Shinkyo is a small holy island of Ezogashima, set apart from the nine islands of the Shogunate. It belongs to no Daimyo. It is neutral ground, where the clans meet as equals before the Kami.
The Shrine of Creation
The heart of Shinkyo is the Shrine of Creation, raised in twin halls to Izanagi and Izanami, so that creation and death are honored together. No one knows who built the shrine or when; its origin is a mystery even to its keepers.
The Keepers
The shrine is kept by shugenja drawn from every clan. Once they take up the shrine’s service, they are sworn to no Daimyo, so the shrine answers to the Kami alone.
The Shinkyo Peace
No blade may be drawn on Shinkyo’s holy ground. To break the peace is sacrilege, and those who draw steel on Shinkyo risk their own deaths.
Envoys and disputes
The great clans send envoys to Shinkyo to settle their disputes and to take part in unity rituals at the Shrine of Creation: - Kiyomura Clan: Sends envoys to mediate disputes at the Shrine of Creation. - Tsukishima Clan: Sends envoys for rare unity rituals, often clashing with Kiyomura. - Sakurajima Clan: Sends envoys for unity rituals, often clashing with Kiyomura.
Even under the peace, the clans quarrel there: Tsukishima and Sakurajima dispute resource allocation in Shinkyo, as do Kiyomura and Sakurajima.