Preceptor (Cotrism)

The Preceptor (Yen: 司學, literally 'administrator of learning') was a position that served as the leader of the Cotric world, Master of the Universal Observatory, as well as the paramount authority on Cotric doctrines. The permanent vacancy of the post since 1884 was a part of a much wider rift in the Cotric community over central authority in part catalyzed by the fragmentation of East Cataian politics; universal doctrinal dictation is currently the task of the Council for Regulation of Learning who are much less powerful and prestigious.

Tenhim, born Zeu Man, first Preceptor from 35 to 68.

The Sage was considered the first Preceptor (and also a prophet) by Cotric customs, but the position was not actually created until 35 CE during the Kat dynasty, to formalize and consolidate the authority of elected successors to the Sage's teachings; previous leaders that succeeded him were able to hold on by virtue of being known as exemplary students, but this was less observed with leaders of later generations. The Preceptor was in theory elected by the Cotric community as a whole, even though in times where these elections were truly practiced, it was likely limited to lesser leaders and authoritative scholars. In the Yiek dynasty a Council of Electors, comprising a mixture of appointed scholars and district heads, was organized, formally restricting power of election. The Preceptor's power waxed and waned as well depending on the political situation, within the Yen imperial court the Preceptor has either served as an influential advisor, or be subordinate to the emperor. In the late Yiek, emperors began supporting clerics opposed to the Preceptor to weaken the position. During the Second Kingdoms Period, preceptors were elected by district Masters.

The Maengtau era began with the emergence of the Preceptor-Emperor, which combined paramount political and religious authority. Succession of the imperial throne was decided by election to respect the Cotric nature of the position. After the Schismatic Wars numerous Preceptor-Emperors each laid claim to their own domains until the War of the Preceptors abolished these titles, and proscribed reforming it.

Vacancy

Mansin, last Preceptor from 1866 to 1884.

The Hong dynasty ended with the fragmentation of the Yen into multiple quasi-nation-states, who quickly began opposing each other in their political agendas; for the Preceptorship elections, the convention of each state-district dispatching their Master as an elector resumed, but also meant that these elections became effectively subordinate to national conflict. The close cooperation and synchronization of state and faith as practiced in earlier times intensified as the new Yen states sought to further legitimize themselves, making the conflict between different districts that eventually evolved into schisms inevitable. Disagreements over politics rapidly evolved into disagreements over doctrine, soon spawning numerous self-proclaimed orthodoxies and sects. The election of Prophets beginning in the late 18th century featured hot debate and contest.

Eventually, a phenomena had appeared, where little-Accomplished and barely known local scholars were elected as a tabula rasa of sorts that all could compromise on, but these Preceptors held little power and contest between schools over political interests remained the procedure of decision-making in Cotric central authority. Dealing with orthodoxy had became 'extremely painful and near-insufferable' by the 19th century according to the cleric Yin Muk. By the mid-19th century most sects acted without any regard for what remained of central authority, only avoiding outright heresy which would be universally condemned. In 1884, the last Preceptor, Mansin, died after a 18-year tenure as a powerless figurehead; while he was mourned, none of the major schools even proposed to hold new elections. Thus the post of Preceptor, since then, has been permanently vacant, and its associated authorities suspended.

In the aftermath, the Congress of the Learned served what little use there was left for universal authority by consensus, though these have became more of debriefings of new issues the Cotric world faces in general, and function little with respect to doctrine. The Council for Regulation of Learning was established in 1892 to hold some degree of doctrinal authority, primarily with regards to doubts of exegesis and interpretation, and general curacy and recognition of the Cotric canon.