Shunism

== Overview ==
Shunism was the largest religion of Kisaya. It spread with the rise of the Horishi Empire and in time became the official religion of the continent. As the empire fell apart, a rise in religious freedoms saw a decline in followers of Shunism. Despite this, it remained the most popular religion as of 301 AG. The religion was a syncretism of the beliefs of the Shun people of Lang and the beliefs in spirits found across the Shi Peninsula. 
Practitioners of Shunism were to live in harmony with common spirits, respect the role of high spirits and worship the Heavenly Gods. Shunists believed in a Creator God but worship was reserved for his children whom were each associated with various aspects of life. The religion was inclusive of many pre-existing spirits but some came to play more important roles than others and were given names and stories within the Shunist canon. 
With Shunism came a wide range of philosophies, a rich mythology and rituals that persisted across Kisaya for centuries. 
== The Gods ==
The Gods associated with Shunism were based on the figures worshiped by the Shun people. The names were created by people of Horishi and so reflected names in their language. The original names and details created by the Shun people were unknown.
=== The Infinite ===
The Infinite were Gods that originated from or existed in a state beyond human conception. The only known infinite were The Creator and Death. The Creator was the being responsible for the creation of the world and all things apart of it. They were known as genderless or at least of an unknown gender. As legends go, after making the world, the Creator produced four children, two sons and two daughters to rule over the world. With their work complete, they returned to the infinite plain with no intentions to revisit the world.
The other, commonly known as Death, was the only other known infinite. Unlike the Creator, he was often portrayed as male. Some legends portray him as the brother of the Creator, some as their first son and some as simply another infinite, usually a rival of the Creator. Death, despite being of a plain beyond the heavenly Gods, resided on earth. As his name would suggest, Death was responsible for taking the lives of mortal men whenever he deemed necessary.
=== The Heavenly Gods ===
* Riraku was the eldest son of the Creator. He was associated with justice, reason and wisdom. He was known as the ruler of the heavens and had a son, Yukiso.
* Kurito was the younger son of the Creator. He was associated with craft, skill and work. Though his brother succeeded his parent as ruler, Kurito was granted their powers of creation that he would use on earth. He had a daughter, Amaji.
* Mayashi was the eldest daughter of the Creator. She was associated with fertility, growth and agriculture. Mayashi was responsible for giving her siblings each the ability to produce a child of their own. Her child was the genderfluid Okya.
* Usani was the youngest child of the Creator. She was associated with nature, healing and magic. She had a daughter, Gekosha.
* Yukiso was the son of Riraku. He was associated with war, strategy and courage.
* Amaji was the daughter of Kurito. She was associated with art, music, poetry and wine.
* Okya was the genderfluid child of Mayashi. They were known to change their gender at will and were presented as male and female across various legends. They were associated with love, beauty, pleasure and desire.
* Gekosha was the daughter of Usani. She was associated with knowledge, writing and language.
=== Other figures ===
* The Founder, also known as the Prophet, or, in some cases, the Uncle, was said to be the paternal uncle of Riraku I. As a young man he was forced into exile, coming across the people of Lang and converting to worshipping their Gods. After his brother's death he returned home and became a mentor to his young newphew, the King, teaching him the core beliefs of what would become Shunism.
*Toko was a legendary figure known as the lord of chaos or madness. Once a mortal man, Toko fell in love with Okya and made a deal with Death to join her in the heavens. However, in time Toko was driven mad with the inability to die and returned to earth to wreak havoc.
* The Immortal Warrior was a figure, like Toko, cursed with immortality but was not granted the divinity Toko had. With this, his mortal body aged and rotted as he wandered the earth in a concealing suit of armour searching for Death. In hopes to please Death, the warrior killed anyone who was unlucky enough to come across him.
Category:Culture
Category:Religion