Kōdō (koː.doː)
"Who will rid me of this troublesome god!?"
Kōdō is a tradition of Folk Magic practiced by the Yanjin people of the Empire of Wamato. Deeply entwined with the Empire’s religious and spiritual life, it is a discipline entrusted to practitioners who serve directly under the authority of the Emperor. In his sacred role as intermediary between the people of Wamato and the Kami, the Emperor empowers these magicians to act on his behalf. Practitioners of Kōdō are known as Reiji, though certain specialists within the tradition bear additional or alternative titles.
The World According to Kōdō
The world is full of spirits. They inhabit every living creature, from the smallest insect to the tallest tree, as well as the inanimate: every river, mountain, island, and even teapot possesses a spirit of its own. The primary role of the Reiji is to engage with these spirits at the Emperor's command.
There are many ways to classify spirits, but in Kōdō, the most important distinction lies in their attitude toward Imperial authority.
The first and most revered category is the Kami: spirits who acknowledge the Emperor's divine right to rule, granted through his descent from the heavenly beings. The Emperor delegates this sacred authority to the Reiji, and the Kami - especially the lesser ones - treat his representatives with deference and respect. There exists a hierarchy among the Kami as well; some are so exalted that they will only interact with the Emperor himself, as befits their status.
The second group is known as the Magami. These spirits recognize the Emperor's authority but rebel against it. They include vengeful ghosts, demons, and monstrous beings that prey upon the people of Wamato. One of the Reiji's chief responsibilities is to travel the Empire, binding the Magami and preventing them from causing harm.
The final category consists of the Ikagami - the gods of foreign shores. These barbarous spirits do not acknowledge the Emperor's authority, not even to rebel against it. They lie outside the cosmic order of Wamato, and dealing with them is a complex and dangerous task for the Reiji. The Ikagami often pose a serious threat to imperial expansion, as the gods of the Yabanjin and Jūjin have been known to resist and obstruct the Emperor's forces.
The Practitioners of Kōdō
The Emperor is the keystone of Kōdō, and it is through his divine authority that all Reiji are empowered to engage with the spirits of the world. Yet not all of the Emperor's servants share the same duties. There are several distinct types of Reiji, each with their own specialty and purpose.
First are the Miyamori Reiji, the Guardians of the Palace. These Reiji serve at the Emperor's side and enable him to fulfill his duties in relation to the Kami. They are found throughout the imperial court in Wamato and are highly trained in the sacred rituals and ceremonies of the Kami.
Next are the Gyōkai Reiji, the Wanderers. Though they wield less influence within the court, the Gyōkai Reiji are celebrated as heroes by the common people and are frequent figures in popular drama. Their charge is to travel the length and breadth of the Empire, seeking out Magami and using the rituals of Kōdō to bind or banish these wicked spirits so they may no longer harm the people of Wamato.
Third are the Kangetsu Reiji, those who watch the moon. These Reiji preserve an older form of Kōdō focused on divination. Through methods ranging from star-reading to the interpretation of incense smoke, they peer into what may come to pass. Their number is few, and they remain cloistered within the palace at Wamato, where the Emperor may carefully control who hears their prophecies. The Emperor has forbidden all others from practicing divination, fearing that flawed visions may mislead the foolish and lead them astray.
And finally, there are the Kyōai Reiji, who learn the forbidden in service of the Empire. These Reiji study the ways of the Ikagami, the foreign gods, so they may bind or neutralize them to allow for the Empire's expansion. To do so, they must often learn the Folk Magic of other cultures, which leaves a spiritual stain upon them in the eyes of the Yanjin. While they are honored for their sacrifice, they are nonetheless seen as polluted by the knowledge they must carry.
The Rites and Implements of Kōdō
Like all traditions of Folk Magic, the Reiji employ a variety of rituals and tools to perform their art. Kōdō centers on the imposition of order upon the world, drawing its strength from the Emperor's divine authority to define that order. Their rituals follow precise, codified patterns, repeatedly invoking the names of the Emperor and the Kami to reinforce the legitimacy of their power.
Each Reiji bears visible symbols of this authority: a Seikan worn upon the brow, and a ceremonial staff from which a Kazegane is suspended. Written materials are a common component of their rites - Gyōkai Reiji, in particular, are known to craft paper cages capable of imprisoning spirits, provided the proper words have been inscribed on the scroll.
In more elaborate rituals, every element must be in alignment: the fabric and color of the Reiji's robes, the direction they face, even the position of the stars and the phase of the moon. Only through this harmony can the spirit world be compelled to obey.
The Study of the Ikagami
Learning to contend with the foreign gods is a difficult and time-consuming task - but one that yields results. When the Empire considers invading a foreign island, the Shogun will often request that the Emperor dispatch a group of Kyōai Reiji to study the local people and their gods. These missions are overseen by the Emperor’s Ducks, who transport the Kyōai Reiji, protect them, and provide logistical support for their research.
There are persistent rumors that the Kyōai Reiji have uncovered the True Names of many gods throughout the Great Ring, and are holding them in reserve, should the Empire ever require the submission of one of the Ikagami.
The Kegare Reiji
Not all who serve remain loyal. Though rarely spoken of, there are Reiji who have abandoned the Emperor's service and turned their knowledge to darker ends. Stripped of the authority of heaven, they nonetheless retain the skills of Kōdō - skills easily twisted into a forbidden practice known as Taidō, the Fallen Path.
Those who follow Taidō become a plague upon the land, unbound by cosmic order and untouched by imperial law. While many believe it is only the Kyōai Reiji, exposed to foreign ways, who are vulnerable to this corruption, the truth is more unsettling: any Reiji may stray from righteousness, and many have.
They are known as the Kegare Reiji, or simply “the Defiled.” No longer servants of the Emperor, they often seek to overthrow the order of heaven and earth in pursuit of their own ambitions. They leave disaster in their wake, and all true Reiji must rise to oppose them in the name of the Emperor and the Kami.
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
I wonder how their folk magic looks like..
I've added it to the schedule. This is probably only one of their Folk Magic traditions, and is the one dealing with spirits and gods from a religious context.