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Higashi
| Faction | Overview |
- Ashihara (historical name)
- SCN: 古苇原国
- TCN: 古葦原國
- JP:
古葦原国
- (Far) East (English localization before Twilight of Wolumonde; still used in some older Operators' Archive Files)
- Japan
- North: Sengoku and Edo periods
- South: Late Shōwa and early Heisei eras
- Diarchy (de jure)
- Shogunate (Northern Court)
- Constitutional monarchy (Southern Court)
- Kusarikawa (Northern Court)
- Mitsukue (Southern Court)
Onkaminokannogi-no-Miyako
- Emperor (Sumeragimi) of the Kougon Clan
- Emperor of the Mitsumoto Clan
- The Northern Court
- The Southern Court
Higashi, historically Ashihara, is a Terran country located northeast of Yan where it enjoys strong diplomatic relations, which has encouraged cultural exchange between the two states. While Higashi is made up of various races, it is predominated by the Oni as well as a handful of Aegir.
Higashi’s history could be traced back to the veneration of a goddess whose descendants became the Emperor of Higashi, or the "Sumeragimi". Entering the medieval era, however, Higashi fractured into a diarchy of two ruling clans: the Kougon of the North and the Mitsumoto of the South, with both clans setting up their own respective emperors. Following a devastating civil war, both clans evolved into different forms of government with the North retaining the old bakufu and the South evolving to a modernized constitutional monarchy. While the nation prospers in the era of peace, a bubble economy is slowly building up due to over-investment that might fracture the fragile truce.
History[edit]
Founding myth[edit]
Higashi's founding myth could be found in a legend recorded in Konjaku Kikoegotsu Ryakujiroku (『
The battle against the Aragami was a tough one due to Its regenerating trait and Its blood that could burn, and the five gods sacrificed themselves in Its jaws. Nevertheless, the blood split further strengthened the mortals which created the five tribes of Higashi, each of whom worshiping the Five Guardian Gods. Together, the tribes succeeded in cutting Its heart, only to uncover an eight-tailed Phidian goddess who would later be named Asayoyoakihime-no-Mikoto. The awakening of Asayoyoaki not only brought day and night to Higashi for the first time, but also, she united the five tribes and declared the foundation of Ashihara, the Land of Reed Swamp, at Onkaminokannogi-no-Miyako by crowning her son Kamujiki as the emperor of Higashi whose bloodline continues in present days.[2]
Ritsuryō era[edit]
For the first few centuries, Ashihara prospered under the guidance of Asayoyoakihime's lineage. The emperors managed to pacify the invading Aegir and Oni clans and turned them into their subjects regardless of their enmity in the past. By the time of Emperor Yamaoka, Yanese culture and political structure was first introduced that ushered in the era of a strong, centralized bureaucracy, Ashihara was renamed "Higashi," the "Eastern Kingdom," under Yanese influence.[3]
However, the constant Catastrophes that devastated the commonfolk's lands, religious tensions between temples and Shinto shrines, and the imbalance among the royal house and the feudal daimyos slowly destabilized the nation. Many daimyos quietly gathered up their armies in preparation for a potential war. In the midst of the chaos, a rising samurai clan led by its shogun, Onishoubu Shigekazu, ousted the royals' power and established the bakufu system around Terran year 400. His sixty years of rule was marked by an iron fist who allowed the samurai to take control over Higashi in the name of restoration of order.[4]
Unfortunately, following Shogun Shigekazu's passing, the samurai clans violated the fragile balance with the royals by establishing the northern Kougon Clan, formerly a close ally with the royals, as the head of state of Higashi. Series of political struggles led to the fall of the Onishoubu Clan. On the other hand, the southern Mitsumoto clan were disgraced by the Kougon's action and sought to preserve the genuine emperor, and to others' surprise, the fallen Onishoubu Clan, now led by Shigekazu's eldest son Seisaku, chose to side with the Mitsumoto. The clash eventually led to the founding of the Northern and Southern Courts and a total civil war across Higashi.[4]
Warring era[edit]
- Main article: Kokusen Shouran
| “ | 南北しきりに争ひて、 [When the samurai clans rose, the nation descended into chaos. Weapons clashed, and the fate grew uncertain.] | ” |
| —Opening narration of Oni Bugyō in classical Higashinese, with Victorian translation by Takagawa Tomohiko[5] |
For the next three centuries, the Higashi North-South War devastated the once-peaceful country. The war even shocked the Yanese imperial court, and the True Lung urged both sides to deescalate the situation. It was marked with numerous humanitarian crises such as sabotages and assassinations. As the war prolonged, the Kougon, armed with superior weapons, proved to be the winner of the war, yet the Mitsumoto had the resources and the leading royal house that could exhaust the Kougon's army. By the year 635, Shogun Seisaku passed away due to Oripathy after years of military campaigns, and the Onishoubu Clan completely vanished into history when the Mitsumoto disgraced them for such an ungraceful end. The war also gave rise to the Eight Great Clans, and each half of them started to gain political control over the Courts to lessen the bloodshed. In the year 807 as both sides grew weary over the conflict, a truce known as the Ryoukokurei (『両国令』) or the "Twin Nations Edict" was signed at the site where the former capital of Onkaminokannogi-no-Miyako once stood, and the North-South rule was finally solidified.[6][7]
Conflicts between both sides continued to a smaller degree. Loyalties between members of both courts were notoriously fickle, and defections to either side were a common sight. But it was the Bloodpeak Campaign in the year 1072, a total invasion of the Ursus Empire onto Higashi, forcing the Kougon and Mitsumoto to form an uneasy alliance. The retaliation was successful in which Higashi managed to invade Ursine soil, and the devastation resulted in the decline of the Ursus Empire following the Great Rebellion.[8] However, it was a pyrrhic victory because the Ursi's superior military strategies and weapon industries easily crushed the Kougon's samurai, forcing the North to seek aid from the industrial South. After the war ended, Yan acted as mediator between the two powers in regards to compensation and prisoners-of-war exchange, eventually easing the tension.[9]
"Twenty Years of Prosperity"[edit]
For the next twenty years after the Bloodpeak Campaign, both sides chose to focus on economic activities and rebuilding of the country, ushering in a short period of peace called the "Twenty Years of Prosperity and Recovery" or the "Boom Era."[7] The North has turned into a military base, while the South becomes a mercantile land that focuses more on commercial economy and trading.[10] Because the South is the least devastated area, it is able to export many electronic devices to other nations along with its rising subcultures admired by the youth even until present days. In the year 1080, the Mitsumoto even took a drastic step by reforming its political structure to a cabinet system under the advice from overseas students in Yan and Leithanien. While the North is still under the traditional bakufu system led by stubborn conservatives, it slowly embraced modernization via investments from Yan. The old military industries evolved to heavy industries through the help of the four families. Once rejecting modern culture, even the North slowly accepts the rising subculture of the South which they see as a method to unite both courts.[9] Nevertheless, the current economic prosperity is built upon the frail trust between the two factions which could collapse under potential circumstances in the future.
Higashi also appears to have been facing otherworldly threats as well. Due to its proximity to the sea where the nation's Aegir populace comes from, the coastal regions have been an active ground for the Church of the Deep where they operate underground.[11] Its proximity to the Infy Icefield where the northern demons, aka. the Collapsals, lurking around, also force Higashi to station military bases in the snowy tundra.[12]
Notable people[edit]
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Expatriates[edit]
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Mythological figures[edit]
- Amanoharashionkami (
天原大御神 ): Full name Great Divine Deity of the Sun Amanoharashionkami (天原大御神 日盈化見尊 ), or Himitasu (日盈化 ) for short. The sun god in Higashinese belief who slew the Aragami with his sacred sword.- He is likely a reference to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the god of storms in the Japanese mythology who slew the Yamata no Orochi with the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
- Asayoyoakihime-no-Mikoto (
朝夜夜明比賣命 ): The eight-tailed Phidian goddess born from the corpse of the Aragami who united the five tribes and installed the dynasty of the Sumeragimi lineage through her son. She's also considred Himitasu's granddaughter.- She is likely a reference to Amaterasu Omikami, the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology and Shintoism.
- Interestingly, her name is made up of the Japanese words for "morning" (asa) and "night" (yoru), and she is described as the bringer of day and night, which implies that she is a fusion of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the god of the moon and Amaterasu's brother.
- Her being a Phidia might be a reference to a legend in the Ise region.
Historical figures[edit]
- Kamujiki-no-Sumeragimi (
神儀東皇 ): Known by his epithet as the "Emperor of Divine Order"; the son of Asayoyoaki and the first Sumeragimi of Higashi from whom the linage of emperors begin. He likely alludes to Emperor Jinmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan. - Kamutaki-no-Sumeragimi (
神滝東皇 ): Know by his epithet as the "Emperor of Divine Rapids"; the eldest son of Emperor Kamujiki who promoted agriculture and animal husbandry on Higashi, enacted the Edict for Peace from the Calamitous and politically exalted the Shinto relogion. - Kurokazaru-no-Sumeragimi (
玄文東皇 ): Known by his epithet as the" Emperor of Occult Elegance"; the reigning emperor during the Sajikawa Incident where the kannushi was erroneously pardoned by the daimyo despite his crime for false report following a land quarrel against the the daimyos. The incident sparked the tension between the Shinto kannushi and the daimyo.[13] - Yamaoka-no-Sumeragimi (
山岳東皇 ): Known by his epithet as the "Emperor of Mountain Land"; the emperor of Higashi known for his introduction of Yanese culture and political structure. He likely alludes to Emperor Kōtoku, who was responsible for bringing Chinese culture from the Tang dynasty into Japan. - Amakazaru-no-Sumeragimi (
天文東皇 ): Known by his epithet as the "Emperor Adorned by Heaven"; the last emperor before the shogunate era who witnessed the rise of the daimyos and the political conflicts among the aristocrats. He also claimed being the author of Konjaku Kikoegotsu Ryakujiroku despite only writing the preface. - Onishoubu Shigekazu (
鬼菖蒲 重一 ): The first reigning Shogun of Higashi hailing from an Oni samurai family. He was originally a general serving the royal house who was bestowed by the Emperor as the "Mountain-stifling Samurai" (「鎮岳御大侍 」) and earned the public title as "the Sword Possessed" (剣神) thanks to his brilliant military skills. His death after his sixty years of ironclad rule marked the beginning of the North-South War. - Onishoubu Seisaku (
鬼菖蒲 征作 ): The eldest son of Shigekazu. After the disgrace of his clan by the North, he chose to side with the South which ignited a full-scale civil war. He passed away due to Oripathy during a campaign in the year 635.
Other notable people[edit]
- Takagawa Tomohiko (高川 知彦)☠: A renowned Higashinese Phidian university scholar and a close friend of E. E. Erikson. Born into a military family who chose to become a prose writer, he spent most of his career in documenting cultures across Higashi, and in 1072, he was appointed as a joint diplomatic envoy to Londinium, Victoria, while personally witnessing the public execution of King Alistair II. Following the Bloodpeak Campaign, Tomohiko announced his retirement from lecturing and spent the rest of his life in literature field. He ultimately died of old age, leaving behind his widowed wife Takagawa Hakiko (高川 葉紀子) and several letters yearning to invite Erikson to visit Higashi.[14] Much of Higashi's history recorded in Terra: A Journey are all derived from his theses and book collections.
- His name could be a reference to Dr. Ishikawa Tomohiko, a professor of Ryukoku University who specializes in the field of Japanese Buddhism and medieval Japanese history.
- Neon's father†: A Higashinese military commander who was a good friend of Hellagur during their time in the military academy, before going on separate ways.[15] However, during the Bloodpeak Campaign in the Terran year 1072, Hellagur had no option but to kill him, as he was targeted by the Ursine forces. With his last breath, he entrusted him his daughter Neon, as well as his personal sword, the Kudarikiri.[16]
Places[edit]
Districts[edit]
- Mitsukue
- Kusarikawa (
鎖川 ) : Full name "Northern Palace Military Garrison, Kusarikawa Castle" (北院鎮守鎖川城 ); the capital of the Northern Court's jurisdiction. In Terran year 1088, the city suffered a massive ninja cyberattack.[7]- The name means "River of the Locks" in Japanese, and it is likely an analogue to Nara which is known to be a city with well-preserved traditional buildings and cultures as well as the former capital during the Nara Period.
- Onkaminokannogi-no-Miyako (
御神神禾京 ): The former capital of Higashi where the ancient state of Ashihara was founded. It was later ravaged by the North-South War, and the site where it once stood became the place that cemented the North-South era.[6] In modern era, the ancient city becomes a mere religious symbol that unites the two courts together.
Settlements[edit]
- Roka
- Shin-Aki (新安芸): A city that was rebuilt after being wrecked by a devastating Catastrophe. It is known for its ancient horror stories surrounding the mysterious Saeki (佐伯) district, which later inspired the video game Nukenin.[17] The name is likely an allusion to the Akihabara district in Tokyo best known for being the mecca of Japanese ACGN and otaku culture.
- Taisha (大社): A Shinto shrine run by Tsukinogi's family located atop a mountain, at the foot of which is a Buddhist temple. The Shinto shrine maidens are said to be in a good relationship with the Buddhist monks, furthermore the locals recognize the teachings of both faiths.[18]
Landmarks[edit]
- Soubo: A mountain range where the Roka Village is located. It is where Operators Yato and Noir Corne saw the Rathalos for the first time.[19]
Gallery[edit]
Places[edit]
The interior of a Higashinese house
A living room in a Higashinese house
The garden of a Higashinese house
The garden amidst a rainy day
A Higashinese oden yatai
A Higashinese Shinto shrine
People[edit]
A male Higashinese Feline citizen
A male Higashinese Vulpo villager
A female Higashinese Vulpo villager
A young Higashinese Vulpo boy
A Higashinese Liberi ninja
A Higashinese Oni ninja
A male Higashinese Perro police officer
A femmale Higashinese Perro police officer
A male Feline Yakuza member
A female Phidia Yakuza member
Trivia[edit]
- Higashi's historical name, Ashihara, is a reference to the mythical name for Japan, Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni (葦原の中つ国; lit. "the middle country of reed beds").
- The North-South Courts of Higashi are a reference to the Nanboku-chō period. Even the Kougon faction of the North is the same as Emperor Kōgon, the first emperor of the Northern Court.
- The current economic situation of Higashi is in some ways similar to Japan's bubble economy in the late 20th century.
- In EN server, the names of Higashinese figures follow the Western first-surname naming order rather than the conventional Eastern surname-first naming order. In order to match with the names in JP server, as well as to comply to the contemporary trend of switching English names back to the Eastern naming order in Japanese media[20], the Arknights Terra Wiki will use the more appropriate Eastern naming order outside of in-game texts.
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Likely alludes to the Kojiki (古事記), a compilation of Japanese myths, historical accounts, genealogy of deities and legends and oral traditions from before the 7th century. The title itself means "Records of Ancient Matters" in English.
- ↑ Japanese word referring to a primordial state of void or chaos
References[edit]
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