Fojiao

Fojiao (Pronounced foe-JOW) is the last of the three major philosophies to come out of the Wood Elven culture and also chronologically the most recent, though still emerging from the same time period as the other two. Its founder was an elven noble born of a political marriage between the Wood and High Elven kingdoms named Hikaru Tenrinō.

When he was born, a great shaman was brought in to read his fate. Possessing a birth mark in the shape of a spoked wheel, the shaman prophesied that the boy would grow either to be a great, world-straddling ruler should he avoid witnessing suffering until the age of 30, or otherwise a great ascetic and religious teacher. Desiring him to become a ruler, his parents hid him away in the palace of Takasaki where he would only ever experience pleasure.

All went according to plan for the first 20 years of his life, and seemed very likely to continue were it not for the actions of a disgruntled steward of Hikaru's father. Having his title stripped of him, the man sought revenge by taking the boy hostage and threatening to kill him unless he was given a large sum of money. Though frightened at first, Hikaru began talking with the man holding him hostage, learning that the man was doing this because he had no other way to feed his starving family. After a day had passed, Hikaru had talked the man down, as well as convincing his father to let the man go unpunished. Nonetheless, the damage had been done, and Hikaru slipped away from the palace one night to learn about the world denied to him.

His quest brought him face-to-face with death, starvation, and disease, but so too did it bring him to sages and philosophers. None, however, quenched his desire for an answer to suffering. His travels eventually took him to Enjuzan, the tallest mountain in Wodaichi. It was there that he wandered up the mountain with only a cloak of yak fur and several days rations and vowed not to come down until he had surpassed suffering. Miraculously, these rations lasted him an entire year. On the final day when they were to run out, he instantly saw the nature of suffering and how it was to be overcome.

He swiftly recruited a following of some twelve devotees - including his former sage teachers - who spread the teachings of Fojiao throughout Wodaichi and eventually into the EHD, being welcomed by both peasant and ruler alike. Never writing his teachings down, it was said that when he spoke, all listening heard what they most needed to hear. Because of this, all twelve of his original disciples would go on to teach a different variation of Hikaru's teachings, with some lineages lost to the sands of time. Ultimately, all lineages are said to lead back to the original teachings.

The belief system of Fojiao is deliberately difficult to put into words, as the teachings are said to transcend linguistics. Across lineages, however, certain soteriological themes tend to emerge. Abstention from sources of desire, and a detachment from sources of suffering, as well as insight into these two phenomenon of the mind are all considered indispensable in achieving liberation from suffering. These aims are achieved through meditative absorption and increased powers of concentration until they are perfected.

In modern times, Fojiao constitutes the majority religion in High Elven Shoujinkoku. Its success is likely owed to ascetic traditions that predated Fojiao, as well as the naturalness with which the religion takes to the Elven problem of eternal ennui, despite supposedly being a balm for the suffering of all sentient beings. Outside of Shoujinkoku, Fojiao is the second most popular philosophy and religion amongst the Wood Elves, and religious representatives have been sent and received warmly by some steppe tribes due to Fojiao's flexibility with regards to native religion. Some few esoteric circles of Fojiao exist in the EHD.

Players who select a Fojiao school of thought are encouraged to pay close attention to concentrate on the alleviation of suffering, both for themselves and for others. Powers of concentration and the mind, as well as their cultivation through meditative practice, are part and parcel with Fojiao. When possible, temperance and humility also play a large role in the decisions of a follower of Fojiao.

Way of the Celestial Land
Alignment: Neutral Good

Domains: Divine, Light, and Protection

The Way of the Celestial Land lineage of Fojiao asserts the primacy of obeisance to the salvific figure of Hikaru Tenrinō. It espouses the belief that devotion and worship - especially the recitation and memorization of teachings and kowtowing before icons of Hikaru - will result in a rebirth in the celestial lands, whereupon one may receive the final teachings of the path at the feet of Hikaru himself. Having both the lowest barrier of entry and the closest tie between lay and monastic communities, the Way of the Celestial Land lineage is far and away the most popular of the lineages among the High Elves, with nearly 3/4ths of all followers of Fojiao being some variation of adherent to this lineage, lay or monastic.

Way of Meditation
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Domains: War, Protection, and Order

Where the Way of Meditation lineage lacks in popular support, it makes up for in the power of its followers. Long the lineage of choice of warriors and military rulers for its sparsity, orderliness, and the promise of mental-enhancement from its meditative practices, it has also had by far the most effect on High Elven art and aesthetics due to the patronage of these followers. It emphasizes meditation and the cultivation of mental acuity and powers of concentration. Though most of its martial adherents tend to be happy enough with the performance-enhancing effects of meditation, it nonetheless has a robust and centralized monastic order which focuses on the use of these techniques to achieve liberation from suffering.

Way of the Diamond
Alignment: True Neutral

Domains: Arcana, Knowledge, and Grave

The Way of the Diamond is the esoteric lineage of Fojiao, and the one that emphasizes its arcane and magical nature. Something of a fusion with Fangshi techniques and native Draconic notions of "qi" or fundamental life energy, the Way of the Diamond uses complex magic rituals and mantras to harness qi and bend it to their will to expedite their practice. Because of its complexity and secrecy it is by far the least common lineage, and the only one that does not engage in active proselytizing. It is also the most popular lineage in the EHD, and many branches of its secret societies exist in the metropolises of the Empire.

Way of the Ascetic
Alignment: Neutral Good

Domains: Nature, Tempest, and Virtue

The Way of the Ascetic lineage of Fojiao seeks to in some sense recreate the personal journey of Hikaru. Followers practice feats of asceticism that increase with their experience, occasionally to the extremes of self-mutilation and live mummification, but usually only to the extent of fasting and religious hermitage. Through superlative self-denial followers hope to access higher realms of consciousness, detachment from the flesh, and spiritual attainment. While not an especially popular path, it continues to inspire both renewed zealotry at its impressive feats, as well as a great deal of religious patronage, as both ruler and subjects find the presence of a monk of this lineage to be auspicious and a portent of coming prosperity.

Way of the Void
Alignment: Neutral Evil

Domains: Trickery, Death, and Night

One less-discussed aspect of Fojiao is its notion of "voidness," or a non-discriminatory, non-dualistic perception of the world at its higher levels of attainment. Followers of the Way of the Void emphasize not only this voidness, but also how it applies to life and death. Interpretations within the lineage vary, with some taking this non-dualistic view and using it to cultivate limitless compassion, and others - with which the lineage is more commonly associated - using it to justify their nihilism. Followers of the Way of the Void can as often be dispassionately cruel as they can be kind. The universe they perceive is simply a very, very different one from most.

Lay Path
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Domains: City, Forge, and Luck

The alternative to a monastic path is the lay path. Specifically, the path refers to an attempt to liberate oneself from suffering unguided by any teacher, as opposed to the lay people who follow the religion and worship at a temple. The rules and methods they use may be scrounged from various literary materials or hearsay, or might be nothing at all, or an entirely new method that injects spirituality into a hobby or skill. Because this is a loose term applied to a population disparate and unorganized by definition, it is difficult to explicitly characterize, and some self-practices will be much more effectual than others. Even though the lay path is not necessarily frowned upon by other practitioners of Fojiao, it is viewed with some suspicion until the lay follower demonstrates their dedication and the depths of their practice.