Baifa Monü Zhuan
"There are as many Sansin as mountains of Atrisia."
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To flesh out a returning aspect of Atrisian culture
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- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: My subs
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- Media Name: The Sansin: Daughters of the Mountain
- Format: Holobook (Primary), Historical Archive, Educational Curriculum
- Distribution: Inter-Planetary
- Length: Medium
- Description: A seminal work authored by Io Murasaki, this holobook serves as the definitive modern guide to the ancient and resurrected Sansin tradition. It meticulously details its origins as a system of control and protection under Emperor Junnin, its abolition following the Kinjori Schism, and its profound revival as a cornerstone of the new Jishi Era. It positions the Sansin not merely as political tools, but as educated, capable leaders and cultural guardians vital to Atrisia's restoration.
- Author: Io Murasaki
- Publisher: Atrisian Commonwealth
- Reception: The holobook has been met with critical acclaim within the Commonwealth, becoming a standard text for understanding contemporary Atrisian social structure. It has sparked academic interest galaxy-wide for its study of cultural revitalization. Among traditionalists, it is a respected record; among reformers, it is seen as a validating text for the new Sansin's purpose.
The primary distribution is a high-quality holobook. When activated, it projects a lifelike, interactive hologram of Io Murasaki, who guides the viewer through the content. The presentation is interspersed with archival footage, artistic renditions of historical events, and contemporary footage of the Sansin in their modern roles. It is designed to be both an engaging documentary for the public and an essential resource for diplomats and scholars.
CONTENT INFORMATION
The holobook is divided into three major sections:
- The Gilded Cage: An exploration of the Sansin's origins under Emperor Junnin. It delves into the paradoxical nature of their existence extreme privilege coupled with absolute political subordination. It details their rigorous education in statecraft, arts, and genealogy, framing them as the empire's most valuable and closely guarded assets.
- The Fallow Age: This section covers the Kinjori Schism and the subsequent reign of Emperor Kōnin's heir, who viewed the Sansin and similar institutions as seeds of future civil war. It documents the dissolution of the schools and the dispersal of the princesses, tracing how the tradition faded into myth and historical footnote over millennia.
- The Blossoming on the Barren Slope: The final and most extensive section details the modern resurrection. It explicitly links the revival to the humanitarian crisis of the Sith-Imperial War, framing the adoption of orphans by the Imperial Couple not just as an act of charity, but as a strategic investment in the Commonwealth's future. It redefines the Sansin's purpose: no longer tools for a single emperor, but "Daughters of the Commonwealth," trained to be provincial administrators, cultural ambassadors, and living symbols of Atrisian resilience. This section also covers the parallel training of the "Eastern Princes" and their role in planetary reconstruction.
- The Hibana Concord: This pivotal section details the landmark alliance with the Hapes Consortium. It explains how Queen Mother Allana and Princess Junko orchestrated a cultural and strategic exchange: sixty-three elite Hapan women (the Daughters of Hibana) for an equal number of Sansin princesses. This section clarifies that the Daughters are not an intelligence service but serve as high-level cultural advisors and political companions, using their Hapan acumen to provide discreet, uncompromising counsel to the Atrisian aristocracy. Their influence has elevated Atrisian aesthetics and fostered a powerful network of high-born women dedicated to Commonwealth stability.
The Junnin Foundation:
Over twenty millennia ago, Emperor Junnin, a figure of legendary appetites and paranoia, faced a problem of his own making: over eighty children, many of them daughters who could become pawns in the games of the Imperial court or the mothers of future rivals. His solution was the Sansin. The name itself, meaning "Mountain Heart" or "Mountain Spirit," reflected their new reality. He established a school and religious order on a remote, treacherous island, protected by ship-rending reefs and frozen, impassable winters. His eldest daughter, Ujiko, was named the first Sansin Princess, becoming both warden and guardian to her sisters.
Their life was one of exquisite contradiction. They lived in opulent seclusion, surrounded by fine art, warm furs, and rich foods, and were given an education unmatched by any other encompassing literature, mathematics, galactic politics, economics, and the delicate art of Atrisian aesthetics (Miyabi). Yet, this was all in service of making them perfect political brides, to be bestowed upon loyal (or potentially disloyal) lords to secure their allegiance and tether their bloodlines to the throne. They were taught to be the ultimate insiders who had never seen the court, masters of a game they were forced to play.
The Kinjori Schism and Abolition:
The system's first great test, and its initial downfall, came with the Kinjori Schism. The civil war between Emperor Kōnin and his sister, Empress Sumiko, tore the Commonwealth apart. The conflict, which ended with both monarchs plunging to their deaths from the bridge of the ancestral home, demonstrated the existential danger of rival imperial bloodlines. The victorious son of Kōnin, seeking to prevent a repeat, enacted sweeping reforms. He saw the Sansin not as a safeguard, but as a reservoir of potential claimants and a symbol of the old, divisive politics. He dismantled the order, and for thousands of years, the Sansin were relegated to history.
The Jishi Resurrection:
The tradition lay dormant until the ushering in of the Jishi Era. As the Atrisian Commonwealth sought to rebuild from the ashes of galactic conflict, it faced a generation of children left orphaned and adrift. The Empress and Emperor, in a move that blended deep compassion with sharp political foresight, revived the Sansin in a new, enlightened form.
The Neo-Imperial Palace was constructed with a dedicated wing the "Sanctuary of the Mountain's Heart" to house and educate these children. Here, the old ways are taught, but with a new purpose. The two hundred Sansin Princesses are no longer being groomed solely as brides, but as governors, diplomats, scientists, and artists. They are the "Daughters of the Commonwealth," their loyalty to the throne forged not by confinement, but by gratitude and a shared mission of restoration. Similarly, the two hundred "Eastern Princes" are trained in logistics, engineering, and military command to lead the physical reconstruction of their world.
The last twenty years have seen many things improve as the Sansin have a yearly adoption process. With more orphans being adopted into the daughters and sons of the emperor and empress. Never being the heirs as that is for Shoma but they serve as regional lords and ladies expanding to the newly terraformed worlds, expanded to Commonwealth worlds within the Breakwater.
The Hibana Exchange - A Strategic Deepening:
The resurgence of the Sansin coincided with a pivotal galactic alliance. To stabilize the Commonwealth and secure a powerful friend, Queen Mother Allana of Atrisia negotiated a complex agreement with Princess Junko of the Hapes Consortium. The core of the deal involved Atrisia secretly producing advanced Hapan battle cruisers in its secure drydocks.
The cultural cornerstone of this alliance was the exchange of sixty-three women from each society. The Sansin sent to Hapes were intended to learn their allies' legendary political ruthlessness and dagger-sharp acuity. In return, the Daughters of Hibana arrived on Atrisia. Carefully selected for their support of gender equality and compatibility with Atrisian values, they did not seek to impose a matriarchy but to refine the existing political structure.
Over nearly two decades, the Daughters of Hibana have become an essential corps of counsel. Operating from a dedicated wing in the Royal Palace, they act as high-level advisors and disciplined liaisons. Their primary role is to safeguard the core royal family and key institutions from external threats like corporate infiltration and criminal syndicates through keen observation and political counsel. Furthermore, they have profoundly influenced Atrisian society by championing a Hapan-inspired appreciation for beauty, art, and poetry, fostering deep, lasting bonds with the Sansin and noblewomen. In times of crisis, they and their personal security details can mobilize to protect provincial governors, seamlessly integrating into the Commonwealth's defense network.
The old saying, "There are as many Sansin as mountains of Atrisia," has taken on a new meaning. Once it spoke to their vast numbers and isolation. Now, it signifies that each Sansin, strengthened by her Hapan counterpart, is as unique, enduring, and foundational to the Commonwealth as the very mountains that form the bedrock of their homeworld.
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