History Funny / AsianSaga

** To cap the whole exchange off, after May-May dominates the argument with rather reasonable points and berating him multiple times for ''acknowledging'' the in-spirit-only offering out loud, Dirk's final question amounts to "If your gods are Chinese, why are you worried about them overhearing us when we're speaking english?", and for once May-May seems a bit baffled and can't find a cutting response. Also amusing in that Dirk is turning her (to him) alien understanding of gods around on her, that being that they're not very relevant or concerned with matters beyond the lands they patronize.

* In ''Taipan'', after [[spoiler: barely getting away with their lives and massive shipment of silver bullion]], Mei-Mei and Dirk have a lengthy argument about superstitions and offerings to the pagan deities, since their current vessel is barely afloat and they will need divine intervention to survive. However, rather than being serious or somber, it's entirely played for laughs, especially after Mei-Mei has to explain to Dirk why she ultimately only thew overboard a calligraphed piece of paper, rather than the promised silver bar - ''and '''he''' just can't wrap his head around it''. This is also the only part of the whole book where CultureClash is used for purely humorous purpose.
* The never-ending bewilderment of various Westerners why the hell Dirk does such "pagan" things like brushing his teeth after each meal (using tea, but still), never drinking raw water, regularly taking baths and getting his clothes washed (it will ruin their styling, for Christ sake!). Worse, he demands this from his crewmen, too, under the threat of lashes and being locked in a brig - but only after they were first forcibly bathed.

--> [[WhatAnIdiot Bartlett was delighted that Casey obviously liked Orlanda]].

* Another one from ''Noble House''. Early on the CIA characters crow about their unimpeachable source that feeds them info on Red Chinese tropp movements during a meeting with Crosse. Fast-forward to an internal monologue by plainclothes policeman Spectacles Wu, which reveals the whole thing is made up by his relatives at the border stations using old newspapers. They even have the nerve to charge more by inventing fictitious informants that got caught and killed by the Chinese in the line of duty!

* In ''Taipan'', after [[spoiler: barely getting away with their lives and massive shipment of silver bullion]], Mei-Mei and Dirk have a lenghty argument about superstitions and offerings to the pagan deities, since their current vessel is barely afloat and they will need divine intervention to survive. However, rather than being serious or somber, it's entirely played for laughs, especially after Mei-Mei has to explain to Dirk why she ultimately only thew overboard a calligraphed piece of paper, rather than the promised silver bar - ''and '''he''' just can't wrap his head around it''. This is also the only part of the whole book where CultureClash is used for purely humorous purpose.

* Another one from ''Noble House''. Early on the CIA characters crow about their unimpeachable source that feeds them info on Red Chinese tropp movements during a meeting with Crosse. Fast-forward to an internal monologue by plainclothes policeman Spectacles Wu, whose internal monologue reveals the whole thing is made up by his relatives at the border stations using old newspapers. They even have the nerve to charge more by inventing fictitious informants that got caught and killed by the Chinese.

* Another one from ''Noble House''. Early on the CIA characters crow about their unimpeachable source that feeds them info on Red Chinese tropp movements during a meeting with Crosse. Fast-forawrd to an internal monologue by plainclothes policeman Spectacles Wu, whose internal monologue reveals the whole thing is made up by his relatives at the border stations using old newspapers. They even have the nerve to charge more by inventing fictitious informants that got caught and killed by the Chinese.

* Another one from ''Noble House''. Early on the CIA characters crow about their unimpeachable source that feeds them info on Red Chinese tropp movements during a meeting with Crosse. Fast-forawrd to an internal monologue by plainclothes policeman Spectacles Wu, whose internal monologue reveals the whole thing is made up by his relatives at the border stations using old newspapers. They even have the nerve to charge more by inventing fictitious informants that got caught and killed by thr Chinese

* Another moment from ''Noble House'' comes when Casey and Orlanda meet, with both instantly realising they'll have to battle over Linc, which leads to a great moment of MoodWhiplash as we realise Linc isn't quite in tune with the female psyche.

---> Both women knew the war had begun.

* At one point in ''Shogun'', Blackthorne and Mariko end up discussing "[[UnusualEuphemism pillowing]]", and Blackthorne politely refuses the company of a woman. Innocently, Mariko ends up asking Blackthorne if he wants to "pillow" a [[{{Uke}} boy]]. Blackthorne is [[YourNormalIsOurTaboo utterly aghast]] at this, and begins telling Mariko in no uncertain terms that he finds the idea disgusting. Unfortunately, this leads one of the samurai guarding Blackthorne to suggest he might be impotent, and tells Mariko to ask Blackthorne that. The novel does not detail precisely what Blackthorne says, but it evidently [[ClusterFBomb involves a lot of swearing]]. Finally the samurai in the room comes to the brilliant conclusion that because he heard that the "Garlic Eaters" [[BestialityIsDepraved like to "pillow" dogs]], that must be what Blackthorne wants to do, before remembering that the rumor includes dogs and ''ducks''. The samurai ''almost has Mariko suggest that Blackthorne have sex with a duck'' before finally thinking better of it.

* At one point in ''Shogun'', Blackthorne and Mariko end up discussing "[[UnusualEuphemism pillowing]]", and Blackthorne politely refuses the company of a woman. Innocently, Mariko ends up asking Blackthorne if he wants to "pillow" a [[{{Uke}} boy]]. Blackthorne is [[YourNormalIsOurTaboo utterly aghast]] at this, and begins telling Mariko in no uncertain terms that he finds the idea disgusting. Unfortunately, this leads one of the samurai guarding Blackthorne to suggest he might be impotent, and tells Mariko to ask Blackthorne that. The novel does not detail precisely what Blackthorne says, but it evidently [[ClusterFBomb involves a lot of swearing]]. Finally the Japanese characters in the room come to the brilliant conclusion that because he heard that the "Garlic Eaters" [[BestialityIsDepraved like to "pillow" dogs]], that must be what Blackthorne wants to do, before remembering that the rumor includes dogs and ''ducks''. The samurai ''almost has Mariko suggest that Blackthorne have sex with a duck'' before finally thinking better of it.

* At one point in ''Shogun'', Blackthorne and Mariko end up discussing "[[UnusualEuphemism pillowing]]", and Blackthorne politely refuses the company of a woman. Innocently, Mariko ends up asking Blackthorne if he wants to "pillow" a [[{{Uke}} boy]]. Blackthorne is [[YourNormalIsOurTaboo utterly aghast]] at this, and begins telling Mariko in no uncertain terms that he finds the idea disgusting. Unfortunately, this leads one of the samurai guarding Blackthorne to suggest he might be impotent, and tells Mariko to ask Blackthorne that. The novel does not detail precisely what Blackthorne says, but it evidently [[ClusterFBomb involves a lot of swearing]]. Finally the Japanese characters in the room come to the brilliant conclusion that because he heard that the "Garlic Eaters" [[BestialityIsDepraved like to "pillow" dogs]], that must be what Blackthorne wants to do, before realizing that includes dogs and ''ducks''. The samurai ''almost has Mariko suggest that Blackthorne have sex with a duck'' before finally thinking better of it.