Kire Gussênye Je Ûl

General introduction

The creatively named letter 'Kire Gussênye Je Ûl' (Letter to the chancellor, number two) is part of a four letter collection of which the first, third and fourth are clearly a work of Lintupor Sarêtera, a rich Messelat Mdûlûn merchant from the small state of Ittenpu.

The collection is called 'Nenki Domatad' (Thoughts on streets/transport) and on the surface level revolves around merchants interests in the safe transport of their goods. On a deeper level though, it is a number of treatises of the worth of travelling for the individual and their personal development and growth.

Controversy and content

The four letters by the highly distinguished author, who was among the wealthiest Messelat Mdûlûn during his lifetime (around 2710 - 2786 of the Era of the Earth) for controlling almost all trade across the Grey Sea, all revolve around transporting goods, travelling and road safety. The addressees were high standing contemporaries of Lintupor. The first letter was adressed at Kosoka Kattumono, another rich merchant from Kissalinn, the third at Missinaka Kuchiheta, an olive magnate from Opeilûkûl and another Opeilûkûl citizen, the high priest of the temple of the sky god, Ilmajari Mdûnoki.

The second letter is the most famous, but also the most debated among scholars. While the other three letters are adressed at commoners, the second letter of the collection is adressed at a nobleman. Also, the letter is not only the second letter in the collection, thus making the numbering a bit unclear, as there is no 'first letter to the chancellor'. On the other hand the opening formula of the letter makes it clear, that the 'second letter' really is the second letter to the chancellor. So not only is the chancellor the only adressee from Lintupors own home state, but also the only nobleman and the only one two have received more than one letter. Unlike the other letters this one was passed down anonymously. Only later copies started adding Lintupors name. This has been attributed to the fact, that some parts of the letter can be read as critical towards Ittenpus government at that time. This could be verified by finding the first of the two letters to the chancellor, should that one also be anonymous. Otherwise drawing attention to the first letter, thereby exposing the author of the second letter as the same person, would not make much sense.

As said above, the content is of a more philosophical nature and these letters were not so much used as a means of communication, but rather art letters. In Messellat Mdûlûn culture, these letters were sent by and to established members of society in the hope that the contents would be discussed or parts of the letters cited or read out on the symposia of the recipients. Only later, in case the letters were popular enough so they got reproduced and spread further, always protecting the respective ownership of the thoughts of the writer, scholars began to collect those they could trace back to certain individuals into small collections.

Nowadays these collections are seen as a treasure trove of Mdûlûn philosohical thought and widely received by philosophers, scholars and literati alike. The Kire Gussênye Je Ûl takes a special spot in the discussion though, due to not only its uncertain attribution, but also its depth. Stilisticly it is close enough to Lintupors writing style to be of his hand. Also the topic fits his typical sujet. It is thus mostly accepted that he really is the author, even though the first letter has yet to be discovered.

Type

Text, Letter