Brotherhood Lands - The Four Temples
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:16 pm
The Four Temples
These temples stand at the four corners of Kyūden Seppun, the Seppun family palace, towering over it as their Chimes of Purity peal out in harmony each hour of the day. Early copies of the Tao of Shinsei are kept here, a part in each temple. Valuable treasures are on display, but the most important and dangerous relics are locked away, in rooms with sophisticated traps to keep intruders out. From here, the temples’ network of monks stretches out across Rokugan, as they believe in both advising at courts throughout the land, and keeping watch over rulers on behalf of the populace.
The Brotherhood of Shinsei has no leader—the Emperor himself being the religious head of Shintao—but the Grand Master of the Four Temples is some-times seen to speak for the Brotherhood. The current Grand Master is Dōri, who works tirelessly to keep the abbots of each temple from wasting their time in argument—a seemingly impossible task. She makes it her job to know as much as she can of Rokugani current affairs, as well as the minute details within her order. Although she dresses and acts as humbly as the lowliest initiate, she is easily identified, as other monks treat her with respect bordering on reverence.
Yoshi is head monk of the western Temple. This aged monk enjoys studying the Tao of Shinsei and wants to share Shinsei’s wisdom with everyone. He is a cheerful monk, tall and thin, who retains the energy of youth despite his age
Asahina Atsushi is a young, inexperienced courtier who has come to stay at Kyūden Seppun. He is a courtier because he showed no skill as a shugenja or a bushi, not because he chose the career. He dresses well but is not clever enough to do well at court without throwing some coin around. Fortunately, he has plenty of it.
Finding the Way
The Four Temples were founded by Seppun’s four children, each with a different interpretation of her teachings and a differing opinion on what was the most important aspect of Shinsei. The bickering between the monks of these temples is legendary, but under the guidance of Dōri, they occasionally unite for a common purpose.
Four Aspects Of Shinsei
The immaculate Four Temples demonstrate the wealth of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. In addition to housing parts of early copies of the Tao of Shinsei, each contains a statue of Shinsei that celebrates the teaching of that particular temple. In the eastern temple, the statue is in a meditative posture, in the northern one Shinsei walks with a stick, in the southern he demonstrates a fist strike, and in the western he reads aloud from a scroll. Each demonstrates the activity one of the temples considers paramount: introspection, under-standing the world, mastering body and mind, and spreading Shinsei’s wisdom.
Secret Purposes
The chimes remind us of Shinsei’s words, which are inscribed on the bells.
The chimes keep evil away. If they ever stop ringing each hour, it will be a terrible omen.
Monks of the Four Temples can be found in every court in Rokugan. They spy on everyone, and pass everything on to the Emperor.
These temples stand at the four corners of Kyūden Seppun, the Seppun family palace, towering over it as their Chimes of Purity peal out in harmony each hour of the day. Early copies of the Tao of Shinsei are kept here, a part in each temple. Valuable treasures are on display, but the most important and dangerous relics are locked away, in rooms with sophisticated traps to keep intruders out. From here, the temples’ network of monks stretches out across Rokugan, as they believe in both advising at courts throughout the land, and keeping watch over rulers on behalf of the populace.
The Brotherhood of Shinsei has no leader—the Emperor himself being the religious head of Shintao—but the Grand Master of the Four Temples is some-times seen to speak for the Brotherhood. The current Grand Master is Dōri, who works tirelessly to keep the abbots of each temple from wasting their time in argument—a seemingly impossible task. She makes it her job to know as much as she can of Rokugani current affairs, as well as the minute details within her order. Although she dresses and acts as humbly as the lowliest initiate, she is easily identified, as other monks treat her with respect bordering on reverence.
Yoshi is head monk of the western Temple. This aged monk enjoys studying the Tao of Shinsei and wants to share Shinsei’s wisdom with everyone. He is a cheerful monk, tall and thin, who retains the energy of youth despite his age
Asahina Atsushi is a young, inexperienced courtier who has come to stay at Kyūden Seppun. He is a courtier because he showed no skill as a shugenja or a bushi, not because he chose the career. He dresses well but is not clever enough to do well at court without throwing some coin around. Fortunately, he has plenty of it.
Finding the Way
The Four Temples were founded by Seppun’s four children, each with a different interpretation of her teachings and a differing opinion on what was the most important aspect of Shinsei. The bickering between the monks of these temples is legendary, but under the guidance of Dōri, they occasionally unite for a common purpose.
Four Aspects Of Shinsei
The immaculate Four Temples demonstrate the wealth of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. In addition to housing parts of early copies of the Tao of Shinsei, each contains a statue of Shinsei that celebrates the teaching of that particular temple. In the eastern temple, the statue is in a meditative posture, in the northern one Shinsei walks with a stick, in the southern he demonstrates a fist strike, and in the western he reads aloud from a scroll. Each demonstrates the activity one of the temples considers paramount: introspection, under-standing the world, mastering body and mind, and spreading Shinsei’s wisdom.
Secret Purposes
The chimes remind us of Shinsei’s words, which are inscribed on the bells.
The chimes keep evil away. If they ever stop ringing each hour, it will be a terrible omen.
Monks of the Four Temples can be found in every court in Rokugan. They spy on everyone, and pass everything on to the Emperor.