Hanjin, Hanjuu

Below is an informal visitor’s guide to the peninsula of Hanjin, the southern jewel of humanity, home to the Hanjinese, dated xx17. Courtesy of the Hanjinese Foundation, donated xx37.

Overview

Hanjin is a peninsula situated at the southern tip of humanity, being a prospering metropolis and hub for tourists and locals alike. Because of its small size, the peninsula is particularly known for high population density, and has had many land reclamations which reshaped its coastline over the years. The peninsula is also famous for its night view with the millions of lights that brighten up the place in the absence of the sun.

Some people call Hanjin the ‘Peninsula of Halves’.

A Quick History of Hanjin

Long, long ago, monsterfolk colonised Hanjin from humanity. No one really knew what it was called before, neither did they know the reasons for the colonisation, only the simple fact that it was colonised. This is a common textbook fact in local social studies lessons, something every child would’ve memorised before they left primary school.

After centuries of colonisation, the monsterfolk became weak and eventually left Hanjin for their homeland far, far away. The peninsula is once again humanity’s own, to thrive and prosper for more centuries to come. This is also a common fact.

It is also commonly accepted that the monsters’ name for the peninsula, Hanjuu, is a taboo word not to be used in the realm of humanity. The people of Hanjin are the Hanjinese. It’s that simple. Avoid using the word, especially in public areas.

The Hanjinese, at the same time, are never called humans. Twenty years since their emancipation from monsterfolk rule, the people of Hanjin are still the Hanjinese. While they are officially under the umbrella of humanity, the Hanjinese retain a unique charm blending the influences from colonisation and various local human cultures.

Photogenic Attractions

If you are travelling by plane, stepping foot on Hanjinese soil for the first time will have you at Hanjin’s first notable attraction: Hanjin International Airport. Boasting sleek architecture and state-of-the-art technology, the airport itself contains many photo spots to capture the first breaths of the city’s vibrance, most famous of them being Sengyi, Hanjin’s first locally-manufactured aircraft. Using raw materials from the lands of humanity and utilising skills from monsterfolk, it is a testament to the harmony of cultures that the peninsula prides itself upon.

Travelling around 30 minutes by train from the airport, you will find yourself at the heart of the peninsula, Dragon’s Bay. The city truly comes to life in this area, with crowds in the tens of thousands traversing the wide pavements and complicated crossings to get around. Looking up, you will be captured by the colossal skyscrapers stretching to the skies, feeling yourself getting smaller in the face of such giants. Going to the top of Tower I, you can instead immerse yourself in a panoramic view of the entire peninsula. Whether in clear skies, in fog or in rain, there is always something magical about being literally in the heavens, truly feeling the sense of scale at breathtaking heights.

If the skies aren’t your favourite, you can instead go on a coastal cruise on a traditional ship, juxtaposing yourself between the old and new as you look towards the peninsula seafront, a sight even more astonishing at night when the lights illuminate the peninsula into a second kind of day.

Further up to the north are the main residential areas for locals, each area with their own unique charm. Bow Village in particular is well-known for the buildings’ creative colour palette, being a famous attraction and photo spot for young people. A lesser-known but equally interesting area is Chongyi Estate, famous for its cramped, almost claustrophobic aesthetic in its inner courtyard. To go there, you will need to head south from Bow Village.

Even further are mountains that separate Hanjin from the rest of humanity, including the iconic ‘Leo’s Watch’. At Leo’s Watch you can view the peninsula from a different angle, bearing witness to the more down-to-earth side of Hanjin while also watching tiny vehicles speed across the complicated system of highways.

Cultural Heritage and Food

There are still many traces of colonisation and tradition within Hanjin’s urban landscape. Near Dragon’s Bay, nestled in smaller streets and slopes, are many colonial houses and buildings dating over a century ago. Some are repurposed into museums, while others are inhabited by the upper classes. Even some government buildings still have the old monsterfolk style of architecture, standing out in a sea of modernity. Meanwhile, in the north, there are buildings in the traditional human architectural style, though a few have fallen into disrepair over the years. The buildings are more modest than its human counterparts, but still provide a glimpse into traditional human culture in Hanjin. Though the peninsula is constantly changing, fitting with its reputation of innovation, these places serve as evidence of its old colonial past.

There are many museums and exhibitions in Hanjin displaying its rich history and culture, particularly on its unique status as a melting pot between monster and human influences. The Cultural Museum stands out as the most famous, being a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

Most representative of Hanjin’s culture, however, lie in its cuisine. Utilising techniques from both humanity and monsterfolk, Hanjinese food caters to both the monster and human tongue, with restaurants and diners usually providing much choice and variety in their menus. A relaxing meal at a restaurant is a great way to start off your day, enjoying a slower pace of life with a range of fragrant teas and small dishes. Its street food is also quite attractive and reminiscent of older days, though it is slowly disappearing in the ever-changing landscape.

People

The Hanjinese are a unique people. Neither human nor monster, they nevertheless exhibit qualities of both. It is known as the ‘Peninsula of Halves’ due to the juxtaposing nature of the peninsula’s past and present, which also affects the Hanjinese’s perception of themselves.

A random local is more likely to call themselves ‘Hanjinese’ than ‘human’ or’ monster’. A monster is more likely to call them ‘Hanjinese’ as well. Same as a human. The Hanjinese are, as claimed by themselves, their former colonisers and their current brethren as neither human nor monster.

By appearance alone, the Hanjinese exhibit traits of a human at first, but retain some habits and ways of speaking unique to monsters. This is shunned by humans and monsters alike, and in some cases, by the Hanjinese themselves. Sometimes, a Hanjinese may be genetically half-human, half-monster, and this phenomenon is more common in Hanjinese communities than in anywhere else.

Hanjinese can be found around the world. They are particularly strong at adapting into both human and monster societies due to their upbringing. Some, after residing with monsterfolk for long enough, consider themselves monsters. Others who reside with humanity for a similar time period consider themselves human. To everyone else, they are still Hanjinese.

Hanjin is the home of the Hanjinese. At the same time, Hanjin is home to no one in particular. In recent years, many humans have migrated to Hanjin, eventually becoming Hanjinese themselves. But without the unique traits of the native Hanjinese, the new migrants are still treated as human, the term being used in a mostly derogatory sense by the Hanjinese. At the same time, monsters are also disliked in some Hanjinese contexts as bitter memories of colonisation rise to the surface.

Just as humans and monsters look down upon the Hanjinese, the Hanjinese too looks down on humans and monsters. The Hanjinese are simply Hanjinese.

Yet Hanjinese themselves each hold a unique picture of what it means to be a person of Hanjin, deeming a fellow supposed Hanjinese either human or monster when they deviate too far from the picture. In this sense, no one is Hanjinese but in their own contexts. And yet the Hanjinese are still simply the Hanjinese, for they all still see Hanjin as their home.

Whether to be human, monster, both, or neither is a question asked by every Hanjinese at some point in their lives. And the conclusion, eventually, will usually be the same: Hanjinese are Hanjinese. It’s that simple.

Final Words

It is best advised to be careful and delicate when visiting Hanjin. It is a ‘Peninsula of Halves’, of beauty and harmony built upon contradictions. It is neither human nor monster. Hanjin is simply Hanjin, and the people who live there are simply Hanjinese.

Hanjin is the Hanjinese’s home. It is a beautiful place filled with juxtapositions and harmony, a fast-paced peninsula worth slowing down to absorb it all for what it’s worth. It may be neither part of humanity or monsterfolk, but it is a representation of its people, and the people a representation of it: a peninsula of only half-humans and half-monsters.

Hope you will enjoy the beauty of Hanjin.

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This guide is written by a Hanjinese intended for a non-Hanjinese acquaintance.