Kinshū

Kinshū, officially the Republic of Kinshū, is a nation located in Bangju, within the cultural sphere of Sinju. Its population of 17,267,539 is spread across seventeen provinces covering its mainland area as well as its twenty islands. It is bordered by Tosanchi to the north, Basanreseri to the south, and the Eastern Sinju Sea to the west. Kinshū's capital, Sakaigawa, is located on Kazanjima, its largest island. The nation is largely rural, with most of its industrial centers located on the coast and outlying islands.

Modern-day Kinshū had been inhabited by nameless peoples since the Stone Age. Ancient Kinshūnese were a nomadic group of Fusenic peoples who migrated from Jungju and settled in the Kinshūnese Archipelago around 900 BCE. The early Kinshūnese were a maritime people focused almost exclusively on this archipelago and the coast of Kinshū, where they adopted indigenous fishing and agricultural techniques. By 60 BCE, Kinshūnese states had been consolidated into the Empire of Kuroimizu, which later became a tributary of Cheonje. These states were heavily influenced by Confucian and Buddhist thought. Following the fall of Cheonje in 876, Kinshū was reduced to a collection of petty kingdoms that engaged in near-constant warfare and piracy with each other and with neighboring kingdoms. Throughout the 10th and 11th centuries, the Iwasaki Empire consolidated these states. By the late 12th century, a shift away from in the noble class led to the rise of a new social class, jizamurai, who banded together into leagues for mutual defense. Often followers of the teachings of Kenren, a monk, these leagues staged uprisings throughout the kingdom, eventually toppling provincial governors and instating new leaders, who were often abbots of local temples. In 1279, the monshu Kaneyo declared himself grand abbot of these provinces, breaking away from Iwasaki to form the Kingdom of Ikkokoku. The two kingdoms warred for several decades until Iwasaki was annexed.

From the outset, Ikkokoku was highly decentralized, with cities on the archipelago becoming more autonomous; it was during the 14th to 17th centuries that pirate states flourished in the region, preying on traders along the Yedal Road. Kaneyo's successor, Haruyo, adapted many of Kenren's teachings and passed numerous reforms that allowed Ikkoku to enjoy an era of relative stability, peace, and growth. By the late 19th century, the government had all but collapsed from heavy corruption and decentralization, leading to the Kinshūnese Civil War that resulted in victory for the warlord Tanesada Shigenori and the eradication of Jōdo Shinshū influences in the government. Shigenori's administration looked to Fusenese scholars and advisors for assistance, and began a rapid process of industrialization and imperialism. Kinshū's involvement in the Eulhae War gave it an economic boost, leading to it becoming a prominent regional industrial power throughout the 20th century.

Today, Kinshū is a rural nation whose economy relies on agriculture and heavy industry. It is famous for its language, which retains remarkable similarities to medieval Fusenese. The country is a member of the Council of Nations and the Sinju Union. Despite urges from the international community, Kinshū has struggled to embrace environmentally friendly business practices in the 21st century, and the nation suffers from heavy amounts of pollution.

Etymology
The kanji for Kinshū (葉秀, "beautiful celery) were first applied to the area by early Fusenic people who relied on the region's plentiful natural herb,, as a food source.

Prehistory
The earliest evidence of human activity in Kinshū dates to around 7000 BCE. Traces of stone tools found throughout Bangju indicate these early people groups migrated from present-day Wamu as far south as Shojin. While it is unclear how many of these people groups passed through Kinshū, there is archaeological evidence that suggests the aimuri culture had settled on the coast by 4,800 BCE. Small totems resembling various marine creatures and stone fishing tools have been found throughout the Kinshūnese Archipelago, suggesting these people were seafaring and established distinct clans throughout the islands. Unlike other early people groups in Bangju, the aimuri practiced marriage. In addition to the aimuri, archaeological evidence suggests that the wairigan and numaimi cultures--traditionally associated with Basanreseri--also had settlements in present-day Kinshū.

Ancient Kinshū
The first Fusenic people had arrived in Kinshū by 900 BCE. Migrating down from the northern parts of Bangju, these people settled primarily on the coast and in the islands of the archipelago, where they gradually displaced the aimuri culture. Early Kinshūnese adopted native sailing, fishing, and agricultural practices, and they engaged in trade with other Sinjunese peoples, adopting practices of, pottery, and metallurgy. Over time, these settlements grew and formed into city-states, which periodically raided each other for resources. By 60 BCE, these states had consolidated into the petty kingdom of Kuroimizu.

The earliest recorded documents mentioning Kinshū are the 1st century Records of Cheonje. Kuroimizu became a tributary of Cheonje in the 2nd century, and gradually adopted Cheonje institutions such as civil service exams and Buddhism over the coming centuries. The kingdom was slow to embrace these tradtions; in particular, Buddhist thought was met with resistance by practitioners of indigenous belief. A series of uprisings known as the Shūkyō Revolts occured in the 6th century, in which Buddhist temples throughout the archipelago were burned and priests were executed. These uprisings marked a period of general unrest throughout the kingdom. The situation came to a head in 582, when King Genju died without an apparent heir. Two of the king's distant relatives, Tenyo and Tanabe, raised support and clashed against each other in the Saisei War. Tenyo emerged victorious and declared himself emperor, marking the beginning of the Keihatsu Period in 601. Tenyo, a devout Buddhist, enacted the Rikai Reforms which were based on policies adopted from Cheonje, but the true aim of these reforms was to bring about greater centralization, increase the power of the royal court, and place legal protection over Buddhist temples and practitioners. Members of the court were dispatched to Cheonje to learn as much as possible, including their writing system, culinary practices, literature, and architecture.



The following centuries saw arts and literature flourish throughout Kuroimizu. Despite influences from Cheonje, its distance from the empire allowed for the emergence of a distinct culture, primarily influenced by introduction and evolution of Buddhist thought. Greater importance was placed on the emperor's status as a religious leader, rather than strictly an administrative one. Buddhist temples were routinely patronized by wealthy nobles, which in turn created a distinct clerical class known as the shito. The novels The Weeping Sea and The Tale of Kage, both written in the 9th century by the monk Hosei, are considered classic works of literature.

The late 8th and 9th centuries preceding the fall of Cheonje also saw the migration of Kuroimizu citizens further into mainland Bangju, where they clashed with indigenous cultures and other Fusenic people. This period was also marked by increased instability, as power was slowly transferred from the nobility to the growing shito class. By the time Cheonje had fallen in 867, Kuroimizu was already in danger of collapsing in on itself. The Plague of 891 was an outbreak of smallpox that killed nearly a quarter of the empire's population, including the emperor and most of the royal family. This resulted in the utter collapse of Kuroimizu in 897, and it split into several petty kingdoms, each claiming to be the heirs to the empire.

Feudal Kinshū
The period immediately following the collapse of Kuroimizu is known as the Kunan Era. This era was marked by constant warfare, as the petty kingdoms of the Kinshūnese Archipelago engaged in piracy against each other and other neighboring states. The wealth of Buddhist temples allowed them to enforce authority over large portions of the country, giving the shito class increased power over the ruling families of the petty kingdoms. As a result of this wealth and power, corruption ran rampant through the priestly class, and many noble families sent their sons to monasteries to become monks. One of these monks, Kenren (1001-1068), descended from a high-ranking family that served the emperors of Kuroimizu, and was sent to a monastery at Mt. Yokushi, where he was ordained as a. Kenren became disillusioned by Buddhist practices of the time, foreseeing a decline in the potency of the teachings being espoused. In response, Kenren left his monastery and underwent a 100-day retreat at the summit of Mt. Yokushi. On the 95th day, he had a dream where Emperor Tenyo appeared to him, explaining to him a path to enlightenment through verse. This led Kenren to found the, or Pure Land school. Kenren left his monastery in 1038, and traveled to Sakaigawa where he began teaching his new -only practice. Kenren amassed a substantial following, but was met with criticism and opposition by the Buddhist elite in Sakaigawa, despite Kenren's pledge to be on good terms with other sects, and his refusal to slander other Buddhists. Kenren was exiled from Sakaigawa in 1042, and the city put a ban on nenbutsu practices. During his ten-year exile, Kenren continued to develop his teachings and commit them to writing. His exile was lifted in 1052, at which point Kenren traveled throughout the archipelago spreading his teachnings. Even following his death, Jōdo Shinshū would continue to play an important role in Kinshū's history.

As religious tensions spread throughout the priestly class, social and political turmoil plagued the region. Remnants of Kuroimizu battled each other for control of the Kinshūnese Archipelago, but the decentralization of governments in the area allowed for bands of pirates to grow and flourish. Records from surrounding states in Sinju sometimes conflate the pirates and Kinshūnese states; oneFusenese record from 961 refers to butahito ("pig people") in the archipelago who "steal from their people with the same hands they use to steal from their neighbors--truly, it is unlikely they know the difference...they are utterly chaotic and know no friends, only enemies and opportunities." Leaders of former Kuroimizu states, while styling themselves as heirs to the empire, were functionally whose power was legitimized only by how much military force they could put behind it.



As these petty kingdoms squabbled, neighboring states took interest. In 988, the Nitseyā Kingdom invaded the island of Torishima, marking the beginning of the Isshoni War. Nitseyā pushed northwest into the Kinshūnese Archipelago, but was stopped by a combined Kinshūnese force at Kuchishima. Fighting continued to rage throughout the southern islands, leading the Kinshūnese kingdoms to band together to form the Kigasusumanai League. Though the League succeeded in pushing back the invasion, it never regained its lost territory, and the war slowed to a stalemate. The conflict continued until 994, ending with a treaty that ceded Torishima and Ijōnashima. Although the war reesulted in a loss for the Kinshūnese states, it led to further cooperation between them in the following years. This led to increased trade and centralization, eventually allowing for the Kingdom of Iwasaki to establish hegemony over the islands. In 1047, Iwasaki consolidated the islands into a de jure empire, establishing the Iwasaki Empire.

Cuisine
Kinshū's culinary traditions are rooted in its deep Buddhist influences. As the shito class grew in power, culinary practices traditionally associated with monastic Buddhists came to be practiced by lay people. One example of this influence is the common practice of eating only two meals per day: one in the morning, and one just before noon. While not universally observed, many Kinshūnese people have adopted this practice. The first meal, asa-gohan, typically consists of assorted fruits, vegetables, and . Meat is also sometimes consumed, depending on the individual. The second meal, hiru-gohan, usually consists of a rice dish or noodles and vegetables. Green tea is served with most meals.

Kinshū has a long tradition of. Historically, meat eating has been banned or looked down upon at various points. In areas where meat eating was not traditionally practiced, dishes often prominently feature rice,, , , , and. Kinshū's national dish, kishimen, is a famous vegetarian meal; consisting of dipped in a soup of soy sauce and sliced leeks, it can be served hot or cold.



In areas where meat eating is practiced, fish is a common feature. is commonly served over rice, seasoned with mami miso, a unique variation of that originated in Kinshū. and are also popular, often featuring squid, eel, and snapper. , a dried, salted, and fermented fish, is a common street food item and is famously pungent. The is a large free-range chicken that is native to the region, and is featured heavily in Kinshūnese cuisine. In particular, sashimi that prominently features kōchin gizzards, liver, and heart is popular.



Kinshū has one of the lowest rates of alcohol consumption in the world, primarily due to religious influences throughout its history. Following government reforms in the 19th century, laws regarding the production and sale of alcohol were loosened, though alcohol is mostly consumed by younger people even today. was originally imported from Fusen, and is popular in Kinshū as a drink following formal meals. , a spirit distilled from rice, barley, or buckwheat is also popular.