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Post by Ciata on Feb 12, 2006 17:39:30 GMT -5
This will be an on-going thing by me to try to flesh out the new type of culture that I am trying to create for Ciata for use in my future books. I'm going to try to strive and create a new, original place, with it's own names, customs, and traditions, not relying on the names and societies of asia which I mainly have been of late. This is hopefully to give it a more real feel and making it it's own world.
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Post by Ciata on Feb 14, 2006 2:20:24 GMT -5
In light of the lack of racial and species color in Ciata with it being basically all two species of felines, I've decided to keep the same general idea with felines being the main ruling class, them being the main land predators in RL. Anyways, they are pretty much devided in their ruling areas by the area they occupy in RL, snow leopard in the mountains, cheetahs in the deserts, tigers and jaguars in the jungle, etc. Most other predators would be mainly bandits or the dis-reputable types. Most lower classes would be the prey type animals, giving some variety into it all.
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Post by Ciata on Feb 15, 2006 23:35:32 GMT -5
The general age of the society is a medivial China, though the possibility is there for further advancement. The upper classes have started to decline in morality and have started to waste their time on frivilous matters such as dying their fur and spending time on leisure and relaxation, often the predators living off the work of the lower classes of old prey type animals through hiring other predator species or more opportunist prey species.
The economy goes about as follows. The higher, feline races as the aristocrats, ruling and enjoying the finer things in life, basically acting like cats do. The merchants are other predators and some higher "prey" species such as horses and herbivores and such. The peasant class is the prey animals, rabbits, mice, deer, bats, etc. Those in the peasant class live lives stuck in the same general class with little hope of moving much higher than they are born into. Merchants have an easy chance of getting richer, peasants have little hope of rising up, though if things go poorly for them in their crops or work they could be put into bonded servitude to work off their debts they would raise up. The felines, or sometimes other species, move about in political moves and family and clan disputes and the occasional mini-war.
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Post by Ciata on Feb 20, 2006 2:15:13 GMT -5
The religious structure of Ciata is something close to philisophical Taoism with a dash of religious taoism mixed in with a sole deity in the place of the unknown way. There is eternal life after this one through belief and rebirth through trusting in the way, or this deity. The Tao or the way is very vague and personal as to the particular doctrines. It focuses on balance and harmony as well as compassion, or unconditional love, moderation, and humility. Those of lower status put more focus on the religious application and the deity while those of higher status tend to take it more as a philosophy.
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Post by Ciata on Mar 12, 2006 16:33:42 GMT -5
The level of economy in Ciata is rich and generaly well off, even in peasant classes seldom are in poverty, though their moderate stability in status and life with the general inability to progress upwards. The society has grown to be very artistic in the main cities, very decorative and ornate in their style of living.
The reason for the general lack of slums and poverty is that in order to find security, peasants aline themselves under certain houses, or in the case of merchants, guilds. Many live working and living in the general compound of the house, smaller cities being made up of single houses, larger cities being made up of several houses or parts of houses in an important piece of land, such as a major port or trading town, merchant guilds doing much of the same.
In exchange for the alliegance of the peasants, they are given suitible clothing, food, and money depending on the value of the person's services. The better off the peasants are treated, the more likely mroe peasants are to alline themselves with that house, and the more powerfull that house becomes. So the society is more rewarding than punishing in the way that the upper classes rule over the lower.
Disputes generaly happen over certain areas of land that contain important resources such as mines, ports, trading routes, prime fishing or farming lands or simple power struggles.
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Post by Ciata on Apr 23, 2006 13:08:49 GMT -5
In light of trying to create my own culture and own world, one that is isolated from the outside events, like as some would hardly believe some areas in rather developed countries such as China and Inidia are, I will strive to:
1. Make my own language. One probably based on Greek diction and grammar, since I have to learn it anyway next year in college, but has unique spelling and figures.
2. Give unique names to people and places, rather than borrow from existing languages, such as China and Japan, which are sadly over-used these days.
3. Unique and personal culture, one that deviates from mere variations of current, or former cultures, mainly in Asia, that I have used in the past.
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Post by Ciata on Oct 16, 2006 22:27:32 GMT -5
Well, didn't get much done over the summer, but I'm back to it now.
Carrying over and fixing/summerizing a few things from another thread about the organization of New Ciata.
The idea is to divide the country into 12 provinces and each province into a province into 12 counties and each county into 12 prefectures all under one emperor. In all there will be 1,728 prefects, 144 provinces, and 12 states.
The emperor will be advised by three Grand Ministers, the Scholar, Priest, and Guardian, which would be largely honorary titles. Below them would be three Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister, in charge of religious affairs, the Grand Marshal in charge of the military, and the Supreme Teacher, in charge of education and general public affairs. Below them will be a board of advisors, made up of close friends, put on the board to have reason for special influence and privileges. There will also be a board of counselors, which would be made up of leaders in various fields of business and commerce, and a board of consultants, which would be made of up various respected elders. There are no more than 12 on each board or group.
To avoid the promoting to the point of inadequacy or having unworthy or unable people elected by either the people or those above them, each office will be filled by someone nominated by the people from their areas or cities who are then interviewed, researched, tested, and voted upon by the Emperor, Administers, and Advisors. Those deemed better at the job from their area, will get higher positions or offices. Each must meet minimum standards in areas of intelligence, knowledge of the people, political savvy, administration, and also skill in martial arts.
The martial arts is because each area leader is head over the local army and defence. A Prefect is essentially a town sheriff. Each Prefect has 4 soldiers under him to watch over local dealings and settle disputes and fights. Each Magistrate has 48 soldiers to deal with local matters and also to have an equal amount of troops as those under him. The same goes with the Governors of the local states. They have 1,150 soldiers to keep them on even terms with those under him also to keep a level of mutual control and accountability. The Emperor has his own force of 1,200 soldiers to guard the capital city and also 12 super-elite guards to protect him personaly. Each Minister can have up to 48 guards to protect him and also his house and estate. Each advisor, counselor, or consultant can have up to 12 guards. The limiting is to keep any one from having an arms race to be more influential than another and to decrease the likelyhood of a rebellion.
The army of Ciata will number around 32,000 counting lower officials and only Ministers or the Emperor can take control of a local leader's army, giving a solid sense of independance and local pride, while seperating power.
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Post by Ciata on Oct 16, 2006 23:48:56 GMT -5
After watching the movie Hero again for a bit of inspiration, I've decided to color code each state's army. White, black, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, grey, brown, cyan (light blue), and tan. (I refuse to use pink for an army color) Also prefect's troops are bronze, magistrate's silver, governor's gold, to distinguish between the groups. Each local area can have their own, special markings for regional and state divisions. The royal guard will have an opal type garnment, one of many, mixed colors (of course). Personal guards of the advisors, etc will be of their own states. Also, each state will have 1 advisor, counselor, and consultant a piece, to make sure each area is represented.
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Post by Ciata on Oct 19, 2006 0:11:34 GMT -5
A few revisions for today. Thought the two levels of Grand Ministers being the same was kinda redundant. So they are changed to the honorary titles of Chief Scholar, Chief Priest, and Chief Guardian. Each will change every year and they will be elected by peers for the scholar, by priests for priest, and by competition for guardian. They become like national treasures.
The Grand Ministers are the Prime Minister, the second in charge, the Grand Marshal in charge of the armies, and the Supreme Teacher in charge of education and such.
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