Editing Sho Lore (section)

== Culture ==

=== 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/>

=== Customs and Traditions ===
From [[Microsoft Zone Archive/Asheron's Lore/Winter Festivals from Ispar|Winter Festivals from Ispar]]:

:South and west of the Naqut, over the tall mountains, the Sho lands brace as both the water and the air grow cold. The weather can shift with little warning from clear skies to torrential, wind-driven rains that leave towns flooded and in ruins, and on the coldest days, snow falls from the sky and blankets the ground in a thin layer of white. Some say the first pure snow of the year is the funeral ashes of the Wind Dragon, slain so long ago by Shou-Jen.<br><br>During this time, the Imperial Capital traditionally threw open its gates, and the last of the fresh harvest was brought forth, after the bulk had been pickled, smoked, or dried for the rest of the winter. But seeing that many used the time purely for culinary excess, Emperor Kou, the founder of the Kou Dynasty, saw that wisdom's touch was needed. Believing that the Four Stones of discipline, compassion, detachment, and humility were the true foods of the soul, he decreed the celebrations must ultimately honor the Elder Spirits and the teachings of Jojii, for without truth, even the best of harvests means very little. He also decreed that the temples must release their students and acolytes during the celebration, not only to reunite families but also to permit them to glean wisdom from their students' studies.<br><br>So the temples and monasteries across the land now release their students and acolytes, who travel homeward amidst the first snowflakes to meet their families, share some of their hard-won knowledge, and enjoy days of feasting. Travelers began carrying lanterns and torches, and the waiting towns would welcome them home with a myriad of bright paper lanterns. Children too young for the monasteries especially seem to enjoy the season, when their elder siblings return home and all can engage in the festivities together. Some towns have gone so far as to host parades, celebrating the return of loved ones and another year of abundance. Thus, the Festival of Lights, starting at first as a gluttonous spectacle, grew moderated by wisdom, and came to be the celebration it now is.<br><br>The Sho lands are bright and bustling places during this season, with small groups of torchbearers walking the roads. For the Sho, the Festival of Lights is a time to accomplish great things, and reach out to assist one's neighbors.

=== Ranks ===
{|class=wikitable
!Rank
!Male Title
!Female Title
|-
|align=center| 10 
| Koutei
| Koutei
|-
|align=center| 9
| Ou
| Jo-Ou
|-
|align=center| 8
| Taikou
| Taikou
|-
|align=center| 7
| Kou
| Kou
|-
|align=center| 6
| Kun-Chueh
| Kun-Chueh
|-
|align=center| 5
| Ta-Chueh
| Ta-Chueh
|-
|align=center| 4
| Shi-Chueh
| Shi-Chueh
|-
|align=center| 3
| Nan-Chueh
| Nan-Chueh
|-
|align=center| 2
| Jo-Chueh
| Jo-Chueh
|-
|align=center| 1
| Jinin
| Jinin
|-
|}

=== 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].