Heguo

The Heguo people, also known as the *Suzosaba* people, are a distinct ethnic group in Onshitama who, in most regions of the country, significantly predate the Onshian presence. Throughout the course of the Onshian colonisation of the country, their populations were either assimilated or entirely replaced in all but a few isolated corners, where they remain to this day. The native name of the country inhabited by the Heguo people is Heguonggu, and a person of the Heguo nation is known as a Heguomin.

All of the surviving Heguo communities are centred around the Suzhao monasteries. It is something of a common misconception that all Heguomin monks are Suzhao monks - instead, the truth is they were the only type of monk left after the Onshian colonisation, and the other orders of monasticism were never rebuilt. Suzhao monks are those who reside in monasteries in isolated, sacred places that are believed to have a strong connection to the spiritual world. Though before they had merely been the moral authority of the Heguo nation, they soon took on the role of political leaders as the last remnants of their people looked to them for guidance. The strong association of the Suzhao monks with the Heguo nation is what led to the people being named the *Suzosaba* people by the Onshians (literally "Suzhao-folk").

Many elements of Onshian culture have their roots in the traditions of the Heguo people, particularly when it comes to art, cuisine and religion. Although ancient Onshians typically perceived the Heguomins as backwards and inferior, over time the relationship between the Onshians and Heguomins became more peaceful. The rustic and isolated Heguo communities eventually became recognised for their quality craftsmanship and particularly their fine food. The Onshian dish of *kyoru* (which is virtually identical to sushi) was based off the Heguomin *wushang*, and to this day the *Suzoko kyoru* - that is, *kyoru*/*wushang* prepared in the monasteries - is considered the best in the world.

The Suzhao monks also eventually became widely respected amongst the Onshians for their connection to the spiritual world, and their ability to appease spirits that had been slighted and to banish malevolent spirits. Secular scholarship generally agrees that this was a superstitious veneer atop the critical work of eliminating demonic threats from the Dreadlands, which at the time was poorly understood in Onshi and was connected with their religious beliefs concerning spirits.

## Religion and Suzhao Monks

The Heguo people refer to their religion as *Shinjiao*. This is academically understood as a branch of Kadinto, but all Heguomins profess that their religion is the source of Kadinto rather than a branch of it. *Shinjiao* is often considered to be the same as the Kanidinto tradition which believes the prophet-gods Kashita and Matiro to be married lovers rather than opposed enemies, just with a different name, but there are two key differences. Firstly, *Shinjiao* has a greater focus on worshipping Isha and her husband Huanzhao, placing them on an equal footing with the prophet-gods Kashita and Matiro - whereas Kanidintoans, whilst certainly not denying the divinity of Isha and Huanzhao, generally pay little attention to them and focus their attention on Kashita and Matiro. Secondly, *Shinjiao* is far more animistic in nature, believing in the power of the spirits that imbue virtually every element of the world, and believing they must be cared for and appeased to ensure the safety and stability of the world. Again, whilst Kanidintoans do not deny the existence of spirits, they generally pay little attention to them.

In addition to having a key spiritual and religious role, the Suzhao monks were historically the front line against demonic threats in Onshitama, and continued to be sought to counter such threats even after the arrival of the Nesarian Empire and the establishment of the Onshian branch of the Imperial Inquisition. Whilst they did not seek out combat with demons and preferred a diplomatic approach (instead leaving open warfare against demons to the army), they were well-prepared to fight against them, which is the reason for all Suzhao monks learning both armed and unarmed martial arts. Unlike the Inquisition, the Suzhao monks did not conceive of the demons as being demons, but rather as spirits, some of which were innately malevolent and hostile but most of which were neutral and could be pacified if appeased. Judging from the esteem in which Suzhao monks were held and continue to be held, one can assume they were mostly successful.

Suzhao monks are ascetic, but are not expected to be abstinent; they can marry and have children, though premarital and extramarital sex is prohibited, and it is believed that laying with one's spouse puts a monk into a state of spiritual uncleanliness which bars them from certain rituals and practices until a period of three days has passed and a cleansing ritual is performed.

There are female Suzhao nuns, but they are always a special type of monastic known as a *meosang* (corrupted into Onshian as *myosan*), a term which is often translated into English as "shaman". These shaman-nuns are considered to outrank most male monks, but it is difficult to become one, leading to nuns being a small minority of the monastic community. A *meosang* often takes a leading role in performing rituals to appease spirits, particularly ones related to the natural world; since nature spirits are typically characterised as female, it is females who appease them. Historically, they were typically also responsible for entreating with the most powerful "spirits" and appeasing them - in other words, they were the ones who conversed with Dread Titans. Since they were often rumoured to possess supernatural powers, many scholars theorise that they were frequently Witches, but there is no solid evidence to prove this theory.