Minkai

Update needed This article should be updated to reflect canon changes noted in Tian Xia World Guide. The specific problem is: many updates from 1E/Chronicles to 2E/Lost Omens and 2E Remaster; all provinces renamed. Please help improve it if you can; the talk page might contain suggestions.

Minkai

(Nation)

Titles

Empire of Dawn;
the Land of the Three Fires;
Minkai Empire

Alignment

Lawful neutral

Capital

Kasai

Ruler

Empress Amatatsu Ameiko

Government

Monarchy

Demonym

Minkai or Minkaians; Tian-Mins

Adjective

Minkan, Minkai, or Minkaian

Languages

Minkaian, Tien

Religions

Daikitsu, Desna, Fumeiyoshi, General Susumu, Hei Feng, Irori, Shelyn, Shizuru, Tsukiyo, Yamatsumi

Images of Minkai

Source: Tide of Honor, pg(s). 62–67 (1E)
Tian Xia World Guide, pg(s). 146–159 (2E)

The Minkai Empire can be found on the continent of Tian Xia. It was one of the few nations that never submitted to Imperial Lung Wa and is renowned for its deadly samurai, clans of stealthy ninjas, and its strongly honourable cultural identity.

History

Early history

Arguably, the earliest history of Minkai dates all the way back to 100 AR when the goddess Shizuru bestowed her divine blessing on five Imperial families who would come to rule Minkai for the next four thousand years; the Amatatsu, Higashiyama, Shojinawa, Sugimatu, and the Teikoku. Twelve years later in 112 AR, the Teikoku clan founded the Teikoku Shogunate, a precursor to modern Minkai that lasted over 3,500 years. In 290 AR, the samurai Zaokoyu effectively established Minkai's northern border with the Forest of Spirits when his army was destroyed there by a force of irate kami.

The founding of Minkai

Minkai itself was founded in 3616 AR by the so called "Perfect Swordsman" Setsuna Kuga. While the Teikoku had ruled for nearly 3,000 years and had, for most of this time, been known as just and honourable rulers, by the time of Setsuna, rot had set in. This blatant corruption of the Teikoku clan could no longer be tolerated by the people they ruled. Setsuna defeated the forces of the Teikoku Shogunate at the Battle of Eight Bridges in 3616 AR. Minkai itself was formed three years later in 3619 AR and as the old capital of Uddo was razed during the war, a new capital was established in the city of Kasai, where it has remained ever since. In 4559 AR, an organisation known as the Golden League rose to prominence, effectively gaining complete control of Minkai and its economy for over a decade before being banished in 4571 AR.

The Jade Regent

After more than 1,000 years of relative internal peace, by the 4700s, Minkai was close to exploding into all-out civil war. Many of the smaller islands once controlled by the empire declared their independence. The successor to the Sakura Throne, Emperor Shigure Higashiyama, was imprisoned in 4705 AR by the Higashiyama clan at their compound near the edge of the capital, supposedly to protect him. It was due to the clan's strength that war did not break out immediately, but there was a growing movement to release the Higashiyama's hold on the emperor, either by freeing or by killing him. The family clan replaced Shigure Higashiyama with a temporary ruler to quell the instability arising in the country, called the Jade Regent, who was, however, quite unpopular.

Government

The cities, provinces, and regions of Minkai

Minkai consists of eight provinces each ruled by an imperial governor who is responsible for ensuring the emperor's rule is upheld. The provinces grew from the influence on the hinterland of the major cities of the country; each province is named after its city, and the city is its capital and seat of power. Additionally, there are three regions of Minkai which are more independent and fall outside of the sway of an imperial governor. The cities, provinces, and regions of Minkai, then, are as follows:

The eight cities with provinces

• Akafuto and Mizumori Province
• Enganoka and Hosekikozan Province
• Hiyosai and Dokaigan Province
• Kasai, the capital of all Minkai and Chushin Province
• Oda and Kokuso Province
• Sakakabe and Sankyōdai Province
• Shogokabe and Hofunawan Province
• Wanshi and Hogosareta Province

Three regions

• Ikkaku Peninsula
• Osogen Grasslands
• Higashita Coast

Geography

Minkai is relatively isolated from the rest of Tian Xia, its only neighboring land is the Forest of Spirits, its kami inhabitants uninterested in conquest. To the east stretches the vast Okaiyo Ocean while to the west the Xidao Gulf separates Minkai from the rest of Tian Xia. Minkai has a surprisingly strong link with the distant continent of Avistan thanks to the Path of Aganhei, a trade route that leads across the Crown of the World.

Inhabitants

The most numerous inhabitants of Minkai are Tian-Min humans, who call the islands of Minkai their ancestral homeland. Tian-Min culture and Minkain culture are so closely linked as to be effectively inseparable, and both place a strong emphasis on honour and respect. Takatengu also live amongst Minkai's rugged mountain chains, such as Kamifushi, Kyojin, and Sankyodai Mountains at Minkai's heart. This tengu culture is unique to Minkai and renowned for devoting incredible focus to specific aspects of life. As such, they count among their number some of the greatest warriors and swordsmiths that Golarion has ever seen.

Religion

See also: Category:Minkai deities

The deities of Minkai include the goddess Shizuru, from whom former Emperor Shigure claims descent. The people of Minkai worship a large pantheon of deities, the most popular deities worshipped include: the fertility goddess Daikitsu; Desna, goddess of the north star; Fumeiyoshi, Lord of Envy; General Susumu, the Black Daimyo; Hei Feng, Duke of Thunder; Irori, the Enlightened One; Shelyn, the Lady of Chrysanthemums; Tsukiyo, Prince of the Moon and Yamatsumi, the Mountain Lord.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.