Hanshin (hahn-sheen)
“The Emperor and Empress are honored not due just for their place as children of the highest gods but for being embodiments of the Six Virtues of the Supreme Being. To be descended from a divine being is truly worthy of great honor and pride. However, one must not be revered for this alone. Like Their Imperial Majesties, even a child of the gods must strive to be upright in all their thoughts and actions. Even a divine being must strive to be a Supreme Being lest he become more akin to a demon to those around him.”
Sage, Tong Zhao-sa
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
As in the case with the family names, the given names of the Hanshin will most often take the forms of their mortal parent. Whatever those may be. Girls will be named according to the naming conventions of the mortal parent. If the spirit parent was also female, she may be given a name which invokes her spirit mother in some way. Whether that's a syllable of their name or something which evokes her mother's spiritual nature is usually left up to the mortal.
Masculine names
Just as with feminine names, male given names will most often take the forms of the mortal parent. Boys will be named according to their conventions. If the spirit parent was also male, he may be given a name which invokes his spirit father in some way. Whether that's a syllable of his name or something which evokes the father's spiritual nature is usually left up to the mortal.
Unisex names
These are simply given names and follow the same naming conventions as the mortal parent.
Family names
Being descended from spirits, most Hanshin take the family names of their mortal parent. Spirits simply are what they are and very rarely have any sort of family name to differentiate them from other spirits. In rare instances of the types of spirits which group together, a clan name may be used. However, most often it is the case that the child takes whatever family name their mortal parents uses. In the case of unclaimed children, they may use their spirit parent's nature as their family name if it is known. For instance, in the case of a child of a thunder spirit the child might use Raiko or Shan as their family name.
Other names
Any other nicknames, pen names, art names, etc., will indubitably follow the same conventions as to whichever mortal group the Hanshin belongs.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Hanshin are always going to speak the language of the society in which they were raised. Due to the more common nature of human-born Hanshin, the most common languages spoken by them are either Dayangyu or Daiingo.
Culture and cultural heritage
Again, there is no overarching culture of the Hanshin, as a whole. Each spirit-born is an individual and will be heavily influenced by the culture in which they were raised.
Shared customary codes and values
While many of the mortal races have a deep respect, born of awe or fear, of the denizens of the Shinkai, the children of those spirits hold more of a longing or love for the spirit world. This may be a result of pining for a largely absentee parent, or simply a feeling of being incomplete or alone. These feelings can often result in a fervent devotion to the sacred and unspoiled, natural spaces of the world, or a reverence for some aspect of their spiritual parent. Such as a jorogumo's daughter having a devotion to spiders or the offspring of a kagegami revering the darkness and shadows.
With the exceptions of the, admittedly very rare instances of tsukumogami children, one-and-all Hanshin have a near-religious devotion to the natural world and the idea of keeping it healthy and unspoiled. Even beyond what the typical citizen of the empire demonstrates. For these children, the natural world doesn't just physically embody the Shinkai, it physically embodies the parents, and possible family, they may never get the chance to know. So they devote themselves to it in lieu of that missing parent. Possibly hoping to fill that missing part of themselves.
With the exceptions of the, admittedly very rare instances of tsukumogami children, one-and-all Hanshin have a near-religious devotion to the natural world and the idea of keeping it healthy and unspoiled. Even beyond what the typical citizen of the empire demonstrates. For these children, the natural world doesn't just physically embody the Shinkai, it physically embodies the parents, and possible family, they may never get the chance to know. So they devote themselves to it in lieu of that missing parent. Possibly hoping to fill that missing part of themselves.
Common Etiquette rules
Again, the etiquette practiced by the Hanshin will be a reflection of the society they were brought up in. If they were brought up among the Kawayosei, then their etiquette will be a mirror of the river elves'. If they were brought up among the Dayang humans, they will practice that etiquette. In the, again, incredibly rare instances a half-spirit child is brought up within one of the spirit courts, their etiquette would likely be that of the ancient warrior courts from before the Kami Daisenso, and their mannersims would be looked upon by the general populace as quite strange and outdated.
Common Dress code
The style of clothing the Hanshin wear, like everything else, will follow the social norms of the group of people they've been raised among.
Art & Architecture
While the Hanshin have no true styles of art or architecture to call their own, they will often modify the predominant style of dwellings by adding their own, personal, aesthetics to the interiors and exteriors. Since so many of them are devoted to nature, many of their dwellings natural details in the art, furnishings, or design of their spaces.
The art and writings of the Hanshin often feature loneliness, longing, and their deep reverence for the natural world.
The art and writings of the Hanshin often feature loneliness, longing, and their deep reverence for the natural world.
Foods & Cuisine
In general, the foods the Hanshin eat will be a reflection of their mortal society. However, their spiritual parentage can also heavily influence the types of food that any, particular spirit-born will enjoy. The daughter of a wolf-spirit, for instance, will crave meat. The rarer, the better. While the son of a peach-spirit may not be able to digest proteins at all.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The customs and traditions of each Hanshin are influenced by their society. While individual half-spirits may have a sort of spiritual ban they've inherited from their spirit parent, their overal customs will mirror their mortal parent's. Each spiritual ban, however, is unique to the individual Hanshin and does not conform to any overall tradition or custom practiced by each, and every, spiritborn.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
While, like everything else, the overall pregnancy and birth rites will fall within the culture they were raised in, there are some, small caveats that can be observed. Though there are circumstances which can result in a young mother or father being disowned by their families, among the empire, many Hanshin births, themselves, are looked upon as particularly auspicious. A blessing from the local spirits or gods among which they reside. These general, common circumstances among their births can result in some general commonalities among the rituals.
Among those who are disowned for birthing a Hanshin child, their children tend to be born in a temple of one form or another and will be brought into the world using the rituals of the particular faith to which said temples belong. One of the commonalities which are in every birth chamber, regardless of the reception the child receives is that the trappings of their spiritual parentage, those things to which they are spiritually aligned, are always present in the birth chamber if they are known. Things such as a pool of water, a firepot under the birthing bed, near complete darkness, etc., do much to help ease the delivery of a Hanshin child.
In the case of the Hanshin, themselves, giving birth, their own pregnancy rites are not much different. They will typically follow whatever traditions their society follows with the added accoutrements of objects and elements which align to their own spiritual nature. What worked for their own mothers, often works for them, after all.
Among those who are disowned for birthing a Hanshin child, their children tend to be born in a temple of one form or another and will be brought into the world using the rituals of the particular faith to which said temples belong. One of the commonalities which are in every birth chamber, regardless of the reception the child receives is that the trappings of their spiritual parentage, those things to which they are spiritually aligned, are always present in the birth chamber if they are known. Things such as a pool of water, a firepot under the birthing bed, near complete darkness, etc., do much to help ease the delivery of a Hanshin child.
In the case of the Hanshin, themselves, giving birth, their own pregnancy rites are not much different. They will typically follow whatever traditions their society follows with the added accoutrements of objects and elements which align to their own spiritual nature. What worked for their own mothers, often works for them, after all.
Coming of Age Rites
Hanshin typically come into their full, spiritual power between the ages of fifteen and twenty. While they may have some sporadic abilities beforehand, this is usually when the full suite of abilities and control begin to manifest. While this isn't a ritual, it does mark the young spirit-born's entrance into adulthood.
The actual coming of age rites, however, may come after this more momentous occasion in the young one's life. These rites will typically follow the rites prescribed within their mortal parent's own culture.
The actual coming of age rites, however, may come after this more momentous occasion in the young one's life. These rites will typically follow the rites prescribed within their mortal parent's own culture.
Funerary and Memorial customs
While the stasis period for any Hanshin typically begins around adulthood, and they can live upwards of five centuries themselves, they do still eventually age and die like any other mortal. When this happens, the funeral customs followed will typically follow those practiced by the culture in which they were raised.
Common Taboos
On top of the culturally significant taboos which they often follow, Hanshin also have a spiritual ban which can curb or influence certain behaviors. These bans typically relate to their spiritual nature. Whether that's elemental nature of a beast, plant, or mountain spirit, or, perhaps, one of their spirit parent's duties as a local god, their ban will be either a restriction placed upon them, or a certain behavior or action they must perform based upon their spiritual nature.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The beauty ideals of the Hanshin tend to follow the same in-group model as the mortal group they belong to. However, often being outsiders, themselves, they may find themselves with beauty ideals which slightly differ from the rest of their peers. A child descended from some form of canine spirit (or other animal with a strong sense of smell), may find certain smells either alluring or repulsive entirely independent of a person's attractiveness in regards to the general beauty standards of their race or ethnic group.
Gender Ideals
This is something which is greatly dependent on how the Hanshin was raised. Since most Hanshin are raised by their mortal parent, given the difficulty spirits often have with remaining outside their own world. Therefore, like with so many other things in their lives, their views on gender roles are heavily influenced by the society in which their mortal parent lives. This general trend holds true unless the spirit parent has some influence over the child and their views on gender ideals are wildly different than the mortal's.
Courtship Ideals
By cause of the fact that spirits often don't have their own traditions outside of those practiced by mortals, themselves, the courtship practices of any Hanshin is invariably going to be those practiced by their mortal parent. Many traditions, such as courtship, practiced by the various spirit courts are most often going to be anachronistic, ancient rituals, no longer practiced by any people.
Relationship Ideals
This is much the same trend as described in the gender ideals section. This ideal is going to be heavily influenced by the society in which the mortal parent is born.
Hanshin Traits
Each of the archetypes under this particular entry is special and should be figured out on a case-by-case basis between the GM and the player. Those descended from dragons are the least variable, so will be listed below. As well, one of the other, more unique, variants shall be detailed beneath that. Use it as a template when creating Hanshin descended from kami, akuma, oni, yokai, or any other type of spirit which pleases you.
Starting Face: +2
Starting Qi: +3
Dragon Hanshin Traits
Starting Attributes - +2 Power, +1 Elegance.
Alignment - Dragon hanshin are drawn toward the same alignment as their dragon ancestry: Yin for Metal or Water, Yang for Fire or Wood, & Balance for Earth.
Blood of Dragons - gains the breath weapon and resistance to the element associated with the dragon ancestor. Dragon colors and elements are as follows: Black dragon is associated with Water and
the North and has Ice as its breath weapon. The Blue dragon is associated with the East and Wood and its
breath weapon is Poison. The Red dragon is associated with the South and Fire and its breath is Fire. The
White dragon is associated with the West and Metal and breathes Lightning. While the Yellow dragon is
associated with the Center and Earth and has Acid for its breath weapon.
Breath Weapon -
Elemental Resistance - gains +2 to Defense against attacks which align to draconic element.
Peach Spirit Hanshin Traits (Example)
Starting Attributes - +1 Patience, +2 Elegance.
Alignment - Hanshin are drawn toward the same alignment as their spirit ancestor.
Alluring Scent - +2 to Social Art - Sway with Adept in Seduction.
Momogami's Blood - +2 to Defense against status effect magics.
Kodama's Blessing - move through wooded areas without leaving a trace, always find food, never encounter danger.
Starting Face: +2
Starting Qi: +3
Dragon Hanshin Traits
Starting Attributes - +2 Power, +1 Elegance.
Alignment - Dragon hanshin are drawn toward the same alignment as their dragon ancestry: Yin for Metal or Water, Yang for Fire or Wood, & Balance for Earth.
Blood of Dragons - gains the breath weapon and resistance to the element associated with the dragon ancestor. Dragon colors and elements are as follows: Black dragon is associated with Water and
the North and has Ice as its breath weapon. The Blue dragon is associated with the East and Wood and its
breath weapon is Poison. The Red dragon is associated with the South and Fire and its breath is Fire. The
White dragon is associated with the West and Metal and breathes Lightning. While the Yellow dragon is
associated with the Center and Earth and has Acid for its breath weapon.
Breath Weapon -
Elemental Resistance - gains +2 to Defense against attacks which align to draconic element.
Peach Spirit Hanshin Traits (Example)
Starting Attributes - +1 Patience, +2 Elegance.
Alignment - Hanshin are drawn toward the same alignment as their spirit ancestor.
Alluring Scent - +2 to Social Art - Sway with Adept in Seduction.
Momogami's Blood - +2 to Defense against status effect magics.
Kodama's Blessing - move through wooded areas without leaving a trace, always find food, never encounter danger.
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