6) The Council of Harmony

The Council of Harmony (Chōwa no Gikai)

Origins and Purpose

The Council of Harmony was established shortly after the Treaty of Harmony, forged in the aftermath of the long wars that devastated Yamato. Its purpose is twofold:

  1. Prevent renewed war by providing a place where grievances between humans, yōkai, and kami can be addressed through diplomacy instead of blades.

  2. Balance authority between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the great clans of yōkai and kami, ensuring no faction dominates the others again.

It was Ieyasu Tokugawa himself who proposed the council, inspired by Nobunaga’s earlier attempts at cooperation, but he restructured it into a permanent institution — the pillar of Yamato’s fragile peace.

Relationship with the Shogunate

The Shogunate rules the day-to-day administration of Yamato: taxes, samurai codes, military discipline, justice among humans. However, the Shogun cannot unilaterally enforce laws on yōkai or kami territories without the council’s consent.

  • Humans look to the Shogun as their ruler.

  • Yōkai clans see him as first among equals, bound to honor the council’s word.

  • Kami view him as a mortal custodian, someone who upholds the Treaty of Harmony but not a being above divine law.

Thus, the Council serves as both check and mediator: the Shogun wields immense influence, but without the council’s backing, his decrees would collapse into another war.

Organization and Structure

The Council of Harmony meets in Sakuragawa, within a dedicated hall inside the Shogunate Citadel — though it is constructed with sacred woods and adorned with offerings, to make it acceptable to kami and yōkai alike.

The council is organized into Three Seats of Balance, each representing one pillar of Yamato:

  1. The Mortal Seat – led by representatives of the Shogunate (often a senior daimyo or even the Shogun himself). They bring the voice of the human domains.

  2. The Yōkai Seat – a rotating delegation of major clans: Kitsune, Oni, Okami, Tanuki, Tengu, Nekomata, and others. Not all clans sit at once, but they send envoys chosen by consensus or prestige.

  3. The Kami Seat – rarely filled by high gods themselves, but by shrine maidens, avatars, or lesser deities who act as envoys. They serve as the moral compass, invoking divine law and harmony.

Supporting these three seats are scribes and mediators, drawn from neutral groups such as the Hanyō (bridging human and yōkai bloodlines) or the Kodama, who are seen as impartial spirits.

Management and Oversight

The Council follows strict procedures:

  • Rotating Presidency: Each meeting is presided over by a different seat (mortal, yōkai, or kami), ensuring no one group always directs the agenda.

  • Unanimous Decrees: For a law or judgment to pass, all three seats must agree. This slows decision-making but ensures wide acceptance.

  • Advisory Circles: Beneath the council, smaller circles debate pressing issues: trade disputes, border conflicts, shrine desecrations, and human expansion into sacred lands.

If no agreement is reached, the matter is suspended rather than forced — a lesson learned from centuries of bloodshed. Stalemates are common, but even a stalemate is preferable to renewed war.

Members and Representation

The Council’s composition reflects Yamato’s diversity:

  • Humans: Daimyo of major provinces, Shogunate advisors, and occasionally monks or onmyōji.

  • Yōkai:

    • Kitsune: often the diplomats, skilled in persuasion and illusion.

    • Oni: loud and passionate voices, demanding honor and fair treatment of yokai lands.

    • Okami: respected as guardians of the steppes, often called to mediate disputes of territory.

    • Tengu: prickly and proud, they focus on protecting mountain sanctuaries.

    • Tanuki: rarely central, but they lobby for common folk, mischief-makers, and wandering clans.

    • Nekomata: sit less often, preferring to watch from the shadows, but their word carries weight in espionage or secrecy.

  • Kami: Envoys from shrines tied to important deities, avatars of rivers, mountains, and forests. The great Kotomatsukami rarely intervene directly but are acknowledged as ultimate arbiters.

Who Remains Neutral or Hidden

Not all clans sit openly:

  • Yurei: They have no formal representation, as their nature is tied to grief and unfinished business. Some Shinto priests claim to speak for them, but in truth, Yurei influence Yamato from the shadows, feared by all.

  • Hebi Clans (Snakefolk): Their allegiances shift, and many prefer subtle manipulation over open council.

  • Exiled or Rogue Yōkai: Bandit Oni, feral spirits, or cursed beings reject the Treaty of Harmony and are branded outlaws.

  • Certain Kami: High deities remain aloof, leaving the council to lesser envoys. They maintain their neutrality to avoid accusations of favoritism.

Role in Daily Governance

The Council of Harmony does not handle every matter of state — local daimyo, shrine priests, and clan leaders still govern their lands. But it serves as the safety valve when conflicts threaten the Treaty:

  • A human village expanding too far into sacred forest → Council arbitration.

  • A yōkai raid on a rice shipment → Council investigation.

  • Samurai accused of desecrating a shrine → Council trial.

Thus, the council prevents small sparks from reigniting the Great War.

The Fragile Nature of Harmony

While it appears strong, the Council of Harmony is fragile:

  • Old grudges simmer beneath polite words.

  • Factional intrigue plays out constantly, as Kitsune manipulate, Oni pressure, and humans plot expansion.

  • The Shogun’s age makes many wonder what will happen when Tokugawa Ieyasu dies — will the council remain respected, or collapse without his authority binding it?

For now, the council endures. It is the single greatest legacy of the Treaty of Harmony — a promise that Yamato’s people, whether mortal, yōkai, or kami, will resolve their struggles with words before swords.