Celestial Courts
From FFa2Wiki
Also known as the Court of Heaven, this faith reveres Amaterasu Omikami, and the Fortunes. It is said that in the east, the god Izanagi drew the metal from the World, and with it forged Kusunagi, the Sword of Heaven. Each spark that flew from the forge burned brightly. Those that fell to the earth become one of the Ten Thousand Little Gods, the Miko-Kami. Those that flew into the sky became the Ten Thousand Celestial Gods, the Omi-Kami. The brightest of these was Amaterasu, Lady Sun, who rose into the sky with her brothers; Susano, the god of the Sea, and Tsukuyomi, the Lord Moon. When the sword was ready, his wife, Izanami, cooled the blade with water from the ocean, the droplets that fell to the earth sparkled, forming the first souls, while the steam that rose into the air created Heaven.
Contents |
Belief
The belief of the Celestial Courts is in karma and the wheel of reincarnation. Each person born has their karma, the weight of destiny, assigned due to the actions of their previous lives. The actions of one life reflect how the person will reincarnate in thier next life. One who lives a pure life can transcend the wheel, and gain enlightenment'.
Four Affirmations
The Courts enforce the tents of bushido upon the people of Naipon and Anaitha, however, they have no absolute commandments for its adherents outside of living "a simple and harmonious life with nature and people". They do, however, have "Four Affirmations" of the pure spirit:
- Tradition and the family: The family is seen as the main mechanism by which traditions are preserved. Their main celebrations relate to birth and marriage.
- Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in contact with nature is to be close to the kami. Natural objects are worshipped as containing sacred spirits.
- Physical cleanliness: Followers of the Courts take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often. Often as many as three times a day or more.
- "Matsuri": Any festival dedicated to the Kami, of which there are many each year.
Caste
The Courts enforces the concept of Caste in Naipon society, which also carries over to a limited extent in Anaitha. Each person is born into a caste, which remains unchanging without the will of the Emperor or Empress.
The lowest of these castes is considered unclean. Such individuals have fallen off the celestial wheel, and are expected to act with humility and obiesiance to those higher than them. Only through the most incredible acts will they ever be allowed to rise above their station, being placed once more upon the wheel.
Prejudice
To a follower of the Court, the unclean and gaijin who do not follow the ways of the Court are considered not a part of the wheel. In fact, it is often thought that the unclean and gaijin do not have souls, and that gaijin are beneath even the unclean. Someone who does not recognize the spirits of the world, who do not respect and revere the kami, and who are unclean are shameful, and not even people.
