Post by Sophie on Aug 17, 2022 15:34:25 GMT -5
Basic Overview
Keimuriseishin/Hantoreso is the official state religion of Kumosenkan, originating from the naval tradition that Kumosenkan has built itself around as a thalassocracy as far back as 401-600 PI. A top-down religion that branches off from a living deified figure, the belief is organized and guided by direct government word. Temples and local shrines’ staff plus doctrine must all be identical functionally and are heavily influenced by strict government oversight. Religious doctrine by nature elevates the Empress of Kumosenkan to fulfill this deity-equivalent level of importance, and accordingly plays a major role in all facets of society, from the high regard in which the royalty is held to the unquestioning loyalty that is expected and ceded by worshipers.
The matriarchal society of Kumosenkan sets the relationship of parent to child incredibly high, and religion is no different. Actions of the pious must consider effects on descendants, and the suffering of descendants is as a rule to be minimized wherever and however possible by the worshiper.
Keimuriseishin worship is focused around the veneration of ancestral spirits, who are believed to pass on among stars in the sky, otherwise known as the Living Stars. The complete details of the afterlife though are unknown, and knowledge of specific details is considered blasphemy, even to the Empress.
The religion’s ceremonies are the way for the individual to communicate with their ancestors, passed through the generations and evolving into its modern form. Usually solitary in nature, such ceremonies are considered a way for the faithful to ask for the presence of the Living Stars rather than any sort of demanded summon. Names and precise information of the ancestors is not necessary as long as the message is conveyed, as the connection to ones ancestors is innate. However, asking for specific names is believed to wield better results.
Rituals
Direct communion with a direct ancestor in this vein is the most common, done alone and usually within the privacy of a praying room. Aboard the vast fleets of the Kumosenkan Battle Fleet, vessels possess at least one such praying room, where a sailor may privately light a candle and ask upon their ancestors for advice and guidance. The response is entirely up to the ancestor’s wishes- if they so choose, and certainly for a sinful person, they may even not respond at all. If a person is sinful enough, an ancestor may even act in direct hindrance to the ask.
Another ceremony is known as the Constellation, where a faithful may appeal to the wider Living Stars as a whole with the guidance of a Church-appointed Priestess. This may be done in the face of disasters or requests for the faithful’s community to be more connected spiritually. It is considered a general appeal to the ancestors beyond one’s own blood lineage, but also to any of those willing to listen.
Perhaps the most iconic of the Keimuriseishin ceremonies however are the Spiritual Commingling, hymns that call upon an ancestor’s Living Star to take direct action and assist their descendants in the form of ‘Radiance,’ a state of being where the spirit can possess an object, usually machinery, and directly aid their descendant.
The most common application of this ceremony is aboard the vessels of the Royal Battle Fleet, whose engineers sing the Spiritual Commingling in the belief that their ancestors will oversee the machine’s inner workings and therefore ensure a safe voyage.
The Church
The ability to reach the afterlife depends on a system of honor. While knowledge of honorable spirits may be blasphemy, the knowledge of sinful spirits is known- their consciousness is slowly chipped away at within the spirit realm until they descend into madness, where their essence bleeds into the living world as the cause of all negative things, in addition to causing great misfortune to their descendants.
The Kumo religion hosts a large clergy responsible for the public ceremonies of the religion. While the Empress herself is the head of the Church, the Minister of the Church oversees the daily operations and activities of the Keimuriseishin Church, the state religious institution.
The Church services the religious needs of the country with a Shrine per every community larger than five families, forming fairly populated institutions for the religious education and worship for the people. Church-appointed Priestesses of these Shrines are responsible for the leading of aforementioned Constellation ceremonies, as well as the religious education of the faithful wherever needed, as well as the hosting of public religious festivals.
A donation to the cemetery where the deceased are buried are expected of the living relative to maintain them, and visits by direct descendants are customary every year, preferably on the birthday of the deceased.
Holidays
Burning incense on the summer solstice is believed to renew the soul of the dead.
A donation to the cemetery where the deceased are buried is expected of the living relative to maintain them, and honors the dead.
New Years is a celebration of rebirth, a massive festival is held at every shrine in the empire. A Constellation is held with all present in a bid to guide recently deceased, or lost, ancestors into the living stars. This is usually followed up by a fireworks display.
The winter solstice celebration is for the living. Festivals are held at every shrine. People are encouraged to wear their most opulent clothing to show off. Vendors are encouraged to sell their goods close to at cost, to help foster a feeling of community, and citizens are expected to buy local to do their part of supporting the community.
Keimuriseishin/Hantoreso is the official state religion of Kumosenkan, originating from the naval tradition that Kumosenkan has built itself around as a thalassocracy as far back as 401-600 PI. A top-down religion that branches off from a living deified figure, the belief is organized and guided by direct government word. Temples and local shrines’ staff plus doctrine must all be identical functionally and are heavily influenced by strict government oversight. Religious doctrine by nature elevates the Empress of Kumosenkan to fulfill this deity-equivalent level of importance, and accordingly plays a major role in all facets of society, from the high regard in which the royalty is held to the unquestioning loyalty that is expected and ceded by worshipers.
The matriarchal society of Kumosenkan sets the relationship of parent to child incredibly high, and religion is no different. Actions of the pious must consider effects on descendants, and the suffering of descendants is as a rule to be minimized wherever and however possible by the worshiper.
Keimuriseishin worship is focused around the veneration of ancestral spirits, who are believed to pass on among stars in the sky, otherwise known as the Living Stars. The complete details of the afterlife though are unknown, and knowledge of specific details is considered blasphemy, even to the Empress.
The religion’s ceremonies are the way for the individual to communicate with their ancestors, passed through the generations and evolving into its modern form. Usually solitary in nature, such ceremonies are considered a way for the faithful to ask for the presence of the Living Stars rather than any sort of demanded summon. Names and precise information of the ancestors is not necessary as long as the message is conveyed, as the connection to ones ancestors is innate. However, asking for specific names is believed to wield better results.
Rituals
Direct communion with a direct ancestor in this vein is the most common, done alone and usually within the privacy of a praying room. Aboard the vast fleets of the Kumosenkan Battle Fleet, vessels possess at least one such praying room, where a sailor may privately light a candle and ask upon their ancestors for advice and guidance. The response is entirely up to the ancestor’s wishes- if they so choose, and certainly for a sinful person, they may even not respond at all. If a person is sinful enough, an ancestor may even act in direct hindrance to the ask.
Another ceremony is known as the Constellation, where a faithful may appeal to the wider Living Stars as a whole with the guidance of a Church-appointed Priestess. This may be done in the face of disasters or requests for the faithful’s community to be more connected spiritually. It is considered a general appeal to the ancestors beyond one’s own blood lineage, but also to any of those willing to listen.
Perhaps the most iconic of the Keimuriseishin ceremonies however are the Spiritual Commingling, hymns that call upon an ancestor’s Living Star to take direct action and assist their descendants in the form of ‘Radiance,’ a state of being where the spirit can possess an object, usually machinery, and directly aid their descendant.
The most common application of this ceremony is aboard the vessels of the Royal Battle Fleet, whose engineers sing the Spiritual Commingling in the belief that their ancestors will oversee the machine’s inner workings and therefore ensure a safe voyage.
The Church
The ability to reach the afterlife depends on a system of honor. While knowledge of honorable spirits may be blasphemy, the knowledge of sinful spirits is known- their consciousness is slowly chipped away at within the spirit realm until they descend into madness, where their essence bleeds into the living world as the cause of all negative things, in addition to causing great misfortune to their descendants.
The Kumo religion hosts a large clergy responsible for the public ceremonies of the religion. While the Empress herself is the head of the Church, the Minister of the Church oversees the daily operations and activities of the Keimuriseishin Church, the state religious institution.
The Church services the religious needs of the country with a Shrine per every community larger than five families, forming fairly populated institutions for the religious education and worship for the people. Church-appointed Priestesses of these Shrines are responsible for the leading of aforementioned Constellation ceremonies, as well as the religious education of the faithful wherever needed, as well as the hosting of public religious festivals.
A donation to the cemetery where the deceased are buried are expected of the living relative to maintain them, and visits by direct descendants are customary every year, preferably on the birthday of the deceased.
Holidays
Burning incense on the summer solstice is believed to renew the soul of the dead.
A donation to the cemetery where the deceased are buried is expected of the living relative to maintain them, and honors the dead.
New Years is a celebration of rebirth, a massive festival is held at every shrine in the empire. A Constellation is held with all present in a bid to guide recently deceased, or lost, ancestors into the living stars. This is usually followed up by a fireworks display.
The winter solstice celebration is for the living. Festivals are held at every shrine. People are encouraged to wear their most opulent clothing to show off. Vendors are encouraged to sell their goods close to at cost, to help foster a feeling of community, and citizens are expected to buy local to do their part of supporting the community.