[Culture] The Monks of the Děngyú Monastery

[Salty 377]

 

The Monks of the Děngyú Monastery

 

 

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Description:

 

The Děngyú Monastery is home to the Monks of Hua-Jiao, a religion once discovered by the great prophet of Hulian, describing a path of enlightenment, by following the four truths, and the eightfold path. The monks of this order devote themselves to becoming one with the energy, or chi, of the world around them. There are many different takes and intricacies to the path of hulain, and the monastery is simply a sanctuary for those who seek to explore and follow this winding path.

 

 

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An ancient painting of the Fengshui temple

 

History:

The History of the Monks of Hua-Jiao goes back far into the history of the houzi, all the way to the second jade empire. The Hou-Zi were separated by a ruthless caste system, and many found this to be unfair and ruthless to their people. This and many other reasons led the people to flock to the prophet of Hulain, the first enlightened one who first walked the eightfold path. It was soon outlawed by the god king, Hou-Shen fearing the freedom of the mind this religion brought, and the houzi whom followed it fled into the mountains, erecting the Fengshui monastery, the first of many monasteries that would be built to practice this way of life.

 

The most recent place of worship for Hua-Jiao was found within Qinghai, known as the Temple of Shen, before it was overtaken by the Tyrant Cao Cao, a son of the lineage of Shen, and a strict follower of Shen-Jiao, the worship of the god king Hou-Shen, the first Hou. From there, the father of current Lead monk Hsieh-Xin, led the houzi to build the second jade city, only for it to be destroyed in the voidal tears that plagued arcas, and for Xin to be murdered by the voidal behemoth protecting his people. Now, his son, Hsieh-Xiwang, and the remaining hou, have gathered to build a monastery to restore the council of chi, and maintain the religion of Hua-Jiao.

 

 

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An ancient manuscript of hou dialect

 

Language:

 

The Monks commonly speak the original language of the houzi in passing, otherwise known as Pubiàn. Only a few phrases of this language are known, and full sentences are rarely used except by master monks within rituals, and the knowledge of the full unhindered language is kept within the Council of Chi, to be safeguarded for events of cultural significance.

 

(original Houzi language is based off of mandarin, and the full houzi speech guide can be found here

 

 

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Common Traits:

 

The most common traits found among the monks of the order is their resolve and inner peace, though this can take many different forms. The monks spend their entire lives working to find balance within themselves, through the path of hulain and the manipulation of their inner chi, some select few being known to be able to manipulate their chi to such a point that they can enhance their physical abilities using their inner chi, though this art has been lost to time, and has yet to be rediscovered. The act of finding this balance leaves monks as a more stalwart and honest people, and they follow a strict code of ethics, failure to do such causing them to be punished or even removed in the most drastic of scenarios.

 

 

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The Paths of the monks

 

The monks of the order have two distinct paths that they follow, in order to achieve the balance and enlightenment that the path of hulain offers. They are not separate, merely two different means to the same end, two views of life around them.

 

The Way of Sun

The path of the sun is the belief in balance through connection with all living things, using ones energetic chi to externally find balance. They believe that balance and enlightenment can be found through travel, knowledge, and through interactions with other beings. They focus their chi on the outside world, seeking balance through right action. These monks are generally much more excitable and hasty, though this is not always the case

 

The Way of Moon

The path of the moon is the beleif that enlightenment and balance can be found within oneself, found through balance, peace, and neutrality. They use the peaceful and calm chi within themselves, focusing on inward perfection and harmony with the world around them, through harmony within themselves through the process of meditation and study. These monks are generally much more calm and collected, and tend to be studious and knowledgeable on many things, though this is not always the case.

 

 

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An ancient manuscript of the eight fold path of enlightenment 

 

Religion and Society:

 

The Eightfold Way, or the Ba Sheng Dao Fen (八圣道分) had also been a revelation upon Hualian’s meditations and extensive fasting. Learning to follow the eightfold way was the true path to shedding attachments to the earthly world, and achieving true enlightenment.

 

The Monks of the Monastery follow the eightfold path of enlightenment, to break oneself off from this path is to walk the path away from the order. These eight paths are as follows:

 

Right View (正見 Zheng-Jian)

 

To accept all actions have consequences, to embrace your karma, and be resolved that death is not the end of it. This is called right view.

 

 

 

Right Thought (正思惟 Zheng Si-Wei)

 

Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill will, on harmlessness: This is called right resolve.

 

 

 

Right Speech (正語 Zheng Yu)

 

Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, and from idle chatter: This is called right speech.

 

 

 

Right Action (正業 Zheng Ye)

 

Abstaining from killing, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from sexual misconduct. This is called right action.

 

 

 

Right Livelihood (正命 Zheng Ming)

 

To avoid  any life that brings shame. To avoid causing suffering to sentient beings by cheating them, or harming or killing them in any way. This is right livelihood.

 

 

 

Right Effort (正精進 Zheng Jingjin)

 

To eliminate evil and unwholesome mental states that have already arisen. To generate wholesome mental states that have not yet arisen. This is right effort.

 

 

 

Right Mindfulness (正念 Zheng Nian)

 

To contemplate the body as body, resolute, aware and mindful. To put aside worldly desire and sadness. To contemplate feelings as feelings. To abstain from craving the four contemplations of body, feelings, mind, and phenomena. This is right mindfulness.

 

 

 

Right Concentration (正定 Zheng Ding)

 

To have control over your own mind with iron discipline. To be able to focus on anything. To detach from sense desires and unwholesome states. This is right concentration.

 

 

 These creeds are the strict path of the monks of Hua-Jiao, and though it is known that none may always be perfect, and mistakes are easily forgiven, repeated breaking of these creeds and lack of repentance can force one to be completely expelled from the order if this is believed to be the case, and they are tried and condemned. This extreme is only used for those who are not remorseful, and who act far outside of the creeds that they take upon joining the monks.

 

The monks also believe the four truths, and while they are not enforced, from the beginning of their training the monks are taught to always meditate and focus on these truths, using them to enrich their lives and change their mental state to one which is enriched and righteous. 

 

The truths are as follows:

 

Life, by default, is defined by suffering.

 

The root cause of suffering is the soul’s instinct to desire and crave.

 

Suffering is eliminated through the release of all earthly desires, including love, wealth, family, and health.

 

The path to enlightenment is achieved through an eight-step process called the Eightfold Way.

 

 

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A painting of the prophet Hulain

 

Hierarchy and the Council of Chi:

 

The Monks of the order of chi have a council system, where the elder monks make up the council of chi, a council which acts and votes on any political matter, as well as votes and upholds the law of the monks, giving trial to those whom wane from the path, as well as judging the students, to see if they have earned a place among the order.

 

The social system of the monks is generally as follows:

 

Laoshi: the face of the order, this monk has the authority to discuss treaties and policies with other nations, and works to the highest standard to maintain peace and neutrality with all other groups and nations. They answer to the council of chi, and should the Laoshi act out of the will of the people, they may be forcibly removed by majority vote of the council.

 

The Council of chi: the council of chi consists of either elder monks, or in the case of before when the chi manipulation was not a lost art, the council would be made up of the most devoted and wise chi monks. They are the judges and lawmakers of the land, as well as the elders and keepers of wisdom.

 

Monks: those who come and are accepted into the order are given the title of monk. All who follow the path of hulain are given this title, and each of them are equal in right and respect to every other member of the order. All are equal within the monks.

 

Students: Students are those who are taught by a monk, and have not been given the rank of monk yet. This title is normally only kept for two cycles of the moon, before being tried by the council of chi for entry into the order.

 

Xiongdi: Xiongdi are those who live within the city of Tongyi-Hu, yet are not involved in the monastery, these can be other hou-zi, family of the monks, shop owners, anyone who lives within the city may claim the title of Xiongdi.

 

 

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Pastimes and festivities

 

The Monks of the order have many festivals and events, sports, and much more.

The festivals often had are:
 

The Festival of the moon

 

A festival, used as a time to remember those who had passed on to the afterlife, this festival is a celebration, with many intricate dishes, sports, and much more, as well as a retelling of the story of the houzi, from long ago to present day.

 

The Competition of the crane

 

A competition of balance and speed, the competition of the crane is one where many monks compete to prove their speed and agility, balancing on thin bamboo, firing arrows at long range, and performing many cultural sports, it is one of the most widely anticipated events within the order.

 

The Great fishing competition

Houzi are known as masterful fishermen, and this tradition has spread to the order of monks, often times the monks can be found holding their own private competitions, but the great fishing competition is a way for the monks to keep their food supplies up whist also focusing on the world around them, and connecting to the chi of all of the forest and nature around them.

 

 

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A painting of a way of moon student

 

Clothing

 

The monks of the order generally wear robes, normally of either a light blue or a bright red, symbolizing their path of balance that they choose. They can also be seen wearing light loose armor, though it is rare to find a monk wearing heavy armor or chain, as it is generally seen as too limiting, and a waste of mobility, as the monks generally fight with an agile and quick form of martial art. 

 

 

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A painting of the Dengyu Monastery 

 

Architecture

 

The monks style of architecture takes after that of the ancient houzi, they build their homes and monasteries using an early age chinese-tibetian style, with many statues, arcways, and shrines. Hou architecture is known as some of the largest and most diverse in all of arcas, and that is no different within the monastery of Děngyú.

 

 

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Fighting style and combat

 

The monks of the order swear an oath not to kill another sentient creature, as it is against the oath of right action. However, defending yourself is required, and it is a necessary evil that the monks prepare for. The monks practice the art of Gongfu, an ancient martial art that the monks use to incapacitate those who seek to harm them. The monks of the order are known for using staffs and weapons which harm, but not kill. The way of sun is very aggressive, and exercises vigorously, along with constantly practicing this art, while the way of the moon is reactive and defensive, using the martial art to purely defend themselves and incapacitate quickly. A detailed explanation of the martial art will be released at a later date.

 

 

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Credit: 

 

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/167063-hou-zi-naming-speech-guide/

 

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/166150-hua-jiao-the-path-to-enlightenment/

 

 

 

[UmbreScye 535]

Feng Guihua read through the missive, nodding approvingly to the contents. She smiled from her shelter within the Silver State, already writing letters to her Xiongdi comrades around the globe to find the Monks of Dengyu Monastery... “Guihua is very pleased to see Hou move forward from tragedy. To see such disciplined group form, Guihua is eager to join up with comrade.” She commented idly at a free desk, continuing to write with a blissful mood.

[Nozgoth 3083]

((AWESOME!))

Kuai reads the missive passively as he takes a stroll through a green forest “Kuai is very excited and wish to be apart of order!” he’d continue to happily trot through the forest with a smile on his face!

[Evonpire 2014]

“It is time” Yu-Wangzi Liao Chen would say, standing up and beginning to march.

[Zacho 2177]

A rather Albino dark elf stood on the edge of a cliff with a deep fall. He’d read over the information provided and offer a simple nod, now knowing the truth of his destiny in life. He spoke softly to himself “The Order arise again. Good for us.” He’d nod once more and set off back into the far reaches of civilization, soon to arrive with the Hou-zi where he believed that he once belonged.