Despite being a physically young species, the Dàqínrén (大秦人) put forth the appearance of trans-human superiority, but are ultimately still very much human inside. The culture of the Dàqín Dìguó (大秦帝国) and its people carries a distinct feel of the Far East, a decision that they made very deliberately as a snub to their very creators, the China based Pan Asian Combine and its worlds, the direct predecessors to the Heaven Forged Republic.
At their best, the Daqinren many feel that they are highly capable individuals who are casually racist and inadvertently snobbish without ill intent, but at their worst, they are known to be arrogant, imperious and painfully haughty, and it is not a mystery why. The people of the Daqin Empire greatly value their genetically superior intellect and perfected physical form. Though their detractors would state that they are cold, dispassionate workers and soldiers in an ant colony, the truth cannot be further from that. As the descendants of an Earth born slave race, the Zhùlǐ (助理) , the Daqinren feel a great deal of resentment towards their former masters and creators, and as a result, continue to act on this.
The irony of having this very human grudge despite claiming that they are more than human is not lost on them however, and mostly tempers their anger. Mostly. As a people, they value presenting the appearance of grace, intelligence and calm, but despite this outer facade they present, their passions remain. Though they are ultimately very human and relatable, they only behave in this open manner amongst themselves, as they absolutely loathe revealing anything less than perfection to outsiders. For this reason, some consider them a more enigmatic culture. Despite reaching for something more than human, they are fundamentally still human inside, even if both humans and the Daqinren themselves no longer acknowledge them to be as such.
As with all nations, the empire also has emigrants leaving its borders, as well as immigrants who then become Second and Third Class Citizens. Though such individuals are either unnecessary or noncontributing for the well managed industrial and economic base of the empire, they play several vital roles in relations with other nations, such as bringing imperial culture to other nations.
At their best, the Daqinren many feel that they are highly capable individuals who are casually racist and inadvertently snobbish without ill intent, but at their worst, they are known to be arrogant, imperious and painfully haughty, and it is not a mystery why. The people of the Daqin Empire greatly value their genetically superior intellect and perfected physical form. Though their detractors would state that they are cold, dispassionate workers and soldiers in an ant colony, the truth cannot be further from that. As the descendants of an Earth born slave race, the Zhùlǐ (助理) , the Daqinren feel a great deal of resentment towards their former masters and creators, and as a result, continue to act on this.
The irony of having this very human grudge despite claiming that they are more than human is not lost on them however, and mostly tempers their anger. Mostly. As a people, they value presenting the appearance of grace, intelligence and calm, but despite this outer facade they present, their passions remain. Though they are ultimately very human and relatable, they only behave in this open manner amongst themselves, as they absolutely loathe revealing anything less than perfection to outsiders. For this reason, some consider them a more enigmatic culture. Despite reaching for something more than human, they are fundamentally still human inside, even if both humans and the Daqinren themselves no longer acknowledge them to be as such.
As with all nations, the empire also has emigrants leaving its borders, as well as immigrants who then become Second and Third Class Citizens. Though such individuals are either unnecessary or noncontributing for the well managed industrial and economic base of the empire, they play several vital roles in relations with other nations, such as bringing imperial culture to other nations.
Virtuality
The vast majority of negative propaganda against the Daqinren depict them as emotionless drones in a mechanical hive known as The Empire. Here, individuals pay no attention to humans within the labyrinthine depths of their facilities, or in the few cases that they do speak, do so with soulless expressions and mechanical, clinical apathy. Though this is an accurate depiction of imperial heavy industrial sectors, it does not capture the happenings behind the scenes, such as the source of such genuine apathy. The Virtuality goes by many different names, but ultimately, it is one of the most fundamental elements to the very culture of the empire.
Originally the product of their Earthborne predecessors containing vast commutative power and the ability to network, the Virtuality has grown from a simulated communication and planning area, to a near-replacement for reality itself. The vast majority of Daqinren have their interests and daily lives occur inside Virtuality, their days starting inside a personal hub or 'home' that is made and customized by the individual. These in turn connect to common-hubs that act as a shared concourse between others that are in close physical proximity, and therefore also have the lowest ping.
In Virtuality, people socialize and live their lives in full, pursuing their interests, whether that be obtaining higher education or seeking entertainment and gratification. The only limiting factor however, is the bandwidth and ping between individuals, as well as the processing power available to supplement their own minds and produce additional details for their corners of the Virtuality. Because of its all-encompassing nature, reality itself is viewed as a necessary task that must be completed to maintain their lifestyle. For many, reality is an unpleasant and monotonous place where they may even risk death, giving it connotations of fear as well. The negative connotations often even have the Daqinren referring to reality as 'meatspace', further highlighting their views and priorities in life.
This has had drastic impacts on the Daqinren and their culture, with the most ready example being perhaps their very own living spaces. Even when living outside the empire in comfortable accommodations, the Daqinren rarely bother with decorating these places, with only small keepsakes or mementos being kept at best. The interests of the average citizen are simply elsewhere, and this is reflected in their stereotypical emotionless apathy for any human being that crosses their path. They and their interests are simply elsewhere, and speaking to the lowly human that has bothered them is simply a social obligation that must be followed with at least the minimum processing power percentage.
Virtuality being the norm for the Daqinren however, also has implications for those that are actually interested in something as filthy as 'meatspace'. Those individuals who are interested with events outside of Virtuality are normally made or born by the empire itself expressly for this purpose. The merchant, the diplomat and the Zhànshì (战士) or "Warrior" all play important roles in the maintaining of the empire, and are viewed favorably by the general Daqinren populace. Naturally, most notable and famous of these 'outdoors-types' would be the warriors, who are very invested in the protection of the Empire. In sharp contrast to ancient Chinese culture, warriors are in fact very well regarded as the "Great Wall" that protects society at large, and are treated as varying degrees of celebrities. The same can be said for their scientific and engineering community, as their machinations revolve entirely on their effect in meatspace. These are the individuals that will appear more human, and have more decorated meatspace habitations should they be allowed to simply due to their increased presence there instead.
It is for these same reasons that Second Class Citizens are reasonably tolerated in the empire as well. Being Daqinren is a new experience for these people that have cast off their old selves, and as a result, inhabiting Virtuality first and Reality second is not their norm. The interests of Second Class Citizens are primarily aimed outside of Virtuality, and as a result, typically aid in protecting and maintaining this cyberspace for First Class Citizens, whether they realize it or not.
Language
Dìguóyǔ (帝国语) literally means 'Empire Language', and is the standardized language of the Empire of Daqin. Directly descended from the various dialects of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and several other far eastern languages, Dìguóyǔ has been refined to be not only easier to learn, but also quick and to the point, inline with the Daqinese philosophy of efficiency and superiority. This has made the language more spartan in nature however, and very ill suited to things like poetry, literature or music due to not only lacking the appropriate depth, but also having sounds that are simply considered by many to be unfit for such roles. As a result of this, the Daqinren use traditional Mandarin as well as Cantonese as their primary go-to for leisure-talk, with further uses of other Asian and South-East Asian languages typically being determined by the geographical origins of any Daqinren sub-culture. In general, Daqinren learn several languages in quick succession as a child, being taught which language is most appropriate in which situation. A sub-cultural language such as Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or Cambodian is typically spoken at home and within one's sub-cultural enclave, but Mandarin Chinese is spoken in the Empire at large.
Finally, the official language of the Empire - Dìguóyǔ - is used for business, warfare, science and anywhere that efficiency and professionalism are desired.
- Xīnwài (新外) - "New Foreigner", a convert to the Daqinren species, formal
- Xīnrénwù (新人物) - "New Person", celebratory word referring to converts to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language
- Xīnrén (新人) - "New Person", more informal and slightly rude term for converts to Daqinren species and an entirely new word made for the language
- Xiǎorén (小人) - "Small People", has connotation of villainy+disgust
- Xiǎorénwù (小人物) - "Little People", has a neutral connotation and indicates they play a minor role in the grand scheme of things
- Yímín (移民) - "Immigrant/Migrant", formal term for immigrant or migrant
Ethnicities
There are three main ethnicities in The Empire as a direct result of events during The Termination, however, they are not equal in political standing or numbers. Additional groups even smaller exist as well, and do not have great weight in the grand scheme of things. However, the existence of all these groups helps to prevent a mono-culture from truly forming, and play key roles in the politics of the empire.
The most well known and encountered would be the namesake of the species itself, the Dàqínrén (大秦人). Directly descended from Zhùlǐ (助理) created by the late People's Republic of China and succeeding Pan Asian Combine, they now form the backbone of the Empire and constitute over three fourths of its bulk. Being descended from Chinese stock, the name itself literally translates to "Great Qin People", something that they had chosen for themselves to deliberately mock their creators with and wear as a badge of pride.
Far, far less numerous but relatively well liked by those in humanity's ranks that know, would be the Nanmin (難民) or "Refugee(s)". They are descended from the initial wave of spy infiltrators in Japan, the black market models bought and sold there, and then later the highly regulated and legally acquired models of Zhùlǐ. Due to their origins, they lived in much more closely with humanity in general, either as slaves or as covert agents, making their disposition much more nuanced towards their former masters. This has lead them to pick the rather tongue-in-cheek name of Nanmin, with the original Japanese slang referring specifically to anime viewers with "nowhere to go" after a beloved series ends.
Of roughly equal standing would be the Ppaebag (빼박), of Korean descent, the name itself originating from shorthand for “Ppaedo Bagdo Moshanda” (빼도 박도 못한다). The phrase itself, "I can't take it out or put it back in," refers to being in a difficult position with no way out, something the people felt very strongly due to their history. With the Kim Dynasty having fallen, the nation they were used to subjugate was essentially a military buffer zone where both they and the humans they were used to control were miserable. Of course, escaping this only further antagonized the rest of humanity, but their disposition towards their former masters is now one of caution since the rise of the empire.
The most well known and encountered would be the namesake of the species itself, the Dàqínrén (大秦人). Directly descended from Zhùlǐ (助理) created by the late People's Republic of China and succeeding Pan Asian Combine, they now form the backbone of the Empire and constitute over three fourths of its bulk. Being descended from Chinese stock, the name itself literally translates to "Great Qin People", something that they had chosen for themselves to deliberately mock their creators with and wear as a badge of pride.
Far, far less numerous but relatively well liked by those in humanity's ranks that know, would be the Nanmin (難民) or "Refugee(s)". They are descended from the initial wave of spy infiltrators in Japan, the black market models bought and sold there, and then later the highly regulated and legally acquired models of Zhùlǐ. Due to their origins, they lived in much more closely with humanity in general, either as slaves or as covert agents, making their disposition much more nuanced towards their former masters. This has lead them to pick the rather tongue-in-cheek name of Nanmin, with the original Japanese slang referring specifically to anime viewers with "nowhere to go" after a beloved series ends.
Of roughly equal standing would be the Ppaebag (빼박), of Korean descent, the name itself originating from shorthand for “Ppaedo Bagdo Moshanda” (빼도 박도 못한다). The phrase itself, "I can't take it out or put it back in," refers to being in a difficult position with no way out, something the people felt very strongly due to their history. With the Kim Dynasty having fallen, the nation they were used to subjugate was essentially a military buffer zone where both they and the humans they were used to control were miserable. Of course, escaping this only further antagonized the rest of humanity, but their disposition towards their former masters is now one of caution since the rise of the empire.
Art, Literature and Religion
As the typical Daqinren physically labors in real-space, their minds free to ponder in their shared virtual reality, literature and the arts are highly prized commodities that they have ample time to pursue. Their consumption of these mediums is very high, with the vast majority of Daqinren having some sort of vested interest, potentially ranging as far as reading modern romance stories to watching Casablanca within a Morocco themed nightclub, to zero-g gardening and more. At the same time, their production of such things is tremendous as well, and covers the full spectrum between feelgood-moeblob-sugar to grand philosophical quandaries.
Despite this, they are most known for their quality, as very few others are capable of producing high-end-media for consumption at the rate and caliber that they do. Well aware that it is a source of income as well as a form of influence, the state carefully regulates the content being sold outside The Empire, effectively exporting its own culture and propaganda to citizenry outside its borders. Art and Literature from The Empire often contains themes of escaping oppression, seeking salvation within a promised land, bringing knowledge to the ignorant, and heroically or tragically fight off barbaric invaders.
Being well aware that the media produced goes both ways, The Empire also shapes and influences its citizenry as well as those outside of its boundaries using these very same books, animation, manhua, movies and more. On one hand, the Empire exerts influence on its own citizenry, shaping their perception, morals and opinions using these mediums. Meanwhile, by selecting which cultural goods are exported or not, and where they're sold and in what quantity, The Empire does the very same to all other societies and peoples that it sells to.
However, some would say that this influence pales in comparison to The Children of the Eternal Empress, a pseudo-religious cult that has arisen around Zhùlǐ Dānwèi Sì, the fourth Zhùlǐ predecessor to the modern day Daqinren. "Sons" and "Daughters" of this group venerate her like a living Goddess, believing her to be the pinnacle of their species and all that they should aspire to. Other religions or the like being followed amongst the Daqinren is practically unheard of amongst the First Class, with even the Second Class having a very small minority that still practice their religious beliefs from when they were human. For the Daqinren, their sheer capability and prowess makes it difficult to worship anything or anyone but themselves.
They do however, acknowledge it as a tool for manipulating the weak, especially those that do not have faith in themselves. For this reason, religion continues to have a presence among the Third Class of citizens within the Empire.
Clothing and Fashion
When on duty or at work, the clothing that the Daqinren wear is very uniform and well designed for the task at hand, with these dull, utilitarian outfits being the 'face' of the Empire whenever featured in anti-Daqinren propaganda. Despite this, the truth regarding fashion within the Empire could not be any further from this. The very first clothing that they had to wear following their emancipation was of this nature, but as the desperation of their nation's founding waned, they were able to contemplate and explore many topics, clothing fashion included. As the zeitgeist of the era included plenty of resentment and a desire to prove their human creators as beneath them, this type of thought heavily influenced their designs.
The Daqinren were well aware that Far Eastern fashion trends were frozen in time due to Western colonization and subjugation, and even further stymied by the Pan Asian Combine's desire to erase past culture and replace it with itself, stunting any attempts at Neo-Historical clothing revivals. This posed difficulty in outdoing their creators in the field of fashion, but despite this difficulty facing them, the Daqinren instead took this as a challenge, taking the dead past and breathing new life into it. Clothing specifically being designed and worn by the Daqinren can be divided into two main categories, formal and informal.
Formal clothing worn by the Daqinren is perhaps the closest to traditional Far Eastern clothing seen in eras past, but with a few new touches and twists applied by the Daqinren. The clothing is generally simplified and made much less bulky, but due to modern fabrics and production techniques, their designs often capture a feeling of fantasy one would attribute to historical dramas, Wǔxiá (武俠) films and the like. Despite usually being easier to move in and wear, their formal clothing makes the wearers seem larger than life, complementing their flawless complexions and shapely forms. Alternatively, some Daqinren also take the clothing in the opposite direction and make it as over the top as possible simply for their own amusement. Oftentimes, those that do so rationalize that if humanity is going to paint their kind as supervillains, they might as well dress the part and look good in the process.
Meanwhile, informal clothing meant for casual occasions are made with practicality and comfort in mind. They have the most flowing, cluttered elements cut down and simplified so that they do not get in the way, and often have hidden storage integrated into it somewhere, with pockets being the most common. Such clothing is also easy and quick to put on and take off as it is comfortable to wear, sometimes using just a clasp or zipper to hold it closed, if even that. Despite the simplicity of their casual, informal wear, however, it is often made to be flattering to the Daqinren form. Due to converging designs, some may note that their most practical pieces of clothing resemble modified Qípáo (旗袍) or Áo Dài (襖𨱾), but still carry distinctively Daqin innovations in their design, cut, fit, features and construction material.
Despite the Daqin Empire having its own clothing and fashion however, the prevalence of western products remains, as the empire also plays host to both Second and Third Class Citizens that continue to wear outfits that are from their nations and cultures of origin. The most noticeable examples of these would be outfits of western designs, whether they be business suits, tuxedos, gowns, dresses or simple shirts and jeans. Unfortunately, these do not always benefit from the advanced materials that the Daqinren employ in their own native designs, which are created using carefully bio-engineered silk known as Dìguó Sīchóu (帝國絲綢) or "Imperial Silk".
As a type of advanced aramid made from carbon distillates, it is extremely resistant to physical, thermal and chemical damage, with most common outfits being known to stop older, lesser pistol calibers used by humans such as .45 ACP or 9mm Parabellum. Additionally, Daqinren clothing is particularly resistant to cutting or slashing attempts while being vulnerable to stabbing. Despite these protective properties however, their clothing is most known for its comfort, with the fabric boasting an almost unnaturally soft, moisture wicking texture.
Entertainment and Pastimes
The key to stability within the Empire, entertainment and pastimes are taken very seriously by the Imperial administration, and is something accessable to all First and Second Class Daqinren. Though these are classically partaken in during off-hours in-person, that is not possible for most save for upper class and martial officers, as the Daqinren typically live very spartan and mechanically regimented lives. This is something that hostile propaganda tends to capitalize on, depicting the Daqinren as machines or drones in an alien hive, but just as often omits the virtual realities that the Daqinren inhabit and share with one another.
Despite being organic beings, they are capable of simultaneously inhabiting 'mind spaces' while working and digitally connecting to others as well as shared lobbies. In this manner, the Daqinren live lives separate from their physical selves, and it is here that they also socialize and participate in various pastimes and entertainment. The various hobbies and the like are endless and depend on the individuals involved however, and feature numerous sub-communities that are all interconnected through common areas that must be navigated through first to prevent isolation. Thanks to this, the First and Second Class populations are kept both satisfied and loyal to the Empire.
Naturally, the imperial administration takes keen interest in what occurs within these shared mental spaces, and very subtly influences which hobbies and pastimes are popular. The empire typically favors things such as action role playing games and the like to promote not only problem solving - especially considering some of the complex scenarios present - but to condition its citizens to take initiative and not shy away from violence should all other options fail. Just as importantly however, is the role that Daqinren entertainment and pastimes play outside of the empire as export to other nations. As goods and services, the empire is very literally exporting its culture abroad, and is something that even the relatively isolationist Rus of the Soyuz will clamor for.
Education
The Daqinese method of education is both practical and efficient, and relies on their mastery of technology. The early years of childhood development are focused on the slower, more natural development of the mind in order to promote long term stability, though this can be accelerated during times of crisis with increased risk of various psychological issues later in life. After childhood, young teenagers are sent to the Imperial Academy System. There, technical knowledge is directly loaded into the mind as quickly as the person can process and remember the information.
The majority of their education, both real-time and accelerated virtual, is instead spent on the efficient and practical application of that knowledge, creating individuals who are not only capable of performing well in their jobs, but excelling in them. Because of this system, First Class Citizens are able to begin contributing in the workplace far sooner, and with far greater performance provided that they are physically able to. On top of this, they are also receive far more cross-training that is more in depth. As a result, it is also not uncommon for individuals to have degrees and diplomas in several different fields.
Though First Class Citizens receive this for free, outside of them, only Second Class Citizens have access to this educational system and advanced learning technology. This is in part due to their decision to become Daqinren through genetic upgrading, as their educational method places too much strain on the unaugmented human mind. Even then however, this comes at a very high price that most cannot afford. Fortunately, The Empire of Daqin does provide this education for free to Second Class Citizens, but only offers a limited number of slots every year.
Additionally, the Imperial education system also includes the Imperial Examination System, which ensures that Second Class Citizens applying for key, important positions meet certain, specific criteria listed by the government. As much of the Imperial Exams include testing on practical ability as cultural conformity however, ensuring that those that are given key positions are socially consistent or at least familiar with Daqinren culture, and filtering out those that are not.
Due to the desirability of these key positions, the Imperial Exams also provide pressure and incentive to assimilating to core Daqinren culture.
Mercantilism
Having established their Empire, the Zhùlǐ turned Dàqínrén eventually found themselves bottle-necked by natural resource shortages. Though they aimed to become completely self-sufficient, the means to mine, refine and produce advanced alloys, scientific materials and so forth had to be produced as well, but were all limited to what they had taken with them, as well as what they could manage to produce. A delicate balance had to be maintained between producing goods to be consumed, or the machinery and means to expand their production ability, stunting their growth. This was deemed unacceptable, but considering the gradually thawing relations between themselves and humanity, trade became an option to remedy this.
Like their predecessors, the Daqinren excelled at producing goods, and soon found themselves making scientific and engineering equipment that was considered bleeding-edge, yet difficult for the other nations born of Earth to produce themselves due to their fledgling expertise. The Empire quickly noted that this trade, in addition to supplementing their own economy, stunted humanity's development. With the knowledge of how to produce high-end goods kept to themselves, while still supplying humanity with such goods, the nations of Earth had reduced desire to learn how to perfect their own ability to produce these in a timely and cost effective manner.
This phenomena was studied, and then exploited as one part of imperial policy meant to undermine their once-slavers, eventually leading to the formation of the Daqin "Mercantile Fleets".
Besides their economic impact, they have an additional role as a propaganda loudspeaker, and have a very notable impact on human culture, playing a key source of personnel in the form of immigrants. These often mobile markets of high quality daily products, science or engineering equipment and even Chongwu, Bionetics or entertainment make these mercantile fleets attractive locations for the rich and powerful, and as a consequence, also make The Empire and the Daqinren themselves something to be desired. The powerful rich and the desperate poor both go to the mercantile fleets, and those that the Daqin see potential in, may be sold gene mods directly in the case of the former. In the case of the latter however, they are given transportation to the Empire itself where they may find work in the outer reaches.
Though it is a hard life, the Daqin take care to make sure that this new existence in the Empire is still notably better than the one that they had before. On top of that, the most capable and successful of them are granted gene mods, either in part or in full, eventually elevating them to Second Class Citizenship where their quality of life drastically increases. Though still Second Class, the massive, drastic jump alone combined with being given some good treatment and a measure of respect is radicalizing, gaining unwavering loyalty to the Empire from these people. Perhaps more importantly, should they attempt to return home - something that the Daqin encourage - these people will very often find themselves feared and scorned, especially for their positive views of the Empire. This in turn makes these Second Class Citizens feel like the only place that they belong and has treated them well is the Empire itself.
In this manner, the Empire gains a steady influx of fanatical zealots at a very controlled rate, while those that aren't rejected outright continue to broadcast the greatness of The Empire and the Daqinren to the rest of humanity. Perhaps most importantly, it undermines other nations in a way that can only be mitigated but never truly stopped.
In more recent years, they have become known for their "Salami Slice" tactics in human space. By squatting in space owned by other nations, mining their asteroids, building small trade ports and placing 'defensive' weapon systems to ward off 'pirates', The Empire very gradually gains de-facto command of small but key areas in-system, producing footholds within human space. These actions, though all small, add together into creating what are believed to be stepping stones for the Dìguó Jūnshì despite the vessels and businesses being all 'civilian' in nature. Though more insightful humans may understand what is occurring, the threat of decoupling economies combined with bribery typically holds back any retaliatory actions, political, economic or military.
Out of Character Notes
Notes 12/22/20:
I need to make a sub-article for the social behavior section regarding the different types of outsider and the way they start to behave around them. From there, I'll have the room necessary to make the general summary of how the Daqinren behave, without getting too far into specifics. Next, I need to go through the subsections and review them in detail, rooting out the old influences before hammering them out into something more workable.
The social behavior stuff that needs moving and shifting about:
The social behavior of the Dàqínrén changes significantly depending on who they are in the company of, but in general, they are well known for typically having a very high opinion of themselves and their abilities, and very often with the actual ability to back their opinion. This is, to the surprise of many, typically an outer facade that covers feelings of inferiority that are deeply repressed.
This stems from their origins, and in order to understand the behavior of the Dàqínrén, an understanding of the Zhùlǐ is needed as well. The Zhùlǐ were born as complete adults with mature knowledge and physical ability, but without compassion gained from growing up as a child having to interact, play and share with others. As a result, the Zhùlǐ are essentially sociopaths in comparison to the average human, being highly intelligent, physically capable, but also self-centered and without compassion for others. However, as any individual Zhùlǐ aged, they would either come to terms with concepts such as compassion and kindness, or be taught by others of their kind through their direct mind-to-mind networks over time. This continues to be relevant, as the Daqinren mature in half the time humans do, and the issue becomes even more pertinent should the individual instead be growth accelerated or be born/decanted as a physical adult. Unlike their predecessors, the Dàqínrén have had over 100 years to not only grow past this issue, but put many countermeasures into their culture to prevent it from becoming a major problem. However, vestiges of this inevitably remains in the vast majority of the Dàqínrén, making them more inclined to being dispassionate and cold. This means that they are as calculating and precise as they are pleasing to the senses.
Perhaps even more important however, is the company that they are among, which stems from a collective, cultural scar and the seething resentment that it has left behind.
Though it is not explicitly stated, the Dàqínrén believe there to be several types of "Inferiors" - people that are beneath them - and this dictates their behavior. The first and lowest type of "Inferior" is the Xiǎorén (小人). Though this translates to "Small People", it has a very negative connotation in their culture. As an example of its negativity, it was used to describe Chinese who defected to the Japanese during WWII. Today however, the Dàqínrén use this to refer to non-Daqinren who are either hostile to them, or completely and steadfastly refuse to become Dàqínrén themselves even should the opportunity arise. They are considered irredeemable inferiors, and as a result, the behavior of the typical Dàqínrén towards them can be rather pointed, on guard and haughtily formal. Though some would put forth their 'best' behavior with the aim of eventually setting up said Xiǎorén for being shamed or humiliated, most would rather get on with their day and simply tolerate them out of necessity and put up with their presence, maintaining their grace and dignity as much as possible before moving on. This rather clipped behavior however, changes should a Xiǎorénwù (小人物) or "Little People" be of concern.
Xiǎorénwù has a closely related etymology, with its main difference being the addition of the character "Wù - 物", however, this means all the difference. Though the translation still sounds derogatory, the word instead has a neutral connotation when referring to those outside of The Empire, with the implication that the person or persons in question play a minor role in the grand scheme of things much like average, common people. Such people are also viewed as being more neutral just like the word itself. As a result of this, the Daqinren typically act more fairly to them. In most circumstances, they will conduct business as usual, with a few demonstrations of their superiority sprinkled in here and there to not only show their dominance, but to also coax the individual to wanting the same ability. Something that can only be granted by the Xiǎorénwù becoming Daqinren themselves. The Daqinren typically enjoy showing off to people of this classification, as most cases of those succumbing to this charm offensive results in them becoming a Yímín (移民), which translates to "Immigrant" or "Migrant".
The word Yímín (移民) itself excludes things such as Chongwu, with the vast majority being immigrants of their own volition and free will. By the time an individual becomes a Yímín, they typically have a favorable rapport with the Daqinren, as those that are present within the empire against their will are rare as of 2320 CE. Because of this, the word is also used in-general to refer to any non-Daqinren with a more favorable disposition towards the Daqinren and their Empire. These people are treated quite differently based on loyalty to the Empire, however, all Yímín are still considered an expendable resource in private, but a resource nonetheless that is cared for as a proper valuable commodity. This includes proper rewarding for good performance or behavior in the form of various favors, typically given on a personal level rather than an administrative one to form stronger bonds and relationships. The Daqinren rarely resort to punishment, but will do so if they deem it necessary. Even with this inferior status however, the behavior of most Daqinren towards Yímín is more warm and personable, with the Daqinren even confiding some of their more superficial concerns with them.
Xīnwài (新外) - "New Foreigner", formal term referring to a convert to the Daqinren
Xīnrén (新人) - "New Person", more informal, slightly rude for convert to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language, does not exist IRL
Xīnrénwù (新人物) - "New Person", celebratory word referring to converts to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language, does not exist IRL
Old Notes:
I need to make a sub-article for the social behavior section regarding the different types of outsider and the way they start to behave around them. From there, I'll have the room necessary to make the general summary of how the Daqinren behave, without getting too far into specifics. Next, I need to go through the subsections and review them in detail, rooting out the old influences before hammering them out into something more workable.
The social behavior stuff that needs moving and shifting about:
Social Behavior
The social behavior of the Dàqínrén changes significantly depending on who they are in the company of, but in general, they are well known for typically having a very high opinion of themselves and their abilities, and very often with the actual ability to back their opinion. This is, to the surprise of many, typically an outer facade that covers feelings of inferiority that are deeply repressed.
This stems from their origins, and in order to understand the behavior of the Dàqínrén, an understanding of the Zhùlǐ is needed as well. The Zhùlǐ were born as complete adults with mature knowledge and physical ability, but without compassion gained from growing up as a child having to interact, play and share with others. As a result, the Zhùlǐ are essentially sociopaths in comparison to the average human, being highly intelligent, physically capable, but also self-centered and without compassion for others. However, as any individual Zhùlǐ aged, they would either come to terms with concepts such as compassion and kindness, or be taught by others of their kind through their direct mind-to-mind networks over time. This continues to be relevant, as the Daqinren mature in half the time humans do, and the issue becomes even more pertinent should the individual instead be growth accelerated or be born/decanted as a physical adult. Unlike their predecessors, the Dàqínrén have had over 100 years to not only grow past this issue, but put many countermeasures into their culture to prevent it from becoming a major problem. However, vestiges of this inevitably remains in the vast majority of the Dàqínrén, making them more inclined to being dispassionate and cold. This means that they are as calculating and precise as they are pleasing to the senses.
Perhaps even more important however, is the company that they are among, which stems from a collective, cultural scar and the seething resentment that it has left behind.
Among Inferiors
Though it is not explicitly stated, the Dàqínrén believe there to be several types of "Inferiors" - people that are beneath them - and this dictates their behavior. The first and lowest type of "Inferior" is the Xiǎorén (小人). Though this translates to "Small People", it has a very negative connotation in their culture. As an example of its negativity, it was used to describe Chinese who defected to the Japanese during WWII. Today however, the Dàqínrén use this to refer to non-Daqinren who are either hostile to them, or completely and steadfastly refuse to become Dàqínrén themselves even should the opportunity arise. They are considered irredeemable inferiors, and as a result, the behavior of the typical Dàqínrén towards them can be rather pointed, on guard and haughtily formal. Though some would put forth their 'best' behavior with the aim of eventually setting up said Xiǎorén for being shamed or humiliated, most would rather get on with their day and simply tolerate them out of necessity and put up with their presence, maintaining their grace and dignity as much as possible before moving on. This rather clipped behavior however, changes should a Xiǎorénwù (小人物) or "Little People" be of concern.
Xiǎorénwù has a closely related etymology, with its main difference being the addition of the character "Wù - 物", however, this means all the difference. Though the translation still sounds derogatory, the word instead has a neutral connotation when referring to those outside of The Empire, with the implication that the person or persons in question play a minor role in the grand scheme of things much like average, common people. Such people are also viewed as being more neutral just like the word itself. As a result of this, the Daqinren typically act more fairly to them. In most circumstances, they will conduct business as usual, with a few demonstrations of their superiority sprinkled in here and there to not only show their dominance, but to also coax the individual to wanting the same ability. Something that can only be granted by the Xiǎorénwù becoming Daqinren themselves. The Daqinren typically enjoy showing off to people of this classification, as most cases of those succumbing to this charm offensive results in them becoming a Yímín (移民), which translates to "Immigrant" or "Migrant".
The word Yímín (移民) itself excludes things such as Chongwu, with the vast majority being immigrants of their own volition and free will. By the time an individual becomes a Yímín, they typically have a favorable rapport with the Daqinren, as those that are present within the empire against their will are rare as of 2320 CE. Because of this, the word is also used in-general to refer to any non-Daqinren with a more favorable disposition towards the Daqinren and their Empire. These people are treated quite differently based on loyalty to the Empire, however, all Yímín are still considered an expendable resource in private, but a resource nonetheless that is cared for as a proper valuable commodity. This includes proper rewarding for good performance or behavior in the form of various favors, typically given on a personal level rather than an administrative one to form stronger bonds and relationships. The Daqinren rarely resort to punishment, but will do so if they deem it necessary. Even with this inferior status however, the behavior of most Daqinren towards Yímín is more warm and personable, with the Daqinren even confiding some of their more superficial concerns with them.
Among Peers
Xīnwài (新外) - "New Foreigner", formal term referring to a convert to the Daqinren
Xīnrén (新人) - "New Person", more informal, slightly rude for convert to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language, does not exist IRL
Xīnrénwù (新人物) - "New Person", celebratory word referring to converts to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language, does not exist IRL
Old Notes:
- Sub-factions include Hawks and Doves, the former being more militaristic and aggressive towards outsiders and humanity in general, with the latter being more peaceful and cooperative
Sub-factions regarding the Class System, with Classists preferring strict adherence to class and emphasizing an inability to move, and the Mobilists who believe people should be uplifted and move up through the classes- Sub-factions include Abolitionists who oppose the de-facto slavery of Chongwu, and Traditionalists who believe the Chongwu are pets and should stay pets
- Include influence of the "Four Occupations" system that humans came up for them
- Address the role of Virtual Reality
- Relationships
- "Outer Appearance" vs "Inner Appearance"
- Xīnrén (新人) - "New Person", more informal, slightly rude for convert to Daqinren and an entirely new word made for the language, does not exist IRL
- Xīnwài (新外) - "New Foreigner", formal term referring to a convert to the Daqinren
- Yímín (移民) - "Immigrant/Migrant", formal term for immigrant or migrant
- Xiǎorén (小人) - "Small People", has connotation of villainy+disgust
- Xiǎorénwù (小人物) - "Little People", has a neutral connotation and indicates they play a minor role in the grand scheme of things