Zhen

Great Zhen Empire        大正化地國 (Ascalonian) Ikh Jen Güren (Caoyan) Zensk Kæserrike (Gojan) मइध का राज् (Suchari)
Flag
Capital and largest city	Zhenmenjing
Official languages	Ascalonian Caoyan Gojan Suchari
Demonym(s)	Zhen
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Emperor	Vacant
• Regent	Princess Shi
• Prime Minister	Long Shen
Legislature	Provisional Assembly
Established
• Zhen Warring States	1637-1644
• Great Zhen Unification	1644
• End of Syrixian Rule	1937
• Zhen Revolution	2009-2010
• Evacuation to Zhenmen Islands	2010
• Zhen Sovereignty Declaration	2011
• Zhen Civil War	2011
• Armistice	2011
Population
• 2020 estimate	1,265,000
• 2020 census	1,245,105
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Per capita	$25,443
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	$12,110
Gini (2020)	34.4 medium
HDI (2020)	0.793 high
Currency	Yuan
Time zone	DST
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
ISO 3166 code	ZH
Internet TLD	.zh

Zhen, officially the Great Zhen Empire, is a country in South Iteria. Alternatively, the state refers to itself as the State of Zhenmen or Zhenmen. It consists of the archipelago of the Zhenmen Islands and it totals an area of approximately 836km². The islands have a small population of 1.2 million, but Zhenmen recognizes the 31.5 million people in mainland Zhen as its citizens. According to the Zhen Sovereignty Declaration, the United States of Zhen (USZ), which controls the mainland, is an illegitimate state and the State of Zhenmen has sovereignty over all Zhen territory. The capital city, Zhenmenjing, is the largest city in the archipelago with a population of 148,147.

While the Sinnitic peoples spread out from South Iteria, there were tribes who opted to settle in the nearby areas. The nomadic Caoyan hordes controlled northern Zhen and the south was cultivated by the sedentary Ascalonians, who found prosperity in trade by the southern coast. This later became the center of the Empire of Dazhou, which controlled the region and expanded further into Zhen, conquering the Caoyans.

In the 17th century, the Empire of Dazhou began to decline and its power weakened over the outlying territories. The Zhen states renounced allegiances to Dazhou in a scramble for power. Instead, Goyanes conquers Dazhou and it became a colonial possession, which would later become Ascalon. Disgruntled by non-Iterians ruling former Dazhou, the Zhen family sought the backing of Syrixia, a rival to Goyanean interests in Iteria. The Zhen, uniting the fragmented Caoyan and Ascalonian states of Zhen, formed the Great Zhen Empire as a tributary state of Syrixia. Syrixian rule of Zhen was undisturbed until the 2nd Nordic-Imperial War.

The decline of the Syrixian Empire in the 19th century motivated Zhen to pursue its own interests. Vestiges of Zhen's tributary relationship ended when it refused to join the Fascist Wars. During that period, modernization and major political reforms were achieved, but democratization was halted due to radical socialist uprisings plaguing Zhen. Following the war, Zhen aimed to restore friendly relations with Syrixia and joined the Syrixian Commonwealth.

In 2009, a military coup led by Prince Meng usurped Emperor Jianzhongjingguo and murdered the Zhen Imperial Family. Princess Shi escaped with loyalists to the Zhenmen Islands. The government-in-exile formed there declared the Great Zhen Empire continues to exist, retaining sovereignty over mainland Zhen and demanded foreign countries to maintain policies of non-intervention. Relations were established with the USZ in the mainland and a cease-fire was successfully negotiated.

At the turn of the 20th century, Zhen was, by definition, a developed country. However, due to the lack of progress in social and democratic reform, Zhen was an authoritarian one-party state that heavily-controlled all aspects of society. Economic sectors were divided between large conglomerates. Freedom of press was almost non-existent and state media regularly fabricated stories. Literature and movies were censored if found critical of the government. Birth control was mandatory to all unmarried individuals. All forms of homosexual relationships were banned.

It was until the Zhen Revolution when significant changes finally took place, especially in the mainland where the USZ reversed most of these policies. Zhenmen was able to achieve the majority of democratic reforms that Zhen needed and expanded economic and individual freedoms. Full democratization is promised by Zhenmen once re-unification begins.

The Zhenmen Islands have an upper-middle income economy. It depends on industries such as agriculture, fishing, petroleum, tourism and services. Due to the lack of military capabilities equal to mainland Zhen, citizens are required to do compulsory military service for two years.