Dai'long
Originating on the island chain off the coast of the Chugoku mainland. This demographic was isolated for most of history. As such, they have highly ridged ideas about honor, obligation, and warfare. Since being brought under Chugoku's control, they have assimilated up to a point, but they are still among those most preoccupied with etiquette and social standing.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
All members of this demographic are taught to speak Dai'go, the language used through out the island chain prior to joining Chugoku. Dai'go is highly focused on social standing and familiarity and the longer it takes one to say something, the more polite the phrases is.
Shared customary codes and values
- Harmony: The most central value, aiming to avoid conflict and maintain balance within the community.
- Respect for hierarchy: Recognizing and respecting social status, including age and position within a group.
- Loyalty: Strong devotion to one's family, community, and superiors.
- Self-discipline: Emphasis on personal effort and striving to achieve one's best.
- Cleanliness and purity: Influenced by Shi'ism beliefs, promoting a focus on hygiene and ritualistic practices.
- Endurance: The ability to persevere through hardship and discomfort.
- Effort: Valuing hard work and striving to do one's best.
Common Etiquette rules
- Bowing: A sign of respect, humility, gratitude, or apology. The depth of the bow depends on the situation, with deeper bows being used in more formal settings.
- Chopstick manners: Chopsticks are used to eat most Dai'long cuisine and there are many guidelines about what not to do while eating.
- Avoid walking while eating: Eating while walking is considered a social taboo
- Avoid drawing attention to yourself: Blowing your nose in public, dominating the conversation, or talking loudly are considered impolite.
- Dress conservatively: The dress code is generally conservative and women are discouraged from showing cleavage.
- Hygiene: Dai'long people are obsessed with purity and cleanliness, because of this they take off their shoes when entering someone's house and take a bath almost every day.
Common Dress code
The traditional dress code of both sexes of the Dai'long is the kimono, a wrapped-front garment with large sleeves and a rectangular body. Kimono are often worn with a wide belt called an obi and worn long enough to cover the ankles.
Foods & Cuisine
Originating in from an island chain, their cuisine is based around fish and usually includes white rice.
Common Taboos
- Pointing chopsticks at someone,
- sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl (associated with funeral rituals)
- passing food directly from chopsticks to chopsticks
- not using the opposite end of chopsticks when serving from a communal dish
- generally avoiding the number four which sounds similar to the word for "death" in Dai'go ("shi")
- generally avoiding the number 7 which sounds similar to the phrase "bloody death" in Dai'go ("Shichi")
- Eating while walking
- Littering or damaging property
- Speaking too loudly in public and dominating the conversation
- No public displays of affection
Common Myths and Legends
They believe that the Father of Light and Mother of Shadows were a romantic couple at the beginning of time and it was only when the Father of Light showed preference toward their creations over her that the Mother of Shadows took to opening magical portals in an attempt to find a new paramour who would love her above all else.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Their beauty standards for women typically prioritize pale, flawless skin, a slim figure, large eyes with double eyelids, long straight black hair, and a refined, delicate appearance, often emphasizing a "natural" look achieved through meticulous skincare and subtle makeup.
Men are also expected to have flawless skin and a slim figure, but there is more emphasis put on their muscle definition.
Gender Ideals
The households of Dai'long are relatively conservative and group-oriented. In their assignments of tasks, social expectations can exert powerful pressure to conform to traditional patterns of behavior. This includes gender norms, which have long been based around the common stereotypes of men as breadwinners and protectors and women as homemakers and caregivers. However, there have been times when women have taken up arms to protect their families and so, it is not unheard of to meet female warriors, but they are much less common than their male counterparts.
Courtship Ideals
Men and women would exchange letters and poetry as a means of flirting. They were not allowed to be alone together until after the wedding ceremony. Most matches were made between families and in the modern era, women are encouraged to marry someone from the Pan'long tribal group. While men are encouraged to bring home a Shen'long woman. It is thought that the differences in the tribes will over time even out such that they are all one people. But for now, the Pan'long have the best warriors and the Shen'long artisans and educators are seen as raising more desirable families.
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