Yanwen
| Yanwen
嫣文 | |
|---|---|
| Flag | Coat of arms |
|
|
| Motto: 八角一心
"Eight Sides, One Heart" | |
| Anthem: Ten Thousand Years | |
| Locator map | |
 | |
| Capital city | Jīndu (金都) |
| Largest city | Jīndu (金都) |
| Official language | Yannic |
| Other languages | |
| Ethnic groups | Yan |
| Religion | |
| Demonym(s) | Yan |
| Government | |
| Government Type | Imperial Oligarchy |
| Emperor | Jīyào (卟耀) |
| White Elder | |
| Red Elder | |
| Blue Elder | |
| Black Elder | Zédù Dài (窄肚䲦) |
| Grey Elder | |
| Rose Elder | |
| Violet Elder | |
| Green Elder | |
| Legislature | The Tǒnghuì (統會) |
| Establishment | |
| The First Empire | date 1 |
| Area | |
| Total | 6,896,101.99 km2 |
| Water % | 0.0% |
| Population | |
| Total | 794,996,430 |
| Density | 115.28/km2 |
| Economy | |
| Economy type | Communitarian Capitalism |
| GDP (total) | Ꞡ 1,873,465,872,308.74 |
| GDP per capita | Ꞡ 2,356.57 |
| Currency | samp_nat_currency |
| Currency symbol | |
| Inequality index | 0.0 |
| Development index | 0.0 |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | TBC |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +116 |
| Internet code | .yan |
Yanwen (嫣文) is a large country in western Davai, bordering the Sensumen Sea, as well as the islands of Kamura, to the west. Yanwen is notable as being a civilization of eight bèi (輩) or factions, each of which has competing interests in the empire; the emperor, all-powerful though he technically may be, is there to act more as a referee. Despite this, each faction has seen its way to advancing the development of Yanwen considerably as time has gone on. Yanwen is also historically famous for its silk and its tea.
As of the moment, Yanwen also claims sovereignty over the nearby kingdom of Hui. International relations are somewhat fraught on account of this.
Etymology
Yanwen is derived from yān (嫣), itself derived from the Old Yannic word *qhran, meaning "beautiful". Yān as a word is used for both the primary river system in Yanwen, and for the Yan people who spread out from along its banks. The second word, wén (文), more broadly refers to "culture", the essence of the people who live there rather than the land itself. Wén, for the Yan people, effectively means "nation".
Another popular name within the country is Yǒngguó (永國), roughly meaning "the eternal empire".
History
Prehistory
The region that would become Yanwen was originally inhabited, to the south, by Austro-Raian peoples related to the modern Medaru. The first archaeological records of their civilizations appear around 50,000 years before the present day.
The north, meanwhile, was colonized some time later, around 35,000 years ago, by a Davaian people related to the modern Shriaav.
The ancestors of the modern Yan and Xiangren peoples appear to have arrived in the region around 25,000 years before the present day, as a split-away from the Davaian culture. With them they brought a curious moiety system, cycling through various "colours" depending on birth-parent. In this way they maintained an oligarchic society, each "colour" having its own leaders responsible for the upkeep of their extended kith.
Senatorial Period (3500-4300 RH)
During this time, the moiety systems of the proto-Yannic peoples began to evolve into an oligarchic structure. The pyramid-cities built along the shores of the Yan River each had their own distinct "ninths"—eight for the residences of the Elders of the eight moieties, and a ninth for council meetings for each. During this time, one's moiety might well matter more than one's state of birth; there are records in The Jade Archives of warriors who marked their moiety through colour and speech in battle, and refused to fight any who belong to the same kith.
The Elders could be from any family, any background; one did not even need to be old, merely to have distinguished oneself in a meaningful way in society.
During this time we see the beginning of bronze-working—first arsenic, then tin.
The Collapse (4300-5100 RH)
During this period, severe ecological damage combined with an burgeoning population led to a collapse of the traditional civilizations along the river, with many emigrating to elsewhere in the region.
Government
The Factions
It is impossible to understand the culture of Yanwen without discussing the bèi. This word, while in the modern day referring to something that might be translated as "faction", initially meant something closer to "moiety". In historical Yanwen, one passed from one moiety to another over the generations, in a specific cycle, dictating certain rituals that one could perform and certain groups that one could not marry into.
In recent centuries, the bèi have become more obstreperous, each seeking their own dominions within the country and outside it. To their minds, colonial efforts should be permitted without fear of disagreement from nearby nations; they are, after all, the legitimate successors to the empire of Shuǎng (爽), who once laid claim to the entirety of the known world.
Qing
Qing, or blue-green, is associated with the west and dragons.
The Emperor
The Emperor is the de jure ruler of Yanwen. In practice, however, he acts more like a moderator for the Factions, ensuring that no one side grows too powerful. He is also responsible for the mint, the civil service, and the Golden Army, the three legs upon which the tripod of government stands.
Economy
Under Yannic law, the emperor owns all land, all resources, and all infrastructure within the country. In practice, much of this is "loaned" to various bèi, for some part of the decade, in order for them to make adequate use of the land and resources. There is a single currency, but each bèi has its own banks even if it does not maintain its own mints.
The majority of the people of Yanwen belong to one faction or another. Individually, they do not earn a great deal; the majority of their wealth goes straight to the factions, who nevertheless see it in their best interests to maintain the infrastructure provided by the Imperial Government.