Culture of Metzetta

The traditional culture of Metzetta is the shared cultural and historical heritage of the people and empire of Metzetta. As one of the world's oldest continuous cultures, Metzettans have passed down their traditional narratives in a variety of ways.

Clans and stratification
Metzettan society has a well-defined aristocracy, and while movement into a higher economic class is perfectly possible, the prestige of belonging to a high-ranking clan cannot be bought. At the top of the hierarchy of clans is the imperial family; following them are the ancient Ssuseol, Pyeolhae and Apsu clans of the Iyagi-ingan; below them are the Kino, Haruka, Migyung, Zuzeonhwa and Jaenan clans of the Iyagi-segye. Following these families the lines become progressively blurrier as one descends the ladder of social prestige.

Family Structure
Historically the extended family has been very important in Metzettan culture, however in recent years there has been a shift to focusing on the nuclear model of man, wife and children. Extended-family homes still exist, particularly among the aristocrats who can afford buildings large enough, but are now the minority, with the exception of many elderly parents moving in with their children at the end of their lives.

Naming conventions
The traditional format for Metzettan names has been to place the surname first and follow it with the given name, which is itself often taken from an ancestor several generations before. Metzettans do not have middle names. Noble titles are used. There are only around 300 surnames in common use in Metzetta; marrying someone of the same surname is considered a strong taboo, even today, regardless of how closely the two people are actually related by blood. Metzettan women take on their husband's surname, and children also inherit their surnames from their father. The royal family take their surnames from the most recent female to hold the office at the time of their ascension, meaning new surnames are created every few decades.

Genealogy
Main article: Genealogy in Metzetta

Ancestry is considered very important in Metzettan culture, and most citizens have a casual knowledge of the high-ranking clans' connections through blood and marriage. Books are regularly published detailing births and marriages in families and most people can trace at least one branch of their family with confidence for hundreds of years.

Etiquette
The Metzi language includes an honorifics system which is strictly adhered to except in the most casual of circumstances.

Metzi
Main article: Metzi

The Metzi language is written using hangul and is considered a language isolate, meaning no relations to other languages have been proven to exist. The word order is subject-object-verb.

Indigenous minority languages
Indigenous languages of ethnic Metzettans, mostly from the southern islands, are recognised and protected, with dictionaries regularly published and surveys undertaken to establish the health of each language.

Foreign languages
Foreign languages are taught to all Metzettan school students, with the specific languages often being chosen by the children themselves. The most common second languages are English and Latin.

Chulcheo
Main article: Chulcheo

The progenitor of all things in Chulcheo is Nalag, the primordial force of chaos. From Nalag came Sim-yeon, the god of the sea, an enormous red whale whose tail causes the waves, and Haneul, goddess of the sky, a gigantic bird whose wings cause the wind. Sim-yeon and Haneul's child was Hwasan, a great bear who raised the land from the sea and raised the mountains above the land. Hwasan created Ip, who placed the plants upon the land, Uloe who caused thunder and lightning, and Ugi, the rain god. Before retreating to the Moon, Nalag also created Majimag, the god of death, a skeleton who puffs a pipe until the smoke forms demons, and Taeyang, the sun. Majimag in turn created Ssaum, the god of war. Taeyang had 3 daughters: Hwajae, the goddess of love and fire; Jihye, the goddess of knowledge; and Won-in, the goddess of fertility. Jihye became the mother of the demigods, while Won-in gave birth to all the beasts and animals of the land.

Ssaum and Hwajae had a daughter; Dalrae, the first woman. This is the mythical origin of the human race. Dalrae and the demigod of the stars, Byeol, had many children, the first of whom was Yang, the founder of Meseda-jo and one of the most important figures in Metzettan legend. From these few figures all the men and women of the world are said to be descended. While it is not true in reality than the human race originated in Metzetta, this origin tale indicates that the people of other lands went forth from Metzetta to found their respective countries.

Catholicism
Catholicism has entered Metzetta and is most prevalent in Ankae, the port through which most missionaries would have arrived.

Buddhism
Buddhism arrived in Metzetta from Tanhai.

Other religions
Other religions exist only as minorities in Metzetta and receive little-to-no recognition from the government.

Atheism
Atheism has been traditionally unpopular and treated with suspicion in Metzetta however it has become more and more common over the last few generations.

Festivals and holidays
Main article: Holidays in Metzetta

Metzettan festivals include Chusu (the harvest festival), Saehae (celebrating the New Year) and Gaehwa (the blossom festival). Christmas is not regarded as an important holiday but is still offered as a public holiday, if only to allow people to begin preparations for Saehae. In the past the dates for holidays were celebrated according to the lunar calendar but under the reforms of Emperor Daeku they were fixed in place on the solar calendar.

Folklore
Main article: Metzettan Folklore

Metzetta has a rich tapestry of folk-tales and beliefs. The story of Dalrae fighting a bear is widely taught in schools.

Conspiracy theories also hold a place in modern Metzettan folklore.

Education
Main article: Education in Metzetta

Metzetta boasts several ancient universities and its citizens place a high value on educating themselves and their children. Education is free and compulsory until the age of 16 (homeschooling is also an option). Students may elect to stay on for 2 further years of education, which most do. University education is heavily subsidised for citizens, but remains expensive for foreign students.

Primary education
Primary education starts at age 4 and continues for 7 years; each year can be abbreviated as PX, with P1 being the first year, P2 being the second and so on.

Secondary education
Secondary education starts at age 11 and continues for 5 years, with two more optional years (S6 and S7) offered to all students.

Tertiary education
Main article: Universities in Metzetta

Most students apply for university in Metzetta, which lasts for 3 or 4 years depending on the course chosen. The government of Metzetta run National Universities in every province and metropolitan city of the country to ensure all citizens have access to tertiary education. After receiving a degree, students may enrol in postgraduate programmes at most universities.

Marriage
A happy marriage is considered essential for a fulfilling life in Metzettan popular thought. Only marriages between one man and one woman are legally accepted; polyamory is almost unheard of, and same-sex marriages are not offered or recognised.

Sex
Adultery is punishable by up to two years in prison for both the adulterer and their extra-marital partner.

Women
Women enjoy the same rights as men in Metzetta, and their interests are protected by the Metzettan Ministry of Women. There are several woman-only universities in the country and women are eligible for the position of Empress.

Race
Employers in Metzetta have been accused of preferring Metzettans over non-Metzettans but little in the way of legislation has been passed to address this. The imperial family often marry into noble families of other races to maintain their status throughout the world.

Philosophy
Main article: Metzettan Philosophy

Chulcheo, the dominant religion of Metzetta, has been extremely influential on popular thought in the country.

Smoking
Pipe-smoking has been popular in Metzetta since antiquity, and remains so today; with cigarettes also becoming much-enjoyed in recent decades. The country's medical experts are concerned by this popularity but have little idea on how the problem could best be addressed, with public health warnings being routinely ignored.

Cuisine
Main article: Cuisine in Metzetta

Metzettan cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. Metzettan cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, fish and meats. Traditional Metzettan meals are noted for the number of side dishes, banchan (반찬), which accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Metzetta is unique among Alshari countries in its use of metal chopsticks rather than wooden or bamboo ones.

Staple foods
Rice has been Metzetta's staple food for thousands of years, followed by noodles of various kinds which were a later addition. Pork and chicken are the most consumed meats, with the relatively expensive beef being kept for special treats only by most families.

Seasonal foods
Every Metzettan festival has associated foods which make use of readily available foodstuffs for the time of year in which the festival is held.

Fast food
Ramyeonba is a popular fast food chain in Metzetta and their most popular chain abroad.

NoWaiter and Prontoburger franchises also exist in Metzetta and are popular with the youth.

Confectionary
Metzettans enjoy unique candies of a huge variety of flavours, with plum flavour candies often proving the most popular.

Beverages
Soft drinks, and energy drinks in particular, have become popular with Metzettan children to the concern of doctors and dentists.

Alcoholic beverages are enjoyed by most adults, with a preference for white spirits such as the traditional Metzettan spirit of soju.

Foreign foods
Foreign foods have become increasingly popular in Metzetta since the conclusion of the Second Great War, particularly burgers and pizza.

Sports
Main article: Sports in Metzetta

Metzetta was chosen to host the first Istroyan Games, and did so in Hanzeong in 1950. Hanzeong also hosted the Winter Games in 2000. The International Istroyan Games Committee have announced Metzetta will host its second Summer Games in 2030; this time it will be held in Ankae.

Popular sports
Professional wrestling has become a popular spectator sport with the nation's youth. Boxing has been popular in Metzetta since its introduction and major bouts attract millions of viewers. Soccer, baseball, basketball and volleyball are some foreign sports which have caught on hugely in Metzetta; the national football team were victorious in the 1994 WAFF World Cup, held in Pelaxia, and the 1970 World Cup was hosted in Metzetta. Ice hockey also draws large crowds in the busier cities.

Traditional sports
The martial art Taekwondo originated in Metzetta. Traditional Metzettan wrestling is known as Ssireum.

Metzettan University Sports Federation
The MUSF runs leagues for most popular sports to be played by teams from Metzettan universities. The games are popularly watched and often televised in their final stages.

Transport
Main article: Transport in Metzetta

Car culture
The four largest car manufacturers based in Metzetta are Hyansae Motors, Miu Motors, Jadocha Motors and Sung-Gohan Automobiles (known internationally as Imperial Automobiles). A significant culture has arisen around the car in Metzetta, with people forming clubs for specific brands or decades, discussing their craftsmanship, engineering, aesthetics and performance. Metzettans tend to prefer well-preserved stock cars over modified cars but custom paintjobs and performance upgrades are not unheard of.

Transport Deokhu
A "deokhu" is someone who is obsessed with something in Metzettan slang, perhaps the most famous among them are the train-deokhu who obsess over train models, liveries, lines and timetables, often constructing miniature railways in their homes, though deokhu can exist for anything; in the world of transport, ship-deokhu and aircraft-deokhu are also notable subcultures.

Science and technology
Metzi's unique hangul alphabet has often led to a separation between Metzettan technology and that of the rest of the world.

Computing
Main article: History of computing in Metzetta

Metzetta's first PC was the Heiran 8, released in 1972.

Video games
Main article: History of video games in Metzetta

Video games have been popular in Metzetta since their introduction and remain so today. Early hits were to be found in the arcades but soon home consoles and PCs took over almost entirely.

Internet
Metzetta's capital of Hanzeong has offered free city-wide public Wi-Fi since 2024, with plans for similar services in Ankae, Jamsu and Inyang to open before 2030. The country's top-level domain code is .mz. Rural regions have been slow to adopt fibre-optic broadband, with many isolated households still using dial-up modems.

Mobile phones
Mobile phones (also known as cellular phones) have been particularly prone to the separation caused by Metzi's writing system due to their reliance on an efficient, small keyboard. Flip phones remained popular for a few years longer in Metzetta than in most of the developed world, and the form-factor can still be found in modern models, albeit with much reduced popularity following the advent of the smartphone.

Symbols
The magnolia tree is one of Metzetta's most treasured symbols, and the Metzettan Magpie is the national bird.

Flags
Main article: Flag of Metzetta

The flag of Metzetta consists of an indigo field with red stripes down either side, and a stylised magnolia blossom in the centre, with white petals and a central yellow circle. The indigo section in the middle forms a perfect square. The colour scheme of the flag has become a popular symbol in its own right. Flags also exist for each province and metropolitan city in the country.

Honours system
Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Metzetta

The current Metzettan Honours System began in 1860 with Emperor Daeku's reforms; he created The Order of The Magnolia Tree, The Order of The Sacred Lotus, the Imperial Medals of Honour, and formalised Metzetta's ancient peerage system. Since then several other honours have been added, and the system is often used as a display of friendship between nations by bestowing prestigious ranks upon foreign heads of state.

Architecture
Main article: Metzettan Architecture

Traditional homes
Traditional Metzettan homes are known as meok. Sites of residency, floor plans and materials were traditionally chosen using geomancy. Traditional Metzettan houses can be structured into an inner wing (안채, anchae) and an outer wing (사랑채, sarangchae). The individual layout largely depends on the region and the wealth of the family. Whereas aristocrats used the outer wing for receptions, poorer people kept cattle in the sarangchae. The inner wing normally consisted of a living room, a kitchen, and a wooden-floored central hall. More rooms may be attached to this. Poorer farmers would not have any outer wings. Floor heating (온돌, ondol) has been used in Metzetta since prehistoric times. The main building materials are wood, clay, tile, stone, and thatch.

Metzettan pagodas
Early Metzettan pagodas were constructed from wood, but eventually stone became the favoured building material.

Royal architecture and tombs
Perhaps the most famous architectural site in all of Metzetta is the Jangeomhan Gungjeon Imperial Complex, a large, traditional establishment which is home to the Emperor and hosts many government offices.

Metzettan Fortresses
The capital city of Hanzeong was once surrounded by a fortress wall to provide its citizens with security from wild animals, thieves and attacks, but most of the original wall no longer stands; a short stretch and several original gates do survive today and are protected. While the walls still stood, the gates of the city were opened and closed each day, signalled by the ringing of bells from Doechaemun Belfry.

Modern Architecture
A small number of supertall structures are planned for construction in Metzetta.

Gardens
Main article: Gardens in Metzetta

Metzettan gardens
Water is an important feature in Metzettan Gardens; if there is a natural stream, often a pavilion is built next to it, allowing the pleasure of watching the water. Terraced flower beds are a common feature in traditional Metzettan gardens.

Notable gardens
The most famous garden in Metzetta is almost certainly the Emperor's Gardens.

Art
Main article: Metzettan Art

Painting
The earliest paintings found on the Metzettan peninsula are petroglyphs of prehistoric times. There is a tendency towards naturalism with subjects such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds being particularly popular. Ink is the most common material used, and it is painted on mulberry paper or silk. Humorous details are sometimes present.

Sculpture
The most prominent figures sculpted for most of Metzetta's history were Yang-jo and Dalrae.

Crafts
There is a unique set of handicrafts produced in Metzetta. Most of the handicrafts are created for particular everyday use, often giving priority to practical use rather than aesthetics. Traditionally, metal, wood, fabric, lacquerware, and earthenware were the main materials used, but later glass, leather or paper have sporadically been used. Many sophisticated and elaborate handicrafts have been excavated, including gilt crowns, patterned pottery, pots or ornaments. The use of bronze was advanced. Brass, that is copper with one third zinc, has been a particularly popular material. Popular handicrafts were made of porcelain and decorated with blue painting. Woodcraft was also advanced during that period. This led to more sophisticated pieces of furniture, including wardrobes, chests, tables or drawers. Metzettan furniture represents one of the great woodworking and design heritages of Alshar and the world. It is part of a craft that goes back well over a millennium, keeping alive a tradition that remains unchanged from at least the seventeenth century. It is this tradition that has made Metzettan furniture one of the most sought-after styles of exotic furniture by antique dealers and collectors worldwide. Immediately recognizable as Metzettan, this unique art was only "discovered" by the West in the late 1920s.

Ceramics
Jade green celadon-ware was popular in Metzetta's antiquity. Designs painted in cobalt-blue on white porcelain later became more popular.

Calligraphy
Metzettan calligraphy, known also as Seoye, is the ancient art of artistically written hangul, traditionally created with a brush and ink on mulberry paper.

Theatre
Metzettan theatre performances were originally done in courtyards but which have now moved to stages; the artform remains vibrant today domestically but is little heard-of abroad. Early productions had no fixed script, instead being passed down orally.

Literature
Main article: Metzettan Literature

Books are prized possessions in Metzettan culture, with many houses (and all noble houses) containing a dedicated library.

Prose
The earliest examples of Metzettan prose were written versions of stories which had been passed down orally.

Poetry
Zijo is a traditional form of Metzettan poetry which arose in the late 14th century and is still written today. Bucolic, metaphysical and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14–16 syllables, for a total of 42–48: theme (3, 4,4,4); elaboration (3,4,4,4); counter-theme (3,5) and completion (4,3).

Comics
Metzettan comics are known in the west as Mehwa.

Music
Main article: Music of Metzetta

Traditional music
Metzettan traditional music is referred to as gugak, which literally means "national music."

Modern music
Modern Metzettan popular music (Metz-Pop) is an important cultural export. The first musical act to have any success outside of Alshar were The Kukki Sisters, who rose to prominence in Urcea following the Second Great War.

Foreign music
Before the Second Great War, the only music of foreign origin performed in Metzetta was classical. Afterwards, imported music slowly began to trickle in on vinyl records. While still seldom played on the radio, foreign albums have been known to chart in Metzetta now and again.

Instruments
Traditional Metzettan instruments include the tanso (an end-blown bamboo flute, an example of which is part of the imperial regalia), the geomungo (a fretted bass zither), the bipa (a pear-shaped lute with five strings), the haegeum (a vertical two-stringed fiddle), the hun (an end-blown globular flute), the piri (a bamboo oboe) and assorted drums, cymbals and percussion.

In modern times Metzetta has been an industry leader in the production of electric guitars, basses, synthesizers, effects units and studio equipment.

Dance
Main article: Metzettan Dance

Metzettan traditional dance originated in shamanistic rituals performed thousands of years ago. By the year 1000 AD, several dances had attained a permanent high status, including the fan dance, two swords dance, ghost dance, hermit dance, monk dance, mask dance and silk dance. The 1970s saw a systematic effort to catalogue the traditional Metzettan dances lest they become lost to time.

Film
Main article: Film in Metzetta

Metzettans strongly prefer to watch Metzettan films rather than foreign ones, perhaps because they are the only country producing movies in the Metzi language.

Television
Main article: Television in Metzetta

Metzettan dramas are a minor cultural export, often considered to be riding the success of Metzettan popular music.

Animation
Animation constitutes a major part of the Metzettan film and television scene; even music videos are sometimes animated. Foreign networks often contract Metzettan animation studios due to their speedy deliveries and competitive prices.

Fashion
Main article: Fashion in Metzetta

Traditional clothing
Main article: Mettubok

Mettubok (literally "mountain clothes") is the traditional dress of Metzetta. The basic structure of mettubok consists of the jeogori jacket, baji pants, chima skirt, and the po coat; it was designed to facilitate easy movement. Metzettans wear the mettubok today for formal or semi-formal occasions and events such as festivals, celebrations, and ceremonies including weddings. In 2000, Empress Joya instituted Mettubok Day to encourage Metzettans to continue honouring their fine clothing tradition.

Modern clothing
Modern Metzettan fashion brands which are popular include NoSecrets, ZVibe and Gwihan. Jamsu has long been the heart of the country's textile industry.

Heritage preservation
Heritage preservation in Metzetta is over seen by the Cultural Heritage Administration of the Metzettan People (CHAMP). Several universities specialise in studying the country's shared national heritage. Important items are classified as national treasures, historic sites, natural monuments, folklore treasures, intangible cultural heritages, national parks and living treasures.