Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-26535281-20170429172504

The Three Holy roads known is Xin as Santiao Sheng Lu, they are the basic paths that one in the monastic life style must choice.

The three faiths all worship the Zhia and the traditional Xinese gods plus a whole host of saints but the way they do this is quite different. The three paths were started by the three wandering sorcerers (The two blue sorcerers and the white sorcerer) each have their own secret 'magics', rules, and traditions. The three faiths are known as Yin, Yang, and Tao.

Yin and Yang are interlocked and although considered separate faiths the two orders are heavily intertwined to the point of almost every monk/nun being of both orders. The orders or Yin and Yang revolve around the concept or order and balance in this world with the monks/nuns they practice many forms of magic and martial arts. The individuals of these orders are known as either great healers (Yin) or great warriors (Yang).

The most famous martial art comes in two forms one for healing and one for combat it is either known as the Touch of Life or the Touch of Death though most call it chi blocking it can unblock arteries or block them and so on and so fourth.

The Monks/Nun themselves live in abbeys normally built in he country side and far away from cities. Each abbey is pretty much it's own self functioning town. Each abbey is a walled off plaza in which a temple is built in the center and the houses and storage yards built to the sides. The monks/nuns study and produce luxury goods (Perfumes, weave silk, and such) to provide income for the Abbey. The monks of Yin and Yang live life in balance never having too much but never having too little they are allowed to have children, They must fulfill spiritual and physical exercises each and every day, and are not allowed to own their own wealth (All the money earned by selling goods is first given to maintain the abbey and then to give out to the poor)

Now for Tao. Tao really doesn't have that many rules or regulations it is all about learning more and wandering the world looking for knowledge. Tao does have some temples but they are really just rest stops built for traveling monks and travelers a few Tao monks stay and manage the temple and groups of acolytes who keep the temple clean but for the most part the temples are empty. Only during the holy months are the Temples filled with monks (During these months all monks are supposed to find and stay in a temple)

Tao monks for the most part have no permanent houses or much material possessions they instead wander the world looking for knowledge and information. They aren't allowed to have children but really, that doesn't stop some monks. They are also supposed to help the poor in any way they can. So for example if a wandering monk finds a village in the middle of a harvest and needs work he should and probably will offer himself to work.

Tao temples are built on major trade routes and in visible places (On top of Mountains, on top of a hill, ect) and are pretty well known in the west for the age of the temples and the grand designs of the temples. Tao Temples can be found far and wide from the Dark lands, to Harad, to Far Harad, and even in the western regions in Rhun.

Notes for all orders:

Each order has Acolytes which are children taken in or offered to the order and are raised by the order. They become full monks at a certain age (12 for Yin/Yang and 16 for Tao)

Each order is also supplemented by coverts (Anyone can but they must give up their wealth and material possessions)

Each order has forms of 'magic' but they are not the only magics in Xin (Sages and other Sorcerers) 