In Chinese, the word Qixing means “Seven Stars,” referring specifically to the Big Dipper. Each of the Qixing are named after one of the stars in the constellation. The stars names, and the titles of the Qixing seats are, in sequence: Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang. Interestingly, the entire constellation’s name in Chinese is “Beidou,” spelled and pronounced the same way as the hard-drinking, skull-cracking sea captain of the same name. Ironically, Beidou is not a member of the Qixing. As a pirate, she has very little respect for their rule of law, but she is a frequent collaborator and co-conspirator with the Qixing’s de facto leader Ningguang.
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The Eight Trades
So far, only three of the Qixing’s identities are known: Ninggaung, Keqing, and Uncle Tian. One can glean a considerable amount of information about their form of governance from in-game texts and Mihoyo’s additional narrative offerings however.
As with the Qixing, only a few of the Eight Trades are known. Yinyaun Hall presides over the salt trade, which makes sense given the lore behind the salt queen Havria, and her tragic role in the region’s history, but the hall’s representative among the Qixing is unknown. Shenglu Hall oversees the manufacture and sale of glazed ceramics, though again, its representative has yet to be revealed.
Given the region’s focus on the Geo element, and the significance of jade and precious stones in various quests, mining is almost certainly one of the Eight Trades. Imports and exports seem like another safe bet, given the city’s status as a harbor, and Beidou’s practice as a pirate/privateer. The other four trades are a cipher, however.
Colorful Characters and their Responsibilities
Perplexingly, the Qixing representatives of these industries have yet to be announced, though it is possible that Uncle Tian presides over one of them. The only NPC Qixing revealed so far, Uncle Tian looks like an unassuming old fisherman, so it is possible he oversees maritime law or the fishing industry. However, given his past, it is equally plausible that he is a military leader. He knew Childish Jiang’s parents before they died, and served in the Millelith with his father, who lost his life during Tian’s final mission.
Mihoyo has only revealed what two of the Qixing’s legal responsibilities are. Matters pertaining to real estate and construction are handled by Keqing, the sharp-tongued, sword wielding Qixing who believe that the time of the Adepti has come to a close. This is notable, as in the past, the people of Liyue looked to the Adepti for leadership and protection.
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Though the responsibilities of the Qixing are supposed to be shared, and some areas of their authority overlap with each other, Ninguang is often recognized as the leader of the Qixing, because she handles matters relating to law and governance. She also employs several secretaries, assistants, and retainers who serve her in her base of operations: the Jade Chamber.
A Base Above the Clouds
The Jade Chamber is a colossal floating palace of Ningguang’s design which features prominently in the climax of Liyue’s Archon Quest. As a result of the fall-out of that mission, players will need to recover scattered pieces of the chamber after a collision between it, and the monstrous leviathan, That Which Lies in the Deep. But first, they will need to complete Ganyu’s story mission. The Chamber is filled with financial deductions and economic insights that the merchants of Liyue would kill to glimpse. But the Chamber is difficult (and at times impossible) to access, keeping its secrets for an untold date, much like the rest of the information involving the Qixing.
Genshin Impact is available now for mobile devices, PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
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