Hotei Temple: The Budaideshi

Monastery: Hotei Temple
Element: Light
Orientation: Good
Resident Classes: Monk, Votary (Hotei), Reverend, Clerk, Scholastic Sage, Sohei, Sifu
Location: Budhoti Island, Empire of the Carp
Founder: The Golden Stranger
Affiliations/Alliances: is revered by most Light monastic groups, highly respected by the Carp Empress and all Good shoguns within the Empire of the Carp, head of monastery is considered governor of Budhoti Island

Culture

Like most O13 monasteries, Hotei temple's traditions were founded in ancient proto-Shou culture, and like several of them, it was influenced by the Indric religion during the Serene Kingdom period. However, it has evolved into the most distinctly Pinnoan of the O13, as reflected not only in its etiquette, but also in its myths. Shou, Pinnoan, and Indric names for gods are used interchangeably. Pinwa is the common tongue of the whole island, but literacy in ancient Showa is required to study most subjects. Students, whose native tongues are mostly Pinwa, Showa, or Pinoshowa, often speak Pinoshowa in the dorms.

History

Hotei temple was founded when the Gold Stranger came to an island convent that had just been raided by wokou and taught the nuns how to fortify their refuge and defend themselves from assailants. The order soon expanded its membership to find roles in the hierarchy for the rest of the islanders and by the next raiding season, the island was able to repel the wokou. Over the next 12 years, the Gold Stranger oversaw the expansion of the cloister into a large fortified complex and the establishment of a warrior training program. As her final instruction before departing this world, the Gold Stranger had the island nuns confer with the heads of the other Original 13 monasteries and agree to a plan for establishing peace in the region. It was at this conference that the monasteries agreed to the boundaries of their parishes and named acceptable warlords and princes who could be trust to govern these territories in the interests of the monks. This gave birth to the Serene Kingdom system that maintained peace in Shoulun for 4000 years until the rise of the Dragon Empire shattered it. Hotei temple was never called on to defend itself from the Emperor, as he stopped his expansion at the coastline and left the islands alone.
The Serene Kingdom of the Carp, home to Hotei Temple, eventually evolved into the Empire of the Carp as it absorbed more islands and periodically established mainland footholds. The monastery lost its power to appoint monarchs after the collapse of the Serene Kingdom system, but has always been revered within the empire and has traditionally been called upon to give its blessing to each new empress.

Education

Common Script: Showee
Common Tongue: Pinwa
Liturgical Script: Dwarvish
Liturgical Tongue: Angelic
Other Languages Taught: Showa, Pinnoshowa, Luciferian
Sage Topics: Calligraphy, Botany, Physics, Metaphysics, Theology, Religious Rites, Geology, Astronomy, Mathematics, Geometry, Numerology, Astrology, Cryptology, Massage
Martial Arts: Light Touch, Light Temple Style, Adimurai, Zhao Yang Quan, Old Neijing, Kyumichi, Olden Striking, Aikibudo, Bojutsu, Hanbojutsu, Jodo, Juttejutsu, Kenjutsu, Kyujutsu, Naginatajutsu, Sojutsu, Tantojutsu
Elemental Mastery: Light, Spirit, Air
Weapons: Guidestaff, Cane, Monk's Cudgel, Spear, Longspear, Jian, Temple Broadsword, Temple Greatsword, Tachi, Emeici, Scholar's Pens, Ji, Fang Tien Ji, Glaive, Kwandao, Rope Dart, Chain Whip, Bo, Sai, Hankyu, Daikyu, Gunbai, Knife, Swordbreaker, Jitte, Jo, Bokuto, Hanbo, Katana, Tambo, Club, Wakizashi, Naginata, Nodachi, Dart
Apprenticeships: Martialist, Purist, Scholar
Classes Trained: Monk, Votary, Reverend, Samurai, Onna-Bugeisha, Fighter, Bushi, Kensai, Illusionist, Shukenja, Sea Shepherd, Guru

Mythology & Lore

The following deities are revered at Hotei Temple: 

Hotei (Budai), god of light
Amaterasu, goddess of the sun
Tsukiyomi, god of the moon
Jurojin, god of the south star
Marishi, goddess of the north star
Raiden, god of lightning
Uzume, goddess of happiness

Founding Date

12,000 AB