What exactly is Bukyo?

[DamianFatale]

There seems to be another marked city state named “Bukyo” within the country of Hingashi. I believe it’s even mentioned in gatherer levequests, and geomancer lore.

If you go under Kugane, you’ll see a group of people that don’t seem to want to be bothered. They mention that there is something very wrong about Hingashi that’s beginning to happen. I believe it’s a caste issue.

These things lead me to believe that we will be visiting the rest of Hingashi at some point. It would likely be in a future expansion.

I think Kuganes end goal is to set up a neutral state that involves multiple countries, and eventually lead into a conflict of its own much later.

[subteraneanbird]

Bukyo is the capital of Hingashi. Kugane is just a port city, but because it's the only city open to foreigners, all the consulates and such are there. You're right that there is some class issues in Hingashi, specifically the peasantry have no means to effect change, and life is not easy for them. Even joining the Sekiseigumi, which is about the biggest thing a non-noble can do in their life, does not improve their lot dramatically. However, there's no indication this will blow up anytime soon. The SAM quests 60-70 involve you putting down a ronin traitor to the Sekiseigumi and his attempt to overthrow Hingashi. Beyond that people aren't thrilled but that's true everywhere.

[LineageRazor]

Bukyo is the capital of Hingashi. Kugane is just a port city, but because it's the only city open to foreigners, all the consulates and such are there. You're right that there is some class issues in Hingashi, specifically the peasantry have no means to effect change, and life is not easy for them. Even joining the Sekiseigumi, which is about the biggest thing a non-noble can do in their life, does not improve their lot dramatically. However, there's no indication this will blow up anytime soon. The SAM quests 60-70 involve you putting down a ronin traitor to the Sekiseigumi and his attempt to overthrow Hingashi. Beyond that people aren't thrilled but that's true everywhere.

For the duration of the 60+ SAM quests, I was constantly asking myself, "Why are we working so hard to stop this guy again?" Honestly, it seemed like he had the right idea. I mean, war bad, blah blah blah, but when a government is as corrupt as Kugane's seems to be, a revolt be the oppressed isn't exactly out of line...

Slaughtering an entire family for the crimes of a member, visiting pleasure houses on the taxpayers' dime, the list goes on and on...

[Iscah]

For the duration of the 60+ SAM quests, I was constantly asking myself, "Why are we working so hard to stop this guy again?" Honestly, it seemed like he had the right idea. I mean, war bad, blah blah blah, but when a government is as corrupt as Kugane's seems to be, a revolt be the oppressed isn't exactly out of line...

Slaughtering an entire family for the crimes of a member, visiting pleasure houses on the taxpayers' dime, the list goes on and on...

I haven't got to the 60+ samurai quests yet, but I just finished the first lot and didn't enjoy them at all. Musosai's approach of "pass judgement on the wicked and slay them without further trial" is.... well, it's terribly convenient that we only ever came across cackling villains who proudly admitted the accusations were true. And it still didn't feel like justice was being done, when it's down to one man's whim with no prior knowledge of the situation - even if Musosai's particular judgement is sound, the system is open to abuse.

I was hoping the next lot of quests might be better, but it sounds like I'm not going to enjoy them either. :[

[TinyRedLeaf]

As mentioned, Bukyo is the capital of Hinganshi. It's very likely written as 武京 in kanji, which means "Martial City". 武 means "Martial" and is one of the two characters that make up the word 武士 / bushi, or "warrior". The "kyo" in Bukyo is the same character you'd find in Tokyo ("Eastern Capital") and Kyoto (literally, "The Capital").

Hinganshi has only recently emerged from its equivalent of Japan's "Warring States" or Sengoku era, with the new military government, or the Bakufu (literally, the "tent city") set up in Bukyo.

[Jonnycbad]

Othard = Asia
Doma = China
Hingashi = Japan
Bukyo = Tokyo
Azim Steppe= Mongolia

[TinyRedLeaf]

Doma = China

More like Doma = Yokohama's Chinatown, because Doma is most certainly not the Imperial China I recognise from history or wuxia fiction.


But since you've brought up the comparisons, I realised a while back that the four countries of Othard could be thought of as the analogues of the four city-states in Eorzea.

Limsa Lominsa = the Ruby Sea Confederacy (because pirates)
Hinganshi = Ishgard (because xenophobic isolationism)
Doma = Ul'dah (or would have been, before Garlean occupation)
Azim Steppes = Gridania (because traditionalists, and closeness with nature)


Food for thought.

[ObsidianFire]

Doma = Nara Japan
Hingashi = Bakufu Japan

According to various lore panels, you've got two periods of Japan living alongside each other. China isn't anywhere to be found.

Also Gridania and the Azim Steppes couldn't be more different in their philosophies. The only way they are similar is that they have similar technology levels. Although going by quests in Reunion, the Xaela are not opposed to getting tech upgrades...

Fortunately for everyone, the Xaela are more interested in fighting among each other then they are in expanding their borders...

[TinyRedLeaf]

According to various lore panels, you've got two periods of Japan living alongside each other. China isn't anywhere to be found.

If I remember correctly, it's more a case of the team using an amalgamation of Japanese and Chinese elements to conceptualise both Kugane and Doma, rather than a total exclusion of anything Chinese. This is apparent in Kugane, for example, where there's a mix of faux Chinese architecture alongside more recognisably Japanese types of buildings. It's even more apparent in Yanxia (very likely written as 燕峡, the "Swallow's Gorge"), where the physical landscape is very clearly inspired by the iconic limestone hills of Guilin, China.

(Yes, I know Nara/Heian Japan was heavily influenced by Chinese cultural styles, so one could say that parts of Kugane were inspired by that era, but Doma is definitely a much more eclectic mix.)

Gridania and the Azim Steppes couldn't be more different.

Well, the analogy isn't meant to be taken too seriously nor literally.

But I'd point out that the xaela nation isn't a monolithic bloc, and they are not all as bloodthirsty and warmongering as common accounts would make them seem. The Mol, for example, aren't actually very keen in the Nadaam, and participate more out of respect for tradition than from any real desire to win and rule.

So, I'd suggest that the xaela are defined more by their stubborn dedication to tribal and national traditions, than by bloodlust per se. In that respect, they have more in common with Gridianians than it would at first seem.

[DamianFatale]

I just wonder why they actually went through with the effort of designing a unique map icon for Bukyo. Usually we have to wait until it’s expansion before we get one for a city.