Chinshi

Structure

The organization is split into orders, based out of monasteries located throughout Maplenan. The orders collaborate and communicate amongst each other, but there is no real permanent structure. Most monasteries have similar setups, but with different focuses. There is no distinction made for gender in any of the roles.

Monastic structure

• Yuta: The head of each order, whose responsibilities are maintaining the wellbeing of all members. They are not required to be the most "holy" member of the order, but having the best leadership and organizational abilities.
• Oshou: The head monks of religious matters. They lead all religious customs, rituals, and prayers. They are talented scribes and control communication.
• Heijou: The workers and religious helpers at the monasteries. They often travel, help with tasks, tend to crops, and do maintenance.

The monastic order is not setup where those of the lower orders must give blind obedience to those of higher orders. A culture of debate is eminent and people are followed out of respect over obedience.

Culture

They have a culture of self-reliance on a community level, making the orders largely cenobitic movements. Everything should be completed from within. Monastic life varies depending on the sect and order, often influenced by local climate, customs and traditions. Where eremetism exists, it is far from the norm for followers of Chinshi. The goal of the monastic lifestyle is to create focus rather than deprivation. It is meant to bring a follower closer to Minchange and connect themselves to the natural and spiritual realms. 
The Heijou often travel away from their order in order to spread the teachings of Chinshi. 
Fasting is done during the day, and all monks only eat when the first wake, and prior to sleeping. While this is strictly followed in monastaries, followers are never asked to put fasting over their own health. Thus those who are sick and weak do not always follow this rule. 
The Yuta is an elected position, generally voted on by members of a monastery, or if the monastery is serving a larger community, by the community itself. The Yuta guides the community to prosperity. They assign people to roles that they feel will best serve their community. 
Members of the monastic order are expected to be celibate. If they choose to forgo this, they are removed from the order. However, this does not mean they are removed from the community, they simply lose their status as a monk.

Rituals and Prayers

Rituals at the monasteries

Monks get up at first light to prepare a communal breakfast

People going to work come to the meal to join in prayers and shitty food

Eat, pray and leave

On the road as a pilgrim, try to recreate the morning ritual, but more of a campfire gathering / prayer / devolves into stories sometimes

At a holy site, you bring something of your community and give a public prayer of why it matters (eg small trinket, or other things by your means)

Holy Sites

The most important holy sites of Chinshi are the eight original monasteries along the Murushike Road. These were founded by Great Prophet Harunge and his followers while they spread their religion across the empire. The westernmost and easternmost monasteries were built after the journey was completed, to mark the beginning and the end. The other six were founded during the journey by original followers of Harunge that he designated to stay behind and spread their beliefs. These eight in order from west to east are:

Apostle Shiruu - Shiruumi (White Mountain)

Apostle Koshoku - Koshoku no Jijo (Red Cleansing)

Has the famous Fur Coat of the Follower relic

Apostle Chiiruu - Tidaruu (Yellow Sun)

Temple that's famous for its brilliant lighting displays and tricks

Apostle Midori - Midoruti (Green Life)

Holy site of the Eternal Flowers

Apostle Shia - Shiamano (Cyan Surface)

First converted city w/ giant fancy temple

Apostle Ao - Ashinbu (Blue Depths)

Holy Relic of Ao's remains

Apostle Sekishishoku - Sejiko (Magenta Self)

Holy Relic of Harunge's drinking vessel

Apostle Hingu - Hinguubi (Black Sea)

There are many other important locations are relics across the empire. An incomplete list is:

Monument on the border of the capital and the province to the west to memorialize the conflict that Harunge peacefully resolved

Sacred Cliff where sunrises are spectacular on the east, chasing away the darkness

Sunset over the ocean in the west where the last light fades, pray for safety in the dark

A monument in the capital to memorialize the conversion of the capital

Mythology & Lore

Minchange, the protecting force of the Chinshi religion, existed in a separate plane of existence. There existed a dualism of darkness and light, each existing on their own, with no interference. A battle ends up taking place, started by the Realm of Light after the demon Ashkkin tricks the Builder of Light into creating a pathway between their realms, and steals the second son of Minchange, the spirit of Aether. The events of the battle that followed are unknown, but some being in the Realm of Light became corrupted and fell to Malplenan. 
After much loss, a truce was called, and the bridge between realms was destroyed and a pledge was made to never enter the realm of the other. However, much bitterness remained. The being that fell to Malplenan became the subject of manipulation by both realms. Minchange sent down the spirit of the great prophet, and his last son, Harunge to guide the first being of Malplenan. Dark forces send the demon of Temptation down and copulates with the first being, reproducing and creating the many species of Malplenan. The species are filled with both some of the original light and void of the two realms, and are dualistic in nature. 
Failing at his task, Harunge returns to the Realm of Light for thousands of years, only to return as Harunge the Prophet in 376 BE.

Divine Origins

The Great Prophet Harunge appeared as a full-grown Fisa in the rural reaches of the Majun Majun Empire. He made claims to be the last son of the true god of Malplenan, Minchange. He told everyone that they had the original light of heavens inside of them but he also saw that they were also afflicted by the corrupting tempations brought on by the Realm of Darkness. Everyone needed to harness the light inside them and spread the force to beat back the corrupting temptations. He preached leaving behind excesses and leading a simple life focussed on communal living in order to connect people to a greater cause than their own livelihood. The message was popular and quickly spread throughout the empire, and his followers saw rapid growth. A few short years after appearing, he disappeared, after telling his closest followers that he was to return to his Father. 
Monastaries dedicated to his teachings sprang up in the following decades, and became a way of life for many people in the Majun Majun Empire. The religion eventually spread throughout much of Malplenan, as it's simple message was easily digested by those looking for a fresh start. Fourth or fifth childs in noble families would often get send to these orders. Children of failing farmers, refugees of war, and orphans were often recruited as well.

Tenets of Faith

Do not cause harm to others unless out of defence of self or community.

Do not lie or mislead.

Do not defile the body as it is created by the light of heaven.

Do not lay with one you are not committed to.

Do not commit usury.

Ethics

Universal rules of monkhood

1. Be celibate.
2. No making remarks or contact of a sexual nature towards members of the opposite sex.
3. Work towards the interests of your order and community at all times.
4. Observe fasting when possible. 
5. Do not steal or keep wealth for yourself.
6. Never kill, unless directly threatened with violence. Assassinations are strictly forbidden. 
7. Lying is not permitted.
8. No plotting against other monks based on personal jealousies or arguments. 
9. Ignoring advice or criticism from the order's judgements.

There are many rules related to these that differ based on each order. Many are about the possession of forbidden goods, petty arguments between members of the order of the larger community, not performing duties, missing training,

Founding Date

376 BE

Demonym

Chinshese

Deities

• Minchange