¶ History of Rokugan
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The History of Rokugan varies based upon the source from which it’s consumed, with the records of official Imperial Chroniclers often differing from the histories passed down through various other groups, such as the Yobanjin Tribes.
The dates noted below are presented in the Isawa Calendar format, with months named after common animals and years counting up from the Fall of the Kami. [1] [2]
¶ Creation of the World
In the beginning there was the empty and solitary Nothing, which through loneliness, longing, and regret, consumed itself to create the world.
Initially a formless inky mass, the world slowly separated out into the heavens and earth. The Three Nameless Gods appeared and created the first two gods to finish shaping the world. These gods meditated on the task, bowed down, and kissed the earth, finally naming it. Settled in their roles, Lady Sun and Lord Moon, would come to be known as Amaterasu and Onnotangu.
The earth filled with life as new gods and beasts appeared. Although there were no humans, the land was populated by the Five Ancient Races and many kami, such as the Four Cardinal Winds, the Elemental Dragons, and many others.
In the Celestial Heavens the shinzoku, or tribe of gods, appeared, such as the ocean lord Suijin and the wind god Kaze-no-Kami. Demons known as mazoku filled the underworld to oversee the souls of the dead.
The empires of the ancient races rose and fell without record, their people and cultures fading into obscurity. Their histories were passed down by their decendents, who would go on to become the Kitsu and Shiba families.
It’s speculated that a sixth race of human-like serpents known as Naga remained in the world, eventually settling in the Shinomen Forest. [2:1]
¶ Fall of the Kami
The Lady Sun Amaterasu and Lord Moon Onnotangu became lovers, giving birth to ten children and bringing much joy to the celestial realm of Tengoku. But Onnotangu, fearing that his children would usurp him, set out to devour them. Amaterasu wept at this and her tears fell to the earth forming pools.
Lady Sun schemed to protect her children by deceiving her husband with a poisoned cup of sake for every child he devoured. His judgement clouded by the poisoned sake, Lord Moon failed to notice the large stone disguised as their youngest son, Hantei. He swallowed the stone and fell asleep. Smuggling Hantei to safety, Amaterasu raised him to understand honor and war, eventually arming him with a sword made of starlight to rescue his siblings.
Hantei and Onnotangu battled for many ages and as Onnotangu’s blood spilled upon the land, it merged with the pools of Amaterasu’s tears forming two humans in every pool. Thus mankind was born of the combination of the tears and blood of the gods.
Hantei eventually sliced open his father’s stomach, spilling his siblings out and down to the earth below. His brother Fu Leng fell last and was lost as he tumbled away. Hantei, Akodo, Doji, Hida, Togashi, Shinjo, and the twins, Shiba and Bayushi, all landed near eachother. A tenth sibling, Ryoshun perished inside of Lord Moon’s stomach.
Landing on the earth, the now mortal Kami were amazed by the world and uncivilized human spawn of Lady Sun and Lord Moon. [2:2]
¶ Founding of Rokugan (Prehistory – 39 IC)
The Kami spread through this new land of Rokugan, teaching the uncivilized human tribes the various aspects of culture, including farming, writing, art, music, forging, and the principles of honor and loyalty.
Gaining followers as they travelled, the Kami decided to lead the tribes of man, holding a contest in 5 IC to see who among them should rule. Hantei won the contest, becoming Emperor, and founding the capital Otosan Uchi on the hill where the Kami first fell. The seven remaining Kami established the Great Clans, each taking a specific role in loyal service to the Emperor Hantei. As small villages and tribes grew into great cities and clans, the siblings established prominent schools to teach the tenets of Bushidō to the Rokugani people.
¶ War Against Fu Leng (39 IC – 42 IC)
¶ The Spread of the Emperor’s Benevolence (42 IC – 390 IC)
¶ The Time of Greed (390 IC – 435 IC)
¶ The Blooming of the Lotus (435 IC – 442 IC)
¶ Treachery Without and Within (442 IC – 610 IC)
¶ Tides of Light and Darkness (610 IC – 815 IC)
¶ A New Wind Blowing (815 IC – 1123 IC)
¶ References
Here Comes the Sun by Le Vuong, via ArtStation ↩︎