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Scythia: Viśa' Saṃbhava of Khotan

They are skillful in spinning and weaving silk, are genial and polite in disposition, and are fond of learning classics and the arts... they esteem the Buddha's dharma (virtue).
-- Master Xuanzang

Introduces Viśa' Saṃbhava, His Majesty of Khotan (912-967), as an alternative leader for Scythia.

Khotan was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located in an oasis on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. The local inhabitants were the Saka people (the same “Saka” as in the “Saka Horse Archer”), who spoke a variant of the Eastern Iranian Languages. From the 2nd century BC onwards, Khotan became an important commerce post after the establishment of the Silk Road. The Kingdom existed for over a millennium before it was conquered by the Muslim Kara-Khanid Khanate in 1006 AD.

Viśa' Saṃbhava ascended the throne in 912 AD. He claimed the imperial crown of the Tang Dynasty by adopting the family name “Li” in the Han Chinese Language and called himself “Li Shengtian”. “Shengtian” is a translation-by-meaning of the Khotanese word “Miṣḍāṃ Ḡyastä”, meaning “the Gracious God”. He also used many titles including “The Lion King”, “The King of Kings”, “The Bodhisattva Emperor”, and “The Emperor of Great Holiness and Wisdom”, etc., reflecting a mixture of cultural backgrounds. During his reign, Buddhist activities in Khotan flourished greatly, and he actively developed diplomatic relations with other states and regimes along the Silk Road. Khotan reached its peak and became a major regional power in Central Asia, thriving in commerce, textile, Buddhist religious activities and military expansion.

Scythia (Viśa' Saṃbhava)

Leader Trait: Miṣḍāṃ Ḡyastä

• Holy Site buildings receive -20% purchasing cost and can be purchased with Faith.
  
• Each Holy Site and Worship Building converts 10% of city Faith yield into Food and Production.
  
• Holy site buildings gain +2 additional Faith from each active alliance.

Leader Agenda: The Buddhist Realm on the Silk Road

• Likes Civilizations that devote in faith and form many allies. Dislikes Civilizations with very few allies.

Credits:
C: Historical Background, Design, Text
Joseph Allen: Code, AI Art Generation

Leader Portrait is adapted and parsed by AI from his portrait in Cave 98 of the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang[en.wikipedia.org].

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