CULTURAL MAPPING LAW OF GWIJ (IN EFFECT SINCE 107 C.Y.)

The Cultural Mapping Project of Gwij began during year 106 of the Confederacy.  The Cultural Map shows all the “official” cultural areas of the metropolis. The borders became official in year 107 after a decree by the then Ker – Ker Coriath Mendren of Yohannus.  Her decree made the project into law. The Cultural Mapping Project was created during the time of “The Completion” (105-109) - when the last prefectures of Syn (105) and Peadraj (109) were incorporated into the Confederacy.

The official recognition of all cultures at that time was devised by the Mendren government to put those who were concerned with the growing power of the Confederacy at ease. It showed the opposition groups that the government was dedicated to promoting the diversity of the metropolis.

Until recently, the map has been ever changing. New cultures were forming constantly.  These “new cultures” (formed after the Cultural Mapping Law) are called “Neo-Metro Cultures”.  They are new cultures that have risen by the mingling and settling of peoples throughout the vast city-state. The government encouraged this and recognized dozens of cultures immediately after the official start of the law. The cultures that were first recognized under the law eventually gained special status different from the “Neo-Metro Cultures”. These special cultures eventually became known as “First Cultures” (see below concerning the official recognition of First Cultures).  These First Cultures are not to be confused with the Founding Cultures, which are the 13 largest groups and most dominant in Gwij.  The Founding Cultures still control most of the Metropolis and form the cultural backbone of the Confederacy and is why they are known as “The Hegemonics” in some circles; particularly those in disagreement with the power these groups hold over the city-state. 

Originally, Neo-Metro Cultures were only official in the realm of cultural heritage.  They would have very little political power.  Neo-Metros still had to adhere to the individual prefecture’s governmental policies in which their official boundaries lie.  In the case that a Neo-Metro encompassed areas of more than one prefecture, each area had to conform to the laws of the prefecture it was situated. 

As some of these cultures grew in population and economic influence, they soon saw themselves with increased political power – particularly the long-established cultures who were the first to be recognized.  Thus, the prefectural governments had to give these “Firsts” more and more liberties such as territorial expansion and a higher degree of participation in a prefecture’s political and economic workings.  Hence, the official naming of the first Neo-Metro cultures as First Cultures.  The Cultural Mapping Law was amended to reflect this change and prohibited any Neo-Metro Culture to gain the same quasi-political status as the First Cultures. The cultural hierarchy was formed with the Founding or Hegemonic Cultures at the top, the First Cultures in the middle, and the Neo-Metro Cultures at the bottom. 

It was with the agreement of the Founding Cultures that the Cultural Mapping Law was passed (though some believe it was a forced unanimous decision on the council by the very powerful Mendren government).  This seems to hold true since currently many of the Founding Cultures now strongly oppose the continuation of the Cultural Mapping Law and any new cultures recognized. The Founding Cultures are now starting to take alarm because their own cultural integrity (and power) is being eaten away by these “Mapping Cultures” – especially the Firsts. The Founding Cultures, thus the Prefectures, have been pressuring the current Portinen government vigorously to drastically reduce the recognition of new Neo-Metros. So much so that they have been successful, and Ker Portinen passed an amendment to the Law putting a limit on cultures that can be recognized.

The central government of the Confederacy is now coming under attack from both its prefectures and the various rebellious groups because of the Cultural Mapping Law.  These sides (which are rarely on the same side) say that the real intent of the law was to foster and even create artificial cultures for the soul reason of reducing the power of the individual prefectures in the Confederacy.  Because of this cultural fragmentation, the power would eventually result in a stronger central government creating, in effect, a metropolitan empire while at the same time keeping millions of people content and valued by recognizing their unique way of life. The classic case of divide and conquer. The irony cannot be missed that these prefectures that make these claims are themselves nicknamed “The Hegemonics”; the same accusation they are calling the central government of the Confederacy. 

A good example of the reduced power of a “Hegemonic” is the relationship between the Founding Culture of Shid and the First Culture of Nyu in the extreme western prefecture of Shidou. The prefecture’s namesake, Shid, inhabited and controlled most of the prefecture before the Cultural Mapping Law. A Neo-Metro Culture cum First Culture calling themselves the Nyu was one of the first cultures recognized by the central government of the Confederacy under the Cultural Mapping Law. Today the Nyu are fast becoming the dominant economic force in the prefecture by perfecting their skills in agriculture (they have been the traditional agriculturalist in the region working the vast bread basket garden that helps feed the entire Confederacy) The garden has recently been renamed the Nyumem (Nyu Gardens) and the Nyu have gained so much economic power (the Nyumem is the most important food producing area in the Metropolis) that they had three of the central districts of Shidou renamed to the various Nyumem districts. 

LIST OF OFFICIAL CULTURES

“HEGEMONICS”

Bik, Yohan, Car, Mijor, Fida, Azuri, Isar, Qai, Krash, Galor, Shid, Pead, Syn

FIRSTS

Nyu, Bekul, Kena, Korno, Rasaq, Paraep, Temk, Fan, Ine, Akura, Soun, Zuri, Madran, Sorisim, Vel, Shafen-gan, Tezgi, Sanbani, Sio-an, Hemrari, Beka, Kabau, Ado, Ruma, Treeda, Fa’ba, Sekri, Drefa, Pekro, Kiim, Bokkesar, Onjuu, Gori, Mendro, Frekor, Horu, Dure, Oge, Aern, Qemri, Neren, Artom-kara, Brigan, Kehoren, Aarn, Kidji

NEO-METROS

Deno, Fesun, Tamon, Grais, Mydra, Udor, Gel, Ustra, Yra, Goros, Curan, Mekrod, Lefoka, Gam, Jyori, Skik, Ena, Wembar, Orsatu, Makradok, Mura, Yari, Gesjingani, Iojor, Henrep, Busim, Ner, Srumba, Korfiz, Busey-sun, Baji, Chim, Lekre, Harra, Disha, Url, Bizin, Vrid, Sorisan, Des-ai, Doriak, Epp, Meshin-poosh, Mygora, Brek