Shulanites - Ethnicity

Shulanites are a culture that comes from the planet Shulon and the Shulanite species.

Their culture has been heavily influenced by the fact that the Shulanite species has a higher birth rate of males than females, leading to the population being very male dominated with women being more of a minority. This has led to the culture developing a strong gender binary, practices of fraternal polyandry, and overall very patriarchal customs and ways.

Shulanite traditions have become somewhat more open in modern times, especially with influence from the galactic coalition coming in, but there is still a strong traditional -even conservative- presence on the planet.

Social structure

Kinship

For more info see: Shulanite Kinship System

Shulanite kinship, due to their traditional practice of fraternal Polyandry -one woman married to multiple brothers- and limiting the amount of marriages in each generation, has a very generational patriarchal kinship system. There is typically only one marriage per generation in the family and thus little distinction between different members of the same gender and generation. There is no distinction between half siblings and full siblings that result from a polyandrous marriage, nor is there a distinction between the biological fathers and non-biological fathers. This overall results in a very small family group, with very little branching or splitting off.

Modernly it is slightly more common and socially acceptable for non-fraternal polyandrous marriages, where one woman will be married to multiple unrelated men, but this complicates the kinship system and typically results in a more matriarchal lineage that follows similar rules to the more traditional structure.

Weddings & Courtship

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Gender

Shulanite gender norms focus a lot on the gender binary, with very strong gender norms. Women are traditionally cloistered in the home and even modernly are thought to be more domestic and in need of protection. 

Men on the other hand are seen as protectors, traditionally having more freedom and choices than women. There are two main traditional lifepaths for men, the first being married in a fraternal marriage and helping to provide and protect the household, and the second becoming a member of a monastic group in a slightly more gender neutral role associated with spirituality and abstinence.

People who fall outside the gender binary are often seen as strange and slightly outcast from society, though there has been much more acceptance in modern society. Gender non-conforming men are much more likely to be socially accepted than gender non-conforming women. Similar rules apply for transgender or Gender Queer individuals, with AFAB individuals facing more barriers than AMAB individuals.

Sexuality

Shulanite sexuality norms -like gender norms- are very focused on the gender binary with fraternal polyandry where one woman is married to multiple men. The idea of relationships that go outside these norms are seen as strange and, in more conservative communities, dangerous. 

This idea of danger and otherness is especially true for relationships involving women, whether it is two women in a monogamous relationship or multiple women in a polygamous one, as women tend to be more controlled in Shulanite society. Similar rules apply for women who wish to remain single, with unmarried women traditionally being socially unacceptable with very few socially acceptable opportunities.

Non-traditional relationships involving men are typically seen as strange and non-traditional but are generally seen as acceptable. Single men are also widely socially acceptable, and even expected when it comes to younger sons being sent to monastic sects. These situations are more socially acceptable because they thin the herd of eligible men and simplify the inheritance system. 

Architecture

Shulanite architecture is very much focused on the difference between the private space and the public space. In a typical traditional home the entry will enter into the reception hall, from which one can enter an enclosed courtyard, there then will be the bedrooms along the sides of the courtyard or above the reception hall, and finally the kitchen is typically located at the back of the courtyard off of the side of the reception hall. The courtyard and the Reception hall are considered public spaces where guests and parties are located; the bedrooms and residential areas on the other hand, are considered private and are typically off limits for guests.

Roofs are often peaked, with glass courtyard roofs being popular in some modern architectural styles. Lattice work screens are often used to section off private areas of the house from the public areas, this was especially useful in traditional households where the women may have been kept separate from the men when in the receiving hall.

Traditionally, stone is typically used for the walls and majority of the structure, with roofs being tiled with ceramic shingles. The inside of houses were often decorated with frescos and mosaics. Landscaping was also an important aspect of architecture in traditional courtyard houses, with many well-off families hiring a gardener to care for them.

Fashion

For more info see: Shulanite Traditional Fashion

Shulanite fashion is affected by the gender binary with there being slight differences in clothing color schemes and styles depending on if the wearer is a woman/feminine or a man/masculine. There are also some types of clothing, like veils, that are seen as purely feminine.

The basic outfit consists of a long shapeless tunic with loose trousers worn underneath. Heavier outer layers like jackets or shawls may also be worn for warmth. There are slight differences among these outfits that can lead to them being more feminine or masculine looking.

Other things like hairstyles, veiling practices, and jewelry are also affected by the gender binary and are a common piece of Shulanite fashion.

Farming & Pastoralism

Shulon is a very modern and urban planet with agriculture and farming really only being done in rural areas of the planet. Modern technology and farming machinery is often used in farming to cut down on the needed labor and speed up the plowing and growing processes.

Most farms focus on agriculture, growing various types of highland grains in fields and other crops in smaller fields or gardens. Most farms are focused on growing large fields of these grains with other crops being grown in smaller secondary fields.

Livestock such as Tuk, are often kept on farms with smaller farms typically having at least one Tuk to get milk and dairy from. There are also some larger Tuk farming enterprises focused on milk, wool, and meat production.

Food

Staples of Shulanite food include Tuk milk and dairy products as well as various grains and lentils used in everyday cooking. Meat is also common, with Tuk meat being especially popular, and is often added to meals to make them more hearty or savory.

Spices, herbs, and flavorful vegetables are often used to add flavor to meals, with bland grains and lentils often making the base of a dish with other ingredients being added to make them more flavorful. Shulanite food tends to favor very savory, salty, and rich flavors.

Notable Dishes Include

Roasted Flour Porridge - A thick porridge made from mixing roasted grain flour with Tuk milk, this is often done on a stove so that the dish will be warm. Spices and other ingredients like vegetables or meat, may be added to make a more savory flavorful dish.

Shulanite Steamed Bread - a soft fluffy steamed bread with a light thin crust. It is often unstuffed and served with stews or savory porridges. Some fancier loaves will be shaped to resemble flowers or animals.

Tuk Cream Cheese - A fresh cheese made from Tuk milk with a creamy flavor. Soft varieties are easily used as a spread. Firmer varieties are allowed to dry out some resulting in a more crumbly texture and salty flavor. It may be used as a spread or it may be added into another dish like a stew or porridge to add flavor.

Shulanite Soup Dumplings - a dumpling stuffed with lentils, spices, broth gelatin, and meat wrapped in a dough wrapper and steamed before serving. When the gelatin cooks it melts back into a broth, hence their names.These are often very savory, with it often being eaten as a quick meal or served in a stew or soup.

Spirituality

For more info see: Shulanite Spirituality

Specifics about beliefs, pantheon structure, and specific deities vary across Shulon. There are also unifying themes and systems like mother goddesses, pluriform monotheistic theology, and monastic organizations, and this has led to some unity and syncretization across the planet’s religious traditions. A key example of this is a mainstream religious cult that centers around a Great Mother Goddess that syncretizes the common theme of a mother goddess into one central holy figure while still allowing the belief and patronage of other gods through the idea that all deities are aspects of the Mother Goddess. 

The Arts

Music

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