Kaishu

Kaishu is one of the three states that composes the Dariath Federation, a nation located in the south west of Abexilas. It was founded by chancellor Saemon Kana (Simonnellla) in .
== Etymology ==
Kaishu in Kaishuugo uses the characters 諧州 which can be translated to harmonious state.
Other names: 諧州國 Kaishuukoku, 大諧州國 Dai-Kaishuukoku
== Towns ==
The state of Kaishu has two cities Hanaoka and Takura. Hanaoka is an opulent fortress style city composed of various terraces that the city is build on. The city borders a swamp to the south where the state of Cailadra is located, a savannah to the south east of the city where the state of Neo Yoake. The city is surounded by the sea to the west and east of it. Takura is a small jungle settlment located to the noth of Hanaoka. Created by a small group of merchants that cultivate various spices meant for trade. Takura is located in the jungle on the edge of a desert where the nation of Naan is located.
== Geography ==
Kaishu is located in a dense jungle in the subcontinent of Zarilyia. To the west of Kaishu is located the Hasan-kai sea (波珊海, wave of corals sea) which takes its name from a large coral reef located in that sea.
== The history of Kaishu ==
=== The Shōhei-Jidai 昌平時代 ===
Before the birth of the current Kaishu, the state was ruled by an Emperor (王様 Ō-sama, or more commonly 天皇 Tennō), and the imperial court which is comprised of the Five Great Houses and the Old Kaishunese Nobility.
The most influential families were:
The 諴明 Kanmei Clan, the Imperial House, the rulers of the Realm.
===== The 五大家 go-daike or Five Great Houses/Clans (more info) =====
The Go-daike were once part of the direct imperial family. When the imperial family itself got too big, the Kanmei decided to remove 5 sons from the direct line of succession, stripped them of their royal status (but they remained as high nobility) and gave them new names. The Five Great Houses are as follows:
* The 盛大 Joudai Clan - One of the five Great Houses/Clans. Its descendants live on to this day as the Kana branch, the ruling dynasty of the Dajō-Kan. The Joudai spearheaded the rebellion and overthrowing the Odou regents. The Joudai and their allies establish the daijo-kan council.
* The 平山 Hyouzan Clan - One of the five Great Houses/Clans. Its descendants live on to this day as the Asaemon branch.
* The 源城 Genjiro Clan - One of the five Great Houses/Clans. Its descendants live on to this day as the Toshimoto branch.
* The 中藤 Nakafuji Clan - One of the five Great Houses/Clans, would later be eradicated due to opposing the Odou regime.
* The 偉途 Ito Clan - One of the five Great Houses/Clans, being the first noble house to openly oppose the Odou, they were subsequently wiped out.
The 雄藤 Odou Clan - The odou was a warrior clan that once directly served the Kanmei. Was the de-facto ruling dynasty during the Odou regency, effectively puppeting the Kanmei. During that time, the heads of the Odou clan were given the title of 関白 Kampaku which was theoretically a sort of chief adviser to the emperor.
The 従義 Shougi Clan - Close ally of the Kanmei since ancient times, they were active in the Kanmei court alongside the go-daike. They narrowly survived the Odou regime and would soon help to overthrow the regency.
==== Torai-ke 渡来家 clans ====
The Torai-ke clans are clans of non-native Kaishunese descent, usually from neighbouring nations or from countries of similar cultural background. These clans, though some are minor, were integrated into kaishunese society and aristocracy and were influential in one way or another in the Kaishunese imperial court.
=== The Senshu-Jidai 僭主時代 ===
==== Rise of the Odou ====
During the reign of emperor Daigen 大現 (roughly the 23rd emperor of Kanmei Dynasty), Odou no Toyonari 雄藤豊成, the head of the Odou noble clan wanted his family to be closer to the imperial dynasty to give prestige to his clan. He offered his eldest daughter,  Toyoko 豊子 to the emperor to be his wife. Emperor Daigen agreed to this arrangement however he would not make Toyoko his main wife (emperors and empresses could have more than one spouse, as was the custom at the time). To Toyonari, this was sufficient, he was satisfied that Toyoko was able to join the imperial house. If Toyoko, now one of the emperors many wives, would give birth to the emperor's child, that child would become a high ranking noble of the court.
However, Odou no Nariakira 雄藤成彰, the heir to the Odou clan and one of Toyonari's children, wanted to make Toyoko the emperor's main wife, which would mean that the heir to the throne would have Odou blood. Nariakira urged his father, Toyonari, to make this happen. Toyonari was initially reluctant but gave in. Toyonari and his children hatched a plan in order to make this happen. Emperor Daigen's main wife would be slowly poisoned by one of her attendants planted by the Odou. The emperor's wife did indeed slowly succumb to illness and died in a matter of days. It was said that Emperor Daigen grieved for his wife so much that when Toyonari told the emperor that since his wife died due to illness, she would have a harder time to reach the afterlife, the emperor believed it. The emperor was horrified by this and asked Toyonari what he should do to ensure that his wife would reach the afterlife, Toyonari suggested that the emperor should step down from the throne and become a monk in order to ensure his wife's passage to the afterlife. Without hesitation, emperor Daigen agreed, he stepped down from the throne and was ordained to be a monk. Since Toyoko's 3 year old child was emperor Daigen's eldest, the child would be the next in line for the throne according to the laws and mandates on succession. This event was the beginning of the Odou's grip over the imperial court. The new emperor, emperor Choushin 重新, was the first emperor under direct influence from the Odou, the child emperor was forced to appoint Toyonari as the regent to the young emperor. 
The Ito clan, one of the great noble clans of the imperial court, was the first to notice this corruption and the first to oppose the Odou. The Ito gathered up an army to defeat the Odou and save the emperor. The Ito army tried to surround the imperial palace but was stopped by the imperial guards (who were controlled by the Odou). Both sides did not engage in battle but were stationed fairly close to each other, the Ito hoped that the imperial court would not risk a battle nearby the palace and would give in to their demands. The Odou were quick to act and using their influence over the emperor, declared the Ito as rebels and enemies of the state. Since this declaration was an imperial decree, the other noble clans were forced to comply and sent their own soldiers to defend the palace and vanquish the Ito army. The imperial guards, now strengthened with reinforcements from other clans, slowly inched closer to the opposing army with their spears pointed at them. Due to the Ito's smaller numbers, they retreated outside of the reaches of the palace complex. It was not known who fired the first arrow but when they reached the outskirts of the capital, the battle started. The Ito clan was defeated and their leaders captured. The head of the Ito clan, Ito no Tsuginawa 偉途継縄 and his family were executed, leading to the destruction of their clan. This event was to be known as the Ito no Ran 偉途の乱 or the Ito rebellion/disturbance.
===== The Tsuru Monogatari incident =====
The Odou Clan, now the de-facto ruling dynasty, gained power and influence by earning the affections of the imperial court through their children and marrying them off to the Emperors and Empresses (which already have odou blood in them). Their rule was so unfair and homocidal to anyone who wasn't an Odou that Nakafuji no "Senka" Saneyori, a famous writer of the time, wrote the "Tsuru Monogatari" which is still famous and is read and studied by nobles and commoners to this day. 
Tsuru Monogatari or the story of the crane tells a tale of a noble crane whose wings are taken by a tiger who aims to use them for its own personal gain.
When the Odou regents heard of the story, they soon found out its parallels to the current political climate during their rule and had Nakafuji no Senka Saneyori executed.
==== The deposition of the Odou and end of the Senshu-jidai ====
The Odou Clan have been ruling the imperial court behind the scenes for about 76 years. Injustices and corruption is rampant within the court, and the imperial throne is being taken advantage of. (WIP)
=== The birth of the Kaishu Dajō-Kan 太政官 ===
The Kaishu Dajō-Kan, founded by the Kana family, branch of the Joudai clan, was officially born after the release of the Shinsei sengen-sho (新政宣言書)
The Shinsei sengen-sho or the "Proclamation of New Governance" is a document written after the ousting of the Odou regency and the restoration of the prestige of the royal lineage. This written document describes the unrighteousness of the regency and the rejuvenation of justice. The document also describes the formation of a council with a new Dajo-kan system. There are no references as to who has drafted and written the document, only a stamp seal of the Dajo-kan is apparent on the bottom left hand side.The document states:
"By the grace of the highest deities,
In the name of the Emperor, we proclaim this charter.
The Odou clan has abused its power, damaging the dignity of the imperial court and bringing suffering to the people. Therefore, we hereby declare: the Odou clan is expelled from the imperial court, and their power and positions are revoked.
To restore justice and order, we establish the Dajō-kan. The Dajō-kan, under the sacred will of the Emperor, pledges to protect the people and govern the nation fairly.
For the peace and prosperity of the Great Kaishu state.
Seihei era 1st year
In the name of the Emperor, the Dajō-kan"
== Shinrei 神霊 ==
Kaishū Pantheon:
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
案者(ansha) - proposer
煌天(Kōten)/大日御霊 (Ōhimitama) - sun archon/god
皓夜(Kōya)/月御霊 (Tsukimitama) - moon archon/god
促乱(Sokuran)/不善御霊 (Fuzenmitama) - chaos archon/god
繁華(Hanka)/命御霊(Inochi no mitama) - life archon/god
終焉(Shūen)/死御霊(Shi no mitama) - death archon/god
幽悔(Yūkai)/國土御霊(Kokudomitama) - archon/god of the realm (world)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 
== Spirits and Creatures ==
=== Kairyu 海龍 ===
The Kairyu are a race of dragons who are native to the sea. These dragons spend most of their time protecting sailors and the ocean, though once provoked, they may cause havoc on nearby sailors. These dragons are scaly in texture much like a fish and have heads that look like that of a lion and a horned camel. A famous kairyu in kaishu myth is Suiran 水嵐. Said to dwell in the sea in between Hanaoka and Araseoya, Suiran helps maritime traders to get through rough waters and navigational problems, but if you have thalassophobia, it’s best to not actively search for Suiran as an encounter might overwhelm you. Due to the The Kairyu's heavy influence on Kaishu's seafaring culture, Kaishunese ship-builders started building ships dedicated to the sea dragons with dragon motifs on its side in order to please the Kairyu, and as a symbol for good luck and fortune. 
(WIP)
Category:Abexilas
Category:Nations