Laotse Pantheon (Lau-Ts-eh)
The Laotse pantheon is an old polytheistic organized religion that is slowly fading away, due to the rise of Ghautism and Klaarism. It is a pantheon connected to the spiritual world, that according to them exists everywhere.
The pantheon has many gods, each contemplating a different aspect of society, though nine are worshipped more than others. They are main deities of this pantheon, and shrines, big and small, can be found spread througout the Daiju land of the Laotse.
The pantheon has many gods, each contemplating a different aspect of society, though nine are worshipped more than others. They are main deities of this pantheon, and shrines, big and small, can be found spread througout the Daiju land of the Laotse.
Structure
Temple complexes to each god can be found throughout Daiju, where usually volunteers and a family take care of it.
The high priest is known guji. He is the head of the temple (and usually family) and can be a man or a woman. On smaller temples they usually are enough to take care of the shrine, though on larger complexes he takes on the role of councelor and leader.
Below the guji is the associate chief-priest, the gon-guji. These usually only exist on larger complexes and help the Guji with their administrative functions.
After the gon-guji is the priest, the neji. These can be found anywhere. They can be wandering monks, or they can work on temples, either as defenders or caretakers.
Lastly there are the junior priests, the gon-neji. These are usually volunteers and take menial day to day tasks. They attend classes of theocracy by the neji, that instruct them on the daily routine of priesthood until they are ready to be neji.
Culture
Yaotsuan religion is heavily focused on spirituality, thus their worshippers focus and respect the spiritual world. Several prayers are done throughout the day, to appease and hopefully be rewarded by the many gods, which are out of the ordinary entities that yaotsuan call kami.
This religion focuses on several tennets that their worshippers guide themselves.
Cleanliness. Yaotsuan is all about having a clean soul to commune with the spiritual world, so it's important to be clean physically as well. believers are encouraged to wash their hands and mouth before praying. Removing their shoes before entering a house or temple. And tidying and keeping their house clean.
Love of nature. the followers of Laotse pantheon believe the spiritual world is stronger amidst nature, thus they tend to respect it. Worshippers celebrate the change of seasons, particularly spring, where they join together and eat outside to celebrate the nature's blossom.
Family. To Yaotsuans family is the foundation of society. It is through community that someone finds a purpose, learn from their forefathers and values and pays respect to his ancestors.
Kami. These represent pure aspects of society in a primal way and this reflects on the way of thinking of Yaotsuan believers. Since anything can have a kami, respecting everything and everyone is a must to them.
Assets
Yaotsuan try to live an ascetic life, devoid of possessions. They sustain themselves of what the land can give them, always paying respect to the kami's offerings. As such, they usually have simpler lives.
Besides the temples and shrines that can be found in the region, neji usually receive food while traveling from believers who recognize the priests outfit, and they always eat in a frugal way.
