Editing Sho (section)

=== Religions and Beliefs ===
The Sho believe in a divine creator referred to as the One.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/><ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/> The One created the three Elders  to rule the world: the Unicorn of Grace, the Firebird of Splendor, and the Dragon of Power. Humans were created as servants to the Unicorn of Grace.<ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/> But mankind forcibly rose above his station and seized the domain that Grace once ruled.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/><ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/> Grace left the world and was hidden, Splendor fled and became elusive, and the Dragon of Power became a treacherous ally to man.<ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/> This action by man caused the pillars of Heaven to shake so hard that many evil beasts, once imprisoned by the Elders in the darkness, to break free of their chains and come rushing back to the world of mankind.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/> Of these creatures the most feared was the [[Wind Serpent]], son of the Dragon of Power. He had seven heads and rode upon the wind, breathing fire that consumed entire villages.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/> 
<br><br>The details of what came next are debated (see The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii [[AC:DM CD Lore/Ispar Texts/Sho Heritage/The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 1)|Version 1]] and [[AC:DM CD Lore/Ispar Texts/Sho Heritage/The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 2)|Version 2]]) but what is clear is that [[Shou-Jen Rian]], aided by the the Unicorn and Firebird, was able to defeat the Wind Serpent.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/> The Dragon, seeing the people rejoicing and the remains of his son, was enraged and leaped down from Heaven. Though forbidden to destroy them, he drove the people across the land, burning their crops, destroying their homes, and forcing them to move on, until mankind was driven all the way to the sea.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/><ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/> There, the Shou-Jen family and others settled and named their kingdom after the Dragon (Ryujii) to placate the Elder. However, six families instead built boats, sailed away, and founded the island nations of Iiwah and Chiran-tou, named after the Firebird and Unicorn.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/><ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/>
<br><br>For centuries after the founding the three kingdoms, the three Elder Spirits dominated the beliefs of the Sho. Around 800 years ago a man named Jojii received a vision from the Unicorn of Grace on how to reach Paradise.<ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/><ref name=CommentsOnJojiism/> In his vision, he saw four stones around him in a square: a stone named Humility was in front of him. A stone named Discipline was to his right. To his left was a stone named Detachment. And behind him was a stone called Compassion.<ref name=CommentsOnJojiism/> On this vision, Jojii said,

:''"I knew then that Humility must always be before me; that Discipline was my weapon to cleave through all foes and vices, and that Detachment was my shield against all hurts and sufferings. And ever supporting me and following me was Compassion, which should be the only footprint that I should leave behind in life. These Four Stones I saw as the foundations of living, the stones that pave the way to our return to Paradise."'' <small>- [[Jojii Zhen Gai Comments on the Teachings of Jojii]]</small>

After his vision, Jojii began to teach the Four Stones of Humility, Discipline, Detachment and Compassion. This new religion, called Jojiism, gradually became the guiding school of thought for the Sho.<ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/>