The South China Sea – A Mermaid Kingdom From Mermaid Princess Amelia Fantasy Novel Series by Maxine Foti – Mermaid Princess Amelia

Mermaid Kingdom of South China Sea in “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony”

Mermaid Kingdom’s Geographical Location

The South China Sea lays close to Southeastern Asia. It’s connected with the neighboring East China Sea through the Taiwan Strait, and its other neighbors are islands such as Taiwan, Philippines, and Borneo. It’s also close to the Gulf of Thailand.

Mermaid Kingdom’s Legitimate Rulers

We know very little about this sea from “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony,” only that the ruler is prince Huang Yan, who’s friends with Greene Grant from the East China Sea. Huang Yan owned an ancient sword which was an artifact opening one of the seventeen guardian plates.

Mermaid Kingdom of South China Sea in the “Stories from the Undersea World of Mermaid Princess Amelia, Vol. 2”

In Huang Yan’s Story

The South China Sea mer-kingdom is a realm where ancient tradition and subtle magic are woven into the very fabric of the aquatic environment. The water itself seems to carry the weight of history, tinged with the faint, perpetual glow of bioluminescent algae that serve as a natural, star-like canopy in the deeper districts. The architecture is a majestic fusion of Chinese imperial design and organic, undersea adaptation. Buildings are not merely constructed but grown and sculpted, with walls of fused, colorful coral, roofs of layered, iridescent abalone shell, and foundations set upon great, smoothed stone slabs that resemble ancient megaliths. The predominant color scheme is a regal yellow, accented with bold red and black, symbolizing joy, luck, and depth, often seen in the flowing silk robes of the merpeople and the painted details on significant structures. The flow of life here is rhythmic and deliberate, governed by the lunar cycles and ancestral customs, particularly during observances like the Ghost Month, when the city takes on a more solemn, mystical atmosphere with offerings of gilded ingots and the haunting melodies of folk music echoing through the plazas.

Huangcheng (Yellow City): The Capital

Huangcheng is the vibrant, beating heart of the South China Sea. The city is a sprawling metropolis of canals and wide boulevards that flow between structures ranging from humble, single-story homes with gabled, tiled roofs to grand, three-story administrative buildings adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and sea phoenixes. The city is a labyrinth of activity; market streets are lined with private stalls selling land-imported delicacies like oranges and peanuts alongside local crafts, while the main thoroughfares are constantly busy with merpeople swimming in elegant, flowing attire. The lighting is a carefully orchestrated blend of natural sunlight filtering from the surface in the upper districts and the soft, ethereal glow of chemical lights and cultured jellyfish lanterns in the deeper areas. At the city’s core lies the imperial district, a more orderly and serene sector where the architecture becomes grander and the lush, undersea vegetation—forests of kelp, gardens of sea anemones, and fields of seagrass—is meticulously curated. The overall impression is of a civilization that is both powerfully organized and harmoniously integrated with its environment.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is less a single building and more a vast, walled district within Huangcheng, a compound of breathtaking beauty and imposing authority. The structures here are the pinnacle of undersea architecture, with towering, curved roofs of gleaming yellow shell that seem to defy the water’s pressure. courtyards are connected by graceful archways and enclosed by walls of deep red coral. Inside, the chambers are spacious and opulent, filled with art from across the seas—paintings from the East China Sea, sculptures from Suramyan, and intricate mosaics depicting the kingdom’s history. The grand halls have high, vaulted ceilings from which hang massive silk banners embroidered with the imperial dragon. Light filters through skylights made of single, perfectly clear sheets of crystal or is provided by chandeliers of glowing pearls. Despite its grandeur, there is a sense of quiet order and ritual, a place where every movement is measured and tradition hangs as heavily in the water as the scent of salt and sandalwood.

The Fortune Club

Nestled in the southwestern district of Huangcheng, the Fortune Club is a jarring but fascinating remnant of the Sambathian colonial era. The building is a three-story structure whose entrance is dominated by a sinister-looking sculpture: a large ship’s rudder from behind which emerge the possessive, curling tentacles of a giant octopus. Inside, the atmosphere shifts dramatically from the traditional Chinese aesthetic of the city. The interior is a spectacle of inlaid red and black marble with shocking golden accents. One entire wall is made of rough, unadorned stone, upon which hangs a gigantic, terrifyingly complex Wheel of Fortune, inscribed with 999 ancient Sambathian symbols. The true marvel of the club is its “living architecture.” Using miraculous Sambathian engineering, the interior rooms and corridors are deconstructed and reconstructed randomly every day between 4 a.m. and midday. One might find a corridor of breathtaking beauty, with full-length crystal chimes and soft curtains, their light reflected infinitely in a mirror maze. The next could be a hall of horrors, filled with grotesque, flayed effigies of merpeople and disturbing captions smeared on the glass. It is a place of thrilling risk, where games of chance and skill determine one’s path, embodying the Sambathian belief that static, unalterable spaces are akin to misfortune and death.

The Typhoon Fist Monastery

The temple of the Typhoon Fist Monastery in Huangcheng is a center of both spiritual and martial discipline. The building itself is a vibrant yellow structure, serene and symmetrical, with a heavy, ornate gate that traditionally stands open to all seekers. The architecture is robust yet graceful, designed to withstand the powerful currents its practitioners learn to harness. The central courtyard is a large, open space used for training, where students practice the fluid, powerful movements of Taifengquan, or “typhoon fist,” a shadow-boxing art that mimics the relentless force of a storm. The air within the monastery grounds hums with focused energy and discipline. However, the monastery’s atmosphere can turn ominous, as seen when its gates are sealed shut with the white-painted character for “misfortune,” signaling a profound disruption to its ancient peace and order.

Haigui Province

Located near the islands of Xisha and Hainan, Haigui Province is the pragmatic, industrious heartland of the South China Sea. Unlike the ornate capital, the settlements here are functional and closely tied to the land and its resources. The merpeople are primarily sea farmers and shrewd traders who maintain strong ties with the human inhabitants of the islands, bartering for tropical fruits like mangoes and coconuts. Their architecture is practical, often utilizing sturdy wood and woven coconut husk. They are master craftspeople, known for their furniture and tools, with the ever-present machete being their favored implement and weapon. Their culture reveres the sea turtle, or “haigui,” from which the province takes its name, symbolizing strength, longevity, and a deep connection to both the sea and the land. It is a place that produces strong, resilient individuals, a fact embodied by the formidable warrior Wu Shen.

In Greene’s Story

The South China Sea is portrayed as a contrasting realm to the East China Sea, both in temperament and governance. It is implied to be a place that resonates more with Guiying’s “true nature,” suggesting a culture that is perhaps less rigid, more flamboyant, or more in tune with raw, natural power. The emperor of this sea is described as “temperamental,” a stark contrast to Emperor Guo Hai’s phlegmatic nature. However, this realm also has its dark side, containing lawless regions where the central authority’s control is weak or complicit in corruption. It represents both a familial connection for Guiying, through her cousins, and a warning about the chaos that can fester when power is abused or neglected.

Haigui Province: This province is the lawless underbelly of the South China Sea. It is a place that “operates by its own set of rules,” a haven for corruption and brutal exploitation. It is here that the horrific Triggerfish Showdowns take place, where orphans are purchased by wealthy landowners and forced to fight in brutal rings for entertainment. The very name of these fights reflects the savage and predatory nature of the province. The armed forces stationed here are notoriously corrupt, likely collaborating in organizing these fights rather than preventing them. Haigui Province represents a systemic failure, a place where justice is absent and the most vulnerable are mercilessly preyed upon, serving as a stark reminder that the merfolk world is not universally civilized or kind.

Huangcheng: This city within the South China Sea is the administrative center associated with Haigui Province. While not described in great detail, its significance lies in its failed institutions. It is the city whose “armed forces are notorious for their corruption.” Huangcheng represents a corrupted authority, a place where the structures meant to uphold law and order are instead part of the problem. It is the source of the inaction that forces individuals like Wu Shen to take desperate measures, highlighting the tragic consequences when those in power abandon their duty.

Grab your copy of “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony” here…
English: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T6BJ6RG
Spanish: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z8GK1JX
Italian: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0953PN3Y7

…and join the fanclub! PS: By hitting “Subscribe” you agree to receive newsletters from Maxine Foti:

Mermaid Princess Amelia – Best Mermaid Book Series For Teenagers