Lao Yu

One of the Legends of An Tir panels from Twelfth Night in Adiantum, A.S.XLIII. Concept by Marian Staarveld, designed by Raven Qara ton, executed in stunning color by Yseult of Brodeliande. (C)2008Erika Milo

Lao joined the Society in about 1980 as Lee the Quiet, before developing her more well known persona of Lao Xue-sheng, a Chinese-Mongolian who became a storyteller to the court of the Kublai Khan.

Among her gifts was the art of the storyteller. She performed Tibetan creation tales, and later, stories from "Journey to the West" for public access TV (A Winter's Court) in Seattle in 1985; at an SCA demo at the World's Fair in Vancouver BC in 1986; and at a living history demo at the "Nomads of Eurasia" exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles in 1989, as well as several SCA feasts and events between 1983-1990.

The highlight of her bardic career within the SCA came at a Ducal War in the mid 1980s when she performed the first seven chapters of "The Tales of Monkey" which she adapted from "Journey to the West" (a famous Chinese epic). This was a one-woman show, spanning about 7 hours, and performed in a format that was the precursor to Chinese street opera. She recreated some of the stories for public access TV in Longview, WA later that year. In June 2021, some of the original VHS tapes were rescued (from the trash!) and remastered into digital format, which you can access along with a six-part series of production notes entitled "Drama in China" on her website at August Phoenix Hats (.com, no www), on the page on the top navigation bar titled "The Storyteller". (with apologies for not being able to provide those direct links here...)

Lao went on to serve An Tir twice as Queen, both times with Norse Kings:

• Dak and Lao, Jan 10 AS XXI/1987 - July 11 AS XXII/1987.
• Barak and Lao, Jan 9 AS XXVII/1993 - July 17 AS XXVIII/1993

During her reign with Dak, Lao established the Order of the Carp to recognize and encourage excellence in persona development. The order was expanded by Queen Megan to include excellence in period encampments.

Lao's reign with Barak saw the establishment of the regional system for peerage meetings, an attempt to expand communication between the councils and the crown and to give a recognized platform for candidate discussion outside of crown events.

In an attempt to keep things light during this reign, Lao looked to period pastimes and introduced Mongolian Football, a form of soccer, played by kicking a small woolen ball through two goalposts, and played by the court ladies of T'ang Dynasty China, in full court garb. Lao remembers playing in her Mongolian cavalry boots and court robes, with the ladies of Glymm Mere, all wearing matching black and yellow striped Beevarian stockings under their skirts. Men were only allowed to play if they dressed as women...but usually they preferred the sidelines, where they could drink beer and laugh their faces off... although at Egil's Tournament 2009, the game was revised, and men actually donned skirts and fruit-filled bodices, and joined in the fray!

Dak and Lao await Their Heirs, July Coronation 1987

Lao Yu served subsequent reigns by assisting with file maintenance; working with a team of archivists to transfer the Royal Handbooks to electronic, online format; writing Coronation and Laurel ceremonies, and offering whatever behind the scenes support she could. She may have been the first Asian Queen of An Tir. Lao also served briefly as editor of The Crier; as Royal Patron to the Shire of Ambergard for about a year; and as director of curriculum for 3 years for the Festival of St. Hildegard, a 10-day event which offered hands-on classes in pre-14th century arts and sciences.

In addition to her Duchy, Lao Yu was also a Member of the Order of the Laurel, and a Lion of An Tir. She adopted a Venetian persona briefly in the Kingdom of the West, before disposing of all of her SCA belongings, and retiring completely from the society in about AS 38.

Her website houses papers on medieval Asian topics which she wrote during her tenure in the Society, and a catalog of SCA-period Mongolian names from "The Secret History of the Mongols", a primary resource for SCA heralds. Those resources can be accessed in the "Historica" section of her website at August Phoenix Hats (.com, no www, formerly known as Lao Hats).

Lao's Litany of Names

In following Chinese and Mongolian custom, Lao changed her name to commemorate significant events in her SCA life:

• Lao Xue-sheng - Wise Student, her first Asian name within the SCA, given to her by Tibetan monks who raised her. Giving such a studious name to a very young girl exhibited their extraordinary sense of humor...
• Nu-huang Lao - her first reign name (Nu-huang is the Chinese title for queen)...
• Nu Tai-to Lao Tao-sheng - the name commemorated the end of her first reign and her elevation to Countess. Nu Tai-to is the equivelant of countess. Tao-sheng is Chinese for "Old One, Born to Tell Tales" and was also the family name of a 9th century Buddhist warrior monk....
• Lao Khatun - her second reign name. Khatun is a Mongolian title meaning, simply, 'chieftain's wife'...
• Lao Yu - the name she took when she became a Duchess. Lao Yu translates to "old jade", a pun on so many levels...

Coronation, January 1993

In Memoriam for Jarl Barak

Lao Yu donned black on November 19, 2008 upon the sudden death of her second king and once-husband, Barak Ravensfuri. Please visit his page for photos and remembrances...

Barak Bagaridai Bahadur, who has just returned victorious from a battle for his betrothed, Nu Tai-to Lao. They married at sunset in an SCA-Mongolian ceremony at Alpine Pass War, circa 1989

Letters

Unto her excellency Lao, Squire Barak de Noirville does bid greetings. (written May 24, 1988)

I wish you to know how honoured I was to be able to fight for you at Crown last. You have twice inspired me to lengths beyond my greatest expectations and for that I am most grateful. I am only sorry that I fell short of achieving that most sought after goal of King. I did however learn much from these experiences and I feel that you have helped me grow more than you know.

You took a great personal risk by allowing me to fight for you, and for that you shall forever hold a place dear in my heart...

...if the day ever comes when I sit the throne, I want you to be close at hand. That is as it should be.

I apologize that this is typed but calligraphy is not something which I do...YET. Take care and don't dismay. Good things come to those who wait.

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Warmest greetings unto Squire Barak, from Nu tai-to Lao Tao-sheng (written in response to the previous letter)

Thank you very much for the exquisite pouch...and for the touching letter. You put me at no risk by carrying my favor, other than letting me see the world from a less pampered side.

I have come to realize that the game has become too serious for my comfort, and sew I have chosen exile, in hope that I may again find my sense of humor. When I return, it shall be as one Enlightened, with no need of masks.

It is my wish that you meet again on the field of Honor. I would suggest to you Mistress Randell Elinor Raye, a noble woman who wishes greatly to become queen, and whom is without champion...

...fight for your chosen as you did for me, with great strength and valor. Honor your opponent and he will bow to you.

And know that my thoughts will be with you, adding force with she who inspires you, for those that are worthy of you are few but can be found...

Fight hard, be good...

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Unto kahtun Lao Tao Cheng (written by Camellia, July 17, 1993)

This gift {of a necklace) is a tribute to you and your reign...

The yellow are tears Mongolians never cry. The green is grass Siberians rarely see. White are the snowflakes that fell when your lord won crown. Blue is the endless sky overhead - showing us that a journey anywhere is possible. Red is your enemy's blood on the edge of your sword. Brown shies the coat of your sturdy mare. Wear it, or not, as you wish - what else would I have made for you?

Your reign was tumultuous; however, if I, Camellia, am any indication of your average public I think it was an impossible task that you carried out with undoubted success. Your courts were the most imaginative and enjoyable I have ever attended. Nothing I've ever encountered surpassed the soccer game at crown; laugh lines were created where none had ever been. Your grace, patience, eloquence and humour were an inspiration...

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