Click on the Mantis Mon
for more Yoritomo's Alliance webpages!


THE HISTORY OF ROKUGAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

This history has been compiled by myself, Nick Zube, from a number of different sources. There are a variety of apocryphal "histories of Rokugan" on the Internet. Many of them are either outdated or biased. I have attempted, in the writings you find here, to present the most accurate and objective version of the Emerald and Jade Empires' chronology possible. This is made difficult by the diffuse nature of the L5R universe. Much of the story is found on flavor text and quotes on the various cards, while the rest of it is contained in sidebars, stories, and character sketches in the RPG and Miniatures handbooks. While I do not have access to all of these different documents, cursory readings and a variety of internet-based archives, all of which may be found by using the Know Links area of KNOW FEAR, have given me enough to go on. Much of what is contained here has been compressed and paraphrased--there would be many more sub-sections here if I chose to give the backgrounds and tales of all the characters in L5R, for every Personality is worthy of a story.

Instead, at the beginning of each "chapter" of Know Story, you will find a list of important people and places, followed by a brief description of the subject and how it is perceived by the vast majority of the Empire. As sections progress, the descriptions may change and become more detailed as their topics grow or shrink in prominence. If you are already familiar with the main figures of the L5R universe, feel free to skip this section.

Technical Terms

For those who are not familiar with Rokuganese terminology, it's best to take a little primer in various important words and terms, in order to avoid confusion. Now, follow the bouncing ball...

Ashigaru:
Farmers and peasants, the lowliest of Rokugan's castes.
Clan:
A number of powerful families bound together by oaths and blood, becoming a great political and military force. Each of the Clans are themselves oathed to the Emperor, paying taxes to him and aiding him in times of war. Clans often own vast tracts of land, which are farmed by peasants, who are allowed to farm and live on the land. Think of a mideval feudal system, or, better yet, the Houses in the Klingon Empire.
Daimyo:
If a Clan is similar to a dukedom, then the daimyo of a Clan is similar to the duke of a dukedom. The daimyo of a Clan's word is law among his vassals and subjects, and the station is usually passed on hereditarily. Every family in a Clan has its own daimyo, although the family of highest station's daimyo, often called the Clan's Champion, is given priority over the others (e.g., the Hiruma daimyo defers to the Hida daimyo in all things).
Emerald Champion:
A special station within the Empire. The Emerald Champion is the Emperor's personal warrior. If a challenge is made to a member of the Imperial Family (highly unlikely), the Emerald Champion may accept, and perform a duel with the challenger. The Champion may also be ordered to kill an offending member of the Imperial Court, and he or she is also in command of all the Imperial Magistrates. This is the single highest post that a samurai of the Empire can obtain, and along with it comes great prestige and honor for the Champion's family. However, there are drawbacks. Along with the position comes great responsibilities and standards--it is not unheard of for the Emerald Champion to commit seppuku in shame after failing to carry out the Emperor's orders. When a new Emerald Champion must be decided (usually after such a seppuku, or death in battle, since it is a life-long job), often a grand Test is held to determine who will succeed him. This consists of a series of duels, the survivor gaining the Emerald Armor and the title.
Filial Piety:
Although not explicitly referenced in these histories, this is an important concept in East Asia. It concerns deference and respect to one's ancestors and elders. In China and Japan, the sons and daughters of a family support their parents, and regard them as sources of wisdom and objects of gratitude. In these countries, the concept of nursing homes is almost alien--it is standard practice to house one's father and mother, or even your grandfather and grandmother, in one's home--after all, they have raised you in their home. It is only natural for you to do the same. A similar treatment is given to a family's ancestors, or the spirits of dead relatives. Ancestors can help or harm their descendants, depending on ritual treatment of the graves and last wishes of the departed. In Rokugan, the ancestors and founders of the various Clans take an active role in the affairs of their families, be they kami or mortal in origin.
Five Rings:
The concept of enlightenment in Rokugan is tied to the five "rings," or elements: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and the Void. They also play a great role in the spells of the shugenja.
Fu Leng:
The source of ultimate evil in Rokugan, Fu Leng is the lord and progenitor of all the beasts and creatures that inhabit the Shadowlands, with the exception of the Nezumi, or Ratlings, and the Kappuksu and Mujina, which are trickster spirits.. He is a Dark God, an immortal spirit, with nearly incomprehensible power.
Gaijin:
Japanese for "foreigner." Given not only to Europeans, but to all non-indiginous peoples.
Goblins and Ogres:
Two of the most common Shadowlands "species," created by Fu Leng. Goblins are tiny, twisted and mischevious beings with little intelligence and almost no organization. They breed like rabbits, and have similar survival instincts. Ogres, on the other hand, are huge and hulking monsters, incredibly strong and quite cunning. Neither man nor beast, they are territorial and often hunt alone. Nevertheless, a single ogre is more than a match for several samurai, if not in intelligence, then in brute force.
Hantei:
The honorific title given to the Emperor of the Emerald Empire, which reigns over Rokugan until the Day of Thunder. It indicates descendance from the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, and is similar to European aristocratic titles, such as Henry VII, or Louis XVI.
Iaijutsu duel:
Roughly translated, Iaijutsu means "one-sword-strike-battle." It is the ultimate expression of bushido, or the code of war. Two warriors square off honorably, either on the battlefield or in court, and draw their swords. The goal of an iaijutsu duel is to make a single strike which either wounds or kills the opponent. Various schools teach various means of achieving this single winning blow, and the foremost, in Rokugan, is the Kakita School. Note that the traditional practice of Iaijutsu is more formal than is normally used in war, and it is only used off the plain of battle or between the most driven rivals.
Jade:
The rarest material in Rokugan, jade is a most valuable substance, since it wards off evil. Weapons of jade are used to kill shadowlands cratures, and idols and religious icons are carved from the precious stone.
Jade Champion:
A long-dormant post revived in the Jade, or second, Empire, it is the highest post attainable by a shugenja, and is similar in status to its Emerald counterpart.
Kami:
Japanese for "god," kami are invisible spirits which are objects of worship and power. Individual homes have shrines to various kami. While there are literally thousands of kami in real-life Japan, the most signifigant ones in Rokugan are the founders of the various Great Clans.
Katana:
The weapon of a samurai, and the most advanced example of the art of swordsmithing in the world, even today. In essence, a katana, and other japanese bladed weapons, are folded and tempered steel, slightly curved, extremely flexible, and are literally razor-edged. A katana can cut a full-sized man in half. It can chop through tables. Without proper instruction, an unsheathed katana could conceivably kill its owner.
Land of the Burning Sands:
The land beyond the mountains of Rokugan. Unlike the rich plains of the Empire, much of the Land of the Burning Sands is a desert, and its culture is completely alien to much of Rokuganese society. Only the Unicorn Clan have seen and experienced it firsthand. In geographic terms, of Rokugan is China and Japan, then the Land of the Burning Sands is Mongolia and the Middle East. For more information on the Land of the Burning Sands and its history, visit Know Links, and look for Legend of the Burning Sands, the game set in this mysterious place.
Magistrates:
Essentially law-givers and peace-keepers of the Empire. One who bears the Writ of the Magistrate speaks with the authority of the Emperor. Every Clan has its various magistrates, and there are heirarchies within the office. Some magistrates will travel the land and deal justice wherever they see fit. Others administer the police forces of cities. Others are simple officers of the peace.
Monks:
Not to be confused with shugenja, monks are those who follow the Tao of Shinsei, a path of enlightenment and a sort of religion in Rokugan, much like zen. Figures of wisdom and asceticism, monks in Rokugan are traditionally peaceful and loving to all, and are separate from the Great Clans, although many former samurai or nobles retire to a monastic life after many years of service.
Naming Practices:
A word of note about names in Rokugan: In Japan, as in many East Asian societies, the family name comes before the given name. Therefore, Harrison Ford, for example, becomes Ford Harrison in Japan. While a number of people in this history have only one name (e.g., Yoritomo), often they are the progenitors of families (e.g., now, many bear the Yoritomo "family name," such as Yoritomo Zube, or Yoritomo Kupo).
Naga:
A mysterious race of centaurian snake-people who inhabited Rokugan before humans. Naga are almost alien to human culture, speaking a different language, with a different religion, different magics, and a completely foreign concept of honor. Their primary concern is the conquest of the forces of evil, and an individual naga is inherently immune to the shadowlands Taint, and imbued with an innate sense of powerfully evil creatures and objects. The Naga race fell into a deep slumber in the far reaches of Rokugan eons before the arrival of the kami and the Empire, and awakened during the Clan Wars to fend off the forces of darkness.
Nezumi:
Also known as the "ratlings," Nezumi are a nomadic species of man-sized, bipedal rodents. While a number of Ratling tribes and villages roam Rokugan, and are barely tolerated by the Clans, the vast majority of Ratlings live in the shadowlands, although they themselves are not affected by the shadowlands Taint, and they actively fight against Fu Leng, since the shadowlands is the ancestral home of these creatures. The Crab Clan alone has a good "working relationship" with the Nezumi, and often uses them as scouts and advance soldiers.
Obsidian:
The antithesis of jade, obsidian is a stone of darkness. Brittle, angular, unyielding, and constantly in a state of refinement, obsidian is a cursed and doomed material in mainstream Rokuganese society. Nevertheless, three items have been made out of Obsidian: a Hand, a Mirror, and a Blade. While all have great power, and all are associated with evil, only the Blade has no true bearing on this history.
Oni:
Dark and wicked demons from jingoku, or the underworld, they are the embodiment of physical evil in Rokugan. Oni may be summoned by shugenja and bound into service, although the act is socially stigmatized, and exceedingly dangerous for the shugenja, for deep down, they only serve Fu Leng. When they take physical form, oni are invariably terrifying and awful to behold, and those who are not killed by them are often driven mad by the sight of these dreaded beings.
Rokugan:
The land of Legend of the Five Rings, a lush, green, and verdant world steeped in legend and mystery. Almost every conceivable terrain you can think of exists here, and almost every conceivable virtue and vice. In character and society, it most resembles a mixture of Japan and China, although it slightly favors Japan in terms of language, style, and mannerisms.
Ronin:
A masterless samurai. Rather rare in Rokugan, ronin are warriors without a home. They have nowhere to go, and cannot expect help from anyone. Often, they serve as mercenaries, hiring themselves out to the highest bidder. The more noble ronin are vigilantes, preserving their own code of honor as they ride across the land, righting wrongs and fighting evil.
Samurai:
The Japanese warrior caste. Samurai are both nobles and soldiers, although they should not be confused with typical foot soldiers, which are often made up of impressed ashigaru. The samurai is almost an idealized vision of honor and the warrior's spirit, and these men and women (samurai and samura-ko, respectively) are revered throughout the Empire.
Seppuku:
An example of a samurai's adherence to honor, and a form of ritual suicide. When a samurai commits a breach of etiquette and dishonors his house, he may ask his daimyo for permission to commit honorable seppuku, and thus restore his peronal honor and glory. Elaborate and grave in its procedure and tools, seppuku is still a part of Japanese culture today, even though there are no longer strict castes, nor state endorsement of the practice.
Shadowlands:
The despoiled and evil-ridden lands which lie outside the bounds of the Empire. Not to be confused with the Land of the Burning Sands, the shadowlands is a desolate, wasted, disgusting area, filled with the minions of Fu Leng. Those who spend too much time within the shadowlands, or in close proximity to it, become infected with the shadowlands Taint, which marks them as being unclean. Small amounts of the Taint are tolerable to the human soul, and can be cleansed, but larger quantities result in madness and corruption.
Shugenja:
A combination of sorcerors and priests, the status shugenja is a separate subdivision of the noble caste, much like samurai. A shugenja in Rokugan can cast spells, which are lenghly prayers to the kami, or may perform kihos, magical effects created by sheer force of will.

The Great Clans of Rokugan

The Seven Great Clans of Rokugan are each different in their duties and character. It is, therefore, best to know how each of them works before getting too in-depth in Rokugan's history.

The Seven Clans are:

The Crab:
The Crab are the stalwart defenders of the Empire, and guard the Great Wall which divides the Empire from the shadowlands. They are in a perpetual state of war, making brief raids against the occasional goblin settlement, or tracking down a stray oni or ogre. The traditional Crab is gruff, blunt, and uncouth. They value victory and duty above all else, and have little concern for courtly manners or cleanliness. The families of the Crab Clan are:
  • The Hida: Brave samurai and tacticians, descended from the kami Hida, and the leaders of the Crab.
  • The Hiruma: Another samurai family, and one which often mans outposts in the Shadowlands.
  • The Kaiu: The Crab's engineers, who design most of the Crab outposts, castles, and fortifications.
  • The Kuni: The scientific shugenja of Clan Crab. The Kuni often perform dissections of various shadowlands creatures, in order to determine better defenses against the forces of evil, and maintain an order of witch-hunters who seek out dark sorcerers and occultists within the Empire and stop them...no matter what it takes.
  • The Yasuki: An aberration among the Crab, the Yasuki were once a family of Crane merchants, but switched over to the Crab during a war between the two Clans. The Yasuki are more concerned with profit and wealth than actually defending the Empire against the shadowlands, and their skill in black market affairs is almost legendary.
The Crane:
The Crane keep the internal affairs of the Empire working smoothly. Rich and politically powerful, Crane wives are in positions of power throughout the Empire, and Crane traders and artisans are the sources of many of the most sought-after items in Rokugan. They are also masters of courtly affairs, and the Kakita duelists are the most highly-trained in the Empire. In fact, the Emerald Champion is often a Crane. While they may be looked down upon by the other Clans for their external weaknesses and political machinations, the Crane remain beyond reproach, a force of honor in a land of steel. The Crane is composed of a number of families:
  • The Asahina: The Crane shugenja, a generally meditative bunch.
  • The Daidoji: Often called the "Iron Crane," the Daidoji are unlike the rest of the Clan: they are warriors by nature, and skillful samurai. Although they are a minority within the Crane at large, the Daidoji guard the Crane lands with skill and unflinching courage.
  • The Doji: The ruling family of the Crane, and diversely composed of samurai and courtiers.
  • The Kakita: Artists and artisans. One is not born into the Kakita family, but is initiated into it. Their skills run the gamut, from cooking to dueling, and to own a painting or haiku from a Kakita is considered a gift of high esteem.
The Dragon:
Cloistered away in Rokugan's mountains, the Dragon are a mystery to the rest of the Empire. Indeed, it is the way of the Dragon to study mysteries, to fathom the unfathomable. Dragons are not strictly divided between samurai and shugenja: soldiers often cast spells, and priests can wield a sword as equally as a prayer. While they serve an important task within the Empire, observing the events which go on about them, from a position of objectivity, the Dragon are rather unsettling to the rest of the Clans. And that is exactly how the Dragon like it. The so-called "families" of the Dragon are:
  • The Agasha: Alchemists and shugenja of the Dragon, the Agasha are renowned for their unorthodox methodology and risk-taking.
  • The Kitsuki: The Dragon Clan's magistrates, the Kitsuki are notorious for their analytical methods and detective-work. They rely more on physical evidence than eye-witness testimony, a true rarity in Rokuganese justice. In many ways, they are the most feared enemies of the hidden criminal organizations of Rokugan, since they refuse to listen to lies.
  • The Mirumoto: The Mirumoto are perhaps the most "normal" members of the Dragon Clan, and are its main samurai family. Even then, they stand apart from the rest of the Empire, being practicioners of the niten, or "two-sword," technique, wielding a blade in each hand, rather than a single weapon.
  • The Togashi: If the Mirumoto are the public face of the Dragon, then the Togashi are its secluded, innermost circle. Like the Kakita, one is not born a Togashi, but transformed into one. The Champion of the Dragon is always a Togashi, and many of this mysterious order are the ise zumi, or Tattooed Men. Covered with blood-ink pictures, possessing bizarre magical powers, and fighting with the pure jujitsu, or hand-to-hand combat style, they are legendary throughout Rokugan.
The Lion:
The protectors of the Emperor, and his personal servants in all things, the Lion possess the largest army in Rokugan, and are geniuses on the battlefield. A Lion is a man of great honor and tradition, and his long-flowing mane of hair, dyed orange, signifies him as a samurai without fear and a creature of pride. The main bloodlines of this dignified Clan are:
  • The Akodo: The cool-headed Akodo are the natural leaders of the Lion, and many of the greatest tacticians of the Empire have come from the Akodo Tactical School.
  • The Ikoma: Traditionally historians and record-keepers of the Empire, the Ikoma are the least biased of the Lion Clan...which isn't really saying much.
  • The Kitsu: The few shugenja of the Lion belong to the Kitsu family, which is also home to a number of famed generals.
  • The Matsu: A matriarchal family of samurai, the Matsu is perhaps the fiercest of all on the battlefield. However, the Matsu are also prone to being hot-headed, arrogant, and rash, in peace and in war.
The Phoenix:
Unlike the Lion, the Phoenix is composed of the studious and peace-loving scholars of the Empire. If the Rokugan were a high school, the Phoenix would belong to the Chess Club. A Phoenix loves nothing more than to lock himself away in a library and read about magical lore or spellcraft, for the Phoenix has the most learned and powerful shugenja in the Empire. While their Champion is a samurai, the Clan's true leadership comes from the five Elemental Masters, each of whom are wise in the way of one of the five Rings. While most of the families of the Phoenix are almost entirely shugenja, there are distinctions:
  • The Asako: The "lesser" of the two Phoenix shugenja bloodlines, the Asako are nevertheless very knowledgable, and put the magics of many of the other Clans to shame.
  • The Isawa: The most ensconced and wise of the Phoenix, the Isawa lead the Clan, in reality, if not in name.
  • The Shiba: The only Phoenix family which is primarily made up of samurai. While the Shiba are the weakest of all the samurai houses, what they lack in arms and strength, they make up for in bravery. The Champion of the Phoenix is typically a Shiba.
The Scorpion:
If there is a single Clan in Rokugan that is feared, truly feared, by all, it is the Scorpion. And they are feared not for their military might, skilled shugenja, or their courtly connections, but for their shadows and secrets. Every Scorpion wears a mask, for to reveal your true face is a liability. The Scorpion are the Emperor's underhand, defending him from threats inside the Empire, by whatever methods are needed. The Scorpion do what the rest of the Clans do not wish to do, and they do it without reservation. Their intelligence and criminal tentacles extend into even the hallowed halls of Otosan Uchi, the capital city. The name of the mythical ninja assassins is often mentioned in the same breath as the Bayushi family, although, of course, it is always done so when it is thought that a Scorpion isn't listening. This most shadowy Clan knows the exact locations of every piece of dirty laundry in the land, and a true Scorpion is not above blackmail, assassination, manipulation, murder, or even more unsavory methods of victory.

The Scorpion does not concern himself with honor.

He has more important things to do.

The families of the Scorpion are:

  • The Bayushi: Outwardly, the Bayushi are the samurai and leading family of the Scorpion. Inwardly...well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
  • The Shosuro: The Shosuro are the greatest actors in Rokugan. They can look like anyone, be like anyone, become anyone. They also have the largest collection of lethal poisons in the Empire. Go figure.
  • The Soshi: Even the shugenja of the Scorpion are more secretive than the rest. The Scorpion practice entirely different methods of magic than others, so-called "shadow magic." Just what is shadow magic? Sorry, sir. That's classified.
  • The Yogo: Varied and diverse, the Yogo includes some of the most proficient masters of secrets in Rokugan. Rumor has it that at least one of the fabled Black Scrolls is in their possession. But who can trust a rumor?
The Unicorn:
The Clan of the Ki-Rin left Rokugan to see what lay beyond the mountains. When they returned a thousand years later, they had...changed. They called themselves the Unicorn, and were different, both outwardly and inwardly, from the rest of society. Over their travels, they had taken on manners of dress and war that were gaijin, foreign, and their Rokuganese was gutteral and intermingled with the speech of the Burning Sands. Their priests prayed to the kami in strange ways, and they rode on mighty steeds which stood higher than mortal men. Indeed, it took an ancient heirloom for the Unicorn to prove their heritige and reclaim their lands.

The Unicorn are a simple people, and are somewhat naive. They praise honesty and fairness above all else, and are natural protectors of the peasants. The alliance of a Unicorn is highly-sought in time of war, since their cavalry is unmatched in the Empire. Yet they have few political connections, and their different ways are a liability in many respects. The families of the Unicorn are:

  • The Ide: Caravan masters and magistrates of the Unicorn lands.
  • The Iuchi: The shugenja of the Unicorn, and practicioners of gaijin magic.
  • The Moto: A family lifted entirely from the Land of the Burning Sands, the Moto are a driven and cursed family ever since their daimyo, Tsume, was corrupted by the Shadowlands many moons ago.
  • The Otaku: Much like the Matsu, a female-dominated Clan whose battle maidens are unparallelled in mounted combat.
  • The Shinjo: The Shinjo spearhead the Unicorn, and are known for their unorthodox tactics and theories in war.

[Now that you know the basics, let's go to the histories!]
[Back to KNOW FEAR!] 1