Fengjiang

Fengjiang (Fengese: 鳳降, : Fèngjiàng), referred to in diplomacy as the Great and Sublime Imperial Realms of the Eternal Sanctuary where the Splendid Phoenix Bestowed Light (大崇熙鳳降明永殿帝國, Dàchóng Xīfèng Jiàngmíng Yǒngdiàn Dìguó), is a country in south Serica. Clockwise from its metropole, Fengjiang borders Arsytia in the north along the Serican Demilitarized Zone; and possesses a maritime border with Buhan in the southwest. It is the world's most populous country with a population exceeding 1.7 billion people. The national capital of Fengjiang is Fengtianmen, where the Prism Above - pre-eminent seat of all Infernalism - resides. Its most populous city and financial center is Yutseng, with the cities of Szuto, Liugam, and Kaijing ranking close after.

Fengjiang is one of the oldest in the world at nearly 3,000 years old, the Fengquan River (鳳泉河) valleys from which it originates considered one of the earliest. It is the birthplace of Infernalism, with which it shares a deeply intertwined history.

While incredibly in economic terms, clerical-combine rule in Fengjiang is widely considered to be highly, seeing the widespread and systemic erosion of  as the ruling conglomerates exercise a holistic control over the public and private lives of those in Fengese society.

Fengjiang, with its great economic, technological, and military capability, is one of the two superpowers of Tellurus - leading the GOCE alliance against the TTO in the ongoing Cold War. It ranks as the largest economy in the world. Its military, commanded by each of the five Sanctuaries of Fengjiang alongside subordinate combines, is the largest and among the strongest globally. It is a founding member of the Atomic Ban Convention (ABC), and possesses a significant arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, including the largest atomic arsenal globally. A global leader in, , and industries, the country is one of the foremost pioneers of technology in the world, notably having established a permanent presence on the two moons of Tellurus and achieved human landings on the planets of Adrestia, Thrax, and Aerehtyc. The culture of Fengjiang, itself overlapping significantly with Infernalist traditions, has had a formative impact on those of the Occident and wider Pyrosphere, from antiquity till even modernity, through such media as art, literature, music, cuisine, philosophy, and popular entertainment.

Etymology
WIP

Government and politics
Fengjiang is an absolutist magocracy with Infernalism as its state religion, possessing corporatocratic elements by the oriental conception. The Scion of the Divine Phoenix Ascendant is the universal over Fengjiang, the Pyrosphere, and notionally the entire world, sourcing legitimacy from the Infernalist assertion of her inherent nature as the truest continuation of Yanshizu, the messianic prophet of the faith. The position is hereditary, passed down via a system of wherein the position is inherited by legitimate daughters (born from the Vermilion Harem) with no possibility for male heirs. Notably, the eldest daughter is not always chosen, as it is asserted that any daughter (and indeed, theoretically any woman in the prophetic lineage) may be a reincarnation. The Eternal Phare, comprising the heads of the clerical apparatus in Fengjiang, is responsible for conducting the rites for determining the next Scion. The position of the Scion has varied in authority throughout history: while her legally and canonically unlimited authority is unassailable on a formal basis, she is nonetheless bound by the traditions and precedence set by previous Scions, alongside the political intrigue involving her selection and continued reign. Today, the Scion serves a largely ceremonial role on the surface, broadly adopting a policy of non-interventionism in regard to public politics for greater preference over her clerical duties in guiding the transcension of humanity through universal erudition - her involvement in Fengese politics and decision-making behind the veil is widely acknowledged, but obscured owing to the customary secrecy of high politics in Fengjiang. Since her coronation in 1995, Wurongdefa is the incumbent Scion of the Divine Phoenix Ascendant.

Owing to fundamental divergences between oriental and Fengese occidental politics, there exists no formal Fengese, the closest comparable piece of foundational legal documentation unifying the country being the primary scripture of the state religion of Infernalism and derived religious law. The rulings of the decennial Fengtianmen Congresses, wherein the chief religious and political authorities in the country assemble and deliberate over the future policy objectives of the nation, serve as the primary legislative authority applicable across the whole nation. The Edicts of the Scion and adjutant clergy in the Eternal Phare - formally the direct commands of those offices - are symbolically used to encapsulate the decisions made during Congresses, but may also be used more seldomly in the general executive decision-making of their offices. The most important Edicts throughout history are compiled into the Auguries, an Infernalist textual canon which serves as the legal and canonical for legislation in Fengjiang.

Eternal Phare
Contrary to oriental standard, Fengjiang does not recognize any separation between religion and state, in adherence to the official Infernalist line that all politics revolves around the transmission of useful knowledge, and thusly accords to the clergy an inherent right to rule through their position as the pre-eminent guardians and bestowers of erudition.

Within the theocratic hierarchy of Fengjiang, the Eternal Phare - the paramount Phare across the country and faith - is its highest revolving office. It is comprised of a variable number of Magi from all Sanctuaries in the Pyrosphere, alongside inquisitors of various specializations and achievements - all of whom are Flamekeepers presiding over notable gees. While technically serving in its canonical capacities as the principal executive and legislative body over Infernalist jurisprudence and thus the law of Fengjiang with an authority only second to the Scion's, the Eternal Phare rarely exercises this formal authority, a phenomenon attributed by commentators to internal factionalism (contrary to Infernalist assertions of ecumenical unity) and thus a mutual interest to maintain the status quo in Infernalist doctrine. In modern times, membership in the Eternal Phare is typically a title of prestige granted ex officio - membership is more a testament to one's influence in the Infernalist theosphere than an advantageous station to be pursued for that influence. Outside cases of ex officio or direct appointments by the Scion, the Eternal Phare is formally self-appointing through a simple majority, though it is generally accepted that there are several obscured prerequisites for selection or even candidacy - following the Infernalist principles of Heili.

The primary sway of the Eternal Phare comes from its proximity to the center of power in Infernalism - the Scion and the Sanctuary of the Most Eternal she chiefs. Those with membership are allowed the honor of directly presenting opinions and circulars to be deliberated by the Scion, circumventing bureaucratic oversight which may otherwise hinder or outright block such overtures - Sakaguczi Jomogihara's presentation of the Formulation on the Fundamental Strata of the Cosmos in 1911 is the textbook example of this phenomenon. In addition, that membership in the Eternal Phare is granted ex officio for those chairing the various Orders of the Eternal Sanctuary (comparable to oriental except applicable to the entire Pyrosphere) means that there always exists a cadre of inquisitors who hold significant political influence in the Eternal Phare.

The Archmagus is the provost of the Eternal Phare, serving as primus inter pares among its members in theory and charged with clarifying the accumulated Erudition of Infernalism to the Scion in a nominally advisory capacity. While the full membership of the Eternal Phare is not often convoked due to its international nature and the relatively unremarkable formal functions of the office, convocations usually occur for the purpose of electing a new Archmagus from their ranks, when the predecessor either dies or abdicates. With the status quo of nominal non-interventionism in Fengese politics by the Scion, her tremendous political sway has been partly delegated to the Archmagus, such that the Archmagus functionally serves as Fengjiang's theocrat in formal affairs.

Combinial Forum
The Combinial Forum is a deliberative body and forum of discussion comprising 462 Combines (as of 2022) from around the GOCE, but predominantly of Fengese affiliation. All member combines are deputized by the authority of the Scion or indirectly through the higher clergy (and historically, Fengjiang's multifarious non-clerical rulers) to manage portions of the theoretically unbounded territory under her universal jurisdiction - in a manner comparable to oriental where a lord enfeoffs a vassal with land in exchange for their service. In this context, the service being provided by the combines is productivity and security, managing the land and the material and human resources within it to the temporal benefit of Infernalism, such that the other apparatuses under the Infernalist banner have ample support to more directly pursue the objectives of Infernalism. Simply put: whereas the clergy manage the spiritual health of society, the combines supply their efforts by managing the resources of society.

Superficially, combines resemble private combines of the oriental conception. However: as Infernalism, and thus Fengese government, views itself to be the ultimate authority on all facets of society and life, combines are inextricably bound to the magocratic hierarchy of Fengjiang. The profits they generate through their enterprising must ultimately (at least, theoretically) be used to fuel the greater interests of the faith, a fact enforced as their duty as a gear in the wider engine of Infernalism. While this may mean that combines are comparatively less free than their oriental combinial counterparts, their position as agents of clerical authority means that they wield broad prerogatives and privileges in their duties of "resource management", exercising tremendous control over the populations under their employment or ownership. A combine can, and is even expected to exert a holistic level of control over the social and economic lives of clerical subjects under their management, to maximize their productivity and contribution to Infernalist society - a combine provides all that one may ever need and extracts all that one may ever provide, "from cradle to grave".

The Speaker of the Combinial Forum chairs the Forum. Since 2020, Tsau Qin-hwa of the PKT Group has held the office.

Local government
Formally, day-to-day administration of the Scion's realm is managed by the clerical institution, the responsibilities of administration delegated on a regional basis to each of the five Sanctuaries of Fengjiang. Pyres - Infernalist places of worship - serve as both hubs of local decision-making and instruments for carrying out broader national policies. Pyres are ranked in the clerical hierarchy by the scale of the population and territory they are responsible for: minor pyres may administer villages or neighborhoods of hundreds (and sometimes even less) and have limited actual government functions, while the largest pyres at provincial levels are responsible over millions and practically serve as their governments through Phares and subordinate Magistracy Boards - the heads of which are often members of the Eternal Phare. All eventually answer to the Great Pyres which head Sanctuaries, who in turn answer directly to the Scion. Flamekeepers, in their capacities as the head maintainer of a pyre, act as civil servants, aided and advised by an extensive bureaucracy comprising inquisitors and novitiates of relevant specializations.

As much of the higher echelons of combines are also comprised by the clergy (see ), the interests of combines are theoretically represented through their inquisitors' participation in Magistracy Boards. As legal entities themselves, the majority of combines are subordinate to local gees and constituted to manage those gees' territories, but there are a number of major combines who are subordinated directly to Sanctuaries, technically making them equal in authority to lower pyres. Many so-called "Great Combines" are constituted through theocratic fiat directly from the Prism Above as part of the Grand Annulemnts of 1960, granting them a degree of independence from local governments. The greatest of these combines (the Fengjiang Four particularly) practically act as parallel administrations, bestowed numerous legal protections and only obliged to carry out the policy objectives of the clerical administration, though even on this they are allowed a remarkable level of freedom to interpret on their own terms. Indeed, the authority of Sanctuaries is in many cases correlated with the authority of the combines under their nominal jurisdiction, promoting mutual cooperation instead of conflict.

Politics
Politics in Fengjiang is defined by the theory of Infernalist politics, being the management of the protection, development, and bestowment of Erudition as well as the apparatus which supports those efforts - two spheres of responsibility which are ostensibly under the charge of gees and combines respectively. While both gee and combine bureaucracies run parallel with one another in writing, the clergy's monopoly on Fengese education and the bestowment of erudition has granted them an unmatched domination over the intelligentsia of the nation. Confirmation as a Novitiate is a mark of academic passage and is a prerequisite for most educated career trajectories, even for those in combines. Due to this, the clergy heads both the gees and combines of Fengjiang. With this in mind, Fengese internal politics manifests through the interactions between factions and denominations within the clergy, in modern times informed by a dualistic split between the Vitalists and Materialists: respectively an ideology championing spiritual and sociological study, and one exalting empirical science and clinical technocracy. Since the ascendancy of the latter in the early 20th century, the combines have been bastions of Materialist clergy, whereas the administration of pyres are traditionally under the dispensation of Vitalists. As is common for countries adherent to Infernalism, the public understanding of Fengjiang's inner political workings is vague, the direction of government determined through secretive intrigue between the two factions and the protean cliques which constitute them.



All members of Infernalist clergy, no matter their position or affiliation, are expected to contribute to the formulation and deliberation of government policy, given that Fengese politics is informed by Infernalist theological ideals. This traditionally manifests through the presentation of dissertations and commentaries collectively known as circulars, typically comprising one or more writers' opinions on specific policies or broader national strategies when weighed up against the doctrinal concerns of Infernalism. Through this clerical framework, criticisms and consequent debates on policy are relatively common occurrences, inadvertently creating a quasi- that provides the intellectual and accomplished population with an active say in politics, albeit with an Infernalist bent. Circular Boards, composed of clergy of similar viewpoints and interpretations (particularly on doctrine), serve as political s.

In stark contrast however, the wider populace is politically inactive (and apathetic in many cases), as Infernalism marginalizes the opinions of the ignorant in its worldview: conventionally those who are not part of the erudite clergy. Populist opposition movements (demagogy in Infernalist reckoning) are cracked down upon with extreme prejudice. Even for clergy, there exists a between acceptable or taboo topics of discussion. For both, any coordinated activities that can be construed as unduly interference or recalcitrance is persecuted outright. The Prophetic Order for True Thought is responsible for censuring unsanctioned political organizations. Periodically, radical essays are "questioned" by the Order and are quickly retracted, though outright condemnations have been relatively rare in recent times - this is more a product of effective crackdowns on such views before they become notable than some unanimous harmony in society (as would be asserted by Fengese media).

There exists no institutional avenue for in Fengjiang outside the faith. The lay citizenry is expected to express their concerns to their jurisdictional clergy, who then address those concerns through their flexible participation in the government process. Attempting to bypass this system through is abnormal, and indeed, is persecuted as demagogy on the rare occasions they do occur. Cults venerating prominent Infernalists are the primary manifestation of mass movements, as members extol the achievements and more importantly, the (believed) political beliefs of revered figures - that cultists gush more over the popular perception of a figure's beliefs than that figure's actual convictions are a subject of popular humor. Outside of state-approved cults for Scions, Apostles, and some major Heralds, official approval of such cults of personality are highly variable: most are merely tolerated, but crackdowns over charges of idolatry or heresy are not uncommon for any who stray too far from the leash.

Law
As is standard for all countries adherent to Infernalism, considered fundamental in oriental sensibilities are absent, reflecting an ultimatumist mindset which characterizes Infernalism when it comes to pursuing its religious mission. Zhufa, the Infernalist, is the predominant legal system applied in the country, with jurisdiction over every citizen and resident - even those not of the Infernalist faith. As the clergy are the only institutions authorized to interpret and exercise Zhufa, they effectively serve as jurists responsible over all fields of law. Personal tribunals, chaired by clerical jurists, are the predominant instrument courts of law in Fengjiang, responsible for determining and judging the virtuosity and merit of a person (both individual and corporate) according to Infernalist dogma. A notable difference from oriental tradition in tribunals is that members of juries are selected from the clergy and not the uninitiated public (considered to be ignorant).

Fengjiang maintains a comprehensive state apparatus for surveillance, censorship, and indoctrination to enforce the Infernalist social order of the country. There is no right to : any citizen can and regularly are prosecuted on charges of "blasphemy" over perceived challenges to the clerical status quo, while all media providers must receive clerical charters before they may operate. Torture and the death penalty are considered to be valid criminal punishments, whereas extrajudicial killings are common by religious and combinial organizations who have been granted blanket privileges to interpret the law - the Prophetic Order for True Thought is perhaps the most notorious, its agents authorized to pass immediate judgments without recourse or appeal. Contrary to oriental exaggeration however, the so-called "secret police" apparatus of Fengjiang has rarely been applied outside of an individual case-by-case basis, though this is more a testament to the degree of social control the establishment has on its citizens. Throughout history, the wrath of the Infernalist establishment has disproportionately fallen upon ethnic and religious minorities, which have been largely eradicated through means of conversion, assimilation, and sterilization.

In accordance with Guashi's Dilemma, is not guaranteed in Fengjiang, and is even viewed to be a hazard to the social order of the country. All Fengese are required to be Infernalist by law, belief in any other religion (or none at all) punishable as apostasy. Conversion to Infernalism is a prerequisite for those seeking citizenship. Special exemptions are granted to foreign visitors or residents, allowed to practice alien faiths in the privacy of their residences, though any attempts at proselytization or religious organization is a crime.

Foreign relations
Fengjiang is considered a on the global stage, exerting tremendous influence upon the world through its pre-eminent position as the leader of the Great Occidental Commonwealth of Exemplars (GOCE), the seat of primacy over all Infernalism and the Pyrosphere, and the largest economy and market globally. The Prophetic Order for Civilized Communion is the ministerial organization charged with managing Fengese foreign policy and advising all other national institutions on diplomatic affairs, additionally acting as the diplomatic arm of the institutional Infernalist faith. Operating on behalf of their clerical charterers, multinational Fengese combines additionally exert economic and cultural influence through their activities across the world, serving as informal diplomats who are given the broad privileges of interpreting foreign policy guidelines and on that interpreted basis, carrying out its intended objectives.

Officially, Fengese foreign policy is informed by a holy mission for Infernalist proselytization and conversion on a universal scale, in pursuit of universal redemption as demanded by Guashi's Dilemma. In practice, the minutia of foreign policy is shaped by a realpolitik approach to geopolitics, elevating the importance of pursuing Fengese interests (particularly economic ones) above any ideological motive. Seemingly contradictory to one another, it is nonetheless believed that both approaches will ultimately contribute to the nation's holy mission, given the empowerment of Fengjiang - the religion's pre-eminent emissary - through pragmatic decision-making will naturally be to the benefit of Infernalism. The significant economic and cultural influence of Fengjiang, partly through its leadership position in Infernalism, is considered a key part of its.

Geography
Fengjiang is located in Southern Serica, bordering Arsytia through the Serican Demilitarized Zone in the north and possessing a maritime border with Buhan in the southwest. It lies roughly between the Lautian Ocean to its west and the Laharqan Ocean to its south, additionally between the latitudes of XX° & XX°N and the longitudes of XX° & XX°E.

Not including its offshore and insular territories, mainland Fengjiang has an approximate area of X,XXX,XXX square kilometers, making it the Xth largest country in the world and the second largest in Serica. Its landscape is vast and diverse, encompassing various s ranging from the Ksach Peninsula and surrounding deserts in the arid south to wetter and s in the north, split by the  regions which straddle the Fengese interior. The Longshan and Bautan plateaus dominates the center of the country, the latter of which being where Mount Fengwo, the tallest mountain in the country and the world at 11,479.88 meters tall is located. The Sorgan and Transerican mountain ranges separate Fengjiang from the rest of the of Serratar. The longest rivers in Fengjiang in descending order are the Alkiojoki (known locally as the Dichuan), Longmen, Silver, Honoe, Cimu, and Fengquan rivers - the Fengquan is the of the Fengese civilization.

Climate
The Fengese climate is highly diverse, owing to the geographical and topographical diversity of the country. The northwest of the country is relatively, characterized by dry, weak winters accompanied by heavy. In contrast, the southern coasts and interior are largely arid, shielded from the moderating effects of s by the mountains straddling the country's center. The coasts surrounding the South Serica Sea are, its warm summers and relatively mild winters conducive to a stable marine environment unique to the region. Overall, seasonal variations in the country are mild, as monsoon currents in the Laharqan Ocean to the south are moderated by the highlands of the Longshan and Bautan mountains.

Wildlife and biodiversity
Fengjiang is a, harboring many species to the country and its several distinct ecosystems. Many of Fengjiang's wildlife are intertwined with the long mythological and literary history of the country, making each uniquely linked and significant to national culture. The clearest example of this cultural importance would be the religious mythos of the Mother Phoenix, a legendary bird central to the widely believed Fengese national religion of the Infernalism - various birds with likenesses to the Phoenix, such as the (the national animal),, and , have historically been assigned with eminence and value, such that witnessing one in the wild would be considered auspicious and bringing harm to them would be likened to  in folk culture.

In terms of flora, Fengjiang is similarly diverse, and is home to a great variety of types as determined by its climate zones. In the north,  forests dominated by  like, , and. In the eastern coasts surrounding the South Serica Sea and facing the Lautian Ocean, the is most prevalent, the region's mixed forest and  historically being a major center of  in Fengjiang, producing, , and  which define regional cuisine. occupy the Longshan and Bautan highlands of the Fengese interior, the  above the  inhabited by various  and  species. and are interspersed in the transition zone between the cooler, humid north and the dry  conditions further south, characterized by low-lying  with sparse tree and prevalent  cover. All are host to various unique plant species that are ingredients used in.

Bearing a long coastline that stretches from temperate to tropical oceans alongside plentiful freshwater resources across its river valleys, Fengjiang hosts one of the world's largest and most diverse marine populations. The Fengquan River has the largest in the country, home to more than 300 freshwater fish species. Marine wildlife is also prevalent in the coasts, especially in the fertile of the South Serica Sea. Several marine mammal species like are endemic to Fengese waters.

Beyond protections arising from religious associations and sheer necessity however, the wildlife and biodiversity of Fengjiang is under considerable threat from human activity as it shares habitat and faces pressure from the largest human population in Tellurus, ranging from mass and  to historically lax regulations on  and. The intense industrialization characterizing the 20th century in Fengjiang has left significant and oftentimes irreparable scars on the Fengese environment, the resultant driving many native species of wildlife into  and even  in some high-profile cases - such as the extinction of the  river dolphin in 1988 and that of the Longshan dragon in 1997. Most wild animals have been driven away from the expansive agricultural and industrial cores of the nation, faring little better in the more sparsely populated interior as across all Fengjiang continues to threaten wildlife. In the 21st century, wildlife preservation has become a central topic and controversy in Fengese media and policy, concerns over a potential nationwide as has been observed in the heavily polluted Serican DMZ and various river valleys of Fengjiang fueling a new generation of regulations directed towards resource exploitation, pollution, and continued urban & industrial development. Moral panic surrounding environmental degradation has been a major factor in the revival of Vitalism as a theological faction, especially with the advent of Pyrosocialism in the 1990s. By 2003, all endangered wildlife is protected by law, and more than a thousand have been established nationwide - centers of an ongoing  and  effort as dictated by clerical consensus in the Twentieth Fengtianmen Congress in 2000.

Economy
Fengjiang has the largest economy in the world. It is a with a  and, though while it has held and maintained its position as the most industrialized country in the world, it has since the 1980s underwent a gradual  wherein the national economy is shifting from heavy manufacturing to more specialized high technology and service sectors, in part prompted by its space race with geopolitical rivals in the TTO. Its workforce is highly educated and abundant, above global averages by both metrics. Fengese unemployment rates are practically zero, though given citizens are obligated to work for whichever combine they were born into with little option for social mobility, and indeed, require employment to be guaranteed even the most basic of human rights, the contrary appears impossible.

Notably, under the economic model laid out by Fengese corporatocracy, business regulation in Fengjiang is extremely lax, enabling a laissez-faire styled economy which theoretically allows for free competition between market actors. In practice, the highly insular culture of Fengjiang alongside the decades, in some cases centuries-long foothold of its combines in the Fengese economy has largely inhibited the entry of foreign firms not belonging to a member of the GOCE or not otherwise culturally accepted by the Fengese market.

Central to the Fengese model is the combine (合團), referring to the various magocratically committed conglomerates which operate throughout Fengjiang and wield massive power in its combinial political system ever since their ascendancy in the Grand Annulments of 1960. As agents of the ruling magocracy, the combines wield tremendous authority in both official and unofficial terms, afforded a holistic degree of control over their enfeoffed territory and the resources upon it - including their employees. Rejecting oriental notions of public and private spheres of life, combines exert deep influence into the lives of workers under their employment or ownership, to the point of resembling micromanaging according to some oriental observers, with the objectives of maximizing the population's contributions to the state "from cradle to grave".

Currency
The currency and only legal tender of Fengjiang is the Fengese yuan (鳳元; ¥). It is also in numerous countries (mostly obligated by GOCE membership) and the de facto currency of several others. Since the rapid expansion and internationalization of the Fengese economy following 1960, the yuan has emerged as the primary contender against the Barenian dollar's traditional position as the chief of the global economy, becoming the primary medium of exchange in much of the Occident.

The Prophetic Order for Dictation, which is responsible for directing and implementing the monetary policy of the nation, and more broadly the Pyrosphere, according to Infernalist religious-economic principles. Besides the clerical bureaucracy of the Order are representatives of major banks and financial institutions across the Pyrosphere, but mainly the three Fengese Paramount Treasuries recognized by the Order. As the combined assets, equity positions, and currency reserves of these financial triumvirate that are the Paramount Treasuries dominate a sizable majority of yuan in circulation, it has been recognized in confidence by magocratic fiat to effectively serve the role of Fengjiang's, thus granting it the sole authority to issue Fengese yuan. The yuan is a, though its value has at times been influenced by the monetary policy of the Order and associated banks in order to ensure its stability and favorable position as a reserve currency in the global economy.

Exports
electronics, automotives, biotech & health, general hitech shit; decreasing heavy industries outsourced to GOCE

Imports
raw resources, OIL, fissile material running dry on the mainland, foodstuffs

Transportation
The Fengese transportation network is one of, if not the most, sophisticated of its kind, standing out for the remarkable efficiency of both transportation technology and its implementation, alongside the near universal interconnectedness of the network despite the nation's size. Acting as the primary mode of transportation between the urban centers of Fengjiang, the Xinzhulian, or "bullet train" as it is known abroad, is a network of  running alongside conventional  which connect the megacities of the Serican Peninsula along Fengjiang's coasts and heartland with one another. upgrades have already been carried out in several major cities as part of a nationwide implementation test. Road transportation serves as the secondary method of land transportation, connecting the more treacherous Fengese interior to regional hubs for finance and logistics. Since development of the aforementioned Xinzhulian rail network, maritime transportation has been disfavored as a means of passenger transportation, generally only used for riverine travel into the Fengese interior or between islands not connected by bridge. Maritime traffic is thus dominated by, carrying cargo to and from the extensive ports of the country - the Port of Yutseng is the busiest container port in the world. Most internal maritime traffic occurs between the two hubs of the South Serican Sea and Sea of Avarda, but the inclusion of Hyperaustrea into the Combinial Forum in 1969 has seen a boost in maritime activity between Fengese ports and Capricornia centered in the Sundic Sea. The Fengese enclaves of Nankaido and Ikała serve as the primary s between Fengjiang and the continent of Avarda.

is the most common way of commuting in Fengjiang. Combined survey and census data in 2022 indicates that nearly 80% of the population utilized public transport for daily transit, with more than half commuting on Fengese railway networks. Public transportation in Fengjiang is handled by contracted firms on smaller scales and by combinial subsidiaries when operating on greater scales, and it is common for the transit vehicles under a conglomerate to be prioritized or sometimes even reserved for the combine's employees - many conglomerates opt to operate their own public transportation networks to facilitate travel between one's residence and workplace (both typically owned and operated by the same combine) for their employees, an arrangement generally offered and accepted as employee incentives.

Similarly, in a given region of Fengjiang is operated by conglomerates dominant in that region. AirPhoenix, a consortium of Fengese conglomerates operating aviation subsidiaries serves as the of Fengjiang, managing and regulating aviation-related matters such as the licensing of aircraft and aviation infrastructure. The consortium also doubles as the representative of the GOCE. Aviation infrastructure in Fengjiang is developed - international airports operate in every regional capital and major city in the country, totaling at 167 as of 2022. Szuto International Airport is the busiest airport and most common layover destination in the country, as it serves as the primary southern access point of the Talthray-Yueguan Air Corridor, a relatively narrow corridor which bypasses the hazardous and thusly restricted airspace over the high-altitude Bautan Plateau. Most minor cities operate their own national airports or possess adequate transportation networks that can allow rapid transit to nearby international airports, facilitating convenient air travel for its citizenry.

Demographics
The national census in 2022 recorded Fengjiang's population to be approximately 1,791,383,002, projecting an annual growth rate of around 1.73% without factoring in extraordinary elements (see Breeding camps in Fengjiang). Nearly 99% of the population is recorded as part of the Fenitic ethnicity, all of which primarily speak the Fengese language as their. The remaining percentage largely comprise foreign residents or rare pockets of minorities, who typically speak Fengese as a second language alongside their native language.

Fengjiang has urbanized significantly in the past century, seeing historical spikes in development and urban populations following the 1960s and onwards as the country emerged as a global and the largest economy in 1977. The percentage of the population living in urban areas rose from 30% in 1950 to over 80% in 1990 - the country's urban population surpassed 1 billion in 1993. There are over 300 cities in Fengjiang with populations that surpass 1 million; 11 of which are considered as they have more than 10 million in population. It is notable that due to the extensive urbanization of the country, the exact boundaries between urban areas are oftentimes blurred, leading to the designation of numerous contiguous urban areas as : primarily the South Serican Sea Rim (環南西洽海圈) centered on Yutseng, the Chain of Pearls Megalopolis (珠鏈城市群) centered on Chuto, and the Heartland Megalopolis (核心城市群) centered on Kaijing - each of which surpass 200 million in collective population.

Ethnology and language
Based on the 2022 census, nearly 99% of Fengjiang's approximately 1.8 billion citizens have been legally identified as Fenitic people, the small remainder being foreign residents or rare minority groups, making Fengjiang the most ethnically homogenous country in the world. Phenotypically, fair skin and dark hair and eye colors, as well as are common features in Fenitic people. In more general terms however, the Fengese identity - distinct though incredibly similar to that of the Fenitics - is primarily characterized by a strict adherence to Infernalism, fluency in the Fengese language, and a general adherence to Fengese cultural customs - thus leaving room for significant diversity despite the nominal homogeneity of the ethnocultural group. Fengese assimilation is possible and even encouraged: whatever one's original national or cultural affiliation, if one adhered and wholeheartedly practiced the values of the Fengese, they can call themselves a Feng - formal citizenship follows soon after in most cases.

The primary subgroups of the Fenitic ethnic group can be determined by their location of origin and their Fengese dialect, primarily split along regional lines (see Fengjiang). The remaining 3% comprise minor Fenitic subgroups such as the North Fenitic (北鳳人) and Highlander Fenitic (山鳳人), who comprise regional minorities in the northern and mountainous regions (primarily the Bautan and Transerican mountains) of Fengjiang respectively.
 * Core Fenitic (核鳳人) make up the majority at around 47%, located primarily in central and eastern Fengjiang and unified by a common fluency in the Standard Fengese - the official language of the country.
 * Peninsular Fenitic (半島鳳人) are the second largest subgroup at around 29%, located primarily in West Fengjiang around the eponymous Serican Peninsula and the South Serican Sea's coastal region, known for the regional Peninsular Fengese dialect.
 * Pearl Fenitic (珠鳳人) are the third major subgroup at around 20%, located primarily in South Fengjiang and unified by the Pearl Fengese dialect.

The remaining approximately >1% of the country's population comprise foreign residents and rare non-Fenitic minority groups, the former of which takes up the vast majority. Foreign residents in Fengjiang typically originate from member states of the Fengjiang-aligned GOCE. As a result of historical efforts for conversion and assimilation lasting centuries, even millennia long, most non-Fenitic populations native to Fengjiang's portion of the Serican continent have either been assimilated into the Fengese identity or eradicated entirely. The largest of such non-Fenitic minorities still surviving in Fengjiang are the Geku people (葛窟), centered in isolated pockets in the Transerican Mountains. Such minorities are legally classified as ignorant, and are guaranteed no rights under the Fengese legal system unless they assimilate.

Religion
Infernalism, a Fengese and Serican religion, is the of Fengjiang, having entrenched itself as an integral part of the Fengese identity ever since its inception in the 1000s BCE and adoption by the predecessors of the modern Fengese nation. Officially, 100% of the Fengese population is an adherent of Infernalism, as adherence is mandatory for every Fengese citizen, whether born in the country or - indeed, citizenship is defined first and foremost as devotion to a Fengese pyre and their Sanctuary. The head of state of Fengjiang, the Scion of the Divine Phoenix Ascendant, is canonically considered to be the continuation of Yanshizu, the prized daughter of the deific Mother Phoenix and a figure in the Infernalist faith. The Sanctuary of the Most Eternal, the pre-eminent Sanctuary in the entire Pyrosphere, is located within Fengjiang, as are many of the religion's holiest sites.

As such, Infernalism has had a profound effect on Fengese culture and society as a whole. Standard in all truly Infernalist societies, there exists no separation between private and public practice of the faith: all levels and spheres of society must conform to Infernalist doctrine. Participation in the religion, in both its institutional and cultural spheres, remain high, contrasting the oriental trend towards secularization. Religious law is actively practiced, and blasphemy against clerical institutions or the faith itself can lead to social ostracization, if not legal persecution as heresy. More esoteric folk traditions like chuenism and ancestor worship are common practice at the lay level, if somewhat disdained at the institutional.

is not guaranteed by any foundational document in Fengese history, as it has been historically presumed that every inhabitant of the nation is an adherent of Infernalism. Despite this, it is an unspoken allowance that non-Fengese residents are allowed to practice their faith, as long as it remains a private matter and does not overly conflict with the pronounced tenets of Infernalist doctrine - historical persecution of foreign faiths has been standard practice up until very recent times, however. After Infernalism, Kaurissem is the second most popular religion at around 0.5% of the population (~8,500,000), though adherents mostly belong to foreign national and expat communities, particularly from Hyperaustrea. Southern Marianism and Occidental Kaurissem are the most popular Kaurissemite denominations in Fengjiang, though the former enjoys much more official toleration due to its syncretic history with Infernalism. Proselytization of non-Infernalist faiths is illegal, as is the unauthorized distribution of non-Infernalist religious literature.

With the emergence of Fengjiang as a world power and with pragmatic secular interests in mind, Infernalist for  between Infernalism and other world religions is a growing industry, particular with that of Kaurissem. Such syncretism seeks to explain and make sense of theological and doctrinal differences between such faiths, primarily to justify Infernalism to be when viewed from the perspective of other religions and vice versa.

Education
The Fengese education system is completely monopolized by the clergy and administered through gees, in accordance with Infernalist magocratic governance. Historically, most gees would have doubled as educational centers for the communities they served, but the growing complexity of Fengese society has led to the emergence of lighthouse gees - gees with the specific purpose of imparting erudite knowledge to the masses. The inherently religious nature of the education system has meant that education in of itself is inherently colored by the precepts of Infernalism and framed along Infernalist lines of rational thought - in accordance with the holistic approach Infernalism takes to the modeling of "ideal societies".

The school year is continuous: the year is generally divided equally into four semesters of 3 months each, all four of which associated with their own end-of-semester assessment exams. The school week lasts six days. There are no fixed s, and -related vacations are sporadic, touted by Fengese educational institutions as beneficial in acclimating students to adult work schedules. For similar reasons, uniforms are generally mandated as part of the dress code for all levels of the education system: Fengese uniforms are unisex, typically consisting of trousers and white shirts. After-school is common and generally considered inseparable from conventional educational expenses.

The education system is divided into six academic levels according to age. Education is generally subsidized by combines and the clerical institution until the end of lower secondary education, after which subsidization takes the form of : While there is no state-mandated compulsory education due to the lack of a central government in Fengjiang, most professions will require at the very least a Confirmation of Potential, while novitiation is conventionally equated with a "full education" for the average person. Education in general is considered a high priority for any Fengese citizen, as success in education is deemed a source of pride if not a religious obligation, and thus is a to be sought after. Higher education is seen as the main driver of social mobility in Fengjiang, a practical necessity if one is to have a career above the poverty line - there is no in Fengjiang. A degree from one of the country's top seminaries is the ultimate symbol of prestige, high socioeconomic status, promising romantic prospects, and a respectable career path. Such degrees are oftentimes a prerequisite to any prestigious, secure, and higher-paying career paths in Fengjiang: such as positions in financial, high tech, or overseas divisions of a Fengese combine. Since the alternative is a already oversaturated by less qualified graduates, there exists incredible social and financial pressure for a student to enroll in prestigious seminaries, which in turn possess incredibly stringent requirements and limited available slots to weed out "inferior" applicants. The average Fengese academic career lasts for the better part of three decades, during which a student's life revolves around education, the highly demanding requirements for socioeconomic success and enormous pool of competitors owing to Fengjiang's booming population meaning that intense academic competition is guaranteed. In order to achieve such success, a student is expected to excel at every assessment examination in their academic career, enter a prestigious university, and excel again at a prospective career entrance exam - this excellence is colloquially termed as the "big red book" (大紅書) due to the use of red as an indicator of academic excellence in a Fengese report book, which compiles every in one's academic career. In addition, the "model student" in Fengjiang is expected to be, being fluent in Fengese and two other secondary languages.
 * (學前) begins between the ages of 1 or 2, lasting until the age of 6. Although not mandatory, communities generally enroll their children at this stage to prepare them for further education and increase their chances of academic success, as well as because of a lack of time for - the alternative option. Either way, all children at this age are still required to take classes in the Fengese language and receive religious instruction in Infernalism, to ensure basic proficiency in knowledge for both. Both remain compulsory until lower secondary education, but proficiency in both is culturally required by the end of such compulsory education.
 * (小學) begins at the age of 6, lasting about 7 years and ending right before reaching the age of 13. At this stage, students are expected to be completely fluent in Fengese, and must then take up secondary languages: the most common, in order of popularity, are Kursican, Ponterosan, Avalonian, and Sundish.
 * (初中學) begins at the age of 13, lasting about 3 years and ending right before reaching the age of 16. Students must choose one of four specializations at this age, being and, , , and.
 * (高中學) begins at the age of 16, lasting around 3 more years and generally ending right before reaching the age of 19. Both levels of secondary education are generally conducted in the same lighthouses, and (留級) is possible in cases of underperformance. Optional and separate vocational education (專科學) becomes formally available at this age, the most common being courses relevant to business and industry. Upon graduation, the student receives a  (燼證).
 * (預科學) generally begins between the ages of 19 and 20, ending before reaching the age of 21, the age of adulthood in Fengjiang. At this tier, students must choose a to "prepare" for, whereupon they will receive appropriate education on the relevant fields, combining academic and vocational training. These serve as additional credentials for further education.
 * (大學) begins at the age of 21 and onwards. Entrance exams are practically required for every lighthouse - generally of seminary grade at this stage - with a Confirmation as a prerequisite. Certificates equivalent to s are issued upon a course's completion, accompanied by a pro forma Novitiation to formally induct the graduate into the clergy and thereby confirm their erudition.

Health
Fengese healthcare is among the world's most sophisticated, thanks to the country's combined extensive efforts in the industry of, especially in the areas of and. As educational standards in Fengjiang are substantially higher than would be expected in countries with similar and  particularly in the orient, the healthcare industry is high-paying and highly competitive, with degrees in medicine being one of the most sought-after degrees in the country, only behind business, law, and information technology in popularity. Fengjiang is one of the world's primary destinations for health tourism, attracting millions of such visitors annually from around the world, though with greater representation from the Western Hemisphere. Notably, the country has been criticized as a safe haven for corruption and tyrants, as it has a record of facilitating the treatment of world leaders in both politics, industry, and business - including those considered to be corrupt or authoritarian by Eastern liberal standards. Fengjiang is the primary destination for asylum seekers of that nature.

Despite the advanced nature of Fengese healthcare, it nonetheless remains that many of the higher-level treatments are prohibitively expensive for much of the country's population, a product of vast. All healthcare and insurance providers in Fengjiang are combinial in nature, and it is not uncommon for both to belong under the ownership of the same combine. Basic healthcare services are provided as part of employment benefits in all Fengese combines, though further coverage would require an employee to be higher in the social hierarchy or to pay higher subscription fees - both of which are options unavailable for much of the population.

The most common cause of death in Fengjiang is lung cancer and similar respiratory illnesses, caused primarily by widespread air pollution and poor regulatory standards when it comes to pollutant emissions. To combat this, it has become a cultural norm to wear face masks when travelling outside in Fengjiang, while indoor spaces are thoroughly ventilated and cleaned to serve as "safe spaces" in regard to air pollution. are a common product in the country, used to treat exposure-related irritation to the eyes. Most Fengese have access to clean drinking water in modern times, though it is customary to filter tap water before drinking or not drink it outright, due to several high-profile cases of water contamination in the past, especially in industry-adjacent housing areas.

is considered a hidden killer in Fengese society, its increasing frequency obscured as mortuary records traditionally hide suicide as a motive in records. Euthanasia and assisted suicide is legal in Fengjiang, providing an official avenue for ending one's life in a painless manner if so desired, though recipients are typically contractually obligated to provide their corpses as payment for the costs incurred by euthanasia services. The term "selling one's body" (賣身) has entered colloquial Fengese vocabulary as a euphemism for euthanasia, as recipients may designate beneficiaries to which the funds leftover after a corpse sale are transferred post-mortem. The line between suicide and euthanasia is blurred, such that Fengese refers to both as "unapproved" and "approved" suicide respectively.

There generally are no queues for in Fengjiang, due to their availability. It is expected that transplant recipients pay for their own transplants at prices determined by the laissez faire free market of Fengjiang. Where such prices may be prohibitively expensive elsewhere due to high demand, the ample supply in Fengjiang has lowered the prices of most organs to an affordable degree for most - provided one has proper insurance coverage. Fengjiang is the central hub for and the largest exporter in the GOCE, though Fengese citizens are still prioritized for organ use.

Culture
Established over 3,000 years ago, Fengjiang is one of, if not the, cradles of Occidental civilization. Its tremendous historical clout in the cultural and geopolitical affairs of the entire West has had a formative influence, especially in those regions immediately adjacent to its metropole of southern Serica. Fengese culture overlaps significantly with the traditions and history of the Fengese-born religion of Infernalism, both contributing significantly to the norms of one another, such that the two are essentially equivalent in many areas. Examples of this overlap are abundant: Infernalism considers the Fengese language its liturgical language and borrows many cultural mores from Fengjiang, Fengese history - even until now - has been defined by interactions and developments in Infernalism, the nature of Fengese society and politics is inseparable from Infernalist doctrine and ideology. Through this, Fengese cultural influence through the proxy of the Infernalist faith is pervasive across the Occident and wider Pyrosphere.

Gender and family
Fundamentally, Fengese culture and thus, Fengjiang can be characterized to be in nature, heavily influencing Fengese laws and norms surrounding, , , , , as well as Fengese , , and  in broader terms. Many of these laws are derived from the dogma of the Infernalism which serves as the unifying faith of the Fengese cultural sphere, which holds the deific Mother Phoenix as the Allmother responsible for the creation and birth of both the universe and all life within it, doctrinally enshrining the role of motherhood as sacred and thus imparting religious and cultural significance to females in Fengese culture. Infernalist teaching posits the to be a dualistic communion between the feminine  responsible for imparting consciousness and spiritual awareness onto the masculine mortal husk representing the base and animalistic universe - exemplifying the female role as a dominant one responsible for "tempering" the perceived crass nature of males in Fengese society.

In effect, this strong emphasis on the significance and vitality of the female sex in Fengese culture has elevated women to authority across all levels of Fengese society, from national governance to family dynamics. Matters of inheritance and succession are always, prioritizing female heirs over male ones in when passing down titles, properties, entitlements, and obligations - the position of monarch of Fengjiang can only be passed down from mother to daughter, with sons left entirely out of the line of succession. In accordance with this, while both parties to a marriage keep their surnames, their offspring will take their surnames from their mother's family. Even when not directly encoded in either canonical or civil law, it is considered normal that females take an authoritative role in relationships and families due to cultural perceptions of their role as providers and nurturers, deviations from this model historically viewed as eccentric by Fengese norms. This has extended to leadership positions in, , , and , additionally bolstered by the Infernalist position of inherent feminine brilliance. Traditionally, were that of leader, thinker, and custodian while the male's were aligned more towards menial and "active“ roles, though the perhaps contradictory view of both women and men as warriors has historically led to a muddling of gender roles in combat scenarios. While legally stratified gender roles have largely been abolished by practical concerns around the times of the Great Fragmentation, relevant societal expectations and norms have persisted even in the modern day, best encapsulated by the ancient Fengese idiom Mǔlìng Fùgàn (母令父干, lit. "the mother directs, the father does", usually paraphrased as "the mother has her wisdom, the father has his hands and feet").

Women are considered as the head of the household in Fengjiang, manifesting in classical Fengese law in the concept of hùmǔ (戶母, lit. "mother of the household"), where the oldest female of the household is viewed as the "matron", traditionally holding legal privilege over the property of the household (including slaves) and exercising authority over her dependents, from autocratic privileges over her husband and children, lessening to positions of mentorship and esteemed status when reaching one's extended family. is viewed not as a union between two people but an alliance between families through blood ties, the matrons of both families traditionally holding the duty of in a manner akin to Hatarian s - this would form the basis of the various Fengese s and  which emerge throughout history. Customarily, the local Infernalist temple would provide advice in that has been described as a form of, wherein temples held records of  for families in their jurisdictions and sought to promote perceived "beneficial" traits and eliminate "undesirable" traits through recommending marriages between "prospective" bloodlines: indirectly leading to  as informal castes were established from the basis of a regional Infernalist jurisdiction's perceptions and preferences, which oftentimes see sectarian differences. In most cases, the "three purities" were sought after: that of culture (Fengese cultural homogeneity), religion (Infernalist religious piety), and genetics (desirable genetic traits). Prompted by political and economic concerns, Infernalist matchmaking would traditionally match families of similar socioeconomic statuses together, thereby perpetuating the aforementioned informal caste system and restricting social mobility in Fengese culture.

Similarly to gender roles, legal basis for matronage has been mostly eroded in modern times as both pragmatic and concerns have influenced Fengese thought in its gradual opening-up to global culture around the 20th century. Ever since the ascendancy of combines in Fengjiang began, the structure of the traditional Fengese family clan is mostly constrained to and their quasi-aristocratic leanings, with the average family in Fengjiang shrinking to those akin to a : grandparents, parents, children. Substituting it, Fengese combines have taken the cultural role of matronage in Fengese society, presenting the concept of a combine-employee relationship in similar terms as that of a matron and her clan, known in Fengese media as the Dà Jiātíng (大家庭, lit. "one big family"). The originally religious institutions responsible for matchmaking and genealogy in Fengjiang have been co-opted by combinial interests. Placing themselves in the traditional positions of an employee's family, it is not uncommon for combines to matchmake employees viewed to be "prospective", oftentimes with incentives such as wage increases, social mobility, and improved reputations attached.

Intercourse and sexuality
Fengese cultural perceptions of is defined primarily by the doctrinal concerns of the Infernalist religion. As opposed to spiritual concerns that may be expected in Eastern faiths like Kaurissem, Infernalism and its clerical hierarchy concerns itself with more temporal matters, in this case the "health" of societies which it presides over. Practices such as Infernalist genealogy and eugenics, wherein Infernalist temples keep track of and cultivate family lineages, connections, and interactions are done to bolster this "societal health". It is for this reason that (fornication) is shunned by Infernalism and thus by traditional Fengese society, as it is perceived that such activities make it unnecessarily harder for Infernalist institutions to monitor  and may promote  between population groups that are viewed to be incompatible with one another - tainting the. Traditionally, sex is viewed as a purely procreative act, a duty to society and humanity as it ensures their continued survival and prosperity - a worldview which has been increasingly espoused as the threat of has entered mainstream discourse. Canonically, the pleasure derived from sex is considered to be a gift from the Mother Phoenix, a reward for one's service to society.

Extending from this line of logic, Infernalist doctrine correlates the health of a society with sustainable, activities which are perceived to negatively impact this fecundity are resultantly shunned as unproductive and thereby sinful. Based on this, in of itself is considered to be sinful, as purely same-sex relations are unable to produce offspring and thereby run the risk of terminating prospective lineages. is condemned along similar lines. and in contrast hold little stigma in Fengese society, similar to  relationships in that it is considered a societal responsibility for one to procreate. is considered normal and even a status symbol in Fengjiang, as the dominant partner in the relationship (generally female due to ideals of matronage) would need to be more socioeconomically well-off to provide for and support their lesser partners - is a luxury only afforded by wealthy aristocrats. Despite the matriarchal nature of Fengese culture, polygamous relationships generally trend towards (higher female ratios) due to their idealization, with Infernalist reasoning that such relationships present a "perfect balance" between the feminine virtues of  and procreation, and the masculine virtue of menial servitude and childrearing - a family of the sort could procreate and provide for itself while simultaneously taking good care of the household.

There exists no distinction between gender and sex in Fengese society, exploration of the topic considered taboo except in Orientologist academic circles studying foreign societies and cultures. Infernalist doctrine enshrines the concept of the binary gender, especially as it espouses gender roles in favor of its matriarchal worldview, roles which are deemed to be naturally occurring even in more secular circles. is also taboo in Fengese society for similar reasons, interpreted to be an "act against nature" and a disservice to society as it jeopardizes traditional gender roles assigned in Fengese culture, with male-to-female transitioning especially condemned as it is viewed as an attempt to bypass the traditional system of inheritance - a sign of impious greed. There exists no recognition of transgenderism in official documents, and transgender foreign nationals are required to register with their biological sex, if not simply barred in the first place. Practice of is illegal in Fengese healthcare,  similarly so if not done for expressly health-related reasons - the concepts of  and  are not recognized. The concept of is similarly unrecognized, and infants who display intersex characteristics at birth are legally required to be surgically altered to be either female or male, not requiring the consent of parents.

is mostly illegal in Fengjiang, considered to be a form of and thus a disservice to society. While abortion for reasons of the mother's physical health is legal and widely accepted on account of Fengjiang's matriarchal leanings, abortion for most other reasons is illegal. Notably, while previously legal (even if at times condemned), abortion on the basis of or  has been criminalized since 1997 in accordance with the Demographic Health Edict passed in the same year. There exists an alternative avenue for mothers who may not seek children either for aforementioned reasons or otherwise, that being the sale of one's babies to an affiliated combinial, whereupon they can be raised by or by combinial. Abortions on request are illegal, and unsupervised abortions are punishable along the same lines as infanticide - up to or. The distribution of such as  and  is highly restricted, though mostly overlooked when applied for the  of undesirable populations. (even ) is legal and accepted for use in the population control of undesirable populations, as are abortions with the goal of curbing such populations (see Infernalist eugenics).

On account of Infernalist condemnations of, (or any other unprocreative ) is considered irresponsible culturally, though prosecutions outside of the clergy are practically non-existent nowadays. and are framed along similar lines, their consumption in Fengjiang being relatively commonplace, as long as it remains a private matter. The for commercial purposes is generally targeted towards international audiences and tourists, viewed apathetically to be another avenue for Fengese  and conversionism, even if canonically questionable.

The and  in Fengjiang is set at the 21 years old. This is in accordance with Infernalist views on maturity, the canonical view being that people under that age are immature, both physically and mentally. , legally considered to be with everyone under the age of 21, is socially unacceptable. This is applied to fictional depictions of such people as well, even if to a lesser extent. is a capital offense in Fengjiang, with the mandatory punishment being, in accordance with Infernalist doctrine. Punitive may be considered depending on any additional offenses.

and, particularly when committed against women, is a serious offense in Fengjiang. This is due to the traditional dominant role of women as community leaders in the country, especially when contrasted with the perceived crass and animalistic nature of men in Infernalism. Rape is a capital offense in Fengjiang, punishable by, in accordance with Infernalist doctrine. Punitive may be considered depending on any additional offenses.

Cuisine
Drawing on millennia of culinary traditions and cultural influences, Fengese cuisine is highly diverse, split between numerous regional cuisines each reflecting their own unique historical and cultural experiences. Generally, rice has been the staple food of central Fengjiang, whereas breads and noodles are the staple food of the surrounding regions, primarily in the culturally distinct east and south. Between all regional traditions however, there are multiple aspects to Fengese cuisine that have been retained throughout the ages, owing to commonalities in the ethnic culture of Fengjiang - especially the unifying influence of the Infernalism. have historically been highly prized in Fengese cuisine and culture at large, owing to its religious importance to Infernalist theology - the heat of spice is considered to be reminiscent of the holy fire of the deified Mother Phoenix. Spiciness is viewed as a central component of any Fengese dish, such that any lacking spice would be considered "incomplete" by Fengese standards. is the signature spice of Fengjiang, the most famed variety being the Phoenix’s Pepper (鳳椒) - prized for its extreme pungency and heat. Most consume it impure, eating it while fresh and mixed in with sweet and sour vegetables to dull its extreme heat. In its purest and holiest form, the Phoenix’s Pepper is consumed after it is dried, the resultant heat ordinarily causing heavy breathing, sweating, and crying alongside more uncommon symptoms of tunnel vision and hallucinations - traditionally used by Infernalist oracles to interpret the future from pepper-induced visions. Even if rare, consuming the entire pepper in this form at once has reportedly led to deaths from the sheer distress, especially for those unaccustomed to its heat. In Fengese cuisine, the Phoenix’s Pepper is used as an appetizer or palate cleanser, to “open” one’s taste buds and stomach for a full meal.

Another Infernalist influence in Fengese cuisine is the application of a significant amount of dry heat as a part of food preparation, developed into the "Four Fires" customary in Fengese cooking: (炸),  (煎),  (烤), and  (炒). The deliberate use of oil in Fengese cooking is dated back to royal cuisine in the early 900s, the increased productivity of later eras and resultant availability of cooking oil allowing for the popularization of as an integral part of traditional cuisine.