sky, it's all a gigantic hoax, a lie and what better evidence to back up this claim than Moon without a Lunar Cycle.
Is the Moon itself false? I'm not sure, but I found this flavour text extremely unusual. "A ritual prayer, recited on the rising of the first new moon, to ask for the moon's blessing in the form of wealth and good fortune. For your purposes, the new moon you shall pray to is the first-ever new moon in Teyvat, since it's the first one you've seen here."
A new moon is when the moons brightest face is toward the sun not the earth. If I'm understanding this correct, Teyvat has never even seen a new moon, this is suggesting that the lack of a Lunar Cycle is by design.
Further more the item is called “The Blessing of the Welkin Moon” Welkin meaning “The Vault of the sky” or better still, Firmament, which means “The heavens or Sky”, terminology from biblical cosmology, It's the idea that the world is like a snow-globe, with the stars, sun and moon fixed to a large dome over the world.
What is not great evidence for this theory but fun to mention nonetheless, In early in game accounts, it's stated that the world was covered in ice and snow, and in the case of Mondstadt it remained this way until Barbatos became the Archon and reshaped the land scape, turning Pilos Peak into Musk Reef, so in a way, it was kind of like a snow-globe. In some depictions of the Firmament, the heavens consist of the upper sea.
Imagine it's a snow-globe is submerged in water. This is particularly interesting when you consider the means to which Mona uses the element of Hydro to read the stars. You will also see that below the earth is a deep ocean named the Tehom.
This means “The Deep” or.... the Abyss. When we read the description of the Spiral Abyss it states: “Venturing out into the universe and down into the abyss are the same in that both are braving the dark unknown.”
There are two interpretations, one is that the universe and the abyss are dark unknowns but the other way you could read this, is to reach the abyss, one much travel out and then down to it.
So when Dainsleif says "In the perpetual meantime of a sheltered eternity, most are content to live and not to dream, but in the hidden corners where the god's gaze does not fall, there are those who dream of dreaming"
I believe it means, is the false sky is Celestia's influence, it's a false sky that covers the ever ending sea outside. Further more the name Teyvat sounds very similar to “Tevat Noah”, which in Biblical Hebrew, means Noah's Ark. Teyvat is the Ark, protecting it's inhabitants from the great flood.
The great flood was sent by God himself. So am I suggesting that the world outside Teyvat is all water as we're just a submerged snow-globe? No, I mean it figuratively.
In the Drunkards tale, it talks about a wolf wondering through a wasteland What I believe the water is, is darkness... and the Abyss is a deeper darkness.
When the Moon Sisters died, a great catastrophe happened, laying ruin to the stars.. possibly plunging the world into darkness and now, on all sides Teyvat is surrounded by it.
When you read through the history of Teyvat, there is a reoccurring theme, Tyranny and Liberation. This even occurs in the present story. During Leonards time Mondstadt was covered in snow as a result of a constant feud between Andrius The wolf of the North also known as Boreas and Decarabian, the God of Storms.
To fend of the bitter cold Decarabian created Old Mondstadt to house his people and protected it with whirling storms. You may know this as storm terrors lair. He believed he had good intentions, but what he did not anticipate, was the people would see him as a tyrant.
The people who felt imprisoned, they Rebelled, lead by the Nameless Bard and Barbatos, who was but a small wisp at this point.
Together they over threw Tyranny at the expense of the nameless bards life. Boreas conceded the title of Anemo Archon to Barbatos who took on the form of the bard to commemorate his courage. This was when he reshaped the landscape and blew away the snow and established New Mondstadt.
If you think this story is familiar, you're not wrong, we're seeing a very similar situation at the moment with Baal, isolating her people, for reasons unknown. Begs the question, is she seizing visions to create a protective barrier for Inazuma in some form, I could imagine she'd cause great storms to prevent anybody getting in, or getting out.
There are other examples such as Venessa and the Gunhildr clan overthrowing the tyranny of the Lawrance clan in new Mondstadt.
Freedom persists even with Liyue, where Zhongli hands over his Gnosis and trusts control of Liyue to the people and the Adepti.
Isolationism, Imprisonment, Freedom and Eternity. These themes persist and they extend to Teyvat as a whole... so let's talk about this sheltered eternity and Celestia.
As the common phrase goes, “Celestia sus” But something I am struggling to understand, is the line from the self proclaimed prophet “yet the island in the sky set the earth to burn” but when it comes to disasters and wars, they all seem to be conducted by humanity or archons and I'm not seeing Celestia itself conducting them.
The only example I think we could argue is the scene from the “We will be reunited trailer”, but I don't even know if we're interpreting this scene correctly, and we presume that the unknown god is aligned with Celestia due to the title she gives us.
The line doesn't have to be in the literal sense. What I believe this could actually mean is Celestia has set things up in such a way that humanity and archons will fight amongst themselves.
Divide and Conquer: “The gods goad us on with the promise of their seven treasures. Rewards for the worth. The doorway to divinity” The lore states that the cataclysm was a result of Golds ambitions when it came to Alchemy, and this gave birth to shadowy monster, that many believe to be the abyss order and Hilichurls.
What I also find strange is in the story of Leonard, He had an ambition to climb Pilos Peak, but what is atop that peak? A portal to the Abyss... Maybe this is not intended but I can't help get the feeling that they're suggesting that ambition of humanity leads to the Abyss.
The moment when Vanessa ascends to Celestia, it resembles what some have pointed out to be a prison with a great watch tower in the middle... with yet another island at it's peak. The doors shut behind her. She ascended because she proved worthy, but I can't help but think she only has been locked in yet another prison, as punishment for her ambition.
I believe this is greater than Celestia. Just like Decarabian sealed his people in wind to protect them from the outside Blizzard.
Celestia seals it's people in the sheltered eternity, from the outside darkness.
The title of the game in Chinese translates to “Original God” There has to be a power that resides over Celestia, as it is Noah and Teyvat is the Ark, surrounded in the great flood of darkness, ushered in by something greater.
Civilizations long passed have perished and now lay ruin in darkness as Celestia suppresses it's people through divide and conquer and punishment of it's ambition, because that curiosity and ambition, leads to darkness.
Thank you if you reached it this far and let me know your thoughts, there is still much to explore on this subject and these themes, so next time I'll explore these Anc ient Civilizations and the hints toward genesis.