Hwasan

Hwasan ( 화산/华山), officially the Hwasense Empire ( 화산국; Hwasan-guk) is a in western Yedal. It borders Jihwa to the east and Nabei to the south-west.

Human habitation in the Hwasense lowlands dates back to the period. The region experienced several waves of human immigration primarily from northern Sinju. Records from Eastern Yoju mention the existence of several kingdoms in modern day Hwasan as early as the 6th century BCE. The three major kingdoms of Cheolsan, Hayanju, and Daegang would consolidate around the 1st century ACE, and would expand as inter-continental centers of trade. The lowlands would be formally united under the Song Dynasty in 310 ACE forming the Kingdom of Hwasan, which would exist as a tributary of Tianqi.

After the fall of Tianqi Hwasan would reorganize and expand, further centralizing and later focusing on colonial expansion. The Yellow Cap Revolution in 1090 would see the country develop a strong meritocratic tradition. Hwasanese trading companies would establish a highly successful global network of trading, effectively establishing strong presences in the market of. The Hwasense Empire would be invaded and occupied in the Eulhae War by Nukigurun, the country would be liberated by the Allied Powers on July 7th, 1940.

Hwasan is a with a sophisticated  and high. The nation's citizenry enjoys the opportunity of, , and one of the world's most open and free political processes. The country has four major urban hubs; the capital Gwangsu, Gongjeon, Cheolbu, and Anseong. Gwangsu is the nation's most populous city with a population of 4.3 million and is one of the busiest seaports in Yedal.

Ancient Hwasan
During this time period Hwasan, also known as the Three Kingdoms Period, the region of modern day Hwasan was divided intro three major kingdoms; Cheolsan, Hayanju, and Daegang. By 200 ACE the fortified settlement of Gwangsu on the western coast of Hayanju had became a crossroad of trade and cultural mingling between Yedal and Eastern Yoju. Around this time Buddhism was introduced to Hayanju and would achieve rapid popularity among the aristocracy. would have a significant impact on daily life and Hayanju would see an influx of Buddhist scholars and monastics travel to the state as advisers.

Cheolsan and Daegang would later adopt Buddhism as well, though synthesizing more syncretic philosophies and traditions from the imported teachings. Hayanju would become increasingly more dominant among its neighbors, being at the crossroads of trade between Sinju, Yedal, and Yoju. Increasing centralization and consolidation would occur as other powers on Yedal as well as growing expansionist empires in eastern Yoju became a more immediate threat.

The Treaty of 305 ACE would see Hayanju and Cheolsan united, Daegang would later be incorporated following the Spring War in 310 ACE. The Song Dynasty would arise as the preeminent noble clan among the Hwasense states in western Yedal, effectively controlling all of modern day Hwasan by its time of its incorporation into Tianqi.

Classical Hwasan
Having been unified under a singular dynasty the state began to further consolidate the various regions under its control. The emergent need for a more comprehensive state bureaucracy would lead to a number of socio-political changes which were influenced by Confucian ideas from mainland Sinju. Around 350 ACE Hwasan was formally incorporated into Tianqi as a tributary state. This is also the first verified written account of the name “Hwasan” (lit. flowering mountain) being utilized to refer to the kingdom.

Imperial Hwasan
In the aftermath of the disestablishment of Tianqi Hwasan would face the threat of two major invasions from expanding nomadic peoples in Eastern Yoju. After the failed Invasion of 895 ACE, a stronger centralized state would emerge headed by the Tianqian influenced Cheon Dynasty. The Cheon Dynasty carried over numerous systems introduced by Tianqi such as meritocratic government organization, a more complex government ranking systems for officials and members of the noble council, and government examinations. Emperor Geongyeung would formally declare the organisation of the Hwasanese Empire in 920 ACE in Gwangsu, and a year later to the Sinju Congress. Among the royal court of Geongyeung there would arise a strong tradition of scholasticism, with a primary focus on the preservation and adaption of philosophical, political, and historical texts imported from Tianqi.

The Taecheon Code was formulated in 960 ACE, presenting a number of reforms which further centralized political power around the imperial court and introduced a more sophisticated form of to help govern new territories of Hwasan. In 983 ACE the royal court would relocate to Taemusan, south of Gwangsu, moving the center of government power away from the more populated urban centers of the country. The recentering of the Hwasene state to the Taemusan would be characterized by the emergence of a strong literary tradition, patronage of the art, and advocacy for a syncreticism between and the traditional Hwasene faith Shingyo. Elements of Buddhism from Eastern Yoju would influence Hwasene Buddhism as well; resulting in the emergence of the Tonggae school of Buddhism as well as the mystic Hongje school of Buddhism.

The unpopular rule of Emperor Cheongae would result in the Yellow Cap Rebellion, which saw the Hwabaek rebel against the Emperor. The conflict between the noble council and the seat of the Emperor would result in the in the creation of the Jungchaek Code, which transferred more power to the council of nobles effectively forming a form of parliamentary monarchy. The Hong Dynasty would supplant the preceding Cheon following the rebellion. Under the Hong the Hongje school of Buddhism fell out of favor in the upper class, seeing a resugenance in traditional philosophy. The 13th and 14th centuries would be considered a golden age for Hwasanese culture with a significant amount of Confucian inspired visual arts, literature, and architecture emerging in this period, accredited to the formation of a significant Imperial grant supporting what was defined as high court art.

Under the orders of Emperor Taein Hwasan would being the process of expanding and modernizing its navy in the the late 15th century. An Imperial grant was formed to sponsor long range naval expeditions to the south, seeking to expand the nation's trade routes. As maritime commerce and trade expanded and more advanced machinery increased the output of traditional craftsmen a robust class of wealthy merchants emerged. Merchants and craftsmen would find organize into Imperial Guilds, which sought to create a mutually beneficial bond between the state and the merchant-craftsmen class.

By the mid 1600s Hwasan had established a sustainable network of trading routes throughout most of the southern hemisphere. Several guild and company owned colonies would emerge, bringing in new material wealth to the Empire. The Hwasene Empire would emerge as a significant force in the trade of such as precious metals and spices.