A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing a book on Yuri history in Taiwan by Baihe novelist 楊雙子 Yáng Shuāngzǐ. Today I am reviewing the Yuri manga written by Yang and illustrated by 星期一回收日​, Monday Recover. Originally published in Chinese, this book has also been translated into Japanese through a crowdfunding effort. Kitanhana Monogatari (綺譚花物語) is a speculative historical fiction and a unique Yuri work.

Each story combines a dual time frame Taisho period Taiwan and the modern day, through a supernatural element of some kind, and the deep intimacy of two women, that manifests in multiple ways.

In the first story “Chijou nite Eien ni” Eiko’s ancestor, who died at about the age she currently is, is about to be married off in a Ghost Marriage, to an elderly male relative. She’s no more happy about it than Eiko is at the prospect of marrying in the mortal realm.

“Otome no Inori,” was probably my favorite story and also the very much most disturbing. Li Fu and Mari are close friends, when Mari take the fallen antler of a water deer. Instead of returning it, she takes it home and slowly, is transformed. Water pools at her feet all the time, her skin streams with moisture, and eventually she begins to grow antlers. She falls ino a stupo and Li Fu must find out how to return her friend’s humanity.

“Koyonaki Tori” is a long, nuanced tale of, Yan Li, the only daughter of the Lin Family. Her father’s concubine, Lan Ying, tries desperately to free her from the family curse because she is in love with Li, but also to free herself.

And the final story “Wúfǎ Xíngróng De ōngxī~Yumenokaiyoiji~” is a modern day romp between a researcher and a myseterious woman who seems to know every historical and mysterious place in Taichung.

I loved the overarching feel of not-quite-this-world-ness about the stories. Each one had a different tone, but most of them also have an underlying darkness that has to be addressed, whether it is because of the kinds of lives women were expect to live, or the liied option they were givens, or some other piece of the story.  As for the Yuri, whether you will view a ghost and her many-times granddaughter as Yuri, or not, the couples here are deeply intimate and love of several kinds apply.

The art, too, adds layer of complexity and beauty to each of the stories. For a while, I believed that the stories must have all had different artists, as the styles differ considerably, but, no. Incredible artistic work by an artist new to me.

Ratings:

Stories – 8
Art  – 9
Characters  – 9
Service – No, but also sometimes yes.
Yuri – Complicated to score, because the relationships differ, but let’s go 8 anyway

Overall  – 9

Kitanhana Mongagatari is a nuanced and unique look at Yuri, Taiwanese history and supernatural beliefs all in one neat little package. Highly recommended.

If you’d like to read samples of the stories, they are available in Chinese on CCC Webcomics.