Editing Sho (section)

=== Real World Basis ===
The Sho culture is based on East Asian cultures, in particular the cultures of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan Japan] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_China China].

Numerous names for Sho places and items are Japanese or Chinese. The word [[Ono]] is Japanese for "axe".<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ono_(weapon) Wikipedia - Ono (weapon)]</ref> The word Yoroi comes from Ō-Yoroi, Japanese for "great armor".<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-yoroi Wikipedia - O-yoroi]</ref> The name of the forest town of [[Lin]] most likely comes from the Chinese name Lin, meaning "forest".<ref>[http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/chi.php Behind the Name: Chinese Names]</ref>

The Sho naming system of having the surname first and the given name last is based on the naming traditions of China,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_name Wikipedia - Chinese name]</ref> Japan,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_name Wikipedia - Japanese name]</ref> Korea,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_name Wikipedia - Korean name]</ref> and Vietnam.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_name Wikipedia - Vietnamese name]</ref>

The three elder spirits have basis in reality as well. Ryujii, the [[Dragon of Power]] is most likely based on the Japanese dragon god named [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%ABjin Ryūjin]. Chiran-Tou, the [[Unicorn of Grace]], is most likely based on the Japanese and Korean [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirin Kirin], derived from the Chinese [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin Qilin], sometimes called the Chinese unicorn. Iiwah, the [[Firebird of Splendor]], may be based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenghuang Fenghuang], the Chinese phoenix, although the names are not similar.

The Four Stones of Jojii are most likely based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism Taoist] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Treasures_%28Taoism%29 Three Jewels], which could be interpreted as compassion, humility, and frugality or simplicity. The four stones of Jojii change frugality or simplicity to detachment from worldly things, and add the fourth stone of discipline.

The four houses of the [[Tanada Clan of Nanjou Shou-Jen]], Air, Earth, Water, and Fire, correspond to four of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_elements_%28Japanese_philosophy%29 five elements of Japanese philosophy] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mah%C4%81bh%C5%ABta four great elements of Buddhism].