Wusitwui
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Wusitwui 烏楔會 | |
|---|---|
| File:Wusitwui logo.svg | |
| Leader | Shan Sheng |
| Founded | April 28, 1975 |
| Preceded by | Stone Path Society |
| Newspaper | Prudent Perspective |
| Membership (2015) | ~20,400,000 |
| Ideology | Promotion of Juist ideals Cotric clerical reformation Religious conservatism State consequentialism Technocracy Anti-Kaungiism |
| Religion | Juist Cotrism |
| Colors | Black, white, blue |
| Slogan | 興天下之利 "To make prosperous what benefits the world" |
The Wusitwui (Yen: 烏楔會), translated as the Black Wedge Society, is a transnational political organization in East Catai following Juist Cotrism and pursuing reformation of Cotric clergy.
The Wusitwui is one of the most expansive Cotric political societies in East Catai, and has a well-developed network of highly capable and autonomous local branches on which it bases its operations, with a total estimated membership of 20.4 million in 2015. Its operations include lobbying, providing social services (such as education, medical services, and general charity), campaigning as a political party in republics, running a wide range of businesses, and promoting awareness of the Juist school's ideals. Branches are even present in Savai and in Yen diaspora in Asura and Vestrim. It operates paramilitary forces in southern Tangkuo, in Yunlin, and in Qyred, which have been regarded as one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in East Catai.
Since its establishment the Wusitwui has declared clerical reformation of Cotrism and also political reorganization of East Cataian states as a major goal. It advocates for the establishment of technocratic clerical and government structures, the institution of austere kingship in monarchies, and general implementation of Juist ideas in political and social fields. The Wusitwui is opposed to many establishment clerics and their influence in East Cataian nations resulting in occasional suppression and crackdowns in nations such as Qyred over fears of undermining influence of the state church. Since 2003 it has declared itself to be an opponent of the Truth-Cleansing Sect and the State of Truth, and has actively countered Kaungiist influence in nations where it operates through media, financial and paramilitary activities.
History
The Wusitwui is the successor of the Stone Path Society (石道會), a Juist organization with similar ideals formed in 1934. The society, while persistent in activities, was not very successful, being either banned, restricted or sidelined by more popular anti-establishment religious movements; the heresies of the 20th century represented the main theological opposition force in the Cotric world of the time, and attempts to drive reformation unfavorably associated the reformist groups with said heresies. In addition, suspicion of Juism by the more powerful and mainstream schools hindered the Stone Path Society further.
On April 28, 1975, the Wusitwui was established by several Juist clerics part of the senior circles of the Stone Path Society, as part of both an external brand and a revision in strategy. Whereas the Stone Path Society focused on lobbying, debates and other high-profile, public activities, the leadership of the Wusitwui decided to adopt a 'bottom-up' approach through gathering support for Juist ideas among the general population, and even convert them. They held lectures and established educational institutions without permit to induct commoners to the Wusitwui programme, and also initiated awareness campaigns of Juist teachings, but these were generally unsuccessful.
It was not until 1981 during the Restoration War in northern Qyred did the Wusitwui recognize opportunity in reorienting its operations towards provision of welfare and services to people in need. As Truth-Cleansing Sect forces captured territory, refugees fled into southern Qyred from the north, and they were in desperate need of shelter and care. The Wusitwui established hospitals, provided homes, and also catered food to the refugees. These services were hugely successful, earning the group substantial reputation and influence in a few years, and even international praise. The 'assistance centers' established in the 1980s soon developed into schools, professional hospitals, and job training centers.
The Yunlinese Civil War became another opportunity for the Wusitwui to expand its charity programme, and its success was repeated on its entry to Yunlin in 1987. Between 1987 and 1999, the end of the civil war, the Wusitwui established around 330 assistance centers and serviced a maximum of 5 million people. The entry of the Wusitwui to Yunlin was also to protect the local Juist community who were threatened in several incidents of sectarian violence in the 1980s; it was here that the Wusitwui first established its paramilitary branch, armed with weapons captured or bought with financial assistance from its patrons. In 1992 it was estimated 18,000 Wusitwui paramilitaries were defending the Juist community in Yunlin. These forces saw frequent combat with numerous warlord cliques and the State of Truth.
Beginning in 1994 political strategy returned to the Wusitwui's programme. It initiated preaching activities and also blended Ju doctrines into the curriculum of its education centers, while seeking participation in politics in Qyred. In 1995 the Wusitwui issued a proposed reformation plan distributed widely in its countries of operation and attracted wide attention. Political events organized by the Wusitwui experienced high turnouts and their lobbying efforts received extensive support. The huge support for the Ju reformation project alerted establishment clergy in Qyred, who successfully persuaded the state to outlaw the Wusitwui and close its assistance centers in 1996. While this was a major setback for the Wusitwui, it retained influence through proxy non-governmental organizations and enterprises that continued to provide its services and propagate its ideas.
Ideology
Organization
Social services
Political activity
Military activity
<imgur thumb="yes" w="250" comment="Wusitwui soldiers in formation at an event in 2013.">4ipXDH0.jpg?1</imgur> The Wusitwui established paramilitary forces in 1987 to protect Ju Cotrists in Yunlin amidst the Yunlinese Civil War. In the 1990s with the intensification of the Restoration War it established armed forces in Qyred as well despite an official ban by the government in 1996. Today the Wusitwui maintains one of the largest non-governmental militaries in the world based on various estimates. East Catai Watch estimates 90,000 armed personnel, while Eye of Learning estimates 114,000 troops. The Wusitwui itself does not declare its military strength.