Frozen chambers in wuxia - the hows and the whys

[Ken Cheng]

One technological oddity that shows up periodically in wuxia stories is the frozen/icy chamber. One plays a significant role in DGSD, where the frozen chamber in the Hsi Hsia Royal Palace becomes the venue wherein Hui Juk the Monk discovers sexual pleasure for the first time in his life, and in LOCH, where the Iron Palm Union stores its treasures and the mortal remains of its deceased chiefs.

First of all, what were these frozen chambers actually designed for? Was the one in Hsi-Hsia's Royal Palace used to store perishable foodstuffs? There didn't seem to be any food items in there other than those that Teen San Tung Lo stole from the royal kitchen.

I assume the one at the Iron Palm Union's headquarters was used to preserve the remains of the dead chiefs, but when Gwok Jing and Wong Yung were briefly trapped inside the icy chamber, the human remains they found were all skeletal...suggesting that the preservative effects of the cold were limited.

Moreover, in those times before the advent of modern, electrical refrigeration technology, how did people keep those chambers ice cold all the time?

[charbydis]

First of all, what were these frozen chambers actually designed for? Was the one in Hsi-Hsia's Royal Palace used to store perishable foodstuffs? There didn't seem to be any food items in there other than those that Teen San Tung Lo stole from the royal kitchen.

I assume the one at the Iron Palm Union's headquarters was used to preserve the remains of the dead chiefs, but when Gwok Jing and Wong Yung were briefly trapped inside the icy chamber, the human remains they found were all skeletal...suggesting that the preservative effects of the cold were limited.

Moreover, in those times before the advent of modern, electrical refrigeration technology, how did people keep those chambers ice cold all the time?

I thought they were to keep the palace cool in summer time. The ice blocks were moved out into the palace and the coldness emitted from it helped cool down the rooms.

Most icy chambers were kept below ground level so is hot air rises into a vent or a hole in the chamber, then the cold air and sub-ground temperature should be cool, considering there is no external sources of heat like sunlight or candles. The walls of the chambers were thick, solid and non-conductive so external influences are ruled out.

[徐中銳]

Chapter 9 Trapped in ice

He saw a room made of stone, there was a basement packed with huge cubes of ice. Murong Jiumei sat on an ice cube, her both hands grasped her two legs, her index fingers were pointed at the centre of her feet. She was completely naked. Xiao Yu’er had seen many things in his young life, but he had never seen a naked young woman before. He was never afraid of anything, but to this he was completely taken by surprise.

Murong Jiumei opened her eyes and saw him; her eyes were filled with shame, anger, shock, and humiliation. No words could describe her expression, but she did not move. Xiao Yu’er was stunned for a while, he turned around and looked all around but did not dare to look at Murong Jiumei anymore. He deliberately said:”Where are you, Miss Murong? Why can’t I see you?”

This little brat could perceive the thoughts of girls; he said that just to calm Murong Jiumei a bit.

While he was talking, he turned around and was walking away. He was almost through the door, but then he saw nine drawings on the wall. He could not resist having a look.

On the first drawing was a picture of a naked girl standing upside down on a piece of ice. Next to the drawing were some small characters: [Modulating Stone Craft, only virgins can study this. This is the first step op this craft, within three years success is at grasp.]

The formula is: [Craft of Modulating Stone, when the craft is mastered rotate your energy nine times through your body. Your skin hardens like stone, impervious to wounds. After nine rotations, invincibility is yours….]

Xiao Yu’er was stunned and exclaimed with surprise:”This idiotic skill wants people to become zombies, no wonder Murong Jiumei is such a cold and unfriendly woman.”

He quickly looked at the second drawing, the picture showed a girl standing upside down again and there was another line of characters: [When this level is mastered, rotate your energy twice. First go against the…..]

Xiao Yu’er did not read on, he was absolutely not interested in such an idiotic craft. If a person could turn as cold and hard as a stone, what good will that do even if you become invincible.

The position of the girl on the third drawing was similar to Murong Jiumei’s. Xiao Yu’er felt relieved and muttered:”Fortunately, she has just reached the third drawing. If she had mastered this skill, she would be some monster now. A danger to herself and others.”

He did not bother to look at the other drawings; he tore them of the wall...

Another (self explanatory) example, from Legendary Siblings Unabridged (COMPLETED)