• Jilanico@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    The original Aladdin (assuming any story can really claim to be the original) was a Chinese Muslim.

    • Admetus
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      11 months ago

      I got the impression it wasn’t clear if they were Chinese or further North West towards the -stans. But for sure Jasmine was a Chinese princess he brought back.

      • Jilanico@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        The stories say “a city in China,” but it might have been referring to a region near China. There are plenty of Chinese Muslims tho. The evil sorcerer claims to be his paternal uncle and he’s from Morocco or thereabouts, so Aladdin might have been an immigrant or half-Chinese.

        Jasmine is actually a Disneyfication of the story. The Chinese Muslim princess was named “Badr Al-Badur” and she wore modest clothing and a face veil, but who in Hollywood wants to see that? Hence the revealing outfit.

        I don’t recall them moving away from the Chinese city upon marriage, but it’s all fiction at the end of the day…