Titles
Diviner (99)
Oracle (Il san)
Prophet (Ee san)
Clairvoyant (Sam san)
Visionary (Sa san)
Members
The current members of the Diviner subpath can be found here. The current Elder of the Diviners is ColdPrincess.
The first Elder of the Diviner subpath was Lady Silk; she was followed by Ladies Mizu, Sarina, and, briefly, Airess, before eldership returned to Lady Sarina. Even before the brief Tenure of Airess, Sarina held the record for longest serving subpath Eldership; her return to the position after her short time off cemented this record.
Chi'en and Augury assists the Diviners in times of need.
Diviner Seekers - information on how to become a Diviner.
Roleplay
The diviners, for many centuries, in many cultures have been looked to in times of need. Being trained in the divine arts, we are blessed with the gift of knowledge. This knowledge serves us well in our day to day quest to learn. Eternally curious, a diviner pushes him/herself deeper into life's mysteries trying to understand. Though diviners are classified together there are many types.
Many diviners choose to use their powers to help the community, these Royal Seers are usually clear of speech and not as didactic as some of their brethren. Mystics, oracles and prophets tend to speak in riddles and partially formed ideas. This is not to say that they practice in half truths, for diviners are above all truthful. Many of the more secretive of the diviners believe that people should not be lead straight down a path, they must search out Tao for themselves.
Just as diviners may take different roads to expressing their knowledge, they also have different alignments. For the most part diviners are neutral though some do ride just on either side of the fence. This being so light and dark diviners, as their names imply, are not wholly good or evil.
Light diviners often use their abilities to help the community, and you can find them as Royal Seers advising kings and queens. They are truly helpful and can be counted on to come to someone's aid when asked.
Grey diviners tend to get involved only when they believe it will help restore balance. Neutral diviners can be found as Oracles and Prophets. These diviners believe that the Tao is a scale, and they strive to protect the balance At any cost.
Dark Diviners ar mischievous, and more self-centered than other diviners. They are not corrupt, but they do enjoy material goods. These wandering mystics can be very grumpy, and speak in riddles. Helpful only when it suits them, the Dark diviners enjoy leading people down an interesting path. Dark diviners are not evil, as Dark might suggest.
Though diviners may have differences between them they are drawn together by mutual respect. A diviner respects his peers for whatever their skills may be that differ from his/her own. Diviners can use many methods to come up with their answers, be it the I Ching, Runes, Tarot, Bones, Scrying, or the use of a turtles shell, all methods are accepted. The Diviner Circle puts emphasis on knowledge of the I Ching for we are based on Taoist precepts.
We, the diviners are here in the kingdom with a purpose. We act as vessels for the gods, and relay their messages to the populace. Though many may not believe in what we do, still we try, for we are all a part of the Tao and an integral part of its ways.
The Diviners, in a word, are seers. Diviners can look into the future and see what it holds. They believe in being peaceful, and avoiding wars, maintaining the balance of the universe through the Yin, Yang, and the Tao.
Most Diviners seek to help the community through deeds that include asking the Gods what karma level a certain person is, an act known as reading karma and conducting I-Ching readings, an act only possible if you a Diviner guide (for the actual spell version - any walker can give a Roleplay reading).
The Diviner information scroll is called "The Divine Chronicles", and can be purchased for 1000 coins from Sheng, the Angel in the Tao Te Ching (Diviner Subpath Area, located next to the Kugnae G'oh board).
Diviners also believe in a force known as Karma.
Philosophy
The Three Principles of the Diviner Knowledge is Power. Truth is the Key. Knowledge and Truth lead to Enlightenment. Mastery of secrets brings you closer to understanding the Universe. Each secret is part of the Pattern. As you learn the pattern, you will find your true purpose in the world. Every secret reveals to you an aspect of your soul. Divining is the reward of an enlightened soul.
I-Ching Information
The story of the I-Ching begins with the discovery of the trigrams by Fu Hsi, China's first, ideal emperor and sage. This truly was a discovery, not a mere invention. Fu Hsi, who observed nature with care and attention, was walking beside the Yellow River when he saw a turtle emerging from the water. Naturally, he watched it closely: as a wise man he understood that wisdom came from carefully observing nature. Turtles in particular are significant animals in Chinese tradition, for the dome of their shell represents the dome of heaven and their flat lower surface the earth, so a turtle seems to embody the cosmos. On the back of this turtle, Fu Hsi first saw the eight trigrams. Through studying them along with the natural world around him and within himself, Fu Hsi came to understand how the trigrams reflect basic truths about how energy moves. In so doing, he laid the foundations both for the traditional Chinese world view and for the I-Ching.
The I-Ching itself was not created from it's constituent trigrams for many centuries. But when the last ruler of the Shang dynasty unjustly imprisoned his wise and honest Chou vassal, King Wen. Wen spent his time in prison reflecting on the trigrams, re-arranging them and, crucially, combining them into hexagrams. He also wrote the name for each of the sixty-four hexagrams, and a few lines on their meaning, which we now know as the Judgments. Eventually, King Wen's son overthrew the cruel, extravagant Shang and established the new Chou dynasty. His grandson became ruler, and the boy's uncle, the Duke of Chou, was appointed as his regent. The Duke of Chou completed King Wen's work by writing short tests associated with each of the six lines of every hexagram.
Finally, Confucius himself studied the I-Ching exhaustively and wrote extensive commentaries on it, which are known as the I-Ching's "Wings". These include the Advice (or Image), the commentaries on the judgment and on the lines, as well as the Contrasts, sequences, attached evidences and appended judgments, in addition to the discussion of the Trigrams and the Great Treatise. With it's origins in the greatest rulers and sages of China/Korea's past, and the illumination of Confucius' thought binding it into a whole, the I-Ching was honored as a Classic, and was required reading for anyone wishing to enter the higher order of Korean/Chinese society.
Diviner Interactions with other Subpaths (4.0)
Do "Do" is the single-edged sword. A Do is a martial master, dedicated to his weapon. (Respect) Diviners may be allies with the Do. The Diviner respects the Do's drive and discipline, it is similar to the Diviners' thirst for knowledge.
Barbarian Is not necessarily crude or a nomad, but is an expert of outdoors survival. (Respect) Diviners respect the Barbarian's expertise in Wood Lore and abilities to survive. The Diviner respects any path that they may learn something from.
Shadow A shadow, or shadow dancer, is an unseen warrior. (Misunderstood or cautious/wary) The Diviner is wary or neutral with the Shadow. Diviners seek to bring out the truth and can not understand the Shadow's need to be unseen. Often times mistrusting the Shadow, the Diviners' natural curiosity compels them to seek out the reason why the Shadows hide. How do they fit into the patterns of human behavior?
Spy A spy specializes in disguise, investigation, and subterfuge. (Neutral or contempt/pity) Diviners' feel pity for the Spy's tendencies to sell information and knowledge to the highest bidder, monetary gain being low on the Diviner's list of priorities. Diviners' are often competing with Spies as advisers to ranking officials. Thus, the Diviner feels contempt to animosity towards the Spy.
Merchant A merchant is a craftsman and trader. (Neutral) Merchants are useful members of society. Diviners are neutral with Merchants.
Geomancer Knows the earth and energy of the natural energy of a place. Capable of manipulating fine or foul energy. (Respect) Diviners respect the Geomancer. The Geomancer has learned to manipulate the natural elements; thus, Diviners' can work along side Geomancers in manipulating Matter, Energy and Time. Diviners respect any path they may learn something from.
Monk Devoted to his or her deity. At peace and in tune with the nature of good and evil. (Respect or avoidance.. depends on role playing) The Diviner may be a very close ally with the Monk or indifferent/bitter enemies. A Diviner who follows the same deity as the Monk may become a Prophet of the deity, and work closely with the Monk. However, some deities and their Monks may find the Diviner's art blasphemous. Otherwise, Monks and Diviners have the same goals, to bring enlightenment to the Kingdom. Monks are Buddhist while Diviners are Taoist (this is not a strict rule, it depends on the individual).
Muse A musician and/or artist. (Respect) The Diviner enjoys the company of the Muse. Stories and folklore are part of the pattern that the Diviner studies, and in exchange, the Muse may receive information about some of the Mysteries that a Diviner would know.
Druid In touch with plants and animals of the natural world. Somewhat different than the European druid. (Respect) Diviners respect the Druid's philosophy, and seek to learn how they fit into the patterns. The
Shaman A spirit speaker, and dabbler in the old forms of magic. The Shamans have no alignments, neutral in general. Diviners respect the Shamans and their ability to Manipulate the spirits, and speak with them. Their is much we can learn from the Shamans.
Taoism
Taoism is not a religion, nor a philosophy. It is a "Way" of life. It is a River. The Tao is the natural order of things. It is a force that flows through every living and sentient object, as well as through the entire universe.
When the Tao is in balance it is possible to find perfect happiness. The primary religious figures in Taoism are Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, two scholars who dedicated their lives two balancing their inner spirits.
The most common graphic representation of Taoist theology is the circular Yin Yang figure. It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray. The Yin and Yang are a model that the faithful follow, an aid that allows each person to contemplate the state of their lives.
Yin & Yang
The concept of Yin and Yang is one of the most fundamental and profound theories of Feng Shui. It is the Chinese perspective of balance and continual change. Many Feng Shui practitioners claim they have a deep understanding of this concept, yet they cannot even represent the image correctly. In fact, this is a good indicator of the depth of knowledge a "master" possesses. Many times these practitioners call themselves masters, yet their printed materials contain an incorrect Tai-Chi (The name for the Yin and Yang circle) representation. How can one call themselves a master of Feng Shui and not even understand the basics of this deep and extremely significant diagram? Yin and Yang is a foundation theory for Feng Shui that supports many other theories including the Five Elements theory and the Environment. Hopefully by reading this, you will be better informed on what Yin/Yang theory is in Feng Shui.
What the Western version might be:
Yin and Yang are dependent opposites that must always be in balance. The opposites flow in a natural cycle always replacing the other. Just as the seasons cycle and create a time of heat and cold, Yin and Yang cycles through active and passive, dark and light, etc. Yin and Yang evolved from a belief of mutually dependent opposites that cannot live without the other. The Eastern view of opposites is, if you will excuse the pun, opposite of a Western view. If Yin and Yang are balanced and flowing in the East, in the West (if a similar philosophy were adopted), it might look like the image to the right.
We in the West tend to look as things as black "or" white, right "or" wrong, etc. There is separation and non-relatednesses in the Western perspective. Whereas, the Chinese view opposites as evolving and cycling. There is neither right or wrong, but rather there is balance, transformation, interaction, and dependent opposition. We need both to maintain a balance.
After the Yellow Turban rebellion (184 A.D.), the Han dynasty emperors commissioned scholars to re-examine the ancient texts. The principles of which Dong Zhongshui (?179-104 B.C.) and others interpreted the ancient texts were derived from the early philosophy of nature, the complementary alternating forces of Yin and Yang, dark and light, female and male, which maintain the balance of the cosmos, and which had been a thought pattern of the Chinese before any philosophical schools came into being. Meaning, that Feng Shui and Yin and Yang concepts were evolving from cosmological and environmental sciences before Daoists philosophy adopted it. Many people believe that it was a Daoist invention.
Within Yang, there is a small piece of Yin. Within Yin, there is a small piece of Yang. Just as in the heart of winter, a seed lays in wait to become life, so is Yang waited within Yin for its turn. In a hot summer, a sudden desert storm can bring coolness. This too is an example of how Yin is found in Yang. Again, there are no absolutes, just cycles in time.
External Links
Services offered to the Community
Marriage / Blood Oath Purification
Witnessed a Ritual of Divinity
Found Serenity in the Tao: Sheng in the Tao Te Ching will Give players this quest, but first players must contact a Diviner to aid him/her.
Wu Chi apple: CosCos found in our Tai Chi room offers this quest: Player will receive a beautiful green Wu Chi apple from CosCos
Convoke quest Kujiga located in the Tao Te Ching also offers a community quest which when completed players will learn a wonderful new spell.
Diviners also used to (sometimes; it was not a requirement of the spell) assist a Chongun in performing the "Chongun Wedding" service, before the Bestow Wedding spell was transfered to the Shaman subpath. The ritual was created by Airess.