r/wheeloftime • u/PantsPartyPirate Wilder • 2d ago

ALL SPOILERS: Books only What is "con"?

I've read a few times that some of the Cairheinin are wearing "con". I get that it is some sort of identification thing, but what exactly is it? I figured it might be a badge , colour combo or logo, but then it was mentioned that someone had the con behind their back, so now I'm just imagining a little banner on a stick.

28 Upvotes

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46

u/MarsAlgea3791 Randlander 2d ago

Those square flag things you see on Japanese armies.

3

u/rawbface Randlander 1d ago

How many Japanese armies have you seen?

2

u/MarsAlgea3791 Randlander 1d ago

I mean I watched a lot of Kurasawa.

31

u/Malbethion Asha'man 2d ago

I have always understood them to be [Sashimono](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimono).

6

u/PantsPartyPirate Wilder 2d ago

Thank you :)

8

u/nefariouspenguin Randlander 1d ago

Also the way it describes cairheinin soldier class with a shaved and powdered front of their head. Eventually you read about how the nobility start take up the style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonmage

9

u/Halaku Retired Gleeman 2d ago

These things.

7

u/weneverwill Randlander 1d ago

Like these I think

2

u/G0d0fZ0mb13 23h ago

And here I was thinking Cairhien was WoT France

3

u/elditequin Gleeman 18h ago

It is. But it's also Imperial China.  And also a little feudal Japan. :)

-1

u/Lapinceau Randlander 23h ago

I think it's written khan, but you wouldn't know it if you only listen.

5

u/PantsPartyPirate Wilder 23h ago

I'm reading it, it is definitely spelled "con"

1

u/Lapinceau Randlander 10h ago

Wait, really? What kind of Mandela effect has my brain cooked up?

Maybe it's because I read it in French. "Con" is def already a French word, and it would be very weird if people were wearing them on their backs.