Hao Xiao (háu hsiao)

Bian, Bich, Cam, Chau, Cuc, Hang, Hoa, Linh, Mai, Nguyet

Hien, Hung, Chih, Danh, Duc, Duong, Phuc, Quang, Thao, Trang

Binh, Hanh, Hau, Lanh, Long, Ngoc, Nhung, Vinh, Truc, Xuan

Lieu, Le, Dang, Bui, An, Banh, Tien, Ngo, Ho, Tran, Phuong, Su

Xiaoyu, which is, itself, a dialect of the spiritual tongue of Kuoyu.

All tanuki elves, regardless of geographic location, trace the origin of their species back to the Thiên chó gấu trúc, the Celestial Tanuki Spirits. This fact has remained a cultural touchstone for all mao xiao from the Age of Breath when the first spirits decided to take on mortal forms and live within the beauty of the physical world to the modern day. The shared origins and reverence for their god-like ancestors has, many times, bridged the gaps between the disparate clans of the tanuki elves.
The shared rivalry with the kistune yosei also serves as a cultural touchstone amongst the disparate groups of tanuki elves. The eternal battle of wits, tricks, and one-upmanship has been passed down through both cultures for generations and has become an inherent part of their cultural heritage. Both species engage in playful competitions, trying to outsmart and outdo each other with their cleverness and cunning. These competitions can take various forms, such as prank wars, riddles, or contests of skill and agility. The rivalry has become such an integral part of their cultures that it is celebrated through folklore, games, and even an annual festival. 
Music and dance hold a special place in tanuki elf culture. They have a fondness for lively and rhythmic music, often featuring traditional instruments such as drums, flutes, and stringed instruments. Tanuki elves even have their own unique traditional dances, characterized by energetic movements and spirited performances.
Tanuki elves have a tradition of holding craftsmanship competitions to showcase their skills and creativity. These competitions provide a platform for tanuki artisans to display their woodworking, metalworking, or pottery talents. It is an opportunity to inspire and learn from one another, driving the continuous growth and refinement of their crafts.
Guilds have long been a part of the mao xiao culture. Since before the War of Nine Tidings, the taunki elves have had gathering places where they could come together to share news, stories, tips, and secrets. The decentralized nature of the tanuki elves necessitated the rise of gathering places where they could keep tabs on each other and the goings-on in the rest of the world outside of any individual family or clan's corner of it. As time went on, these gathering places slowly became the modern tanuki Clan Guilds; or hội quán, in elvish.

While mischievousness is a core aspect of the mao xiaos' nature, they also recognize the importance of setting boundaries and respecting the well-being of others. They maintain a code of conduct that ensures their pranks and playful antics are carried out with good intentions and do not cause any actual harm to the people around them.
Tanuki elves have a resourceful and inventive nature. They value creative problem-solving and finding innovative solutions to challenges. This value encourages individuals to think outside the box, use their skills and abilities effectively, and embrace a mindset of adaptability and resilience.
Tanuki elves highly value their independence to a degree on par with their river elf cousins. They believe in the freedom to make choices, pursue individual passions, and live their lives the way they want to live them. 
Tanuki elves hold a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. They value the skill and effort put into creating beautiful objects and, especially useful, objects. This appreciation extends to both traditional and contemporary forms of craftsmanship, such as woodworking, pottery, metalwork, and other forms of creativity which others can find a use for.
Mao xiao prioritize joy and laughter as essential elements of life. They believe in finding humor and lightness in everyday situations, fostering an atmosphere of happiness and positivity. Celebrations, gatherings, and festivals are often marked by laughter, games, and joyful interactions.

Tanuki elves have a lighthearted and mischievous approach to etiquette. It is not uncommon for them to engage in playful pranks or light-hearted tricks as a form of social interaction. These pranks are usually harmless and meant to bring laughter and amusement to everyone involved. It is considered a part of their social etiquette to embrace and appreciate these playful antics.
The mao xiao have a tendency to infuse humor into their compliments. When expressing admiration or praising someone, they often include witty or humorous remarks in an attempt to make the recipient smile. 
When hosting guests, tanuki may incorporate pranks or playful surprises into their hospitality. For instance, they may set up hidden surprises, create illusionary experiences, or incorporate unexpected elements for fun and amusement into the environment. These pranks are intended to create a sense of joy and entertainment for their guests.
Mao xiao engage in teasing banter as a form of social interaction. Friendly and light-hearted teasing is common among them, and it is considered a way to build camaraderie and strengthen social bonds.

The customary dress for the tanuki elves follows along the same lines as their fox and river elf cousins. Though they tend to dress how the local climate and etiquette allow. In the southern environs where it's more common to see river elves in their typical state of dress (or undress, depending on whom is asked), the mao xiao will follow suit with the typical, elven customs of the area. With females wearing not much more than a halter top and a long skirt with straw or wooden sandals. 
The clothing for males is basically exactly the same as those worn by male river elves consisting of a long, robed tunic belted at the waist, loose trousers to cinched at the knee or ankle, with straw sandals or felt or leather shoes or boots in the winter. A conical straw hat is common headwear for protection from the rain or as an affectation and a nod to the traditional tanuki statues common in human towns. For females, again, the dress is much the same as female river elves with the exception of the traditional halter top always being covered by either a long tunic or five-paneled dress. As well, pants of a rather tight fit are worn under the skirts during the colder winter months.
Due to the fact that the mao xiao are not that adept with embroidery like their counterparts, their clothes tend to be rather plain if brightly colored. Females tend to favor brightly colored greens, reds, and oranges. Wile males usually go for deeper hues of the same colors along with greys and browns. 
One thing that tanuki elves do to add a bit of flair to their everyday outfits is accessorize. They tend to add small bits of flashy accessories to anything it can fit. From purse clasps, to robe or belt pins, hilt decorations, earrings, bracelets, rings, or necklaces. One, specific piece of ornamentation that no tanuki elf is ever without, however, is a small, leaf-shaped brooch pinned somewhere on their person. This is yet another nod to the typical tanuki legends and serves to identify them as they travel.

Unlike the rest of the elven races, the tanuki do not have their own architectural forms which they can call their own. By and large, mao xiao tend to live within human cities and towns or elven cities, if they can get away with it. Therefore, their architectural motifs are largely culled from the humans with which they reside.   
As was mentioned previously, however, the tanuki elves do have a certain artistic side to them which manifests itself in creating intricate sculptures and carvings from wood, metal, and clay. Their works tend to feature nature-inspired motifs such as animals, plants, and legendary creatures. The sculptures range from small decorative pieces to larger installations that blend seamlessly with the natural environment.
They also tend to specialize in whimsical woodwork that captures the essence of their mischievous nature. They create intricate wooden figurines, masks, or puppets with animated expressions and playful postures. Oftentimes, these pieces are used for storytelling, performances, or simply as decorative items.
When they choose to work in metal they incorporate natural themes and organic designs. They might create ornate jewelry, elaborate metal sculptures, or functional objects with intricate details inspired by the flora and fauna of their surroundings. The metalwork often features flowing lines, botanical patterns, or animal motifs.
Many mao xiao have a talent for crafting pottery and clay figurines. Their pottery tends to have earthy tones and rustic textures, reflecting their connection to the natural world. While they often create functional pieces such as bowls, vases, and teapots, they also create figurines that depict animals, mythological creatures, or whimsical characters.

Mao xiao embrace a wide range of ingredients in their cuisine, drawing from the abundance of nature. They incorporate various types of meats such as pork, chicken, and seafood, as well as a variety of vegetables, herbs, and spices. Though, their experimental palettes hardly stop there, as they've been known to incorporate an even wider range of exotic ingredients into their dishes such as snakes, amphibians, and insects.
Tanuki elves have a preference for bold, robust flavors and spiciness in their dishes. They use a great range of aromatic herbs and spices like lemongrass, chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and shallots to create intense and flavorful meals.
Like many other elves, soups and broths hold a prominent place in tanuki elf cuisine. They prepare rich, aromatic broths using ingredients such as bones, herbs, and spices to create flavorful bases. They then add various types of meat, aquatic food, and vegetables to their soups, resulting in hearty and satisfying bowls bursting with flavors.
They also have a fondness for grilling and smoking techniques in their cooking. They tend to grill meats, aquatic food, and vegetables over open flames, rather than stir fry them, to infuse them with smoky flavors. Grilled dishes like marinated skewers, charred vegetables, and barbecued meats are popular options in their cuisine.
Mao xiao embrace the vibrant street food culture found in the human cities. In fact, one of the jobs they're often found in is running a street vendor's stall or cart. From these they offer an array of easily carried foods, such as crispy spring rolls, savory pancakes (banh xeo), grilled skewers (nem nuong), and steamed buns (banh bao).

While the mao xiao are generally considered to be especially silly individuals who don't take much, if anything, seriously, there is one aspect of their lives that many tanuki elves take very seriously. That is the crafts, and especially metalworking, aspect of their lives. Those tanuki who take part in metalworking treat it as a sacred activity, similar to the kobito and human swordsmiths. They view their forges as sacred spaces, which are strung with shimenawa and shide to denote the sanctity of the space, and approach their work with reverence and a deep respect. To the point where they often incorporate ritualistic practices to ensure the quality of their work and honor the history and past masters of their craft. 
Before starting any piece of work, the tanuki elf will ritually cleanse themselves and their tools, purifying them in water and salt before use. They then invoke the spirits of their ancestors who where masters of metalcraft, seeking their blessings and guidance in their work before offerings prayers to the spirits of the metal and of metalworking to seek their guidance, as well, in achieving the desired results.
While the actual forging is in process, the mao xiao practice a focused, meditative mindset allowing them to be in harmony with the materials they're working.
Once the project is done, prayers of thanks and gratitude are given to the ancestors and the spirits who helped to guide the smith to achieving their goals. As well, a smith's tools are always ritually cleaned and maintained as they are the essential for the work.
Depending upon how seriously they take their craft, tanuki elves who are involved in other disciplines may perform similar rites within their own workshops. It's not that other mao xiao can't take their own crafts seriously, it's simply that, since the Age of the Bushi, metalsmithing, in particular, has been seen as especially sacred throughout the empire. 
The Metal season is considered to be auspicious who work with the element. The second full moon of the Metal season is especially auspicious. The day, called Ngày Tốt để Nhìn Trăng in elven, is significant because of the traditional belief that the full moon has a positive influence and enhances the quality of the metal being worked. Thus, resulting in superior craftsmanship and outcomes for the final product. 
Many smiths choose to do metalwork on this night when the yin energies of the moon and the season are at their peak. For this reason, they often set up their forges and other workstations out of doors on this night to take full advantage of the moon's light. Of course, before they start their work, they give prayers and offerings such as alcohol and other favorite foods of the tanuki. Otherwise, it is much the same rituals of invocation and thanksgiving that are performed before any undertaking. 
If possible, many smiths choose to wait til Ngày Tốt để Nhìn Trăng to craft any special items or significant object. They especially choose this day to craft items of spiritual or mystical significance or any other complex or complicated item. Items such as heirloom weapons, ornate armor, objects with awakened spirits, or other mystical properties are thought to benefit, and be easier to take care of, on this night.  
Many tanuki elves, due to their more mercenary nature, gravitate toward the more mercantile professions. Whether that be as professional tradesmen, more general merchants, or traveling peddlers. They tend to gravitate toward the worship of the Dosojin, tutelary gods of the roads and protectors of travelers; also known as Đạo Tổ Thần in the elven tongue. They honor the Dosojin with prayers, invocations, and gifts of small valuables or coin in order to get their blessings for guidance, safe travels, and successful business ventures. This is usually done at a Clan Hall; or, alternatively, at the small, roadside shrines dedicated to the Dosojin at the entrances of every city, town, or village.   
It is customary for the mao xiao to register with their city's hội quán once they reach their age of majority. The clan guilds serve the tanuki elves in much the same way that the Council of Streams serves their river elf cousins, but more-so. For tanuki elves their guilds serve as centers of knowledge, trade, contacts, and a small bit of community for the diffuse population of mao xiao.   
Cuộc Chiến Gấu Trúc Cáo: There is a yearly festival, much like the sumo matches of the sourthern provinces, that takes place between the kitsune yosei and the hao xiao. Taking place in the late Wood, early Fire seasons, after the spring planting, the Fox-Tanuki Battle is a two-week long festival where the local populations of fox and tanuki elves come together to perpetuate their eternal rivalry in a contest festival. A site is chosen by both parties beforehand, then the individual gods of each village are carried to the site in mikoshi, and housed in temporary shrines built on-site. This part of the festival is treated much like a parade with participants and spectators chanting and banging drums and playing pipes. If the two parties happen to meet each other on the road to the site, a mock battle might begin en route with the bearers and shrines jostling each other aside to make it to the battle site first. Though the "fight" can get quite rough, it is considered bad form to actually hurt another bearer or break a mikoshi.
Once the site is reached, preferably near water where shrines and participants may be purified, and camp is set up, the next two weeks are devoted to daily "battles" between the participants. The actual events can vary between participants from village to village or year to year, but they generally involve contests of wits, skill, magic, and, sometimes, martial prowess. Every once in a while, an actual mock battle with small armies may even take place. The contests held, though, tend to involve those things attributed to their spirit ancestors: typically cleverness, trickery, illusion, and shape-changing.
The end of the two weeks, once all the contests are done, and winners decided, tends to devolve into one, long, raucous party with lots of food and booze, good-natured mocking of the losers, and a nominal Night Parade back home.

Upon first discovering that she is pregnant, a female tanuki elf will visit the closest shrine dedicated to a god or goddess of childbirth to give her thanks for the blessing and to ask for the healthy development and birth of her child.
Once three months have passed during the pregnancy, the fox elf woman and her mate will announce the pregnancy to their family and friends. Some couples announce the happy event to the local clan guild, as a whole.
Expectant mothers are encouraged to eat healthy, nutritionally balanced foods in order to encourage the development of the baby. In particular, they are encouraged to eat as many protein-rich foods as possible, including poultry and fowl. They are, however, discouraged from eating overly spicy foods, as it is believed that it could cause harm to the developing baby. Which, given their usual penchant, is probably the most difficult proscription for tanuki elf women to tolerate.
There are also several proscriptions against pregnant women within general, elven culture. Such as: avoid entering temples or other sacred spaces. As it is believed that the energies within these sacred spaces and the energies involved in pregnancy may disrupt each other and cause harm. Pregnant women are discouraged from being involved in funerary processes as the negative energies involved with these practices could harm the mother and the baby. For much the same reason, pregnant women are to avoid touching dead animals of any sort. Therefore, working in the kitchens is a definite no-go. In the relatively rare instances of a lunar or solar eclipse during pregnancy, elven women are discouraged from going outside during such times to avoid these inauspicious events.
The birth, itself, is attended only by the closest female relatives, if available. A midwife, sometimes not even of the same race as the laboring woman, is always present. Once the baby is actually born, the midwife cuts the cord with a small knife made of tanuki bone. During the time of birth, the immediate family not within the birthing chamber, i.e. the males, will busy themselves at the temple or family shrine making intercessory prayers on behalf of the mother and child to come through the labor safely and healthy.
Much like the Dàyáng humans, elven women are expected to rest for thirty days after the birth of their child. They are to avoid going out and any strenuous activity. Called nằm chừng in elven, the period is believed to help the mother and child recover and bond with the infant. This is something that is readily practiced throughout the elven world, and, with a few exceptions, generally follows the same rules.
Dietary practices for the nằm chừng is much the same as it was during the pregnancy. Chicken, boiled or soup, freshwater fish, steamed or boiled, bone broth, grains such as rice, millet, or wheat, dark, leafy greens such as bok choy, (Chinese) yam, red dates, and sesame seeds, walnuts, and almonds are typically recommended for women at this stage.
After about three months, after it is confirmed that the child is relatively healthy, the baby is taken to the community shrine to be introduced to the gods and ancestors and is given his or her first name. This is followed by a general celebration of the mother and the baby, with foods symbolic of long life and joy being served, along with rice and, finally for the poor tanuki woman, spicy foods. The baby is given small gifts, such as small talismans symbolizes long life, health, and luck, or small tanuki charms.

When a young elf reaches the ages of 80-90 (approx. 15-16) years of age for a female, and 100-110 years of age for a male, they are considered to have reached their age of majority and are ready for their coming of age ceremonies to enter into adulthood. These ceremonies follow many of the same cues as similar ceremonies across the face of the empire. Among these elves, these ceremonies are called Lễ thành niên for boys, and Tuổi cập kê for girls.
These ceremonies are hosted either by the father or the mother, respectively, at the hội quán's resident shrine. For at least a decade before this ceremony, the elven youngsters would have been learning a trade or skill under one of the other adults registered with the clan guild. This adult is selected as the honored guest to perform the rite for the child.
Once at the shrine, the young one is ceremonially changed into adult clothing with the help of the appropriate parent. They then offer incense, sacrifices, and prayers to the ancestors, before giving a ceremonial demonstration of their skill. If the elf is entering academia and the Bureaucracy, his or her academic accomplishments and enrollment into the National Academies will be acknowledged.
Once they have officially demonstrated their abilities to succeed to the gathered adults and ancestors, the boy's hair is usually bound up and he is given a ceremonial hat appropriate to his career choice, while the girl's hair is brushed out and gathered up into a bun before being pinned there with a hairpin given to her by her mother. The boy or girl then bow, again, to their parents and to the ancestors, and finally write their own name into their guild's registries.

Though many of the same customs and rites apply to the tanuki elves, as they do the majority of peoples, there are certain differences in the details of the way that their funerals are conducted. First, it must be understood that all elves, as a tradition, hide their faces from death. The elven participants in any funeral procession will always don traditional masks coinciding with their natures before participating. Even the deceased is put in a mask before the procession in an elven funeral. This is done to symbolize the deceased returning to their true kami nature upon being released from their earthly body. The mao xiao are no different.
Before the procession, a red and white tanuki mask is put on the deceased to symbolize them returning to the shinkai and becoming a revered ancestor. Upon joining the procession, each of the participants dons red tanuki masks to symbolize their still base and earthly natures. While the officiating priest wears a golden tanuki mask to symbolize his or her closeness to the gods.
Their funerals commonly take place at night, and the funeral procession to the cremation site is surrounded by the multicolored balls of foxfire, provided by the priest, to light the procession. Once at the cremation site, the priest causes the small fireballs to congregate around the deceased and become a blazing, multicolored, bonfire which cremates the body until all that is left is bone and ash.
The funeral then proceeds in much the same way as all other funerals. The bones and ash are gathered up and put into an urn and then taken back to the compound and interred beneath the family's gravestone.

Revealing the secrets of the clan guilds to outsiders, whether that's trade secrets, client lists, trade deals, finances, guild registries, or anything else the guild holds sacred, is considered to be a serious taboo, as it could put at risk their very identity and traditions.
There are limits to everything, and even the notoriously mischievous tanuki have them. Causing serious harm to others or otherwise causing a significant disruption to the overall community in which the tanuki live through the injudicious use of pranks is considered to be taboo. If only because it risks damaging the positive relationships and goodwill the tanuki elves have formed with their overall community.
Mao xiao place great importance on keeping their words and upholding the letters of a bargain. Deliberately breaking their words or reneging on a bargain made is a major taboo within the culture. Within this same vein, revealing the details of a deal without express permission from the other party is considered to be reneging on the deal and faces a similar punishment. After all, trust is everything in their line of work.
Tanuki elves tend to value efficiency even in their own projects and crafts. Therefore, the purposeful squandering or wasting of valuable resources is another taboo. Albeit, a lighter one than those previously mentioned.

Tanuki elves share many of the same standards of beauty that their fox cousins do. Elves of both sexes adore a quick wit and a playful nature. As well, both males and females find a strong, even ribald, sense of humor to be the height of enticement in a potential partner. Elves, as a general rule, admire grace and a graceful figure, and the tanuki elves are hardly different. While considered to be unrefined by their "betters," tanuki elves have their own sense of raw, predatory grace that is found to be charming by the common folk and irresistible amongst themselves.
As far as physical attributes go, hao xiao continue to go against the grain. Their skin tones tend to be ruddier than their elven cousins, so, to them the most attractive people tend to have skin of a deep, golden hue, rather than the pale skin seemingly prized everywhere. Clear, radiant skin with soft hair and fur is found attractive in both sexes, as well. A person who can't even keep themselves clean is less than desirable. Wide, expressive eyes of a deep ochre are prized; as are figures with a little more meat on the bones rather than the willow-thin preferences of other elves. Female tanuki elves prefer their males to be a bit stocky, with broader jaws, and a bit of a mischievous smirk playing across his lips. While males women who are just a bit unkempt; long hair in a fraying ponytail, for instance. They also tend to prefer slightly softer features than the generally sharper features of most elves. Wide eyes, a cute, upturned nose, and a wicked grin with fine curves complete the beauty ideals of tanuki elves.

Tanuki elves are known for their clever and mischievous natures. This wouldn't be possible without those, particular traits, being valued in both genders. Whether male or female, the appreciation for sharp minds, fleetness of thought, and the ability to outsmart those around them, is universal among them. A slightly wicked and whimsical nature are the hallmark of many of the tanuki legends which abound through the empire. The hao xiao to bring these very attributes to life in their daily lives. Therefore, an individual who shows these rather dubious traits would be considered an ideal partner. In this same vein, being aligned to the Principle of Yang, themselves, tanuki elves value passion and a partner who understands and actually feels the full gamut of emotions.

Mao xiao courtships can often be a playful and intriguing affair. While there's no strict, traditional role involved in who takes charge during a courtship, on most occasions it is actually the female who begins initiating the proceedings. 
Tanuki elves initially display their interest through what many would typically call "adolescent behavior." While they don't tend to take things as far as pushing their love interest down and pulling their hair, they do often display their interest through the use of playful gestures, teasing banter, or leaving small gifts or tokens which hold sentimental, or cultural, value. They may also display their own cleverness by pulling light-hearted pranks meant to catch the attention of their prospective mate.
Once a shared interest is established between the pair, the courtship tends to revolve around shared passions, interests, and adventures. Since many of the mao xiao spend their time as wandering merchants and peddlers, given their proclivities, often the courtships will involve the two wandering the same routes and roads, and spending time getting to know how the other does business. This allows the couple to get to know each other through various situations that will test the various attributes that tanuki find most important in a partner.
Ideally the courtship will be able to test the partners' wits, cleverness, and, above all, sense of humor and light-heartedness. If the prospective mates can still find ways to inject even the most desperate situations with humor and playfulness, or to diffuse tense situations with witty banter, antics, and pranks, then the partnership well on its way to ideal.
One of the hallmarks of tanuki courtship is their crafting of small, affectionate tokens. These often come in the forms of small baubles depicting objects or themes which are important their partner. These gestures serve as a way to convey their feelings and demonstrate a marked investment in the relationship.
Overall, tanuki elves tend to adopt a collaborative approach to decision making within their relationships. Both people actively discuss and express their desires and preferences, and work together to create their experiences and memories.

The ideal relationship for the mao xiao is much the same as it is for the ideal courtship, just extended. The tanuki will continues to collaborate with each other on the major decisions of their lives. The tanuki's playfulness and sense of humor is the bedrock of any successful relationship. It is thought that when the laughter dies, so, too, does the relationship.

The mao xiao clan guilds, recognized by the customary "tanuki leaf" emblazoned upon their signage, are a prevalent sight in nearly every city and large town throughout the empire. Typically occupying the lower districts of their towns, they are nearly exclusively attended, staffed, and run by tanuki elves. That "nearly" only applies to the attendees and, sometimes, staff, however. Every, single tanuki guild is run exclusively by tanuki elves; specifically the leaders of the major area clans.
Founded in the distant past, they have slowly grown to become the lifeblood for their largely scattered elf population. They are the cultural touchstone of their race. A way for wandering elves to get news, forge contacts, get jobs, or find help when needed.
While the guilds do not govern the mao xiao, they serve as an important social hub for the area's tanuki elf population, and of the general population of tanuki elves, as a whole. As well, the guilds tend to have a great deal of local power in the cities in which they're located. Therefore, the words of the guild leaders, are often given a great deal of weight by the tanuki elves, even if they aren't technically given the weight of law.