Nine Directions Accord

The Nine Directions Accord (Treaty of Enduring Peace and Balance Within Nine Directions) is an important diplomatic agreement between the Yaoguai-controlled Qingcheng Empire and the Jade Empire of Heaven, signed on the 11th of August 1963 and ratified the beginning of the following year. Under the terms of this accord, there would be 5000 years of peace and limited cooperation between the two empires, so as to maintain the natural balance of Earth and avoid potentially damaging conflicts.

It also lays out the terms under which the two powers would interact, what restrictions would be placed on each party, means of conflict resolution in case of disputes; shared laws, rituals, regulations, and statutes; as well as defining important terms relevant to the aforementioned points.

As a 5000 year agreement, it will remain valid until the end of the year 6963 C.E.

Negotiations
The original concept of what would become the Nine Directions Accord was proposed by the kami Amenominakanushi, who drafted the first twelve articles of what would become the final treaty, before bringing the motion to the Jade Emperor whilst he was on a hunting trip. Deferring to the elder kami, the Jade Emperor gave his blessing for a diplomatic delegation to be sent to the Yaoguai of Earth.

Amenominakanushi chose the kami Amatsu-Mikaboshi as Commissioner Plenipotentiary, and charged him with negotiating a treaty with the Qingcheng Court. Amatsu-Mikaboshi first met with the prefect of the Chunhuanxiang Commandery, Zhūgé Lín, at the Honden of Takakura shrine, the latter having been invited there by Tsuburahime.

Initial negotiations were largely successful, and Lín brought the kami’s proposed treaty before the Council of Imperial Ministers at Mount Qingcheng. Amatsu-Mikaboshi would meet with the prefect of Chunhuanxiang once more, in Asakura city, before meeting twice with the Imperial Chancellor, the Bai Ze, first in Dūjiāngyàn city, and then at Mount Qingcheng itself. Following the first of these meetings, the number of articles was expanded from twelve to sixteen, before being expanded again to the final number of thirty six major articles and one hundred and eight minor articles by June 1962. On each occasion, Amenominakanushi personally reviewed the additions and judged them adequate.

Signing and Ratification
The finished treaty was signed on the 11th of August, 1962. Senior members of both governments journeyed to Guàimùdiàn, a yaoguai-built temple atop Mount Hua. Representing the Celestial Bureaucracy was Amenominakanushi, Daode Tianzun, and the Jade Emperor himself. The Qingcheng Empire was represented by the Chancellor Bai Ze, the Grand Commandant Zhang Shen Xuande, and the Yaoguai Emperor, Xiangdeng Tiandao.

Following a formal ceremony in which the yaoguai welcomed the gods as their guests, two copies of the treaty were signed by all in attendance: a total of six major signatories, eleven minor signatories, and fifty seven witnesses. Amenominakanushi and Xiangdeng Tiandao were the first to sign it.

Copies of the treaty were returned to both the celestial archives and the imperial office of records. It was immediately ratified by both states as Imperial Decree. The accord, formally titled the “Treaty of Enduring Peace and Balance Within Nine Directions” went into effect at the beginning of the following year.

The summaries of the major articles are provided below as a reference.

Nine Directions Accord
In the name of the Supreme Jade Emperor, Creator of Heaven, Holder of Talismans, Imperial Timesetter, Container of Perfection, and in the name of the Numinous Ever-Shifting Mystery, Marker of the Way, Myriad Perspective, Great Yaoguai Sage: Let it be known to all, and every one whom it may concern, or to whom in any manner it may belong, that for ages past, yaoguai have been at odds with heaven, and heaven has been at odds with yaoguai, such that the middle realm has always been a home to conflict: From whence has ensued great destruction and loss of life, sundering of spirit, and great disarray.

It has at last happened, by the efforts of loyal and virtuous officers, and the effects of clear minds and open hearts, as recommended by the Heavenly Ancestral God of the Originating Heart of the Universe, and championed by the Prefect of the Commandery of Pure Fantasies, an effort to preserve balance and peace in all nine directions; so that on one side, and on the other, they have formed thoughts of enduring tranquillity and balance.

For this purpose, by a mutual agreement and covenant of both parties, it was resolved to hold an assembly of leaders, sages, advisors, and ambassadors, who would make themselves available at the Hall of Strange Harmony, on the twelfth day of the seventh month of the year 4660.

The Imperial Personages and their attendants on one side, and the other, appearing at the prefixt time, and on the behalf of all their subjects, representing the Thousandfold Clear Heavens; the Most Honoured and Righteous Jade Emperor of the Central Heaven Yuhuang Shangdi, the supremely honoured and virtuous Ancestral God of the Originating Heart Amenominakanushi, the Supreme Venerable Sovereign of Supreme Clarity Daode Tianzun, and representing the Empire of the Green Mountain; the Grand Supreme Mysterious Honoured Master Yaoguai Xiangdeng Tiandao, the Ten-Thousand-Fold Perceptive Master of Records Bai Ze, and the Transcendental Master of Armies and Warriors Zhang Shen Xuande, and their attendants, including on the side of the Heavens, the Great Spirit of the Sun Amaterasu-O-Mi-Kami, the August Lord of Stars Amatsu-Mikaboshi, Heavenly Lord of Transformation Leizu, Heavenly General Wang Shan, and the Honourable Spirit of Estuaries Tsuburahime, and on the side of Qingcheng, the Prefect of Chunhuanxiang Zhuge Lin, the Prefect of Kuoyuanyou Rinbayashi Makoto, the Prefect of Baohushi Hyakumonogatari no Seitoukai, the Prefect of Fangqijixian Tanranshui, the Prefect of Longshenmi Sa Miaoji, and Grand Tutor Sucheon Saegyeojin, in the presence and with the consent and assistance of their imperial masters, to uphold balance, the following Articles have been agreed on and consented to, and the same run thus.

一
That it be known that for the purposes of this treaty, Heaven can be understood to refer to the Imperial Sovereign of the Central Heavens, his subjects, armies, advisors, and allies; Qingcheng can be understood to refer to the Imperial Majesty of Perspectives, its subjects, armies, advisors, and allies. Balance is understood to refer to the subtle order of the Way. Laws hereby refer to the commandments, statutes, regulations, and orders issued by the Imperial Personages or any of their duly charged subordinates, as applicable to those residing within their dominions, or otherwise subject to their mandates.

二
That there shall be a binding to the terms of this accord, for a period of no less than five thousand years, and a perpetual, true, and sincere amity, between his most Sublime and Sacred Majesty, and its most Mysterious and Subtle Majesty; as also, a commitment to balance and the subtle order, between all and each of the subjects, allies, and adherents of his said Sublime and Sacred Majesty, the gods of the heavens, controllers of the hells, and their servants; but chiefly those operating in the middle realm; and all and each of the subjects, allies, and adherents of its said Mysterious and Subtle Majesty, chiefly those active on the world of Earth. That this peace and preservation of balance by observed and cultivated with such virtue and sincerity, that each party shall endeavour to produce the benefit, honour, and advantage of the other, and thus on all sides they may see this peace and furthering of the Way.

三
That there shall be on all sides a perpetual oblivion, amnesty, or pardon of all that has been committed since the dawn of the ages, in what place or what matter soever these hostilities have been practiced, in such a manner that nobody, under any pretext whatsoever, shall practice arts of hostility, entertain enmity, or cause trouble or reason for concern to the other; either as to persons, effects, or securities of either empire, neither of themselves or by others, neither privately nor openly, neither directly nor indirectly, neither by right, nor by deed, within or without the extent of the middle realm, notwithstanding any or all covenants made before to the contrary. They shall not permit, or permit to be acted, any wrong or injury to any party beneath either banner; but that all that has passed on one side, and the other, before, after, or during any conflict, in words, writings, actions, in violences, hostilities, damages, and expenses, without any respect for person or property, shall be entirely abolished in such a manner that all that may be demanded of, or pretended to, by each other on that behalf, shall be struck from all record and memory.

四
That a reciprocal amity between the Emperor of Heaven, and the Emperor of Yaoguai, and their subjects, may be maintained so that the one shall never assist the present or future enemies of the other, under any title or pretence whatsoever, either by might or with means, soldiers or weapons, and that so long as this accord stands that one shall endeavour to assist the other against any and all which would bring about injuries or damages to their person, that of their subjects, or any lands or things under their banner.

五
That it be agreed that the dominions of the Emperor of Heaven, and all that he controls, be the realms of all the heavens, and all the hells, and the dominions of life and death of ordinary souls, and the cycles of transmigration, evaluations of virtue, setting of order, and dispensing of divine justice within his domain, by himself or his appointed subjects, and that the dominions of the Emperor of Yaoguai be the territories within the middle realm delineated by its commanderies and the lands they control, and the ordering of Yaoguai and the safeguarding of their existence, the protection of the Way, and all duties claimed under that purview, by itself or its appointed subjects. That within their respective realms, the dictates of the Imperial Personages be held as absolute, and that neither make any attempt, by themselves, their subjects, allies, or persons contracted by them through other means, to interfere with or abrogate the authority of the other, in any way.

六
It is to be agreed that the duties within the purview of the Celestial Court, that is, the controlling of all heavens and all hells, as well as life and death, judgement and transmigration, evaluation of virtue, setting of order, and dispensation of justice; includes and is limited to, the aspects set forth in the minor articles of this treaty, and that in overstepping these limits any so responsible is acting of their own accord, without the blessing of their Celestial Emperor, and is thereby not covered by the terms of this accord. And that the duties within the purviews of the Qingcheng Court, that is, the controlling of the realms as delineated by its commanderies, and their claimed territories, as well as the ordering of Yaoguai, the safeguarding of the existence of Yaoguai, and the protection of the Way; includes and is limited to, the aspects set forth in the minor articles of this treaty, and that in overstepping these limits any so responsible is acting of their own accord, without the blessing of their Subtle Emperor, and is thereby not covered by the terms of this accord.

七
It is to be agreed that any servant, ally, subject, or associated person of one party, which enters the territory or otherwise comes to fall under the dominion of the other, having done so of their own will and judgement, and following that in any way contravene the laws of that place, or cause any disturbance to the duly charged officials overseeing that, will be accorded no amnesty, and will be judged to the full extent of the applicable laws, and that if they should escape such judgement, that their own party would return them to the custody of those they had wronged, that they may be made to properly compensate those they owe such compensation to.

八
That all under the classification of Yāomóguǐguài, beneath the pavilion of the Qingcheng Court, and under its banner, will be free to live beholden only to their own laws, and will not be judged by the Empire of Heaven purely for their natural qualities. They may travel freely and act as they will without cause for concern, as long as they do not contravene the laws of their own nation where they apply, nor the laws of heaven where they apply, and if they do, then they would be turned over to the relevant authorities to be duly punished, these authorities and the natures of these punishments being outlined in the minor articles of this accord.

九
That all considered as “gods”, or otherwise as servants or functionaries of the Celestial Bureaucracy, will be free to conduct their duties and see to their existences as befits their needs and within the confines of the laws of the Celestial Empire, that they may freely seek and receive adherents from within the population of the Qingcheng Empire and its territories, and conduct their official duties to the extent allowed them by their mandates and the laws of both the Celestial and Qingcheng Empires.

十
That all considered as “sages”, “hermits”, “immortals” and related classifications, and their students, disciples, and other followers, beneath the pavilion of the Qingcheng Court, and under its banner, may be free to practice their arts to the extent that suits them, within the confines of the laws and regulations. They will not be judged nor found in violation of the regulations of the Ministry of Life and Death, so long as they confine their actions to the middle realm and do not obstruct the duties of the aforementioned ministry, nor any other, and limit themselves to a number of disciples that will not exceed five per decade.

十一
That balance is understood by all parties to come from the upholding of laws, the expressing of virtue, the observance of right conduct, and the safeguarding of the Way, and if any of these elements is found to be missing, incomplete, or otherwise at fault, that such occurrences represent a threat to balance and must therefore be addressed forthwith, by bringing the attention of the relevant authorities to the matter at hand and rendering unto them the full support of all available persons and powers, until such a time that balance is restored.

十二
If balance is to be preserved, then all parties signatory to this accord must make of themselves and all that hold allegiance or loyalty to them, a full and complete commitment, to each support the other in upholding the Way and enforcing the laws, such that if any were to act in obstruction of this, or seek to bring harm to either party, that they would make themselves the complete enemy of all parties, and that no expense or effort would be spared in order to rectify the damages that they have done, regardless of the nature or extent of such, and to bring such dangerous persons to the justice of the relevant parties and all punishments due them under its dominion.

十三
That there will be established, by each Empire in the capital of the other, an official embassy staffed by officials loyal and incorruptible, who are charged foremost with upholding the terms of this accord, and maintaining a direct, honest, and trustworthy circuit of communication between state offices and the Imperial Personages, and that in their duties these offices are to have the full cooperation of all state functionaries and officials, to the extent of their ability, in order to realise this purpose. These offices are also to be charged with advising and informing their host state on relevant matters, so as to allow all parties to better conduct the terms of this accord and promote peace, virtue, and balance in all nine directions of the middle realm.

十四
As all under the classification of Yāomóguǐguài are of a certain nature, that is not the fault of their own, and entirely beyond their ability to alter, those beneath the pavilion of the Qingcheng Court, and under its banner, will moderate their actions and limit their impact upon the middle realm and its peoples, to the effect that they would not cause, directly or indirectly, and great destruction or calamity, and furthermore, that they would conduct their business strictly in accordance with the laws, and all statutes and dictates that apply to them. To this end, their population is to grow to no more than one hundred and fifty thousand in the first decade, and by no more than five thousand every decade after that, and never exceeding a total of one in one thousand parts of their world’s total population. Also, it is agreed that registers will be kept, detailing the overall population and its distributions, to be provided to the Celestial Empire for purposes of accounting.

十五
As all those considered as “gods” have been charged with certain duties by their superiors, and must not be obstructed in such, or their duties otherwise interfered with, and any that attempt to do so must be considered in violations of the laws, but also it is maintained that the sovereignty of Heaven does not extend to the Qingcheng Empire, its subjects, or allies, and that certain duties must be curtailed, limited, or set aside under this accord, including but not limited to; the judgement of souls, which will not be carried out on any yāomóguǐguài beneath the pavilion of the Qingcheng Court and under its banner, and instead their spirits will be remanded into the custody of their superiors, and that they will facilitate the judgement of human souls within their territories; the allotment of fates and lifespans, which will be suspended for all citizens of the Qingcheng Empire in the former case, and all non-human citizens of the Qingcheng Empire in the latter case; and the enforcement of laws, which is to be set aside indefinitely within the borders of the Qingcheng empire, as those under its aegis are held beholden to their own law.

十六
That the cycles of spiritual transmigration, either those governed by Heaven, or those governed by Qingcheng, will not be interfered with by any party, neither directly nor indirectly, by action, power, restriction, or the use of outside agents; that all spirits may pass to where they are meant to pass, unobstructed and in such a way that their doing so does not cause any interferences within the empires of heaven or the middle realm.

十七
Forasmuch as that certain jurisdictions, including the Empires of Heaven and its realms, as well as Qingcheng and its commanderies, have their own legal codes, all subjects, allies, servants, and citizens of both parties will follow all the laws relevant to the territory that they currently inhabit, or are passing through, except where prior exception has been granted by a relevant authority or duly empowered official, and that any who fail to do so will be found to be in violation of the laws of all jurisdictions; so that none may claim ignorance of this fact, it will be communicated to all officials charged with keeping laws and amendments to this effect made to the legal codes of both Empires, so as to further a mutual respect for each other’s functions and virtues, and preserve the peace between parties established through this accord.

十八
It shall also be that any and all major rituals, as detailed in the minor articles of this treaty, that are observed or required to be observed by either party, for the benefit, enrichment, or continued wellbeing of its subjects, will be observed without fail in all jurisdictions, and that no attempt will be made, or permitted to be made, to disallow such rituals; and furthermore, when observance or conduct of these rituals is not ordinary or customary, that sufficiently motivated or rightly charged individuals be allowed to introduce these rituals at their discretion or that of their masters, and seek attendants freely from the local populations, so as to extend the benefit of such rituals or practices to all who would seek it, and further promote virtue and right conduct amongst all peoples of both Empires.

十九
That as the Ministry of Right and Wrong, of the Celestial Empire, is best equipped and trained for the judgement and processing of souls after death, they will continue to carry out this function across all territories, except where specifically barred from such by this treaty; however, owing to the aforementioned, they will make available their skills, knowledge, and time, as might be otherwise freed by these exceptions, to assist the Qingcheng Empire in judging, controlling, and processing the souls of their non-human deceased, in accordance with their own rules and statutes, a copy of which will be provided to the Ministry, to be kept by it so long as this treaty, or any following it, should stand.

二十
As Sovereign states, the Numinous Celestial Empire and the Sublime Empire of Qingcheng are held to be of equal virtue in all state, military, governmental, and civil conduct, and that none are to place the one before the other in any respect, or to favour one over the other, except where such precedence has been clearly defined, and especially, that all enmity, resentment, or disparaging thoughts or feelings one side, and on the other, are to be put to perpetual oblivion, that forevermore these states may regard one another as honourable and just allies, and interact as equals in order to further their shared spirit of virtue and safeguarding of order.

二十一
It is understood that a subject of either Empire is one that is either currently employed by its government, its officials, or any groups or associations that are in any way linked to it, in any capacity, or that resides within its territories, permanently or temporarily, excepting when they do so as part of their preestablished duties or have otherwise reaffirmed their allegiance to the other party, and is thus subject to the jurisdiction of the controlling Empire’s laws and the statutes of its court; furthermore it is accepted that once freed from one’s duties, an individual may seek residence is any jurisdiction, conditional upon the relevant officials accepting their petition for relocation or employment, and if so, that they shall from that day forward be considered a subject of that region, now beholden to its laws and the statutes of its court and appointed officials.

二十二
Of unaligned states or similar bodies, that exist neither beneath the pavilion nor under the banner of either the Qingcheng Empire, or the Celestial Empire, they are held to be free to declare their allegiance and negotiate terms of such with either party, and upon doing so, they will be considered a client state, protectorate, or territory of that Empire, and all the terms of this accord will be extended to that state without fail, without cause or reason for re-negotiation of terms between the signatories of this treaty, and that in all means they would be considered in the same manner as their patron state is, and be treated as such for all purposes, official or otherwise.

二十三
That no client state, regardless of the degree of their association, and conditioned upon the extension of such protections to them by decree of either the Imperial Personages, will become the victim of ill action or nefarious intent by the governments, officials, or agents of either party, and that no attempt will be made by either party to disrupt alliances or fealties of client states towards their patron, just as they may not seek to cause discord between the territories of a signatory state, and subject to the same repercussions should they do so.

二十四
That any who contravene the terms of this accord, willingly or otherwise, by their own words or deeds, or those of their allies, associates, or other agents, will be considered to be in full violation of the laws of their own state, and of the additional mandates established in the minor articles of this treaty, and that all officials of both parties will make a full commitment to bring such individuals to justice; furthermore, any that are afforded specific protections under this treaty, will have such protections stripped from them should they overstep the bounds of their duties or otherwise act in such a way that threatens the peace of this accord, the natural balance, or the stability of either Empire.

二十五
Owing to the differing legal codes of the Celestial and Qingcheng Empires, a full and total commitment will be made to provide necessary assistance to whichever authorities have jurisdiction within a particular territory or circumstance, and it will be assumed and taken as absolute truth by all, that local authorities, and the governments they represent, have complete knowledge and capability to determine right action within their purview, and all officials and officers of the other party, when present at such a time and place, will make themselves available to the officials of the other side, and obey their orders without question, excepting when their existing duties or standing orders prevent this, in which case they will inform the necessary officials and render further assistance only as their position allows them and at their own discretion.

二十六
As all under the classification of Yāomóguǐguài, and all under the classification of “gods”, derive particular, immediate benefit from certain rituals and observances, efforts will always be made to promote and safeguard such rituals, for the benefit and cultivation of both Empires. The number, nature, and details of these rituals and practices will be outlined by the duly charged officials and departments of the relevant government, and promptly communicated to the other side, so that both may put these into effect as rapidly and effectively as possible.

二十七
That all subjects, citizens, allies, and other personages of the Qingcheng Empire may and are encouraged to observe the rituals for the benefits of gods and heaven, including the patronage of temples and shrines, the conduct of festivals, and all other appropriate practices, and that allowances be made on the part of its government, officials, and imperial court to allow such observances.

二十八
As tributes of faith are of great value to the Heavens, at such a time as shortages exist, the Subtle Emperor of the Qingcheng Court and its ministers will arrange for and conduct grand rituals of patronage in order to provide vital resources to the Celestial Empire, the extend and degree of which will be clearly communicated as required, to within the extent of their capability to do so.

二十九
That all subjects, citizens, allies, and other personages of the Celestial Empire may and are encouraged to observe the rituals for the benefits of yaoguai and spirits, including the conduct of summonings, and the attendance of Hyakki Yagyou, and all other appropriate practices, and that allowances be made on the part of its government, officials, and imperial court to allow such observances.

三十
That a number of human lives be set aside annually, for the benefit of yaoguai and spirits, which is not to exceed one tenth of the yāomóguǐguài population, and never more than five hundred thousand, to be chosen at the discretion of the Celestial Order and its officials. The souls of these humans are to be promptly returned to the cycle of transmigration and may not be tampered with in any way. It is also recognised that any who would otherwise be fated to such an end, or otherwise choose or bring it about it through their own actions, would count against this tally as well.

三十一
That neither the Empire of Heaven, or the Empire of Qingcheng, would take steps to in any significant or notable way, alter, interfere with, or cause damage to, the course of human civilisation and society, beyond the already-agreed-upon passive dissemination of teaching and instruction, and the agreed upon direct instruction from relevant individuals, on the assurance that those being instructed submitted to such of their own free will; and that the only exceptions or allowances with regards to the above clause being the existing and new exceptions for the purposes of safeguarding the existence and security of yaoguai.

三十二
All subjects of either Empire, of any caste, social class, or order, providing they have discharged their official duties and been released from any oaths by those they swore said oaths to, having settled all their affairs in whatever manner is required of them by any part of relevant local or Imperial law, custom, or regulation, will be free to journey to all corners of either Empire, and seek to enter into the service of whomever will have them, and their will and ability to do such will not be abrogated by any means, directly or indirectly. Those individuals will be considered subjects, officials, or officers of their new employer as relevant, and will be accorded all the same protections and allowances due them under this treaty, in addition to any they might require as a result of their innate nature, which may be applied above and beyond ordinary protections, restrictions, and allowances.

三十三
Whenever a subject, citizen, client, or other personage of one empire, has cause for grievance against a subject, citizen, client, or other personage of the other, they will direct their petition to the relevant officials of their own state, who will in turn petition their counterparts in order to see proper justice done; all petitions will be heard and considered without prejudice and decided solely on their individual merits. Should circumstances or other factors conspire to make a thusly structured resolution of grievances impossible, a special court will be convened out of known loyal and virtuous officials from both Empires, in order to consider the case in more depth.

三十四
Whenever either party signatory to this accord has cause for grievance against the other, arising solely from newly developed circumstance, the matter will be addressed by a specially appointed tribunal, the officials of which will hold their post for a period of no more and no less than sixty years, and who will hold allegiance solely to this accord and its terms for the duration of their service, and their determinations will be held as absolute, barring a different agreement being reached directly between the Imperial Personages and made existent by issuing of mandates from both of them in full agreement.

三十五
And that the peace may be so much the better preserved in its entirety, the balance maintained, the laws kept, and the Way safeguarded, this accord and its articles shall be issued as mandate, signed by the hand of the Most Honoured and Righteous Jade Emperor of the Central Heaven Yuhuang Shangdi, and signed by the hand of the Grand Supreme Mysterious Honoured Master Yaoguai Xiangdeng Tiandao, from both of their courts, and all their respective officials shall be charged with its upholding; and as soon as the beginning of any troubles are perceived, those statutes which have been outlined in this mandate, shall be strictly kept to and observed, so as to maintain the enduring peace and balance within nine directions.

三十六
In testimony of all and each of these things, and for their greatest validity, the Emperors of Heaven and Yaoguai, and their ministers, officials, and deputies, gathered particularly for this end, place their seals upon this document, that it may become official, and issued as mandate and as law, in both Empires, such that no subject, servant, ally, officer, or other agent of either side would be anything less than fully and completely committed to observe and maintain what is contained in this present Treaty of Enduring Peace and Balance Within Nine Directions; and that no protestation or contradiction of its articles shall be entered or entertained as valid from or on behalf of either party.

Done, passed, and concluded at Guàimùdiàn, the 11th day of Wu-Shen, 4660.