Jianro
The Jianro are humans who come from the Whispering Madness. Oral tradition holds that they migrated from a 'land beyond the sea' and were taken in by the swamp, and ancient Elvish records do speak of a warrior race of men who came by land bridge thousands of years ago. They are short as far as humans go, with black, dark green, or white hair. Eye colors seem to always be shades of green on the darker side, often described as 'muddy'. Their skin tends to lean towards a khaki. Albinism is common.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Lin, Aki, Bulun, Phim, Zili
Masculine names
Bao, Cheng, Fang, Xi, Zhao
Unisex names
Li is the most common name among Jianro, and can be used for either men or women.
Family names
Upon marriage, Jianro tend to choose a new family name for themselves. Traditional examples include Myeung, Sauk, Haji, and Tan. Other families name themselves after a trade, or a location, or even a personal hero.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Jianro speak Xienga, the Sword Tongue. Xienga is split into fourteen distinct dialects that have developed in different regions of the Whispering Madness. Priests of the Wutantana speak Kelbo, the language of the elves of the same name, in religious ceremonies.
Shared customary codes and values
The Jianro are considered strange and alien even by fellow Imperial citizens. They have an almost instinctive respect for the swamp they originate from, and treat swords with a bizarre reverence. Jianro that were raised in the Whispering Madness almost always share a paranoid distrust of outsiders.
Common Etiquette rules
Most Jianro etiquette revolves around eating. A common saying is 'a meal is shared in the soul', and this attitude shows in their meal customs. Food is shared or at least offered to the others at the table, and serving oneself is considered rude or selfish. Hands and face must always be washed before eating.
Holy men of any religion are treated with respect for fear of divine retribution, often going so far as to step aside on the road to let them pass. If one drops a sword, they should kiss it.
Common Dress code
Jianro favor loose silk pants and robes. Conical hats are worn to protect the face and hair from the weeping trees of the swamp. Wooden sandals are worn with a special weave to avoid sinking into the swamp muck. Priests wear colorful sashes that tie their swords to their belts.
Art & Architecture
The Jianro perfected the art of growing buildings out of living plants, often shaped in a pointed cone style, but squat and always one story. Jianro art favors human subjects in fantastical natural environments.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Jianro tend to favor defined, but not exaggerated muscles. Erotic or romantic literature often describes protagonists as having intricate braids, lean muscle, and delicate hands.
Gender Ideals
Jianro women are traditionally expected to be tradespeople, while men are hunters and farmers. Warriors are of their own, religious caste and made up equally of men and women.
Courtship Ideals
Romance and courtship among the Jianro is heavily reflected in their literature and art. Young people are typically bold in pursuing a potential partner, and the interested party is supposed to bring a potential partner on interesting and novel dates. Those engaged to be married wear matching bracelets, and married couples weave the engagement bracelets into their hair braids.
Relationship Ideals
Generally speaking, both partners in a relationship are expected to have equal responsibility in all domestic matters. Divorce is considered shameful, and couples strive to present a 'perfect family' to the outside world.
Parent ethnicities
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Myths
Related Locations
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