yuuniverse

Kamakura Info for KH

for a world building RP group on TH

History

Ancient History

Ōtsutsuki Period

Kamakura began as a temple in the region that is part of modern day Iron Country during the strife that predated the eating of the fruit to attain chakra. As the Ōtsutsuki matriarch's rose to power, the monks of Kamakura adopted her as a Goddess and a Buddha, as one who has attained enlightenment and became closer to God, spreading her teachings of non-violence and an end to wars throughout the land, opening up satellite / affiliated temples wherever the monks and nuns laid down roots.

Warring States Period

As conflicts across the continent arose, the monks and nuns opened their temples to any and all who searched for sanctuary. They had to leave animosity upon temple grounds as the Kamakura adhered to the tenants of Ōtsutsuki, denouncing the wars and the carnage it brought.

Anyone, shinobi, samurai, or otherwise, who broke the truce would often find themselves thrown out of the temples and warnings posted to other temples to advise that they were a person to not allow within. This, of course, made the temples a target, although plenty of shinobi who were using the temples as refuge had no qualms taking up arms, even if it was side by side with an enemy, to help protect it.

Integration with the general shinobi populace started gradually. Initially it was just some monks who picked up jutsu from those who stayed for a spell, or were former shinobi who retired and joined temple life.

Recent History

The Founding of Shinobi Villages

___ ((really need to decide where Kamakura starts so i can accurately figure this out but it's mostly "Temple was in this area that's became part of this hidden village? Congrats you're now citizens here". probably some tensions over religion and how their temples work esp when head temple is in a country that's the opposite side of the war. the temples continued to keep their doors open to any who needed assistance, much to the displeasure of their kage

The First Shinobi World War (Year 59 - 63)

Between the Great Wars

___ ((hmm, post war probably had the kamakura helping with international cooperation

The Second Shinobi World War (Year 83 to 89)

The Third Shinobi World War (Year 91 to 99)

Present Day (Year 112)

Tenants of the Modern-Day Kamakura

Diaspora and Hierarchy

Unlike traditional clans, the Kamakura is a loosely related family, made of those born of the original Kamakura Temples and those who join the religion.

Some retain their family name, some take it upon themselves, while others are given it freely. While there are plenty of Kamakura-affiliated shinobi or samurai in the ranks of many, if not all, of the hidden villages, the vast majority of members are civilians or temple members. Most members adhere to the doctrines and tenant of the Kamakura, aiming to live fulfilling lives on their way to enlightenment.

The Main Temple is located within Iron Country and is a sprawling monastery whose grounds is effectively a small city. The head of the temple is known as the Hōin, who is elected from the elders within the Iron Temple every 9 years (or sooner, if something happens with the Hōin during his term). The Hōin is more a spiritual head of the family, providing guidance when asked, as well as detailing requirements for joining the clan (or excommunication). Any adult over the age of 20 who wants to join the Kamakura has to be processed through the main temple, which can, on occasion, cause quite a bit of backlog. (But also, adults who convert to the religion and join the clan, in the same classes as 4 year olds learning about the world from Kamakuras is high key hilarious)

Beneath it are the 5 major temples located in the countries of Earth, Lightning, Water, Wind, and Fire. Each temple elects a high priest, known as as Hōgen, as a representative for their temple with the Iron Temple. While technically elections are supposed to occur every 2 years, the process of getting visas for inter-nation travel is a diplomatic headache so most temples rarely recall their representatives (___ has dutifully sent a new representative every 2 years, barring during _____). Their job is to represent those of the Kamakura who live within their countries, as well as counsel the Hōin.

Many other satellite temples affiliated with the Kamakura exist throughout the continent, many who have a representative who stays in the Iron Temple or travels between there and their home temple.

The temples employ local shinobi as couriers between the various temples across the continent, as well as the occasional guards when monks and nuns go on a pilgrimage or have to visit another temple. Most temples are fairly self-sustaining, often times through farming or selling various goods from artwork to household items to even weapons (the swordsmiths of the temples in Mist and Fire have a fierce rivalry that is always on display during SwordCon).

Kamakura members come from and join all walks of life - not just monks, ninja and samurai, but teachers, medics, grocers and everything in between.

Though rare, there are some excommunicated members of the Kamakura clan. It takes a heinous crime to be stripped of your name and affiliation, but it has happened. There are far more members who renounce the Kamakura clan, leaving it although the church will remain an option for them if they ever come back (unless they are also excommunicated). Even more numerous are Kamakura who are members but do very little with the clan.

Hiden

While not exactly secret, the Kamakura Clan techniques are kept protected throughout the temples, no matter which sect one belongs in. They lie less in the actual jutsu that's performed and more on the creation of sutras -- special fūinjutsu that, when paired with a mantra, can create devastating effects. The scripts themselves can surely be copied, but are nothing more than overly complicated explosive tags when not done correctly (which is only taught within Kamakura temples). A tag created by a Kamakura can be used by anyone so long as they know the corresponding mantra.

Unsurprisingly, Kamakura shinobi tend to be fairly adept at fūinjutsu... as well as creating explosive tags. Even non-shinobi members know how to create these sutras as something they learn as they grow up (or join) the family.

Members

(feel free to make your own or a kamakura affiliated characters!)

ॐ To him the Way, the Law, apart, Whom Maya held beneath her heart, Ananda's Lord, the Bodhisat, The Buddha of Kamakura. ॐ

The Land of Iron

As the Head Temple of the Kamakura resides in the same Three Wolves as the Land of Iron, ___. Often people mistakenly believe that the Hōin tends to the spiritual needs of the country while the General tends to their material. While not quite accurate, relations between the two are generally fairly good and together they foster a reputation that shinobi forces should not interfere with the Land of Iron.

SwordCon

Established in (?), (full name here) (colloquially known as SwordCon) is an annual convention held at the Head Kamakura Temple. It enjoys a vibrant history that spans over a hundred years. There's been a con every August save during the year 87 during the 2nd Shinobi War after an Iwa-Mist joint force attempted to assassinate the current Kazekage after he entered the Land of Iron. The Hōin, so incensed at these actions, punished everyone by cancelling the con. No one was happy and, since then, even at wartime all nations have an armistice so they can always have a con.

It has a newer sister convention known as WepCon (____). It started in ___ and is generally held in March.

Both conventions occur within the great sprawling temple ___. These conventions make up approximately a third of all non-samurai related revenue within the Land of Iron, which has sprawled a booming hospitality industry to handle the influx of visitors twice a year.

Like less fictional cons, there are panels to go to, merchants to purchase from, and plenty of people hawking their wares. Both the Akatsuki and Urayama have recruitment booths to entice people and, of course, there are plenty of informational booths about the Kamakura religion, as well as other religions as well.

Recent posts