Zenkoism

Zenkoism is a religion originating from the tribes of central Katsura, and later the burgeoning nation of Yaszuma. Based on the dichotomy of one's own nature, followers revere the teachings of two figures of ambiguous origin, called Naomi and Sadao, with disciples choosing to devote themselves to one, or both, of the two. Because Zenkoism is based more on adherence to specific teachings rather than one or more deities, it is one of few religions in Eldham to be capable of co-existing with other religions. 
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== Origin ==
Zenkoism began as independent forms of reverence to the figures Naomi and Sadao, semi-deities who were said to have traveled from a land to the far south-east of Eldham. The pair recounted stories of mystical forests, desert kingdoms, and wars beyond number. Upon their arrival to the continent of Katsura, the duo began to teach the tribes they encountered about the nature of being, and the balance between primal thought and civilized restraint. 
As time passed, more tribes encountered the pair, until villages and small towns littered Yaszuma, and as contact spread between them, the individual worship on a town-by-town basis expanding to its modern religious state, each region providing their own culture and rituals into what would become Zenkoism.
However, as abruptly as the two arrived, Naomi and Sadao disappeared from Katsura, and Eldham entirely. Their teachings, contained within books they possessed along their travels, were all that remained, and these volumes became the holy texts of Zenkoism, containing the teachings of their authors. The tribe that first encountered Naomi and Sadao would create Tenko, a holy site and archive of their teachings, and indirectly found the city of Kinnomachi to its north as more pilgrims began to visit the province of Osiro.
== Beliefs ==
The principles of Zenkoism are based in the improvement of one's self through studying the teachings of Naomi and Sadao, and understanding how the psyche of a person can be viewed as two parts of a whole. 
 
Zenkoism is the popular religion of Yaszuma, though the aristocracy of the nation scorns the religion. Naomi and Sadao taught different things to these citizens.
Naomi taught to the citizens, manners, how to make oneself more beautiful, literature, and preached wisdom towards the citizens.
Sadao taught to the citizens how to gather resources, how to hunt, and how to fight.
== Practices ==
Practices within Zenkoism mainly revolve around offerings given to one or both of the gods. Certain offerings are more welcomed than other offerings to these gods, especially those pertaining to what they are the gods to. Offerings appreciated by Sadao are Naomi are below (These are cited from the Shrines of Zenko discord)."Offerings often appreciated by Sadao are Iron Swords, Bows, Arrows, Iron Axes, Food, and Produce."
"Offerings often appreciated by Naomi are poems, art, literature, Sake, and flowers."Another practice within Zenkoism is to celebrate the founding of towns or cities that Shrines are in. For example: A Shrine at Kinnomachi would celebrate the founding of Kinnomachi and no other city/town/nation.
Along with festivals in the name of these two gods. The 20th of any month calls for a festival for Zenkoism.
Category:Religions
Category:Yaszuma
Category:Traveler's Era