New Era Old World version 0.4 Dev Diary 5: Rulers of China
One last DD before our release! That’s right, 0.4, the East Asia Expansion, is officially to be released for everyone on December 25th. And of course, our final DD can’t be about anything but China. While we have touched on its southern and northern regions before, and its western regions were already included in the previous map, let us now see what the heartland of China has to show. You will be able to reunify all of it, tracing your history back to one of the many ancient dynasties, if you can overcome the many challenges in your way.
THE PATH TO RULE THE EMPIRE
China presents itself as a rich, but heavily divided land. This, of course, is due to a number of factors. The most important of those, of course, is Vladivostok. Well aware that the reunification of China would likely spell its doom, the Grand City puts a lot of effort into squashing budding powers in the region, hence why most Kingdoms of any real size are located in the south.
The trade routes in China, a treasure throve any ruler would want to control
An important exception to this is the Liehuo Kingdom of Henan. Unified in the last decade or so, the Kingdom of Henan has grand ambitions. The Liehuo faith it practices is one of the more widespread in China, and definitely has great chances of unifying more and more land.
However, besides Vladivostok, Henan has to contend with the rise of the Hongxiejiao faith. This mysterious cult that derives from Liehuo is far more bloodthirsty in its teachings, sacrificing infidels and burning part of their own bodies to cleanse sin. Feared throughout all of China, Hongxiejiao is a threat Henan will likely have to face eventually.
Besides Liehuo, two other doctrines trace their history all the way back to ancient China. Fajia, or Legalism, which we have already met in northern China, is of course present here, particularly in Shandong but also in other parts of China. However, far more powerful, even divided as it is, is Taojiao, brewers of potions and masters of ruling. What used to be more akin to philosophy has deviated increasingly toward including a religious side since the event, incorporating traditional Chinese folk religion into its teachings and following the belief in the Jade Emperor of times long gone. Taojiao currently lacks a true center of power, since the fall of Fujian to the Sanminshuyi (Tridemist) faith has left them without a guiding Kingdom. But this also means that any ambitious ruler can try to unify the followers of Taojiao, if they are strong and wise enough.
TRADITIONS FROM TIMES BEYOND
Of course, not all traditional religions vanished within Liehuo and Taojiao or were swept aside by new faiths rising after the Event. In the south of China, near the border with Indochina, the Zhuang people practice Mojiao. Also called Moism, Mojiao claims to have been born before history. The Kingdom of Gvangjsih, called Guangxi by non-Zhuang people, is the main center of the faith.
Kev Dab Qhuas is meanwhile practiced mostly by the Hmong and Miao people of southeast China. The faith centers around the figure of the great Chiyou. A tolerant faith, its followers are encouraged to pursue study and peace among all people. For this reason, the faith has absorbed many Taojiao and Buddhist teachings, often acting as a mediator between the lands of Tao and those of Buddha.
Finally, Wujiao also dates to long before the Event. This particular faith is small and fragmented compared to most, but this spread through various regions of China is what has guaranteed its survival during the rise and fall of the many Kingdoms that have appeared since. Wujiao is a peaceful faith, and perhaps one set to survive forever.
THE FAITHS BORN FROM THE ASHES
While China has not experienced many upheavals after the Event, most of the faiths that have appeared since the Event are more focused on the right of rulership and the belief in the rule of the Jade Emperor, the Ruby Chairman or the Sapphire Didact over Heaven. However, this is not true for every faith.
In the lands of Sichuan and Chongqing was born the faith commonly known as Wuxia. Those that follow the Code of Xia, a set of rules codified before the Event, believe that the path to Enlightenment is dictated by one’s dedication to the betterment of their own self, physically as well as mentally. Wuxia followers are encouraged to join one of many schools and undergo extensive training to better their mastery of martial arts, all to eventually reach a state of perfection.
The most respected of all Sects, the Shaolin school
While in training, the Regent will rule in your place
From Wuxia’s teachings and Wujiao's believes was born the Xianxia faith. This peculiar faith abandoned the concept of schools and Masters that Wuxia holds dear. Instead, followers of Xianxia believe that it is their own individual training that will show them the path forward. Xianxia followers dedicate their time to better themselves and cultivate their Qi, in order to attain the state of Xian, the legendary immortals that are said to have reached the peak of the human state.
Meanwhile, far from the mountains where those faiths exist, one can find Nihongjiao. The Neon Cult is centered around the city of Shanghai, and believes that when Shen Yi shot down nine of the ten suns to prevent the rebirth of the goddess Xihe, who would have cleansed the world of all evil, those nine suns fell to Earth, leaving behind luminous fragments, known as Neon, that now the followers of Nihongjiao religiously collect. Those luminous fragments will one day be reunited as one, Xihe will be reborn as the Neon Goddess of prophecy, to set the world ablaze and cleanse it once and for all.
And thus, we leave China behind. Splintered and weakened, sure. But what’s united must divide, and what’s divided must unite. And the people willing to attempt this new unification are many.
THE PATH TO RULE THE EMPIRE
China presents itself as a rich, but heavily divided land. This, of course, is due to a number of factors. The most important of those, of course, is Vladivostok. Well aware that the reunification of China would likely spell its doom, the Grand City puts a lot of effort into squashing budding powers in the region, hence why most Kingdoms of any real size are located in the south.
The trade routes in China, a treasure throve any ruler would want to control
An important exception to this is the Liehuo Kingdom of Henan. Unified in the last decade or so, the Kingdom of Henan has grand ambitions. The Liehuo faith it practices is one of the more widespread in China, and definitely has great chances of unifying more and more land.
However, besides Vladivostok, Henan has to contend with the rise of the Hongxiejiao faith. This mysterious cult that derives from Liehuo is far more bloodthirsty in its teachings, sacrificing infidels and burning part of their own bodies to cleanse sin. Feared throughout all of China, Hongxiejiao is a threat Henan will likely have to face eventually.
Besides Liehuo, two other doctrines trace their history all the way back to ancient China. Fajia, or Legalism, which we have already met in northern China, is of course present here, particularly in Shandong but also in other parts of China. However, far more powerful, even divided as it is, is Taojiao, brewers of potions and masters of ruling. What used to be more akin to philosophy has deviated increasingly toward including a religious side since the event, incorporating traditional Chinese folk religion into its teachings and following the belief in the Jade Emperor of times long gone. Taojiao currently lacks a true center of power, since the fall of Fujian to the Sanminshuyi (Tridemist) faith has left them without a guiding Kingdom. But this also means that any ambitious ruler can try to unify the followers of Taojiao, if they are strong and wise enough.
TRADITIONS FROM TIMES BEYOND
Of course, not all traditional religions vanished within Liehuo and Taojiao or were swept aside by new faiths rising after the Event. In the south of China, near the border with Indochina, the Zhuang people practice Mojiao. Also called Moism, Mojiao claims to have been born before history. The Kingdom of Gvangjsih, called Guangxi by non-Zhuang people, is the main center of the faith.
Kev Dab Qhuas is meanwhile practiced mostly by the Hmong and Miao people of southeast China. The faith centers around the figure of the great Chiyou. A tolerant faith, its followers are encouraged to pursue study and peace among all people. For this reason, the faith has absorbed many Taojiao and Buddhist teachings, often acting as a mediator between the lands of Tao and those of Buddha.
Finally, Wujiao also dates to long before the Event. This particular faith is small and fragmented compared to most, but this spread through various regions of China is what has guaranteed its survival during the rise and fall of the many Kingdoms that have appeared since. Wujiao is a peaceful faith, and perhaps one set to survive forever.
THE FAITHS BORN FROM THE ASHES
While China has not experienced many upheavals after the Event, most of the faiths that have appeared since the Event are more focused on the right of rulership and the belief in the rule of the Jade Emperor, the Ruby Chairman or the Sapphire Didact over Heaven. However, this is not true for every faith.
In the lands of Sichuan and Chongqing was born the faith commonly known as Wuxia. Those that follow the Code of Xia, a set of rules codified before the Event, believe that the path to Enlightenment is dictated by one’s dedication to the betterment of their own self, physically as well as mentally. Wuxia followers are encouraged to join one of many schools and undergo extensive training to better their mastery of martial arts, all to eventually reach a state of perfection.
The most respected of all Sects, the Shaolin school
While in training, the Regent will rule in your place
From Wuxia’s teachings and Wujiao's believes was born the Xianxia faith. This peculiar faith abandoned the concept of schools and Masters that Wuxia holds dear. Instead, followers of Xianxia believe that it is their own individual training that will show them the path forward. Xianxia followers dedicate their time to better themselves and cultivate their Qi, in order to attain the state of Xian, the legendary immortals that are said to have reached the peak of the human state.
Meanwhile, far from the mountains where those faiths exist, one can find Nihongjiao. The Neon Cult is centered around the city of Shanghai, and believes that when Shen Yi shot down nine of the ten suns to prevent the rebirth of the goddess Xihe, who would have cleansed the world of all evil, those nine suns fell to Earth, leaving behind luminous fragments, known as Neon, that now the followers of Nihongjiao religiously collect. Those luminous fragments will one day be reunited as one, Xihe will be reborn as the Neon Goddess of prophecy, to set the world ablaze and cleanse it once and for all.
And thus, we leave China behind. Splintered and weakened, sure. But what’s united must divide, and what’s divided must unite. And the people willing to attempt this new unification are many.
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