Cosmology and Afterlife

Yamato’s cosmology is layered and interconnected, where the mortal realm (Uchū-no-Kuni) exists alongside the spiritual domains of kami, yōkai, and ancestors. These realms are not strictly separated by barriers but are interwoven through veils of perception, ritual, and energy. Mortal eyes rarely see beyond the physical world, yet every hill, river, and shrine is permeated by unseen presences.

The Mortal Realm (Uchū-no-Kuni)
Humans, Hanyou, and most yōkai dwell here. Life is governed by natural cycles—sun, moon, seasons, harvests—but always under the subtle influence of spirits. Sacred mountains, flowing rivers, and ancient trees are focal points of divine energy; acts of respect, such as offerings or prayers, ensure harmony. Misdeeds or negligence may stir minor unrest in the spiritual currents, but calamities are rarely seen as punishment, rather as an invitation to restore balance.

The Celestial Realm (Seihō)
Seihō is the domain of primordial gods (Kotomatsukami) and the Zōkasanshin. It is a floating, timeless plane, separate from mortal affairs yet subtly influencing them. Here, the great Celestial Cherry Tree binds the cosmos together. Gods dwell in palaces suspended within its branches, and time flows differently: centuries in the mortal world may feel like mere weeks on Seihō. While mortals rarely perceive Seihō directly, omens, dreams, and divine avatars serve as its bridges.

The Spirit Realms (Reikai)
Reikai consists of overlapping layers of ancestral, elemental, and minor kami. Yōkai often reside here, alongside spirits of nature, mountains, rivers, and forests. It is neither a utopia nor a place of punishment; it is a realm of balance, learning, and reflection. Souls of mortals journey here after death, guided by psychopomps—foxes, birds, and mystical guides assigned by the kami.

The Underworld (Yomi)
Death is not final but a transformation. Yomi is a reflective plane where spirits reconcile with their lives, awaiting reincarnation or lingering as kami. Ancestors may ascend to the Reikai if venerated, influencing the living world, or dissipate if forgotten. Unlike many mortal traditions, Yomi is not feared: it is a quiet place of rest and introspection. Rituals, offerings, and prayers help spirits traverse this realm with dignity, so that they are able to reach the Wheel of Rebirth.

Reincarnation and Karma
Borrowing from Buddhist influence, life is cyclical. Souls carry tendencies, virtues, and spiritual energy from one existence to the next. Good deeds, harmony with nature, and devotion to spiritual practice shape one’s next form—human, yōkai, or animal incarnation. Malevolent actions or ignorance may lead to trials in Reikai or temporary wandering spirits until lessons are learned. However, the system is restorative, not punitive, encouraging reflection rather than fear.

Spirit Interaction
Mortals can interact with the spiritual planes through rituals, mediumship, festivals, and dreams. Kami may manifest through shrines, natural phenomena, or animal messengers; yōkai may appear in forests, rivers, or during liminal times like dusk or dawn. Certain objects—relics, charms, or sacred tools—act as conduits. Mediums, shamans, and priests interpret these signs, ensuring harmony.

Cosmic Balance
All realms are interdependent. A disturbance in the mortal world—defiling a sacred grove or neglecting a shrine—can ripple into Reikai, weakening a kami or stirring restless spirits. Conversely, the withdrawal or absence of faith may diminish a deity’s strength, subtly altering natural phenomena. The interplay between mortal action, yōkai activity, and divine will forms the underlying law of the universe, ensuring that no force dominates absolutely.

Death and the Fallen Star
The fallen star adds a new layer to cosmology. It is seen as a cosmic anomaly, resonating with multiple realms simultaneously. Some spirits are drawn to it, others corrupted; some mortals are blessed or cursed by its energy. Its arrival is interpreted differently by each ancestry: Oni see a potential test of strength, Ryujin sense shifts in elemental tides, and humans debate whether it is omen or opportunity.

Philosophy of the Afterlife
The cosmology of Yamato emphasizes continuity, balance, and respect rather than judgment or eternal reward/punishment. Life, death, spirits, and reincarnation are threads in a vast tapestry. Mortals, kami, and yōkai all participate in the same network, and the well-being of one domain depends on the harmony of the others. This fosters a worldview of mindfulness, ritual engagement, and reverence for life, without fatalism or despair.

Summary:

Yamato has layered realms: Mortal (Uchū-no-Kuni), Spirit (Reikai), Celestial (Seihō), and Underworld (Yomi-no-Kuni).
Death is transformation; reincarnation is restorative.
Interaction with spirits occurs through ritual, offerings, and mediumship.
Cosmic balance depends on cooperation among mortals, yōkai, and kami.
The fallen star is an ongoing anomaly affecting all realms.