Current World Map & Countries Guide
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:57 pm
The Known World of Naruto Saigen
List of Countries:
The borders and countries from prior to the war can be found [here]
The Oceans
Between the continent of Friopa and the eastern border main continent, there is a strong southbound current caused by deep valleys in the oceans of the southern hemisphere. As a result, melting ice and Arctic water are waters are pulled into the current and sucked downwards into the warmer equatorial and southern waters. This results in violent clashes of warm and cold water, making it difficult to navigate for even the most skilled sea-fairers. It is alleged there are a number of small island nations that dot this ocean but it has not been properly mapped at any time.
Numbered Political MapShow
Biome MapShow
List of Countries:
The ContinentsShow
There are three continents in the world of Saigen. The main continent, or 'Honshu Taishuu', which contains the bulk of the countries of the world. The frozen continent, or 'Reikou Taishuu', which contains little more than frozen tundra. Finally, there is the shrimp continent, or 'Ebi Taishuu', named after its shape, which contains a culturally distinct group of people.
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Shrimp ContinentShow
Cultural differences of the Shrimp continent:
Largely isolated except through sparse sea-travel, the Shrimp continent is culturally distinct from the mainland in several ways. The most apparent to any visitor is the shift in language and accent; while the mainland primarily follows Japanese culture, the Shrimp continent does so with Chinese. While the mainland-tongue is spoken and understood by at least some in most large towns, the primary language spoken among the people is different. Thus, the locations on the Shrimp continent - countries, towns, notable features of the land, et cetera - are primarily named in Pinyin. Rough translations of the countries are outlined below.
The local population are generally darker-skinned, shorter and stockier than those on the mainland, with very dark hair and eyes being common traits. There are a number of local religions, although only one has risen to dominance within recent generations; Jindàoism, or The Golden Way. With its spiritual centre in Tianguó (Country 4), the religion teaches of a spiritual "counter-world" to our own, and many other paired mortal-spirit worlds existing in dimensions beyond discovery. These 'female' spirituaal realms are the source of 'good' energy and benevolence in the world, including chi (chakra), spirits and good fortune. The 'male' mortal-world is the natural counterbalance, where all that exists is susceptible to evil and corruption over time. As such, anything 'spiritual' -- including ninja capable of utilising chakra -- are seen as fragments of divinity who have been in contact with the spiritual world.
It follows from this that practitioners of the ninja arts are exceedingly rare in the Shrimp continent. Those that exist typically do so in secret, and reject the theories of Jindào. Those that have exposed themselves openly as ninja have, in the past and whether intentional or not, sparked turmoil and war across the continent as faithful and faithless assumed allegiances and clashed. Despite this contrast in beliefs with much of the mainland, foreigners and their trades are typically welcomed in the Shrimp continent, and the people are known for their general lack of xenophobia.
Recent history and Political Climate:
Thirty years ago, the Shrimp continent was a prosperous, peaceful land. All nations on the Shrimp continent were once unified beneath one nation known as the Golden Empire, or Jīn Dìguó. The Shénzhèng, chief priest of Jindào in the city-state of Jīnshān, worked for the happiness of the citizens of the continent as head of state. He both ruled above and consulted with the Junfá of the 8 internally autonomous states to maintain peace. A brutal coup d'état in Laohudì and a conspiracy to assassinate the Shénzhèng, however, soon plunged the continent into a fierce and agonising decade of war, creating the countries and borders that we see today.
The war ended in a fragile, tenuous peace, and although further war has thus far been avoided, skirmishes and minor conflicts between neighbours are still a common occurrence; the old wounds are far from forgotten. The land and its peoples have yet to recover, and while many strive to stabilize their nations and restore peace to the land, there are those among the citizenry and nobility alike that believe a second full-scale war will soon consume the continent again. Borders are unsafe, many smaller villages have ceased to exist in the face of continual invasion, and tensions remain high in the face of political, economic and militaristic turmoil.
In the east, the Junfá of Xùntudi now seeks to reunite the continent in a web of diplomacy and alliances to return the land to peace, as it had been in decades past. The central and western powers, however, are concerned only with their own survival - often through dominance before all else. The armies of Guólóng grow year by year, and Laohudì responds with equal preparations. The border between the two is now a wide stretch of no-mans-land, dominated by half-rebuilt towers and fortifications, outposts and strategically positioned military camps.
Terminology:
Junfá; A warlord or leading figure of a country; essentially the local title for a Daimyo.
Largely isolated except through sparse sea-travel, the Shrimp continent is culturally distinct from the mainland in several ways. The most apparent to any visitor is the shift in language and accent; while the mainland primarily follows Japanese culture, the Shrimp continent does so with Chinese. While the mainland-tongue is spoken and understood by at least some in most large towns, the primary language spoken among the people is different. Thus, the locations on the Shrimp continent - countries, towns, notable features of the land, et cetera - are primarily named in Pinyin. Rough translations of the countries are outlined below.
The local population are generally darker-skinned, shorter and stockier than those on the mainland, with very dark hair and eyes being common traits. There are a number of local religions, although only one has risen to dominance within recent generations; Jindàoism, or The Golden Way. With its spiritual centre in Tianguó (Country 4), the religion teaches of a spiritual "counter-world" to our own, and many other paired mortal-spirit worlds existing in dimensions beyond discovery. These 'female' spirituaal realms are the source of 'good' energy and benevolence in the world, including chi (chakra), spirits and good fortune. The 'male' mortal-world is the natural counterbalance, where all that exists is susceptible to evil and corruption over time. As such, anything 'spiritual' -- including ninja capable of utilising chakra -- are seen as fragments of divinity who have been in contact with the spiritual world.
It follows from this that practitioners of the ninja arts are exceedingly rare in the Shrimp continent. Those that exist typically do so in secret, and reject the theories of Jindào. Those that have exposed themselves openly as ninja have, in the past and whether intentional or not, sparked turmoil and war across the continent as faithful and faithless assumed allegiances and clashed. Despite this contrast in beliefs with much of the mainland, foreigners and their trades are typically welcomed in the Shrimp continent, and the people are known for their general lack of xenophobia.
Recent history and Political Climate:
Thirty years ago, the Shrimp continent was a prosperous, peaceful land. All nations on the Shrimp continent were once unified beneath one nation known as the Golden Empire, or Jīn Dìguó. The Shénzhèng, chief priest of Jindào in the city-state of Jīnshān, worked for the happiness of the citizens of the continent as head of state. He both ruled above and consulted with the Junfá of the 8 internally autonomous states to maintain peace. A brutal coup d'état in Laohudì and a conspiracy to assassinate the Shénzhèng, however, soon plunged the continent into a fierce and agonising decade of war, creating the countries and borders that we see today.
The war ended in a fragile, tenuous peace, and although further war has thus far been avoided, skirmishes and minor conflicts between neighbours are still a common occurrence; the old wounds are far from forgotten. The land and its peoples have yet to recover, and while many strive to stabilize their nations and restore peace to the land, there are those among the citizenry and nobility alike that believe a second full-scale war will soon consume the continent again. Borders are unsafe, many smaller villages have ceased to exist in the face of continual invasion, and tensions remain high in the face of political, economic and militaristic turmoil.
In the east, the Junfá of Xùntudi now seeks to reunite the continent in a web of diplomacy and alliances to return the land to peace, as it had been in decades past. The central and western powers, however, are concerned only with their own survival - often through dominance before all else. The armies of Guólóng grow year by year, and Laohudì responds with equal preparations. The border between the two is now a wide stretch of no-mans-land, dominated by half-rebuilt towers and fortifications, outposts and strategically positioned military camps.
Terminology:
Country # | English Translation | Pinyin | Romaji |
Continent | Shrimp Continent | Lù Xia | Ebitaishu |
1 | Land of Tides | Cháodì | Shio no Kuni |
2 | Land of Floods | Xùntudi | Kozui no Kuni |
3 | Land of Monkeys | Hóuzidì | Saru no Kuni |
4 | Land of Heaven | Tianguó | Enmansujo |
5 | Land of the Tiger | Laohudì | Tora no Tochi |
6 | Land of the Dragon's Touch | Guólóng | Hiryuu no Tochi |
7 | Isle of Serpents | Daoshé | Janoshima |
8 | Isle of the Great Mountain | Dàshanzhou | Ooyamatou |
Junfá; A warlord or leading figure of a country; essentially the local title for a Daimyo.
The Oceans
Between the continent of Friopa and the eastern border main continent, there is a strong southbound current caused by deep valleys in the oceans of the southern hemisphere. As a result, melting ice and Arctic water are waters are pulled into the current and sucked downwards into the warmer equatorial and southern waters. This results in violent clashes of warm and cold water, making it difficult to navigate for even the most skilled sea-fairers. It is alleged there are a number of small island nations that dot this ocean but it has not been properly mapped at any time.