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Bill: OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP)
Details
Submitted by[?]: Yoko Kake Meguppātī
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This bill is a resolution. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: August 3965
Description[?]:
| This bill is created in order to protect the Sekowan culture from radical and unrealistic changes, in conformity to game rules (cf. http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6363). The cultural protocols index for all nations is here - http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6365 === === === === === === === === CULTURE New players can think of Sekowo’s culture as being essentially Japanese, and it is acceptable to play in Sekowo as though one were playing in a real life equivalent of Japan. However, Sekowo has a rich history and a culture that goes beyond simply standard Japanese, and players are encouraged to take this into account. Sekowo’s culture is largely based on that of the Ryukyu Islands, primarily the Ryukyu Kingdom and the Okinawa Prefecture, with a large number of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican, primarily Mayan, influences, as well as some Chinese, other East Asian, and Greco-Roman influences. === === === === === === === === NAMING Characters should have mostly Japanese names. Names can also be in Ryukyuan, but this is not required as it takes significantly more effort than finding Japanese names. Players are encouraged, but not required, to incorporate a small number of Mayan, French, Greek/Latin, or Ainu names, and to take into account the special Ryukyuan (as opposed to standard Japanese) character of Sekowo in character names insofar as they can. It is recommended that party names are in Japanese, but they may also be written in English. For Ryukyuan names, it seems people in Okinawa now use standardized Japanese versions of their original names. === === === === === === === === RESOURCES/LINKS ~~ Sekowo Wiki page(s) ~~ http://particracy.wikia.com/wiki/Sekowo ~~ Translation & random Japanese name generators ~~ https://translate.google.com/ http://www.behindthename.com/random/ http://fantasynamegenerators.com/ ~~ For players who are so-inclined, some useful resources for adding Okinawan flavor ~~ http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Ryukyuan_names Ryukyuan names http://www.jlect.com/search.php?r=&h=&k=&l=okinawa Okinawan-Japanese dictionary https://books.google.com/books/about/Okinawan_English_Wordbook.html?id=8guTfpBKm5kC&hl=en Okinawan-English Wordbook https://incubator.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wp/ryu/%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8 Okinawan language text of Wikipedia === === === === === === === === BRIEF PRE-GAME HISTORY The first recorded events in Sekowan history are represented by the old Orinco civilization, based on RL Mayan civilization, which flourished in antiquity. Sekowo was first unified under the Orinco-led Tsekwon Empire, which lasted until 589 when the Empire collapsed into a number of independent kingdoms and city-states. In the 13th century most of Sekowo was conquered by the Empire of Gao-Soto (RL Medieval Japan/Imperial China), until Gao-Soto was conquered and colonized by Luthori and Sekowo again entered a period of disunity. The nation was again unified under the Kunihito (Japonic) Kingdom of Sekowo (based on the Ryukyu Kingdom) in the 17th century, which was to last until 1875. During the Kingdom of Sekowo the nation was brought under the colonial control of Egelion, and the colony was later transferred under the control of Rildanor. In 2193 Sekowo gained its independence as the Union of Sekowo. === === === === === === === === ETHNICITY The Sekowans constitute the dominant ethnic group in Sekowo. They are a subdivision of the Kunihito (Japanese) ethnicity, which is itself a part of the Gao-Showa (East Asian) meta-ethnicity. Sekowans are based on the Ryukyuan people in culture and appearance, and while most Sekowans are secular, most culturally identify with the Sekowan version of Kamism (Shinto), which is based on the Ryukyuan religion, and to Cheng Daenism (Mahayana Buddhism), as well as to Guidao (Taoism) and Jienism (Confucianism). Unlike other Kunihito (Japanese) peoples, Sekowans also have heavy Indralan (Chinese) influences. The Orincos are the largest ethnic minority in Sekowo, which was in antiquity the cradle of Orinco civilization. Orincos are based on contemporary Mayans, and most speak the Orinco language (Mayan languages). However, the Orinoco are also partly Solentian (Greco/Roman), owing to extensive inter-marriage during the Aretist period. Most Orincos adhere to Orinco Polytheism (Mayan Religion), although many also practice Kamism (Shinto), Daenism (Buddhism), Hosianism (Christianity), or Aretism or Neo-Aretism. Orincos belong to the Shinjalan ethnic group, which includes other ethnicities based on RL pre-Columbian Mesoamericans. The Sécowonnais are a mixed ethnic group, a legacy of Sekowo’s colonial history. They are based on various RL Metis groups, and they speak Canrillaise (French) and related languages. Most Sécowonnais adhere to Hosianism (Christianity), and many also adhere to Kamism (Shinto), Daenism (Buddhism), or Orinco Polytheism (Mayan Religion). The Klikut are a small minority in Sekowo, and they are distantly related to the Orincos. They are RL equivalents of Inuit. The Enlii (Anglo-Celtics) are a small, well-integrated minority group. During the nationalist dictatorship of Miyamoto Takimoto, many Sekowans went into exile in Kirlawa and elsewhere. Following “The Returning” of Kodos Fairname and the subsequent downfall of Miyamoto Takimoto’s nationalist dictatorship in the 3940s, some of these exiles returned to Sekowo, bringing along family members (from the Enlii ethnicity) from Kirlawa. In addition, a small portion of the Enlii come from previous Sekowan trade, travel, and intermarriage with people in the former Kirlawan colony of New Englia on the east side of Dovani. Sekowan = Ryukyuan/Japanese people Kunihito = Japanese Gao-Showa = East Asians Orinco = Mayans Shinjalans = Amerindians Sécowonnais = Francophone Metis people Klikut = Inuit Kazulians = Scandinavians Solentians = Maltese & Greco-Roman Enlii = Anglo-Celtic ~Percentages of the Population~ Sekowans = 61% Orincos = 15% Sécowonnais = 7% Other Shinjalans = 5% Other Gao-Showans = 3% Klikut = 2% Kazulians = 2% Solentians = 1% Enlii = 1% Other = 1% *Please note, these numbers, while not stagnate, should not fluctuate wildly. Large demographic changes should only occur with an extensive RP, and consent of all involved. === === === === === === === === LANGUAGE Sekowan language = Ryukyuan languages (mainly Okinawan) Kunikata = Standard Japanese Orinco = Mayan languages Tsekwon = conlang (http://particracy.wikia.com/wiki/Tsekwon) Shinjalan languages = Mesoamerican languages Canrillaise = French Klikut = Inuit Players may regard Kunikata (Japanese) as the primary official language of Sekowo, for ease of use (but may and indeed should use English for general in-game purposes). However, technically and historically, the most widely spoken language in Sekowo is the Sekowan language, a member of the Gao-Indralan language family and closely related to Kunikata (Japanese). Sekowan is usually considered a dialect of Kunikata, and thus is used mostly in informal contexts, while Kunikata is the official language and the language of the upper class and the academia (and hence is properly used in party names, etc). Classical Kunikata (Classical Japanese), the lingua franca of Dovani during the Middle Ages, is sometimes used as a language of prestige and higher learning. Orinco is the largest minority language in Sekowo, and it is the primary language of the Orinco ethnic group. Other Shinjalan languages are spoken by their respective ethnicities. Tsekwon is the classical language of the Orinco people, and besides its role as the liturgical language of Orinco Polytheism it is sometimes used as a language of prestige by the Orincos. Canrillaise and related languages are spoken by the Sécowonnais people, a legacy of the colonial period in Sekowan history, although most Sécowonnais are now fluent in Kunikata, with Canrillaise restricted to informal contexts. The Klikut speak the Klikut (Inuktitut) language, although its use is in decline in Sekowo, as most Klikut now speak Kunikata. === === === === === === === === RELIGION Sekowo is not a western country, and (as in RL Japan), religious belief must be distinguished between cultural affiliation with a religion. By religious belief, 60% of Sekowans can be regarded as secular and non-religious. However, cultural identification is split roughly evenly between those who identify primarily with Kamism, those who identify with a majority religion, and primarily Atheists/Agnostics who do not identify with any religion, even culturally. While it's true that in Sekowo many people take part in Kamist rituals, this is similar to how in the West Irreligious people continue to celebrate Christmas and Easter. They're essentially holidays and traditions that, while having a religious, have become part of the secular culture. For a good explanation of this in RL Japan, see http://blog.gaijinpot.com/japan-religious-atheist-country/ The most prominent religion in Sekowo is the Sekowan version of Kamism, based on the Ryukyuan Religion. Sekowan Kamism differs from the mainstream version of the religion in numerous aspects, primarily the belief in the spiritual superiority of women. Other Gao-Showan (East Asian) religions are all practiced in Sekowo, and owing to their non-exclusive nature, they are usually practiced in syncretism. In spite of this, most Sekowans, while to a large extent identifying with one or more of the Gao-Showan religions, do not hold any form of religious beliefs; religious affiliation is more a matter of culture and occasionally participation in religious rituals. Thus it would be safe to state that in terms of belief, most Sekowans can be classified as Atheists/Agnostics/No Religion. Orincos mostly adhere to Orinco Polytheism, based on RL Mayan religion. Orinco Polytheism has a large pantheon of gods and heroes, and a central aspect of the religion is sacrifice, including blood sacrifice. Hosianism is a religion founded in 1 CE which believes Eliyahu of Yishelem to be the Spirit of God and the Saviour of mankind. The largest Hosian denomination in Sekowo is the Aurorian Patriarchal Church, based on the RL Roman Catholic Church. Most Hosians in Sekowo belong to the Sécowonnais ethnicity. However, the loose nature of religious affiliation and belief in Sekowo has sometimes left Sekowans searching for meaning. Consequently, some historians have argued that this factor has made Sekowo open to alternative ideologies, philosophies, and extremist political movements. One prominent historical example of this can be found in the takeover of the Aretist period, which might not have been as likely to occur in a nation with a more established primary religion. Kamism = Shinto Daenism = Buddhism Cheng = Mahayana Guidao = Taoism & Chinese Folk Religion Jienism = Confucianism Orinco Polytheism = Mayan Religion Hosianism = Christianity Aurorian Patriarchal Church = Roman Catholic Church Aretism/Neo-Aretism = A “synthetic ideology that incorporates elements of spiritualism, fundamentalist religion, and totalitarianism.” (see http://particracy.wikia.com/wiki/Aretism) Atheist = Atheist Agnostic = Agnostic None = No religion, but does not identify as Atheist or Agnostic ~Percentages of the Population (Religious Belief) ~ Kamism = 15% Daenism = 4% Cheng = 2% Guidao = 1% Jienism = 2% Orinco Polytheism = 9% Aurorian Patriarchal Church = 4% Other Hosianism = 1% Aretism/Neo-Aretism = 2% (predominantly Solentian and Orinco) Atheist = 21% (in-game “Fanatic Secular”) Agnostic = 26% (~~ in-game “Extreme Secular” + “Convinced Secular”) None = 13% (~~ in-game “Moderate Secular” + “Secular Leaning”) ~Percentages of the Population (Primary Cultural Religious Attachment/Affiliation) ~ Kamism = 33% (58% when including syncretism) Daenism = 5% Cheng = 3% Guidao = 1% Jienism = 3% Orinco Polytheism = 10% Aurorian Patriarchal Church = 5% Other Hosianism = 1% Aretism/Neo-Aretism = 5% (predominantly Solentian and Orinco) Entirely Secular = 34% (in-game “Fanatic Secular” + “Extreme Secular”) === === === === === === === === COLONIES At one time, Sekowo controlled a vast colonial empire on the Dovani continent. Some Nationalist parties may fondly remember the era of imperialism, and may wish to advocate for the re-creation of the empire. However, colonies have been disabled in-game by moderation, so this cannot presently actually be fulfilled. Nonetheless, talking about Sekowo’s imperial history may provide interesting historical flavor. === === === === === === === === SPECIAL ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES Sekowo,(like contemporary RL Japan) has fallen into a seemingly permanent state of economic stagnation. Upstart political parties in Sekowo periodically have been known to impose new economic policies in attempts to revitalize the economy. The game’s economic model for Sekowo does not work. In the provinces of Nanzan (Nansan), Kankawara (Kwankaara), and Sanko (Sankii), employment is stuck at 0% of the labor force, permanently. On the other hand, in Hokuzan (Nishisan) and Tōzan (Toosan), employment is permanently stuck at 93.87% of the labor force. Robotics are used as a way to rationalize/explain this situation in-game in a way which is relevant to contemporary (RL equivalent Japanese) culture. The 3 regions with 0% employment have embraced robotic technologies and automation, and are known for many “lights out” factories in which all or almost all production is performed by robots. Although some humans are needed to oversee the robots, they are employed only part time, and are not counted in government statistics as being “employed.” It is for this reason that there is 0% unemployment in these regions. On the other hand, the other two regions have taken a much more restrictive and traditionalist attitude towards robots. Robots play only a minor role in the economy, and people work full-time and are counted in government statistics as being “employed.” See e.g. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_robotics , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lights_out_%28manufacturing%29) Policy towards the promotion or banning of robots is handled on the provincial level; this explains (rationalizes) why this can’t be changed by national policy or regular bills in-game. Although employment is fixed in-game by the non-functioning economic model, GDP can and does change in-game as a function of budgetary policy. It is rationalized that output increases or decreases with the greater or lesser utilization of robots and machines in production, which is why employment does not change. |
Proposals
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 23:57:59, January 06, 2016 CET | From | Yoko Kake Meguppātī | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | Please see here. Any thoughts? http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6428&start=10 |
| Date | 13:59:06, January 07, 2016 CET | From |  Moderation | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | It would be best to replace the description or Sekowan as "Ryukyuan" to "Ryukyuan/Japanese", just to make sure it is clear to players they can RP Sekowo as a Japanese-themed nation. Aquinas (Moderation) |
| Date | 14:29:01, January 07, 2016 CET | From | Moderation | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | About this bit: "Any parties that particularly represent cultural or ethnic minorities are allowed and encouraged to write names in the relevant language(s) insofar as is practical - e.g. Mayan, French, Greek/Latin, or Ainu." I'm wary about that, the reason being those minorities are so small in Sekowo that it would usually be difficult to justify RP'ing a party based primarily on representing them. |
| Date | 18:50:55, January 07, 2016 CET | From | Yoko Kake Meguppātī | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | OK, I have incorporated those two changes (description of Sekowan to Ryukyuan/Japanese and I deleted the bit about possibly too many names in minority languages). |
| Date | 18:58:36, January 07, 2016 CET | From | Yoko Kake Meguppātī | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | I changed Kirlawan to Enlii on the suggestion of Lucca (via PM). |
| Date | 22:49:03, January 07, 2016 CET | From | Yoko Kake Meguppātī | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | This is now updated to include all comments/suggestions received on the forum so far. |
| Date | 18:46:34, January 08, 2016 CET | From | Yoko Kake Meguppātī | To | Debating the OOC: Cultural Protocols for Sekowo (WIP) |
| Message | Corrected link to game rules, and increased the Atheist population 3% at the request of the National Conservative Party. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes |
Total Seats: 61 | |||
| no | Total Seats: 0 | |||
| abstain | Total Seats: 39 |
| Random fact: The grey space in the east is populated by the forum-based countries, known in-game as the former colonies or the "Third World". These countries are managed by the Third World Coordinator but players can request control of individual countries in the Third World Control Requests thread: http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8302 |
| Random quote: "Most politicians hold their fingers to the wind, and if we win we'll be showing them a lot of wind." - Ralph Nader |