« i like the comparism | Main | Childe: The Urban Revolution »

Guards' Significant presence in Kin-sai

I agree with Dorian on his remark about Kin-sai seeming to be a Utopian society, yet Marco Polo still gives hints to this perhaps not being the whole story. Such an example is when Polo is speaking of officers watching over the guards and being able to punish them ‘at their own discretion’ should the guards be negligent. He also mentions the people not being particularly fond of the guards’ presence, yet claims that the people remain peaceful. There are also guards patrolling at night and controlling the use of light and fire in people’s private homes. Polo is not clear on what the punishment is for these crimes, which is something I think would be an interesting detail for the description of this city. It appears that the officers and guards of his Majesty yield a great deal of power, which is not at all emphasized in this account, yet appears to be significant.

On a final note- at one point Marco Polo says, “From the sea, which is fifteen miles distant.” And then at another time claims, “At the distance of twenty-five miles from this city, in a direction to the northward of east, lies the sea.” I was unable to find a decent map of Kin-sai. Is he referring to the same sea? Or is Kin-sai on a peninsula of some sort?

Posted by Angela Mulcahy on January 23, 2007 09:52 AM |

Comments

With all of these first person accounts of different cities, it is important for one to consider the tourist aspect of seeing and interpreting a city. When traveling to other cities especially ones out of your own county you exist as a tourist and really focus on the things that are different and exciting in the new place. There is this sense of wonder and amazement that takes over as you explore. The faults and downsides of each city tend to be unnoticed or unknown until you actually live within the society and culture for extended periods. This could have played a role in Marco Polo's label of Kin-Sai as Utopian-like, but the issues with government control and unknown punishments for seemingly stupid crimes, could shine a completely different light on this society .

Posted by: Tyler | January 23, 2007 12:03 PM

Post a comment

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.