Lingjiao

Lingjiao (灵教) is the collective term Tuzhu Religion & Mythology.

The Tuzhu culture of Marlakcor has a polytheistic collection of faiths and beliefs that are worshiped in different ways with different meanings. Some aspects of Tuzhu mythology are also adopted and worshiped by the other ethnic groups of Marlakcor and the Hayato of Fuso.

Divine Beasts of Tianxia
One of two groups of high deities called the Divine Beasts, the Divine Beasts of Tianxia (Tianxia is a local name for Marlakcor) are a quartet of animal deities worshiped in Marlakcor, and to a similar extent by the Hayato of Fuso. Believed to be higher deities than the gods, and other deities, they are the guardians and divine governors of the continent of Marlakcor, and are also known as wardens of their spiritual direction and lords of a season. Each also represents one of the five elements in Tuzhu culture; the exception is earth, which is instead represented by the Yellow Dragon, another great deity of Tuzhu mythology. Along with the Tuzhu, these deities are worshiped by the Hayato and Seomin, but under different names. Each divine beast is individually dedicated in an separate temple in the Four Holy Cities around Marlakcor. There is also a main temple dedicated to all four located in the city of Shenling in Huaxia. There are also similar temples on the island of Seinaru-shima (within the vicinity of Zen'nō-sha no Sōdai Jiin) in Yamatai and in Hinomoto.

Baxian
The Baxian (八仙/Eight Immortals) are, according to traditional Tuzhu belief, are a group of heroes who banished a great evil to the depths of the underworld. Each immortal also represents an aspect of nature (represented by a bagua trigram) and are represented with a special artifact and other things. Each also had one or two companion dragons.

Given that they are called immortals, many Tuzhu philosophers debate whether they passed form the world or still exist while in hiding.

The founders of several Huaxian dynasties and other great historical Tuzhu figures claim decent from one or more of the Baxian.

Tuzhu Zodiac
The Tuzhu Zodiac is the worship of twelve animals in a sequence. This faith is an element of Tuzhu culture and is observed where it is dominant, including Huaxia, Zhonghua, and related countries.

This branch of Tuzhu religion is governed from the main temple known as the Grand Temple of the Zodiac, but each animal has a separate main temple from which all smaller temples to the same animal are governed. Many Temples for each animal exist all across Marlakcor, and a few have sprung up in Long Qundao in Maritymir. This part of Tuzhu faith is worshiped to a minor extent in Joseon, and the Hayato of Fuso and Yamatai's possessions in Marlakcor, also follow the Zodiac to some degree.

Followers believe that the members of the Zodiac take turns overseeing the cosmos in the name of the Yu Huangdi each year in a 12-year cycle, and thus each year is named for that particular animal: the months of the Luan Calendar are named for each animal as well.

Tuzhu Demons
The Tuzhu also recognize a number of demons.

Xiangrikui Gongchen
Xiangrikui Gongchen (向日葵功臣); styled: Shenxian (神仙), was the first lunaculus of Marlakcor. He is viewed in Tuzhu faith as a representation of heroism and new beginnings.

The founders of five different Huaxian dynasties, one pre-imperial dynasty and four imperial dynasties, all claimed descent from him. Additionally, several other great historical Tuzhu figures claimed decent from him. Whether or not these people were really distant progeny of Xiangrikui Gongchen is anyone's guess, but he remains a revered figure in Tuzhu history, mythology and folklore.

Notes & Trivia

 * Lingjiao is based off traditional Chinese faiths, most of the names of the listed deities in the pantheon and elsewhere came from Chinese folklore.