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Seneca Islands: Difference between revisions
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→History: Added stuff about the Hō-Rikkyō order!
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The archaeological record suggests the Seneca Islands have been continuously populated since the 6000s BC, although mostly by transient groups. Scholars believe the ancestors of the modern residents of the island arrived in approximately 1500 BC. The "''Saga''" says that these fishermen came from the "far islands", i.e. [[Oyashima]], and scholars believe this part of the story may be true. The residents established rudimentary city-states by the 700s BC. | The archaeological record suggests the Seneca Islands have been continuously populated since the 6000s BC, although mostly by transient groups. Scholars believe the ancestors of the modern residents of the island arrived in approximately 1500 BC. The "''Saga''" says that these fishermen came from the "far islands", i.e. [[Oyashima]], and scholars believe this part of the story may be true. The residents established rudimentary city-states by the 700s BC. | ||
=== | ===''Hō-Rikkyō'' period=== | ||
During the year 712 CE, an order of Shugendō ''yamabushi'', or "Mountain Warriors/Monks" were exiled from Oyashima, and eventually sailed to Seneca in the year 718 CE, with the story of their voyage being heavily embellished across the ages, eventually becoming known as the "''Second Saga''". The ''yamabushi''were well received by the native chieftains of the Senecas who had no known contact with {{wp|Buddhism}} prior to the arrival of the order. In particular, the chieftain of the city Hōshonen, named Shikama, took great interest in the order and personally took it upon himself to host the ''yamabushi'' in Hōshonen. Interest in Shugendō very quickly spread among the populace, and eventually Shikama declared worship of the Buddha and Fudō Myōō to be the state religion. In addition, he undertook several military ventures against the other city states of Seneca, eventually uniting the islands by the year 739 CE. However, Shikama passed away soon after, and notably named the order, which had begun to call itself ''Hō-Rikkyō'' by this point, as the custodians of the islands and its sacred mountains. Their rule was not contested, and a monastic state based in the Seneca Islands developed. | |||
The ''Hō-Rikkyō'' served as the ''de facto'' rulers of Seneca from 740 CE to 1061 CE, before they were conquered by Anzo. The state power was held by the ''yamabushi'', who served as the military force of the island. The mystics established a hierarchy based upon spiritual communion with the sacred mountains, with initiation into the order being determined by a council of influential ''yamabushi''. Taxes were collected from either rice, wheat, salt or barley, as the order viewed itself as the supreme custodians of the land, and all the human inhabitants as lessees. Although Hōshonen was the largest and primary trade city, the monastery of Gō-Shukakkyō served as the center of government, being the primary residence and holy site of the ''Hō-Rikkyō''. The mystics played an extensive role in the everyday life of the people, providing exorcism, calling upon spirits for fertility rites, leading monthly sacrifice to the mountains and providing weekly fire ceremonies in the homes of commoners. Although there was no attempt to record history, the notes of the ''yamabushi'' who provided these services has allowed scholars to reconstruct the life and history of the order. | |||
By 852 CE, contact with [[Oyashima]] was reestablished, and Seneca served as the primary conduit for trade between Alshar and Crona. However, between the year 889 C÷ and 910 CE, there was a rash of prayers fir safety and victory in war, and an account from Oyashima noting that the city of Hōshonen was beset by pirates indicates that the islands were in a state of intermittent war with Cronan pirates. However, by 911 CE, these prayer notes cease, indicating that the ''yamabushi'' were successful in repelling these pirates. Records from mainland Crona indicate that contact between Seneca and the mainland increased following this period, with several styles written in Senecan Japanese being uncovered in the mainland, as well as a large influx of Cronan jade being imported by Oyashima. However, eventually the mainland was subjugated by [[Anzo]] who eventually set his sights on the ''Hō-Rikkyō'' | |||
===Conquest by Anzo=== | ===Conquest by Anzo=== | ||
===Golden age of Cronan shipbuilding=== | ===Golden age of Cronan shipbuilding=== | ||