Temple of Xian

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Template:Levelline|Temple of Xian
Xian.jpg
Template:Levelline|Tomb Raider II
Level No 15
Secrets 3
Length 75 minutes
Location Asia, China
Template:Levelline|Level Chronology
Ice Palace Temple of Xian Floating Islands
Template:Levelline|Walkthrough

Temple of Xian is a level in Tomb Raider II. At the beginning you see the Dagger of Xian in front of you, but as you go towards it you fall through a trap-door. Throughout the level along to really creepy music and being genuinely scared you find yourself by it again. However someone has beaten you and they are carried off into the Floating Islands after plunging the dagger into their heart.

The word Xian could be perceived by how the Chinese term is translated, as it could be one word for an immortal (仙, xian), or the location that the area is based, Xī'ān (西安), the capital of Shaanxi province in China and a sub-provincial city. Known as one of the most important cities in Chinese history, Xi'an is listed as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China because it has been the capital of 13 dynasties, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang. Xi'an is also the eastern end of the Silk Road. However, it was called Chang'an (Traditional Chinese: 長安; Simplified Chinese: 长安, pinyin: Cháng'ān; literally "Perpetual Peace") in ancient times, when it used to be the capital of China. The Dagger of Xian is believed to be from the Qin period (due to the history of a tyrant, the First Emperor, who was looking for a way to be immortal), hence it would be called Cheng'an instead. The Dagger of Immortality sounds more feasible, while the temple itself could be debated. However among most Chinese fanbase the term Xian in Tomb Raider II are always translated as 西安, the modern name of the city.

This level is among the longest in Tomb Raider II, where Lara encounters various traps and enemies based upon Chinese legends and stories. Such as the spider cave is based on Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, with the name of 盤絲洞, literally the Cave of Tangled Silk.