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Hengeyokai, Shapeshifters of the East, page 43 contains this paragraph, right before the Tapestry:

A list of all the physical locations of interest in the Mirror Lands would take several exhaustive volumes, but one region deserves special mention. Swirling mists fill the border between China and Russia, and a great barrier stands between the two countries. A powerful force, spoken of only in whispers, separates the Russian Penumbra from the Mirror Lands, and travel through the spirit world between China and Russia is not possible. Many shen stand sentinel on this border, diligently guarding against whatever threats may break through from the other side.

Someone mentioned that this would be purple prose for the Shadow Curtain in Russia, but the problem is, that Rage Across the World, which describes the death of Baba Yaga and her Shadow Curtain, doesn't even mention this barrier to China. The Shadow Curtain was also described as increasing the gauntlet to nigh unusability in Russia, not as a swirling barrier that bars passage over one border. To me, this makes it at best a possible match, but not a confirmed one with just that text.

Is there any other mention of this barrier or further information that would verify that it might or might not be the Shadow Curtain?

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Other books to look into are Rage Across Russia which describes the Baba Yaga's Shadow Curtain in much more detail, as well as A World of Rage which describes the various continents and countries of the world in terms of Werewolf.

That said, if you're looking for definitive answers, you are not likely to find them. The game's writers throw out many kernels that can grow into campaigns and not many finite answers for how things end up.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Neither mentioned that particular barrier area as ever blocking passage through the Umbra. The Curtain, as far as I understand, blocks passage to the Umbra, not through it. \$\endgroup\$
    – Trish
    Commented Apr 10 at 8:30
  • \$\begingroup\$ The umbra still exists, it just has not "portals" into the material plane because of the Curtain. The Curtain cut off all sorts of stuff - Umbral travel, magics that would cross the border (so no communication, teleportation, or scrying). The tornados that separate China and Russia are never explicitly said to be Shadow Curtain, but very well could be if your story warrants it. \$\endgroup\$
    – JRodge01
    Commented Apr 11 at 15:54

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