Celestial Bureau

All things which have been born before will be cross-examined by the Celestial Bureau again and again before being sent to their next bodies, unless they have attained enlightenment enough to leave entirely.

— Introduction to The Occult (1970)

Structure

The highest ranking title is the Yuhuang, or Jade Emperor, who oversees heaven, the waking world, and the dead world. The current holder is a man, though it is possible that a woman could take the role if no competent candidates existed among the present male deities.
Mazu, being an unusual case of an unmarried woman crowned as emperor, assumed the title of Nanyang Huangdi upon promotion. She was granted dominion over the sea.

Mythology & Lore

The world sprang from nothing, and then from that nothing, the primordial gods appeared without father or mother.

The first to appear were the three wise men, the World Tutors. They wrote the earliest codes of the world, the days and seasons. One of their students would become the first and current Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor then selected a slew of deities to help him oversee the world. Nuwa and Xuannu being among them.

Then Nuwa made people to raise more candidates for the officialdoms of heaven.

Divine Origins

Originated in China.

Cosmological Views

There are three realms interlinked with each other, heaven, earth, and hell. They contain celestials, mortals, and dead beings respectively.

These realms sprang from nothing without any guidance, they existed before sapient and sentient things came along.

Tenets of Faith

Religion is part and parcel of daily life, there is little need to pray once a week if you hold constant devotion in your heart.

Faith too shapes our history and mythology, but must never be a weapon to hurt others.

The divines after ascension still retain their former human natures, a reminder that anyone with enough faith and a great enough deed could become such; though it shouldn't be to the detriment of mortal life.

Ethics

Piety is shown by respect to one's family and elders, within reason.

It's a sin to romantically proposition any god except Xuannu because the entire pantheon gave up sensual love in order to function better.

Worship

Retelling stories about the ones who came before and those who ascended by great feats is the most common practice of this faith.

Priesthood

Occultists must spend several years in any temple to study magic and meditation in order to be ordained as a sorcerer.

In the current age they are mostly called on to conduct land surveys for luck and prayers for the dead.

Granted Divine Powers

As magic has become sealed after the industrial revolution, the only known powers held by celestial occultists are fortune-telling and clairvoyance. They can't throw elemental miracles any more.

Sects

Hokkiens elevate Mazu to the rank of Heavenly Deputy Empress due to her patronage of seafarers, ascribing the role of fertility alongside her normal role of guardian. The female title is used for convenience.

The main faith disregards her elevated rank but includes her as part of the pantheon.

Live well, pray well, act nobly

Type

Religious, Organised Religion

Alternative Names

Heavenly Empire

Demonym

Celestial

Permeated Organizations

• Xiyang Tangguo

Deities

• Mazu
• Nuwa