Hokan

Hokan, ( 花港, Hokaan)

Revolutionary Hokan
A series of grandiose military defeats in the Hokanese-Jeongmian War of 1868 and the Hokanese War of Secession in 1873 had put the Hokanese Empire into an economic and political downturn. A rapidly declining standard of living and political dissatisfaction among the working class and the sizeable middle-class led the country to become a hotbed of revolutionary political thought deemed subversive by the other governing bodies of Sinju. From a theoretical standpoint the body of political and economic writings on Communamlism and other trends of Socialism grew significantly in Hokan from the 1870s and well into the 1880s. The Red Salon and the Black Sash Society are two notable organizations which became leftist think-tanks and later publishing houses. Growing spaces for leftist discourse would produce renowned theorists and authors such as; Cui Bohai, Luó Chuntao, and Yan Yongliang. In a series of treatises in the 1880s, sponsored by the Commuanlist party, a firm theoretical connection was established between the modern lefist trends and the Tianqian philosophical beliefs of.

The 1890s saw a more drastic and pronounced economic downturn in Hokan. Intervention by the imperial government made little difference in the situation and plunged the government further into debt. The Famine of 1896 significantly impacted the south-eastern rural regions of the country, resulting in close to 500,000 deaths. Localized uprisings occurred in the south-east, mostly led by radicalized members of the Imperial Guard and Milita. The Maodan Uprising in 1898 is considered a flashpoint in the revolution as the city reorganized as the Maodan Commune in direct opposition to the deteriorating Imperial government.

Defection was common in the early half of the Scarlet Revolution, defectors of the Imperial Army and Navy would reorganize as the Revolutionary Citizen's Militia. Maodan became a magnet for international revolutionaries from 1899 onward, hosting a number of leftist think-tanks. Less organized uprisings occurred concurrently to the formations of the local Communes, placing great stress of the Imperial government.

Emperor Qin Ai would formally abdicate in the March of 1902, resulting in the end of the Imperial government. A brief coalition government was formed post-haste, consisting of socialist, liberal, conservative and nationalist factions. Though varying in tendency the overarching socialist coalition, the Communalists, formed the majority and thus set the groundwork for the Hokanese Free State. The Free State was formally declared April 30th, 1902 - organizing the nation under a decentralized, socialist direct-democracy.

Government and Politics
The Hokanese Free State is organized under a confederal, multi-party form of. It is one of few countries in the world where the general voting population is directly involved in the process of legislation. The nation's political system is outlined in the 1919 Constitution and further expanded through several referendum in 1920 and 1923. The is the Chairman of the All-Citizen's Council, currently Wu Xiaodan. The Chairman is responsible for the day to day governing of the state as well as appointing the Chancellor and the National Secretariat. The Chairman is elected through a national on a 4-year term.

Legislation in Hokan operates on a system of direct democracy wherein the voting population, anyone over the age of 18, votes directly through referenda. National referenda is generally reserved for issues of significant national importance whereas most work place sector-based issues or regional issues are solved either by syndicates representing a specific sector's union or a local council. The All-Citizen's Council exists a organ of communication between the local syndicates and councils at a national level.

The Free State has a mutli-party system with a number of member-based political factions representing different ideals. The Syndicalists, the Centralists, the Totalists, and Reformists are some of the more prominent factions. Smaller issue-based and local factions exist alongisde the national factions. Historically the Syndicalists and Reformist factions have held the most influence in governing.

Foreign Relations
Hokan is classified as as well as a regional power in Sinju, as such it maintains official relations with the majority of the rest of the world. Hokan is a founding member of the Congress of Nations as well as the International Communalist Forum, typically referred to as the International Forum. Cordial relations are maintained with the rest of the Sinju powers, though contention has occurred over the projection of power and political influence abroad. Despite tensions Hokan maintains a special membership position in the Sinju Union, enjoying benefits such as relaxed border controls and open dialogue with the rest of the region but withholding from contributing in greater Union legislation.

Historically Hokan operated under a doctrine of Global Emancipation, a term coined by the Council of the Commune of Huaxi and implemented under the administration of Chancellor Yan Huan, which focused on an interventionist approach to the spreading of leftist thought and socialism. Criticism of this school of thought arose following the horrific losses encountered in the Eulhae War leading it to fall out of favor. Critics of the Global Emancipation doctrine likened it to a "new" Imperialism. The post-war era saw the formulation of a new approach, seeking to support efforts of reconstruction abroad as well as in Sinju in an attempt to foster new relations and strengthen old alliances. The International Communalist Forum was organized in the 1940s and saw a more diplomatic approach to the idea of Global Emancipation.

Performing Arts
Hokan has a diverse historical tradition of performing arts, dating back to the Classical Era. The most notable forms of traditional Hokanese performing arts are considered to be, a form of traditional musical theater found throughout Central Sinju, and a form of musical and oral performance that has roots in the Classical Era of Hokan. Pingtan is considered to be more specific to Hokanese culture and is thus a highly valued art form, with state-sponsored cultural institutions that operate to preserve and educate Pingtan as a nationally significant art form. The Xiqu theatrical tradition is also highly coveted by state cultural institutions. The Lantu World Theater is a well-renowned cultural institution and venue which showcases theatrical and musical performances of high prestige, as well as performances from other cultures. Specific to the country, Hokan is also significant for the development of the genre of Xiqu.

Hokanese folk music has its origins in Ancient Hokan, believed originally to have ritualistic significance and later evolving into general entertainment. Hokanese traditional folk music generally employed mouth organs, flutes, and percussion instruments. The creation of the, a mouth-blown free reed instrument, was a significant development in Hokanese folk music. During the Classical Era musical traditions from across Tianqi merged with the existing traditions of folk music. Traditional music of Hokan is generally split into two major traditions, the Temple tradition which includes both temple music and court music, and the Common or Folk tradition which is forms of musical expression which were popular among the general populace.