Chapter 51 Saint System

--- Prince Uihwa's POV ---

--- Baltso Palace Main Hall ---

--- 14th of March 1897 ----

"Good morning, Your Highness," the man named Rahesh said as he slightly bowed his head to me.

"Good morning," I replied, then turned away from him and proceeded to the eastern part of the palace garden. This area was the least visited part of the garden due to the unsecured pond.

It was a relief to escape the heavy atmosphere of the hall. The tension between my father and the dowager duchess during their conversations was enough to silence us all, not to mention the arguments between my mother and the royal noble consort, Sunheon, which added to the heaviness of the entire hall.

The only relief came when His Imperial Highness Siagu intervened. Despite his wisdom and maturity at his age, he had a calming presence, and even his grandmother followed his lead. He was an imposing figure, and I understood why there were rumors about him.

"Where are you heading, Your Highness?" Senior Eunuch Rahesh asked, causing me to look back at him after I had taken a few steps away.

He was now approaching me, wearing a friendly smile. Instead of feeling disdain because of his commoner status, I felt a sense of camaraderie. He is also wearing the uniform being worn by Senior Eunuch courtiers of the Butuanons, a simple yet elegant one if you asked me.

Although I had become an official member of the royal family of Joseon, my love for the common people remained unchanged. My mother had constantly advised me to distance myself from the commoners because of their lower status, but I couldn't bring myself to do so.

Back when I was still in Joseon, I was rather rebellious and caused trouble for my family while also harboring resentment towards the common people. However, something had happened to change my perspective, causing me to open my mind to the betterment of the people.

This was why I wasn't offended by Senior Eunuch Rahesh talking to me.

"I am currently heading to the garden to take a break, Senior Eunuch" I stated.

"Do you mind if I accompany you to the garden, your highness? And please just call me Radhesh," he replied abruptly, which made me look at him in confusion.

I knew he was a personal senior eunuch whose job was to accompany the person he was assigned to, but that didn't typically involve members of foreign royals, especially when your master was inside a room full of imposing individuals.

"If you're worried about me leaving the side of His Imperial Highness Siagu, I can assure you that you don't have to be too concerned. With His Imperial Highness's grandmother by his side, no one can harm him. Besides, I'm also curious to learn about the future brother-in-law of Her Imperial Highness Mahati," he said, diffusing my suspicion somewhat.

"Suit yourself," I said before I resumed my walk toward the garden.

As we made our way to the garden, we engaged in a conversation that helped us become more acquainted with each other. We shared bits of information about our respective backgrounds. He even spoke of his life serving the Imperial Crown Prince, emphasizing his loyalty and dedication to upholding the words of His Imperial Highness.

His words made me realize just how loyal he was to the Crown Prince. It was a loyalty that extended beyond words and into his actions. Although I had only been in this country for the past few months, I was already well-informed about the higher echelons of this nation.

From the imperial family members who comprised the majority of the nobility in this nation to the military, which was gradually surpassing the military might of other European nations. Their tradition that revolves around family and society. Their unique identity of being a nation of diverse origin but united under the banner of the Imperial Family of Clan Shaja.

The family that currently holds the title of being the riches family in Southeast Asia with their wealth that traces back to the time prior to the establishment of the Rajahanate and the Empire.

Their society which was deeply rooted in a unique blend of Christianity, a faith that combined the elements of Judaism and Buddhism.

I found this dominant religion in the empire quite intriguing. Unlike our nation, which followed the teachings of Confucius, Butuan embraced the Bible. A religion that originated back in the middle east that spread to Europe and was brought by them to the Americas and Asia. The Rajahnate of Butuan back then converted to Christianity and later establishes their own religion, which is now called Aylashanism or commonly known as Temple of Butuan.

But despite my time in this nation, I was still curious about this religion. Knowledge is power, and by acquiring the necessary knowledge, one can better understand their surroundings.

My curiosity led me to inquire further about this from Radhesh, who was now sharing his experiences outside the Imperial Complex of the Imperial City.

"Radhesh, if you don't mind, I would like to ask you something about a particular matter," I said as I continued my walk, with him following closely behind.

"Hmmm? I don't mind at all, Your Highness. What is it?" He replied.

"Since our arrival in this nation, I've become intensely curious about your religion," I stated, pausing for a moment before continuing. "I've tried to inquire with others, especially with our people who have established diplomatic relations in this nation. However, I've gathered only limited information about your religion. What I would appreciate is if you could share some insights about your religion with me, if you don't mind."

After I expressed my curiosity, silence fell upon both of us as we finally arrived at the garden. This garden never ceased to amaze me. In the culture of Butuanon, nature held a central place in their society. It was said that this originated during the Clan era of this nation that despite being a Hindu state at that time, the practice of animism still holds a strong grip in their society.

In that time, it was believed that nature has its own spirit and totally damaging it is tantamount to killing an innocent individual. 

Balancing between nature and structures had been a focal point of their architectural designs in the past. Palaces, mansions, houses, and other historical buildings had always set aside portions of their land for the cultivation of gardens filled with flowers and spaces for relaxation.

However, due to industrialization and westernization, this practice had gradually been set aside. Architects had become more focused on constructing functional structures while integrating western and Butuanon architectural designs, leaving behind the gardens that were once a signature of their heritage, as some views this as a waste of space.

I couldn't fault them for their choice. Efficiency was paramount, and dedicating valuable land to gardens seemed less practical when there were alternatives for relaxation, such as theaters, opera houses, and bars.

Even the recently introduced concept of "Asianization" was still in its early stages. The development and acceptance of this ideology within the society remained immature. The true purpose and goals of "Asianization" still appeared vague and largely superficial.

I couldn't deny that the idea of "Asianization" held promise in this part of the world, where nature played a significant role in people's lives. However, I remained somewhat skeptical about this ideology, believing that further observation was needed before considering its application in Joseon.

"Hmm... I truly don't mind, Your Highness. As a devout follower of the Temple of Butuan, I am more than willing to share information about our religion," Radhesh replied with a calm tone. As I turned to look at him, I noticed his gaze fixed upon me.

"So, what is it that you wanted to know about our religion, Your Highness? I may not be as knowledgeable as Archbishop Adam nor like other Archbishops, priests, or nuns, regarding the Temple's overall mission, but I am confident that I can answer some of your questions," he continued.

His response made me smile with excitement. It's not often that you can converse with someone willing to share their beliefs. My curiosity about this faith didn't extend to wanting to convert; I was a devout practitioner of Confucianism, and I was content with my beliefs.

"Well, can you explain to me why you follow the Jewish practice of resting on Saturday? Your faith was once part of the Catholic Church; why did your faith choose to separate and follow the Jewish tradition?" I inquired sincerely.

"Ah, this is quite a complex core doctrine of the Temple of Butuan, Your Highness, but to simplify it: the Temple of Butuan believes that the Jewish practice of resting on Saturday is the correct way. This is aligned with the Ten Commandments that the Lord gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. We believe that it was the ceremonial law that Jesus Christ abolished at Calvary and not the Ten Commandments. This is why we still choose to follow the Sabbath worship of the Jewish people," he calmly replied.

"I see... So, the Temple of Butuan follows this practice because of this central idea. I understand now," I nodded before continuing. "How about the recognition of saints in the Temple? This practice isn't followed by the Jewish faith, Radhesh."

"Regarding the practice of recognizing saints in the Temple's system, it is not derived from Judaism faith. Instead, it has roots in Buddhist and Catholic practices. However, the Temple of Butuan's faith system is unique, especially when it comes to the recognition and the process of determining whether a person can be called a saint or not," Radhesh explained while looking at me calmly.

"How?" I asked curiously, which made him smile and nod before answering.

"Although the complexity is somewhat similar to the Catholic Church's saint system, the Temple of Butuan views saints as sources of inspiration rather than individuals who can intercede on our behalf in reaching our prayers to heaven, which is a significant contrast to the Catholic concept of saints. Our temple believes that when a person dies, they do not go directly to heaven or hell; instead, they enter a sleep-like state and await the coming of Jesus Christ for resurrection and judgment.

The process of selecting a saint begins with a nomination. Members of the clergy within the temple's community can nominate a deceased individual as a potential inspirational figure, martyr, or 'saint.' The nominee does not need to have performed miracles or undergone a formal canonization process.

The second stage is documentation. The members of the Council of Palawan who represent the Temple of Butuan request documentation or testimonies regarding the nominee's life, actions, and impact on the community. This documentation serves to establish the nominee's inspirational qualities.

The third stage is the Review Committee. A review committee consisting of the 10-archbishop members of the Council of Palawan is responsible for evaluating the nominee's documentation. They assess the nominee's life in terms of their contributions to the temple's community, their embodiment of values, and the inspiration they have provided to others.

The fourth stage is Consensus Building. The Council of Palawan and local bishops and priests work to build a consensus regarding the inspirational status of the nominee. This involves considering input from the community and assessing the overall impact and alignment with the temple's values.

The fifth stage is Declaration. If there is a general consensus that the nominee has been a source of inspiration within the temple's community, the Council of Palawan may formally declare them as an inspirational figure, martyr, or a "saint," after being approved by the emperor as the head of the Temple of Butuan. This declaration is accompanied by a ceremony or recognition within the Temple.

A temple will then be assigned to host the 'saint's' ashes or relic as its symbol of that temple being the official shrine of the 'saint'.

The sixth stage is Celebration and Commemoration. The Temple celebrates and commemorates the inspirational figure on specific occasions or anniversaries. Their life and teachings may be shared as examples of inspiration within the temple's community.

The eighth stage is Continued Inspiration. The temple encourages its members to draw inspiration from the recognized saints in their daily lives, using their stories and actions as guides for living virtuous and inspirational lives.

And lastly, the Temple of Butuan has No Canonization for saints or martyrs. Unlike traditional saints in some religious traditions, there is no formal process of canonization, as these individuals are not considered holy or miraculous. Their recognition is solely for the purpose of inspiration for the masses to continue keeping the faith of the Temple.

These nine steps constitute the entire process of how the Temple of Butuan's saint system differs from the Catholic one, Your Highness," he explained at length. This narrative describes the process of how the Temple of Butuan's saint system operates, highlighting its significant differences from the Catholic tradition.

Catholicism is one of the major Christian religions currently permitted in Joseon. However, unlike Confucianism and Buddhism, Catholicism has a much smaller following, with the majority of its adherents being foreigners.

Over the years, as I interacted with the people, my interest in studying religion and the military grew. One specific religion that caught my attention is the Christian faith, particularly Catholicism. Upon my arrival in this nation, I observed striking similarities between Aylashanism (Temple of Butuan) and the Catholic Faith.

The similarities and differences between these two Christian faiths are intriguing. Catholicism is deeply rooted in traditions that date back a thousand years, whereas Aylashanism was established in the early 18th Century, separating from the Catholic faith 170 years after its initial adoption. Aylashanism is also rooted on tradition with the emphasis of the connection between the Imperial Family and its clan and the Church in uniting the people of the empire.

Despite their relatively short association with the Catholic faith, Aylashanism managed to incorporate some of its practices. One notable example is the saint system, which they adopted but adapted to distinguish their doctrine.

While Catholicism regards its saints as powerful intermediaries between individuals and God, Aylashanism, or the Temple of Butuan, views saints as sources of inspiration and martyrs of the faith.

"Fascinating. I can hardly believe that a nation like this was able to establish a religion as comprehensive as the Catholic faith," I replied with a nod, shifting my attention to the pond in the garden. The pond was teeming with swans gracefully gliding across its surface, surrounded by blooming lotus flowers.

"I take that as a compliment, your highness. But indeed, our nation managed to create such a religion for reasons that have stirred controversy among the majority of the people," he calmly responded.

And this is what I am unaware of. The reasons why the Empire of Butuan, which was once the Rajahnate of Butuan, separated itself from the Catholic faith, are still unknown to me. It's not that this information was kept in secret, but rather, I was quite busy helping my father with various tasks, especially when we were visiting the embassies of Joseon and Siam.

The terms "embassy" and "ambassador" are relatively new terms used by the Empire of Butuan to refer to foreign ministers who reside in their nation to represent their respective countries. In the past, these individuals and their offices were referred to as "ministers" and "minister's office," but this all changed three years ago.

Based on the information I've gathered over the past few months, the term "ambassador" was introduced by the Imperial Crown Prince himself. He began referring to foreign ministers as ambassadors and their offices as embassies. When asked why he made this change, he simply stated that he preferred these terms over "minister" and "minister's office."

Initially, only a few people used these new terms. However, as time passed, high-ranking government officials of the empire, and even the emperor, started adopting the new terminology. Eventually, the terms were formalized, and all foreign ministers representing their nations within the empire were addressed as ambassadors, with their offices being called embassies.

Neighboring nations also began adopting these terms. Even our nation adopted them a year ago after a visit from Emperor Siagu XV.

"Why did this happen? Would you mind explaining?" I asked. He responded promptly.

"Certainly, Your Highness. The reason our nation separated from the Catholic faith was due to dissatisfaction with the Pope. For years, we had been a loyal Catholic nation, obeying the commands of the Pope and the Church of Rome. However, not a single one of our requests was ever heard. It seemed they had turned a deaf ear to our pleas.

There were two main factors that pushed our dissatisfaction to the tipping point. Firstly, the Church of Rome began to interfere with our way of life and even our architectural choices. Secondly, Spanish priests and nuns committed atrocities against our people. These two reasons led Rajah Siagu X to announce our separation from the Church of Rome and establish a Protestant religion with the Rajah or Emperor as its head," he explained calmly, causing me to regard him with interest.

"I understand, but did the Church of Rome accept this separation, especially the priests and nuns who were present here at that time?" I inquired.

Instead of a direct response in words, Radhesh grinned with contempt before replying, "Heh! Obviously, the Church of Rome couldn't accept the Rajahnate's decision to separate. The Pope chose to excommunicate the entire Rajahnate, citing heresy and disobedience against the Church's authority. The Spanish priests and nuns even attempted to overthrow the Rajah at that time and install a Catholic Butuanon to take the throne, but their efforts were in vain without the support of the people.

They failed to realize that the people followed the Catholic faith primarily because of the Rajah's family's endorsement. Their devotion to the Church was rooted in the actions of the Shaja Clan, which had ruled the Rajahnate over a centuries. It wasn't the Catholic Faith that bound the Rajahnate together; it was the Clan of Shaja's rule."

Because of this, a mass slaughter of Catholic priests and nuns happened at that time. Their lifeless bodies were used to illuminate the night in every temple. It marked a devastating blow to the Catholic faith in the Rajahnate," he stated smugly before tossing some seeds for the swans to feed on.

The unfortunate priests and nuns failed to realize that, unlike in Europe, Asian monarchs held much greater reverence. Religion may hold great importance in human lives, but it is the monarch who unites all people under one banner.

Even the Japanese Imperial family wields more influence over its people than the Shinto religion. This is why the samurais never attempted to overthrow the Imperial Clan, even after gaining control of the entire archipelago.

Our conversation continued for a few more minutes before I decided to return to the receiving hall of the Baltso Palace. During the past month of our stay in this palace, I was consistently amazed by the beauty of its ancient architectural style.

As I entered the receiving hall, the atmosphere was filled with smiles and delight as my younger brother and Imperial Princess Mahati joined the room. The conversation revolved around family matters and the future of their union, including the possibility of having Imperial Princess Mahati bearing a number of children.

My father even brought up the idea of having the continual marriage between our family and the Clan of Shaja in the near future, which was answered with an agreeing tine from the Dowager herself.

It might seem peculiar, as the two were still essentially children, but this is the reality for royalty. Discussions about marriage begin when we are still children, especially for important members, and engagement is a real possibility even in childhood. Although child marriages used to be rampant in both our nation in the past, that is no longer the case today, which is a good thing.

The conversation came to an end when Radhesh reminded the Imperial Crown Prince about their impending departure, as their time was up. This saddened Imperial Princess Mahati and my younger brother, but my father's reassuring words comforted them somewhat.

Their departure also signaled the departure of Dowager Duchess Jayanti, who was still upset with my foolish mother. Which is a bad news for my mother as the Dowager Duchess is known for being a woman who holds grudges and will not stop until it satisfice her.

My father and Royal Noble Consort Sunheon sent their regards to the Empress and the Emperor regarding the Empress's pregnancy. This regard was echoed by the entire family and was met with a nod and smile from the Imperial Crown Prince and the Dowager Duchess.

My father even promises to visit the Imperial Complex to pay a formal visit to the empress and promising that by that time, he will be bringing gifts as a sign of his and his entire family's congratulatory support.

The day ended with a sense of delight and accomplishment, as my father had stated. It furthered the relationship between our nation and the empire, a cooperation that might endure for ages.

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Note: I have decided to change something, a minor one. Qing Empire is now back to Qing Dynasty.

And as promised, instead of calling it House following western style of categorizing noble families, i changes it back to Clan, making it the Shaja Clan.

Just a reminder, this story will not be hundred percent accurate to the historical characters ideology, attitude, temperament, and personality, as I am lazy to search their detailed informations. Instead, I have decided to incorporate my own ideal personality while getting their little historical personality into account.

Here is the thing, the story is now much different compared to the actual happenings in our world history. The existence of Butuan Empire changes everything, not to mention the plight and cooperation of King Gojong and Emperor Siagu XV greatly impacted everything. So, relax and please don't take this story as offensive one, I am trying to make it less offensive while also making it a bit more realistic.

Regarding the update of this novel. This novel is a slow updating one as I am REALLY BUSY with my studies. Not to mention that I am about to graduate next year and preparations and internships are already on the horizon. So, for now, I will be sticking to 2 chapters per week and hopefully it will remain or increase as 2024 approaches.

Thank you for understanding everyone! Please continue to support my story, Viva Butuan!