Zhang Se

The main focus of this plot, as well as the self proclaimed main focus of the continent of Kiav Za. Zhang Se is an empire with over 155 million inhabitants, the number having rapidly increased in the last 200 years. It is seen as an important trade hub, having secure connections with nearly 100 countries. Though whether these connections are made out of mutual benefit or immense pressure from Zhang Se is up for debate. It is one of the most progressive countries in the world, along with Abkhatz, being one of the first to introduce steam powered public transport. The capital is Chengzhou, located in the Shui Yue region. There’s a secondary capital in Jinguang.

Geography
Zhang Se has great physical diversity. Both the western coast and eastern plains consist of fertile lowlands and foothills. A large mountain range consisting of towering massifs along the fault line divides the country from north to south, the land surrounding the mountain range being rife with dense forests to the north, transitioning to alpine grasslands further to the south. The climate is primarily temperate, nearly reaching polar climates in the north. The northwest is dominated by rolling plateaus and sunken basins that guide the river from Abkhatz through the country into Jongmal.

Regions
Huoyan - Mainly red fir forests and tablelands formed by erosion. Wet summers and freezing winters. A popular place for salmon fishing.

Shui Yue - One of the regions used for primarily agriculture. Very fertile soil and many rice terraces. Warm summers and freezing winters. Home to many picturesque lake villages.

Jiguang - Densely inhabited with calm terrain and mild weather. Flattest region of the country. No ass. Hot summers and cold winters.

Xing Luo - Largely alpine grasslands. Popular tourist spot. Mild summers and freezing winters. One of the two regions most prone to earthquakes.

Fengbao - Mostly barren, since little precipitation reaches past the Huangmo mountains and most rivers have dried up. However, it’s a great place for mining. Hot summers and cold winters. The other region most prone to earthquakes.

Taiyang Yu - Fertile lowlands to the north, desert and bushland to the south. Scorching summers and freezing winters.

The Unnamed North - Not much is known about the North. Logically, it should nearly reach polar climates, but no actual documentation has been made. Though, despite scientific speculation, the Unnamed North is rumored to be the most beautiful and bountiful region of Zhang Se, if it weren’t for the unknown danger that’s causing travelers to never return.

Culture
Zhang Se is a country with a very strong cultural identity. They value tradition, yet are one of the most progressive countries in Kiav Za. These labels might sound contrary and confusing. This is because there’s a strong divide between the major cities and the countryside. Recent industrial development has been fast, faster than most of the rural folk are willing to accept.

Regardless, Zhang Se prides itself in her crafts and architecture, always looking to make the smallest things into beautiful works of art. It has a big international market of pottery, textile and decorative wood carving. The national color is red, and the national flower is the peony. This often returns in patterns and decorations on fabrics, murals, royal seals and in public gardens.

Zhang Se doesn’t have a main religion as much as it has a main school of philosophy. They value a moral code based on respect, honesty, education, kindness and strong family bonds. However, as is humanity’s nature, many have attached these values to a deity to worship. In the past 500 years, the religion of the Divine Eye has gained popularity with mixed opinions. Many say they are a clique, or an elite group that only accepts worship from the most devoted. Others say that it is perfectly acceptable to worship from your own home. The current spokespeople from the temple of the Divine Eye have not addressed this matter.

While Zhang Se is a country of many divides, it unites in her cuisine. Food is often eaten communally, in big gatherings where each person has a small bowl that they can place food into a bit at a time to prevent greed. The climate provides a big variety of crops, but their main staple is rice.

Most dishes include some amount of peppers. The people of Zhang Se are very heat resistant.

In the winter season, the main choice tends to be hotpots. Folks gather around a boiling pot of broth in the middle of the table and socialize as they cook their own choices of ingredients at their own pace.

History
In this country, most of the history is documented on scrolls or walls. The capital, Chengzhou, has one of the largest libraries of the continent where they store everything ranging from battle statistics to noble family histories to land disputes. All history concerning the Imperial reign is stored in the center of the library.

Written history starts around 2900 years ago, with the first emperor Kha-Sum. Since then, there have been a total of 67 reigning figures, varying in their ruling periods. Zhang Se has been an empire for the entirety of its written history.

All artifacts and records of life before the 2900 year mark have been destroyed  by empress Nhac-Ran, the 4th ruling figure, an extreme nationalist. However, oral history remains, resulting in folklore and apocryphas that tell of the history of clans and tribes that littered the land before the days of the empire. One of the ethnic groups that’s believed to be a majority in the olden days is the Hong Se, a now elusive group of people mostly confined to the east. Most of their history has been erased.

Before their conquest, Zhang Se was smaller, not yet having absorbed the five countries that surrounded it.

Tuy Chau, Hsinyi and Saenran Rai got annexed through warfare. Sessim got taken by fait accompli. Taqun got sold through treaty by Abkhatz.
 * Kha-Sum, the 1st, took Tuy Chau in his 1st year of rule, founding the Empire.
 * Nhac-Ran, the 4th, took Hsinyi in her 14th year of rule.
 * Jun-Sa, the 27th, took Saenran Rai in her 28th year of rule.
 * Jiaoyao, the 41st, took Sessim in his 6th year of rule.
 * Xianning, the 64th, took Taqun in her 39th year of rule.

Government
While an empire is an unequal relationship between a core state and a periphery of one or more states controlled from the core, Zhang Se foregoes the mention of any of the names of their absorbed territories on their maps. Their borders vanish as soon as the current ruling figure decides what region the land falls into, sometimes creating new regions.

The sovereign of Zhang Se is the Emperor or Empress.

Fashion
The clothing of Zhang Se is a combination of Qing dynasty and Taisho era fashion.