by Liu Che/Zhuli » Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:27 pm
Baltusia Regained, Response to Hulstria, the Dragon Throne Changes Hands
Over the past few years, Minister Herald and of Foreign Affairs, Director of Dependent States Meng Kuang has been on a campaign to add members to the Indralan Commonwealth. Thankfully, his work has paid off, as the Baltusian people have expressed their interest in rejoining the Commonwealth, restoring the Holy Emperor to his position of Khaan of Baltusia, democratically represented by a Governor-General. The restoration of the monarchy in Baltusia is a major coup, not only showing Indrala's international influence, but the cultural influence it maintains in North Seleya.
This kind of internationalism is what many believe to the overwhelming success of Indrala. The nation is dedicated to working in an international sphere, trying to bring nations together culturally for a better Terra. Currently, the mantra of the Imperial Court is peace and soft power. This action can be seen by the low taxes and adequate military spending, with a greater focus on education and social welfare. Overwhelmingly the Indralan people have continued to give their support to the Jien-Democratic Party.
In other news, the relationship between Indrala and Hulstria and Gao-Soto appear to be souring due to the debates on the Mandate of Heaven. A representative for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Directorate of Dependent States is quoted saying that, "His Imperial Majesty the Holy Emperor does not dispute the fact that His Majesty Okatori Akihiko is the rightful claimant to throne of Gao-Soto. However, there can only be one Gao-Showan monarch that uses imperial and heavenly titles and styles. According to the Mandate of Heaven theory, the Holy Emperor is the only individual in all of Terra that can claim such status. This does not mean that we desire to end or even damage relations with Husltria and Gao-Soto. If we wanted to do that, then we would issue the same complaints that the Hulstrian and Gao-Soton government is not recognizing the rightful title of His Imperial Majesty, which is Holy Emperor. In Indralan, which is more closely related to Classical Gao-Showan than modern Kunihita, the title Huangdi literally mean 'August Sage King'. An August King is one with imperial authority, thus is an Emperor. An Emperor that is a Sage is Holy. Therefore, the proper title of the monarch of Indrala in Luthorian is 'Holy Emperor'."
While the government response to the brewing crisis between Hulstria and Gao-Soto was far more sarcastic and elitist, the recently deceased Holy Emperor Sima Shan penned his final scholarly work on his deathbed. It is said that he refused to see his family members during his writing, for he desired to ensure that Classical Jienism was represented on the world stage and not destroyed by non-Jienist ideologies.
"We thank Your Majesty for continuing this lively and much needed debate on Jienism. Such scholarly discussions in civil and peaceful terms is what separates Jienism for many other ideologies and philosophies. While your scholarly and informed views are well written, they are not without error.
"Yes, We understand the history behind the titles possessed by you and your Clan. A great deal of tradition and history is behind them. That We cannot dispute. However, while Jienism was influenced by traditional Gao-Showan religions, We do not have clear evidence to point to which religions influenced Jienfushi's thinking. We do know that Jienfushi wrote that a husband and a wife have a superior and inferior relationship. Based upon this knowledge, We can say that Jienfushi would not have believed the God of Heaven, Tian or Shangdi for Indrala, to have been a female. Such an idea would be going against Jienist teachings. While all people must be respected, the female takes the lower rank in Jienism. Thus, despite claimed descent from a Gao-Soton goddess, such a claim cannot come into play regarding the Mandate of Heaven and Jienism.
"To claim that We, the Son of Heaven, are distorting the views of Jienfushi and will of Heaven, despite Us holding the Jinshi from the Imperial University of Indrala, is quite a statement. While many philosophies throughout the world are similar to Jienism, they are not the same. No philosophies and ideologies can be universally the same. There shall always be differences. The Mandate of Heaven applies to those who ascribe to Jienist philosophy. They cannot apply to those who do not believe in Jienism or follow Jienist culture. The core of Jienism is establishing a Jienist culture. As the Gao-Showan peoples generally follow Jienism, perhaps not knowing it, then this debate purely focuses on the Gao-Showan people. It would be preposterous to say that there are multiple Mandates for individuals throughout Terra when they do not believe in the Jienist culture. While the position of Hulstrian Emperor was created in a meritocratic way, We both know that should the Hulstrian Royal Family be removed from the throne and replaced with another royal family, those that prescribe to the Divine Right of Kings theory, such as those in Canrille and other nations, would be outraged and immediately view such an action as illegal. Not only that, but the House of Rothringren-Traugott would view it as illegal. They have certainly stated such views in the past. Thus, your argument, while clever, fails.
"Despite your example of constitutional monarchy and democracy, which appeals to those who are of Western philosophical backgrounds, it completely fails to accurately represent Jienism. The monarch is not the highest authority, Heaven is. Heaven speaks through the will of the people, as was said by Jienfushi. Ultimately, all power resides with the people, as Heaven speaks through them. The monarch must meet the needs of the people in government: feeding the people, educating the people, and defending the people. By meeting these needs, along with fulfilling the ritualistic duties, a monarch obtains virtue and thus can maintain his or her rule. However, should he or she refuse to partake in the ritualistic duties and aid in the promotion of the above government functions, then the virtue is lost. The people then have the authority to replace the monarch with another ruler. So while constitutional monarchy is more meritocratic, it is not supported by Jienism as it lacks ritualistic duties and is based in the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, which is inherently anti-Jienist.
"By the Mandate of Heaven requiring the monarch to fulfill specific ritualistic duties, Jienism promotes the Gao-Showan culture above all others. This must be done, however, through peace and soft power. The holder of the Heavenly Mandate must promote the Gao-Showan culture, as it has the ability to make the people moral and virtuous, as well as allow society to run efficiently and effectively. At the basic level, it can make the people the happiest. Thus, part of the virtue of the monarch is spreading the Gao-Showan culture through peace.
"If the Heavenly Mandate works through history, then clearly this further shows that the Mandate rests with Us. Gao-Soto was dominated and continues to be dominated by Hulstrians. The Kunihita make up a minority of Gao-Soto. This is something that will most likely never change. On the other hand, more Gao-Showans live under Indralan rule than any other nation in Terra. By their tacit and spoken consent, We are their Holy Emperor. This is a clear sign, from the majority of Gao-Showans, that We are the sole holders of the Mandate of Heaven. Despite the greatness of Our ancestor Okatori Kurosawa, he never obtained the consent of the Gao-Showan people at large. The consent lies with Us by virtue of practicing the proper rituals, reigning over a government that supports the three pillars of good governance, and actively spreading the Gao-Showan culture through peaceful means.
"Like you say, Heaven favors harmony. This harmony extends to all the Gao-Showan peoples. You speak as if the Kunihita are the only ones who matter and by history of having developed the foundations of Gao-Showan culture are the greatest and most superior. This is not so. When Gao-Soto fell, Indrala picked up the pieces of promoting the Gao-Showan culture. We have done this for thousands of years, far longer than Gao-Soto has ever done. Undoubtedly, this will change in the future, for it is only natural, based on history, that the Mandate will change hands. Regardless, at this present moment, We reign over the largest amount of Gao-Showans in Terra. We have their consent and We practice true Jienism. We are promoting the cultural representation of the Gao-Showan people just as you are. In fact, it was Indrala that urged the creation of a Kyo monarchy, which was a resounding success. We have always favored the Kyo interests in Dranland and that will never change. Hulstria and Gao-Soto has only just begun to care once this debate arose. From what has been stated in the Dranish papers, the Kyo appear to support Us as the holders of the Heavenly Mandate.
"Due to Us practicing Classical Jienism and having the consent of a majority of the Gao-Showan peoples, We are the rightful holders of the Mandate of Heaven. In the Gao-Showan cultural sphere, only We are allowed to use imperial and heavenly titles. That is the Jienist way. To recognize anything other than that would be a betrayal of principles. If Your Majesty is a true Jienist, which We know in Our heart you can be, you will concede and recognize the Holy Emperor of Indrala to be the current holders of the Mandate of Heaven.
"As We write this, We express our best wishes to you and hope for your success. Your intelligence and wit are an asset to Gao-Soto and the Gao-Showan world. We pray you will work for the best interests of Gao-Soto and the Gao-Showan peoples, as is your duty as a Gao-Showan monarchy. This shall be Our last response, for the hour is late and We can hear Shangdi beckon Us to return to his realm of eternal peace and virtue. Our great grandson, a man of your age, shall carry out Our task set before Us by Tian."
After His Imperial Majesty's response was issued, the Holy Emperor of Indrala is to be succeeded by his great-grandson, Sima Fangxun, descendent of Sima Shi's second son.
Holy Emperor Sima Shi's funeral will take place within the month, to be immediately followed a month later during the coronation ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in Tian'an. While not much is known about the new Holy Emperor, he is said to be far more scholarly than his great-grandfather, having passed the Jinshi examination at the young age of 18. Most believe that he greatly soften Indrala's stance worldwide to allow for a greater acceptance and spread of Jienism.