Jan Sewi

**Jan Sewi** (full name: **nasin pi jan sewi**), also known as the **Way of the Higher Ones**, is a polytheistic religion practiced primarily within the nation of Ma Telan and its many islands. Jan Sewi is believed to have been created due to the fusion of indigenous Ma Telanese beliefs and the Kamitomo religion. The two religions share many similarities in beliefs and practices and were both present in Ma Telan in the years leading up to the nation's official founding in 365 G.E. The unique and separate beliefs of Jan Sewi are heavily based on the sitelen pi kama, a religious text detailing the foundation of the nation of Ma Telan.

## History

The Kamitomo religion was first spread to the islands of Ma Telan in 311 G.E. when proselytizers from Shingō and Tsukimoto traveled there to convert members of the local population. The reception of these missionaries varied from island to island, with some communities being welcoming of the new spiritual teachings and others being quite hostile. As relations between Shingō and the leaders of the Ma Telanese islands became closer around 345 G.E., the central leadership of the islands encouraged all communities across the islands to be welcoming of the missionaries. As these teachings spread across the soon-to-be-nation, they were gradually incorporated and intertwined with the indigenous beliefs of the islands' communities. Throughout the following decades, various legends and myths from Kamitomo traditions would be adapted to the cultural beliefs of Ma Telan's people, and some new stories would be created to further expand on the religious canon.

## Beliefs

Practitioners of Jan Sewi exhibit many of the beliefs held by practitioners of Kamitomo, namely the belief of kami (supernatural entities said to inhabit everything, both animate and inanimate). Followers of Jan Sewi utilize household shrines or altars to worship these kami, similar to the use of *kamidana* in Kamitomo. Jan Sewi differs from Kamitomo in the sense that its practitioners do not believe that the so-called "higher kami", or "higher gods," can be contacted, and that one must instead contact them through the spirits that exist in the world. While the *Shinjiki* (sacred text of Kamitomo) is considered an important part of Jan Sewi's religious canon, followers believe that the "creation kami" of the story (Mubashi, Ibi, Uomi, and Ishite) no longer inhabit our world and do not directly impact the lives of people. In Jan Sewi, all people are transformed into kami after they become deceased, and these kami are responsible for all divine interventions that occur in the world. Consequently, families that practice Jan Sewi will usually worship/contact the kami of deceased relatives via their *kamidana*, or at a local shrine.

While there is not necessarily a pantheon of kami that exists in Jan Sewi, important or famous individuals who have since deceased are commonly revered and worshipped in shrines across Ma Telan. Whilst revering these individuals, practitioners ask for their blessings or aid in accomplishing certain goals. Deceased chiefs, rulers, priests, and warriors especially are revered heavily by followers of Jan Sewi. These "famous" kami are revered the most while lesser known kami are usually deceased members of one's family that are almost exclusively worshipped by said family. If a person becomes deceased and is not worshipped or contacted by anyone, it is believed that their spirit will transform into a vengeful or malevolent kami that causes harm or destruction. Followers of Jan Sewi frequently enlist the help of priests to cleanse certain areas that are believed to be inhabited by malevolent kami.

## Creation Story

There are several versions and iterations of Jan Sewi's creation story; by far the most popular tale is the *sitelen pi kama*, roughly meaning the "writings of the beginning." This story is intended to be read as a continuation of the Shinjiki, albeit a version of the Shinjiki that has been adapted to the Jan Sewi religion. It describes the journey of the higher kami Mubashi (called *mupasi* in the story) to the islands of Ma Telan. Practitioners of Jan Sewi believe that the communities and tribes of Ma Telan are the civilizations described in the Shinjiki and that the creator kami Mubashi had journeyed to them prior to his ascendence into the heavenly realm. In the story, Mubashi watches the tribes of Ma Telan and focuses on one man called *pajano*. He is a fierce warrior who protects his tribe from huge beasts and creates shelter and fire for them to survive. Mubashi is pleased with the warrior's deeds and bestows upon him the title of "protector of the Ma Telanese people." The rest of the story diverges heavily depending on which version is read; however, the most popular versions describe the events of Pajano's life and the process through which the title of "protector" has been passed down generations. This story serves as the basis for the modern day practice of Ma Telanese leaders being called Pajano. These leaders are selected through a rigorous process in which high priests interview and inspect newly born children shortly after the death of the previous leader. It is believed that the kami of Pajano will inhabit the body of a newly-born person after the death of the last person, thus allowing for the role of protector to be passed down.