Sairou

Sairou
Manga
Direction	West
Type	Country
Population	800,000 ~ 900,000
Capital	Arudo
Government	Absolute Monarchy under Emperor Nahido
Religion	Beast God (Byakko) Buddhism Sanga (Three Priests Alliance) Taosim Hinduism
Inhabitants	Byakko Warriors & Families Sariou Imperial Family

Sairou (Sairou koku, 西廊国) is one of the Four Empires in The Universe of the Four Gods. It lies in the West and is composed largely of desert and sandstone settlements.

Sairou is protected by the beast god, Byakko. Ruled by Emperor Nahido in Byakko Senki, it is based off of Tibetan and Chinese culture. Despite Byakko's sovereignty over the West, it can be assumed that Sairou's people believe in more than one God, since beliefs very similar to Buddhism have spread widely throughout the country.

Locations

For a detailed world map, see The Universe of the Four Gods Map.

• Arudo: the capital city of Sairou. In Byakko Senki, it is the young and recently enthroned Emperor Nahido's ancestral seat.
• Daijiin Temple: a monastery led by Miboshi. Located South of the Camp Ruins and West of Makan Village, this place is suspected to be the temple where Chiriko, as well as Tatara, die at the hands of the Celestial Warriors of Seiryuu.
  • A very similar temple is seen in the Byakko Senki manga, and it is the headquarters of the "Three Priests Alliance" cult.
• Nado Tribe: a village that was first introduced in Fushigi Yuugi: Byakko Ibun. The villagers are known to fear spellcasters and shape-shifters to the point of violent persecution. Reipin, otherwise known as Neiran, hails from this tribe.
• Tomo's City of Mirages: an illusory town created by Tomo in the middle of Sairou to distract Suzaku celestial warriors.
• Makan Village: the village where Amiboshi lives as "Kai-Ka" in Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play.
• Camp Ruins: an exclusive location in Fushigi Yuugi DS and Fushigi Yuugi: Suzaku Ibun. Located to the North of Makan Village, this location must be visited in order to acquire the "Staying Behind" ending of the game.

Climate/Geography

In contrast to the other three empires, Sairou's climate is extremely hot. While visiting the country, Tasuki mused that a person could only go out in the night or else the sun would "toast" them. The terrain is comprised of mostly sweeping deserts, deep sandstone trenches, and Central/Western Asian-style housing.

Sairou's geography appears to be inspired by The Silk Road, the famous land route connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. As a result, there are multiple cultural influences on the traditional clothing and architecture of Sariou. Most of the homes and buildings that appear in the series take notes from Tibetan architecture while many people are shown to wear headwraps and hats to protect their scalps from the blistering sun.

Trivia

• Sairou’s pluralistic beliefs allowed the growth of a powerful cult known as the Sanga (Three Priests Alliance), which is led by a mysterious man known as the "Great Priest." In Byakko Senki, Emperor Nahido and the Arudo authorities fear that this cult will cause a schism and destroy the country.