Arikata
| Arikata | |
|---|---|
| (在り方) | |
 Temple of the Book of Raibu | |
| Structure | Connexional |
| Pyhuawan | Tada Mituso |
| Region | Hesperida, IDU |
| Language | Sasongian |
| Headquarters | Hiranonamachi, Seibuchi, Lao Sansong |
| Founder | Oda Kazue |
| Origin | 925 Hiranonamachi, Seibuchi, Lao Sansong |
| Members | 11,480,000 |
| Official website | Arikata.ls |
Arikata is a polytheistic religion and belief system in Hesperida, primarily in Lao Sansong. Those who practice Arikata believe in a set of edicts set out in the Book of Raibu, a book created by the founder of the religion Oda Kazue. The religion was founded after Oda Kazue received a vision from Saikoishi, the highest being of heaven. The site where he received this vision, is considered holy among Arikata faithful. Although not an official religion of Lao Sansong, the Pyhuawan the head of the religion is extremely influential.
History
Ode Kazue was born in 903 under the Tian Dynasty, his family practiced the Minjian Faith and Ode was very committed to it. Eventually, he joined the Minjian Temple studying to be the brightness of his local sanctum. After a theological debate with his elders, he felt dissatisfied with the Mijian Faith and retreated into the nearby mountains to find peace. During his journey, he received a vision from Saikoishi who revealed to him lessons of the way of existing. Kazue wrote these lesions as the Book of Raibu before distributing it to locals. Eventually, a temple was built on the spot known as the Temple of High Enlightenment. Before he died in 985, Ode Kazue created a system of organization for the quickly growing religion, although he did not appoint a successor. Following his death, his son Taguchi Kazue took control and declared him Pyhuawan or "highest one" In response a faction loyal to Nagao Tetsuya stole the original Book of Raibu and left the region setting up a new temple in western Lao Sansong believing the book was the source of divine power.
Taguchi Kazue in response burned a copy of the Book of Rabu to prove, that it was the idea, not the book itself. According to Tetsuyaists, it was at this point that Taguchi Kazue was cursed, and a massive flood that destroyed the city of Hiranonamachi in 1012 was the wrath of angry water spirits. Despite this successive Pyhuawans continued to expand the religion across Lao Sansong despite the growth of Celestialism from Haesan. Eventually, religion began to influence politics as the Danketsu Empire's War of Expansion, was largely driven by Arikata, and many units were named for various sprits. The Dankestu Empire controlled the western regions of Misumi building a number of temples. After the Empire was defeated many of these temples were destroyed, leading to a series of crusades through the 1700s to re-take these temples. Arikata has always been the religion of many Samurai, and that became formalized with the Edict of Samurai of 1830, that all samurai and bond to answer to the Pyhuawan. In 1848, Seibuchi Province was established as a Arikata based govermeant within the new state of Lao Sansong.
The Great Clan War
In 1963, Pyuawan Kon Yoshito called for an organized involvement of various clans in the Great War, although Lao Sansong was initially successful in invading Haesan, Misumi invaded Lao Sansong at the same time forcing the Pyuawan to relocate to Shakotomi, the center of Tesuyasit thinker's. Tension soon grew between the two factions, leading to the Defenestration of Shaktomi where several Arikata scholars were thrown out of a window. In response, Kon Yoshito called on those behind the defenestration to be killed as revenge for the dishonor. However, the perpetrators took refuge in Ribrando Province and aligned themselves with the Tesuyasists, this led to other provinces becoming involved leading to a civil war between a faction of Mainline Arikata and a faction of Tesuyaist Arikata. As a result, the country pulled out of the war, and a result Misumi made gains in the eastern region of Lao Sansong. Eventually, Abo Tokunaga of Kanjishima Province placed loyal puppets or took over the leadership of each province. Afterward, he passed a series of laws to regulate inter-provincial conflict and create a national military.
Modern Arikata
After the conflict, Mainline Arikata attempted to rebuild relations with the various branches. Although a faction of Tesuyasists rejects the authority of the Pyuawan. During the 70s and 80s, Kon Yoshito pushed the Shogun to build forces against Misumi as a matter of religious duty. However, after the death of Yoshito in 1984 a more moderate faction took control that focused more on peace and expanding the reach of the Arikata Faith. In 2008, Imada Kyou became the first Pyuwan in history to be born outside Lao Sansong being born to a Sansongian family in suburban San Fernando, Slokais Islands. Kyou has been considered a reformer for criticizing the violent practitioners and excommunicating the Jarsaumi Clique who held anti-foreign sentiment.
Beliefs
Arikata is a polytheistic religion with a pantheon of deities controlling various functions of reality. However, the highest being is Saikoishi who does not interact with humans, instead using sprits. Arikata followers believe that all of Saikoishi's guidance is contained within the Book of Raibu. The Book of Raibu is divided into 4 mystical stories each with its core meaning, the characters in these stories are considered spirits themselves with the locations of these stories being considered mythical. The Chapters of the Book of Raibu are.
The First Phoenix
In this story, a farmer's home is destroyed by bandits. As revenge a spirit inhabits the farmer who warns the bandits if they don't atone for their sins wrath will come. Later, when the same bandits attack another farm, the Phoneix Sprit or Fenikkusuno kills all of the bandits. This story is often heavily debated, as some use the story as justification for the idea of "revenge killings" with many samurai who partake in praying to Fenikkusuno to help their task.
Sprit of Junsui Lake
A general attempting to assault a fortress is unsuccessful, situated across the lake from the fortress, he looks at it as a barrier to victory, and in a moment of desperation he crosses the lake in a boat. Once the boat is hit by burning arrows, the general jumps into the lake. When he swims to the surface he gains an immense amount of strength. From there he single-handedly defeats the enemy in battle. The story is often used to express how courage in battle will be rewarded by the spirits. Although some scholars claim, the lesson is knowing when to quit on impossible quests is the key to success.
The Mystical Woods
This story details the story of a woman who uses a grove of woods to build a coffin for her late husband. Despite being not able to afford proper tools, she uses rudimentary tools to cut wood. After weeks of work, she completes the coffin and properly buries her husband. The woman is visited by the spirits of wood who bless her with future fertility. The story's lesson is respecting your loved ones and the dead will grant you favor. Every year, many women who wish to become fertile go to Suzokya Forrest and cut down trees, with new ones being planted in their place. Additionally, temples often have groves of trees with seeds from the forest to encourage spirits to bless the faithful.
The Greedy Merchant
A king has given directions for his people not to sell jade or pearl items, however, the Merchant seeing this decides to continue selling jade and pearl. The merchant becomes wealthy being able to live a few very good months. However one night, the jade and pearl become explosive destroying their owners in the night. A mob turns on the merchant and burns his manor down with him inside. The lesson of this story is to not be greedy and to always obey authority figures even if their laws or regulations make no sense. Radical thinking has also interpreted this book as a criticism of capitalism, with Sansongian socialists often citing this story as a rationale for the regulation of business.