The Four Sages

The four sages are appointed by the kami to serve the nation in secret as religious leaders, prophets, advisors, and as a supreme judicial council. The sages also appoint certain high ranking government officials like Governors and the Prime Minister. A sage will often be a person that either has great wisdom and experience, or someone with great potential to achieve the former. A sage will always have an abnormally strong spiritual connection, and ability to commune with Kami in order to divine their will. While a sage's role is primarily as an advisor, in special cases a sage can use their skills and divine influence in combat if their expertise is needed. Anytime a sage passes away or retires from the role, the emperor will appoint a new individual to fill the space. Once a person is chosen, they will give up their old life, and live in the Meiji Jingu Tokyo.

The 7 Responsibilities

Prophesy

The role of prophet refers to both a literal prediction of future events, and a metaphorical moral prediction of how the current trajectory of the nation or specific people or decisions will lead to certain consequences.

Appointment

Sages will appoint certain priestly and shirne maiden when tthe previous holder dies or resigns. This will also apply to the governors of every province in the empire.

Recording

A sage is expected to be well versed in the art of calligraphy, and to make records of their activities and more importantly to add their common prophesies to the Scroll of the Prophesies of the Sages

Ritual

The sages also have a duty to engage in a series of rituals. These include daily meditations and prayers, and carrying out traditional processes that relate to their other duties.

Adjudication

Though the sages are not intended to be a political active entity, they may weigh in on the decision making of other governmental branches, and with a unanimous vote can choose to either provide a divine endorsement or condemnation and subsequent strike down of a law or regulation. This power of adjudication can only be overpowered by a decree by the emperor, though typically the emperor and the sages are on better terms than to fight each other

Communing

On occasions where even the sages are at a loss for guidance, they may commune with kami, though they must travel to the correct region where the kami in question resides, and go to a shrine to do so.

Advisement

The sages may advise the emperor or other politicians on the wisest course of action based on their religious scholarship. While no one is mandated to listen to simple advise, the weight of the opinion of a sage is considered to be much greater than that of other officials

Symbolism

Each sage represents one of four sacred animals, and an accompanying season, direction, color, and element/material originating from Chinese mythology.

Azure Dragon -

• Spring
• East
• Blue-Green
• Wood

Vermilion Phoenix -

• Summer
• South
• Red
• Fire

White Tiger -

• Autumn
• West
• White
• Metal

Black Tortoise (intertwined with a snake) -

• Winter
• North
• Black
• Water