Zhu Religion

An explanation of the religion of characters such as Li Hua and Xing Yi


The dominant Religion of the Zhu Empire has no unique name in its but is referred to under the umbrella term of Zhu by most outsiders and in conversation with outsiders.  As old as the society itself it focuses on a set way of life and virtues that are to be followed and interpreted in a way that benefits both yourself and society.  In terms of Deities it is a monotheistic faith but with various lesser beings of power and prophets within the cosmology that are revered or of great power but not really worshiped.   It is a somewhat ethnocentric religion but it is more than accepting of others who follow similar codes of ethics.

Name

For most of the Empire's history their system of beliefs was completely nameless, it being so ingrained in to them and simply how they lived that the notion of it needing a name was strange to them and even offensive to some.  It wasn't something labeled or really discussed it simply was just as they just were, what more was there to it? It was only when they began having more and more communication with other cultures that the need for labels and names become more important for explanations and reference purposes.  They settled on the name Zhu as a collective term for the people, the language, and their faith/philosophy.  Zhu was them in all of their aspects so why differentiate?

In Society

The Religion is as mentioned, completely inseparable from the Empire as it is the foundation of it.   Priestesses and such are important members of government, ethics are shaped by what the teachings of it dictate, and the belief is the primary thing that binds each race to one another and makes them so loyal.   There are temples in every neighborhood and attendance is mandatory for Zhu at least once a week, though more encouraged.   The Temples are important community centers and how the religious community sees someone has a large baring on how the rest of society sees them.  Religious stories and aspects are taught in all schools and whole castes of society are devoted to areas of it.  Blasphemy is regarded as a serious crime for Zhu, and a moderate crime for non Zhu.  

Beliefs

The System

The Zhu refer to Existence as The System, a sort of incomprehensible Cosmic machine  with mechanisms that span all of time and space running concurrently across all dimensions and realms simultaneously at all points in time.  Given the vastness and age of the System there is no definite religious answer to who if anything created it, and what exists beyond it.  The system is conscious to an unknown degree, somewhat aware of what goes on inside of it.  Creating what could only be described as antibodies to cleanse the Universes that form inside of it, purging them after a while and leaving no trace of them behind while the new one forms. 

It's callous disregard for what spawns within itself creates an endless cycle of universal creation and destruction; a Pattern of death and rebirth stretching across infinity on an unimaginable scale.  Some believe the system seeks perfection and destroys all that doesn't fit it's unknown definition of it.  Others believe the System is simply unaware of what is born within it, and destroys it out of fear once it finds out that more exists beyond it.  Others still feel the System was formed to monitor and contain something else.  All are theories that are debated by religious scholars and will likely continue to be far into the future.  

The Great Mother

The Deity of the Zhu Religion is a being known as the Great Mother, a powerful woman who came from the prior Universe.  Over the course of time she brought the various predecessor races of the Zhu people onto Kios before began to alter them into what would become their current forms in order to fit the landscape of the land she had made for the planet.  She is worshiped as a warm of loving creator, with people referring to death as returning to her loving embrace.  All religious activities are done in her honor as they hope to one day appease her enough for her to return to them, and make everything the way it was supposed to be.  Speaking ill of her is a criminal offense within the Empire, especially if the speaker is Zhu.  

After Life

There are three areas of life that the Zhu take note of: The Body, the Chi, and the Soul. When a Zhu dies they aren't buried but laid out somewhere away from wildlife with a sheet over their body, over the next few hours their chi converts their body into base nutrients and returns it to the ground (Though people with unstable Chi will literally burn up instantly upon death).  Both the Soul and the chi are brought into the Sea of Chi a mystical realm within the planets center where a vast sea of all the Empire's chi flows, seeping through the land and across space itself to the other areas. 

There the person's essence is processed by systems left in place by The Great Mother.  If a person was honorable their soul is moved on to be joined with her in a state of bliss and enlightenment their chi recycled and sent out into the world on its own, helping keep the land and people healthy (or stored for them to later return as divine warriors).  If they were a dishonorable in life both their soul and chi are kept together and recycled into a new life, that will have certain aspects and a vague memory kept over in hopes their soul can learn and have a more honorable life. 

Five Tenets of Faith

Strength: Weakness in all of its forms is to be challenged and overcome and not allowed to fester within one's body, mind, or soul. To accept the weakness within is to fail the Great mother and accept dishonor.

Courage: Never allow fear to take hold of your mind, one must fight through it and continue on with whatever causes them distress. To follow Zhu is never whimper in the face of fear, but to bear your fangs and destroy it.

Loyalty: Blood may be thicker than water but Loyalty is stronger than blood. Your loyalty must be the most sacred bond you have no matter who it may be too. When you swear loyalty you must stay true to it as long as it stays honorable, the faith and those who you are loyal to must take precedence over any others.

Honor: The most important of all tenets is to be an honorable person at all times. To disregard Honor is to forsake the Great mother and be a blight on society and those above you. Even in the face of certain death, Honor must be maintained for the integrity of one's soul is more important than the vessel of flesh

Discipline: Having control over ones life, keeping yourself balanced in the aspects that form a proper Zhu. You must be able to control your emotions and reign yourself in when needed, or have the strength of will to force yourself to learn how.  You don't abandon tasks of import and force yourself to see them through to the end.  You must be in complete control and no instincts or circumstances should win over your mind unless you want them to.   

Institutions

Temples

Temples are the primary location of worship in the Zhu religion, one in every neighborhood they vary from modest home sized buildings to massive castles. Much like the size the contents vary based on location and need but some things are universal. There are always areas designated for both prayer and meditation, normally a specially marked section of the floor covered in mats or special seals.  There is seating areas in various parts of most temples, or a somewhat large section of the smaller ones.  An altar and statues of whatever patron prophet or various ones if a larger temple, religious texts, and various private rooms for when people need to be more isolated for whatever reason.   

Religious services are usually done on either and individual level or in small groups, only in very special occasions with a large group at one time.  More normally an individual or small group is assisted by a priestess who aids in prayer, consul, meditation and various rituals.  Depending on the size of the temple there are anywhere from 5 to hundreds of priestesses, either security golems or warriors hired as guards, and some have dragons of their own which help watch over the place and take supplies back and forth places.  The Temples are open all day and night never without at least a few people on staff and always willing to aid whoever needs shelter, help, or just wants to get closer to the Great Mother.  If one has nowhere else to turn they'll always find a reassuring shoulder, a warm meal, and a place to sleep regardless of their race or actual religion for honor compels them to help any who need it. 

Priestesses

The primary and most common job regarding the religion is the all female staff that are the public's guide and aid to the faith.  They are government employees that work at the temples closest to their home, aiding in prayer, teaching religious tales and lessons, group meditation, consoling,  and general work within the community.  Priestess are required to always be willing to help those who are in need, and if a dishonorable person seeks redemption they are required to aid them in the task and speak on their behalf in regards to any trouble they've got in.  This isn't a get out of jail free card for the criminal since the priestess has to actually believe they want to change, and even then it only reduces the sentence and not actually removes it all together.  They are well respected in the community and serve as sort of community mother and big sister figures to many people of all ages for how much they assist others and their warm friendly attitude.

To become a priestess one has to go through a year of classes which take place every day at the temple, and once they prove they have learned the basics and concepts they are made a priestess in training where they shadow a more experienced Priestess for several years learning more and more of the practices as well privately studying with them to ensure they become as dedicated and understanding as the job requires.  As time goes on they are allowed to do more and more things on their own until they are allowed to take a final test to prove they are ready.  The test involves memorization of several legends and holy texts, at least a basic understanding of how to do magic, consoling a person in need while the Head Priestess observes, explaining how the Five Tenets of Faith apply to  them on a personal level, and the sacrifice of their great accomplishment (if it's not a physical object then a symbolic sacrifice of it) on an altar to the Great Mother.