Decree of Shao

The Decree of Shao was written by the imperial dragon Wei Jin Long and serves as the primary document of government for the Shao Kingdom in the Dragon Kingdoms. The decree dictates that one dragon from Wei Jin Long's family shall serve as the advisor to the king, and these advisors will switch out every nine years. Which dragon serves next is decided by Wei Jin Long (or his successor, in the event of his eventual death), but each member of the family must serve once before any of them can serve again. The currently serving dragon has no political power except to choose a new ruler if the current one dies. All authority to make decisions belongs specifically to the monarch of Shao, and the dragon's advice need not be followed.

Purpose

The Decree of Shao was written with the intention of unifying the disparate people that Wei Jin Long looked over into a single, powerful nation.

Historical Details

Background

The Decree of Shao came during a period of intense conflict in the Qiang River Valley, during which the question of how the new humanoid societies would be ruled was up for debate. Many dragons felt that they should rule directly, while others believed they should merely guide or advise, and some humanoids wanted to rule themselves completely. Wei Jin Long was the first to lay down strict laws regarding the operation of government, meaning that (ideally) any who followed the decree would know without doubt exactly how they were being ruled. It also split the power between the dragons and the humanoids, which helped to avoid further dissatisfaction. After the decree, conflict continued, but Shao's stability began to inspire nearby people to adopt similarly concrete laws of government.

Public Reaction

Wei Jin Long was well respected by the people of the area that would become the Shao kingdom, and the laws of the decree seemed reasonable to most. Additionally, the first king selected under the decree, King Shao, was a popular and wise leader, and his rule brought great stability to his kingdom. Wei Jin Long and his children fiercely enforced the limitations on the powers of dragons, driving many from the kingdom entirely. As a result, the decree was readily accepted by the people of Shao and eventually became part of their identity.

Type

Decree, Governmental

Medium

Stone

Authoring Date

733 A.C.

Ratification Date

734 A.C.