Fusen

Fusen ( 浮川, Fusen) is a an, consisting of over 6,740 islands, located in north-east Sinju. It is located east of the Jeongmian island of Yeoseo and west of northern Yeongju. Fusen consists of three major archipelagic chains, the largest of which is the island of Kasho (literally meaning, the home island). The nation is further divided into four major regions and twenty unitary provinces, as well as a special administrative zone for the of the capital city of Chukyo.

According to archaeological findings human habitation of the Fusenese isles dates back to as 35,000 BC, with subsequent waves of from continental Sinju. Migration to and from Yeongju also occured, and would have a profound and diverse impact on the development of a unique Fusenese culture. The first semblance of a Fusenese nation emerged from the region of Kumahara, in western Fusen, in what is known as the Kamoi Era. The geographical term 'Fusen' would be recognized by other international entities as early as 90 BCE by other continental kingdoms, and become the commonly used term for the region and subsequent kingdom of the same name. With the rise of Cheonje, Fusen would establish itself as a of the expansive continental empire and would adopt numerous cultural and political traditions of the dynastic empire. The adoption in particular of Confucian social organization and rites would have a profound impact in the evolution of Fusense government. With the fall of Cheonje in 876, Fusen distanced itself from the continent and under the Arase Dynasty would declare itself a proper continuation of Cheonje governance, adopting the title of 'Emperor' for its monarchs.

The 12th century would see the isles of Fusen threatened by external forces of migratory peoples from Yeongju during the Koushi War. The following period would see Fusen consolidate and centralize, seeing the transition from local aristocracy to centralized meritocracy in vein of the Cheonje model. Subsequent rebellions from local lords would be common throughout the 12th and 13th century until the country stabilized around the Yadama Dynasty. But the 17th century, Fusen would have a considerable influence in regional politics with Chukyo becoming a regional economic, cultural, and political center. The Bonghwang Wars would severely dampen Fusenese influence until the 18th century, wherein Fusen would expand south and establish numerous maritime trade routes. The 19th and 20th century would see the of Fusen and the mass expansion of its colonial empire during the Great Hayago.

Etymology
The kanji for Fusen, 浮川, were first applied to the nation by travelers from Cheonje during the 3rd century CE in reference to the auroras they saw there. During the 5th century CE with the rise of a centralized government based in the Kato region, the name was popularized by scribes and government officials to describe the land they lived in. The character fu (浮) means "floating" while the character sen (川) means "river" or "stream." Due to this, the country is popularly referred to by many as the "Land of the Floating River."

Post-war era
Following the Fusense Empire's in 1943 and the signing of the Treaty of Chukyo, Fusen was partitioned into several occupational zones. Each zone was administered by a major allied power (Jeongmi, Meisaan, Namju) until the formation of a unified occupation on the 6th of Samwol, 1943. The Committee on Fusenese Pacification oversaw the political and social transition to a more democratized model of governance, as well as aiding in post-war reconstruction efforts. The Heisen Trials (1943-1944) caused a mass reshuffling of Fusen's various ministries and political bodies; as numerous military and civic leaders were convicted was for their role in the Meika (明化) Government. Protests and civil disobedience were common during the early months of occupation, and following the Political Crisis of 1944. A was called on 19 Iwol, 1944 to determine the composition of the first post-war  - with the initial three seats being appointed by an occupational committee. The trio of Okabe Kurou, Nishi Yoshihiro, and Usui Kohaku would become major influential political figures in post-war Fusen, causing them to earn the nickname as the Silver Three.

Reforms from 1943 until 1948 targeted various elements of Meika-era society, from vast educational reform, to the abolishment of the propaganda-centric Bureau of Cultural and Spiritual Affairs, and the and 'deradicalization' of Fusenese politics. Despite controversy, Emperor Meika would retain the title of Emperor until his death in 1956. Military occupation officially came to a close in 1945, with the Committee on Fusenese Pacification formally disbanding that same year. An allied military presence would still remain on the archipelago, by way of the North Sinju Military Command - later being absorbed into the Sinju Union. Matsui Ryo would be elected in 1946 as the first post-occupational elected Grand Chancellor. In the legislature the democratic center-left New Era Party led with a strong majority, and would continue to have a strong hold on post-war politics in Fusen for decades.

Reconstruction, particularly in western Fusen, was the main focus of the post-war administrations. Massive projects were embarked to repair infrastructure and provide housing for the displaced. Immigration law was relaxed following the Labor Resettlement Act of 1944, seeking to supplement losses in the labor force with foreign workers from Jungju and Yoju. Fusenese settlers abroad as well as natives of previous Fusenese colonies were offered resettlement in the archipelago as well under the act. The late 40s and 50s would also see a push for the expansion of access to post-secondary education; initially focusing on veterans and those displaced by the Eulhae War.

Geography, Wildlife, and Climate
Metropolitan Fusen consists of a of over 6,740 islands, though the Imperial Bureau of Geographic Analysis suggests this number may have decreased due to several 'micro' island chains subsiding over the course of the last few decades, which make up a total surface land area of XXX km2. The majority of the Fusenese archipelago sits atop a, formed by the border with the tectonic region of the Okaikyo Basin. Due to its presence between two convergent tectonic plates, the Fusenese archipelago is classified a a, and is susceptible to destructive.

Of the many 'micro' and uninhabited island of Fusen, there are three major chains which are considered to be the three main geographical groupings which islands and within a region are categorized into. The largest of the Fusenese isles is the central island of Chushu (中州, lit. central provinces) where 85% of the metropolitan population of the nation resides. Major centers of population are focused along the south-western coast of the nation, as well as the north-east. Chushu is divided into 6 major regions, which are further divided into provincial sub-units and villageships and metropolitan areas.

Politics and Government
Main Article: Politics of Fusen

Fusen is a,  democracy as established in the 1803 Charter of State. The and  is the directly elected First Speaker of State, who serves a term of 5-years with no set term limits. The current incumbent is Hirano Takara, elected in 2020 as a representative of the Conservative Party. The First Speaker directly appoints the Ministry of State, a six branched cabinet which serves as the chief advisory body of the executive branch.

One of the most unique and historically influential elements of the Fusenese legislative process is that of the locally chartered commissions. A chartered commission serves as a local body which encourages the process of and  to address issues of local policy. Direct votes on policy are common in smaller communities, whereas urban commissions have shifted to a representative model. At the prefectural and national level, representative bodies constitute the legislature.

On the national level the 341 seat State Secretariat operates as the nation’s superior legislative body. Members of the Secretariat are elected for terms of 4 years with no formal term limits. The Central Committee serves as the administrative body of the Secretariat, being headed by the Minister of the Right and the Minister of the Left who are the two leaders of the largest parties in the legislature.

Since the 19th century, politics in Fusen has been highly factionalized. Almost immediately following the Civil War, members of the nation’s provisional government organized into political clubs advocating for different forms of government during the drafting of the nation’s constitution. Today, the largest political parties are the Conservative Party, The Progressive Party, and the Citizens Action Party. The former two have dominated national politics since the end of the 19th century.

All citizens over 18 are guaranteed the right to vote in the 1801 Charter of Government. Fusen is one of the few countries in the world that does not institute the practice of, however representative at the national level are required to pass a civil service exam. Fusen's can be distilled into the ideals of personal liberty, political participation, and equality before the law. A 2018 study determined that Fusen boasts one of the highest rate of in the world, attributed to the accessibility of local political involvement. Fusen was also the first country in the world to trial and currently plans to roll-out an online voting option for  in the 2024 Speaker Election.

Law
Per the Charter of Government's 2nd amendment the country operates on a legal framework known domestically as Clan Law (etymologically derived from the legal practices major clans would utilize during the pre and early Imperial Era). Legal proceedings are based heavily on from previously legal hearings, weighing heavily on the determination of a judicial commission. In Fusen, a judicial commission is formed from a of three licensed judges. In a typical hearing, the commission will initiate a simple majority vote to determine a verdict. Unique to the system is the inability for the commission to establish a motion, as a motion must be suggested by a jury of six Fusenese citizens. This hearing process is common in cases of and within the prefectural level and national level judicial circuits. and local arbitration generally utilizes a singular judge and generally no jury is called.

A defining feature of the Fusense legal system is the approach to. Based upon the Charter of Government's 3rd amendment all land is held 'in common' by an independent non-partisan government organization called the National Land Trust. Land, up to a certain acreage, is still allowed to be passed down through as common in most the world. However, land that becomes vacant (either through a lack of beneficiary or other legal means) is automatically under the possession of the National Land Trust. Land held by the trust is relisted at a fixed price based on the appraised land value (before improvements) by a private assessor. The Land Trust may at times sell the land to another government organization, such as a development fund or a community government organization. Critics of the land trust system claim that, though a noble experiment, it is rife with and government exploitation. A Jeongmian sociologist carried out a poll of the program's popularity, finding in 1950 that the majority of polled citizen's thought favorably of the land trust system. A later poll in 1990, following a sharp rise in demand for housing, found the program had steadily declined in popularity throughout the years.

Architecture


Fusense traditional architecture is generally notable for its common traditions of internally modular spaces, or tiled rooves with upward swept, use of natives woods and at times vibrant paint, and  on. While there are many decade specific and regionally specific styles of recognized Fusense architechture, the culture of the Fusense built environment is often split into 'high architecture' (such as public buildings, temples and shrines, and royal structures) and 'low architecture' (folk architecture and ). The latter is less standardized is is not considered to be inline with any of the various ryuha of traditional architecture.

Historically, Fusense architecture utilized bamboo, thatched rooves, and wood and was often constructed with modularity or small scale in mind. A style of large-scale temple building was imported from Cheonje, later inspiring a more formal tradition of large-scale public structures and palaces. From this continental Imperial Style came the development of a uniquely Fusense style, utilizing native woods and materials as well as construction techniques imported from the mainland of Sinju.

The closure of the Koushi War saw the rebirth of a centralized Fusense state, and the gradual reorganization of regional governance. With a desire to further extend the authority of the Imperial court, the Yadama Dynasty cultivated a tradition of palace-building and extensive public works projects. The 12th and 13th century saw a flourishing of 'high-style' Fusense architecture, with examples such as the Yadama Estate at Nisekoan, Mazawa Temple, and Takaiwa Shrine. The formation of a new syncretic Ministry of Spiritual Affairs in the late 13th century would lead to a century spanning campaign of shrine construction; with these structures often serving as adjunct facilities of local governorship and cultural affairs.

Following the closure of the Eulhae War new trends of modular and pre-fabricated architecture become increasingly popular during the reconstruction effort. Though modernist and minimalist movements had prospered in Fusen since the late 19th century, it did not reach mainstream prominence until its heavy use in the post-war reconstruction effort. Fusense Modernism, an umbrella term encompassing a wide range of different styles, is typically recognizable by its lack of ornamentation, heavy use of glass, and allusion to traditional Fusense architectural elements through abstracted forms. Various revival movements emerged in the 1970s and 80s seeking to return to a more historical and traditional approach to architecture, which can be observed in certain projects in Western Fusen.

The Chukyo School of the Built Environment is a pre-eminent and internationally recognized institution of, , and. Yadama Shrine in Chukyo is one of the most visited historical structures in Fusen, with approximately 11 million annual visitors from around the world. Fusen maintains a strong modern culture of, with the Central Bureau of Cultural Conservation overseeing the registration and custodianship of structures of historical importance.

Sport
Fusen is the headquarters of various internationally recognized sporting agencies; such as the International Kenjutsu Association, All-Persons Judo Association, The International Jodo Federation, Grand Sumo Federation, and The International Yabusame Federation. Fusen hosts large annual sporting events such as the Grand Kenjutsu Seminar and the Fusense Cup (Sailing); as well as having been the host for rotating venue events such as the 2009 Aquatic Marathon, 2010 Formula 1 International Cup, and the 2018 All-Sinju Games. was reported to be in the top three reasons for vising Fusen in 2019, including trips for both spectating and participation in sporting events. North-eastern Fusen is also home to a number of (such as  and ) training facilities utilized by tourists and professional athletic organizations alike.

, such as and, have long been among the most popular categories of sports in Fusen. As of 2020, Fusen has produced a number of international champions in sailing, swimming,, , and.