Heiban

Heiban (: 海平; Hải Bình), officially the Monarchical State of Heiban is a country located in southwestern Kesh bordered to the north by Verissi, to the south by Ramay across the Canbrict Strait, to the east by the South Kesh Bay, and to the west by the Iapetus Ocean. Heiban covers a total area of 929,097s square kilometres (358,726 sq mi) and has an estimated population as 68.6 million as of 2021. The capital and largest metropolis is the city of Yenbai, natively known as Yên Bái. Heiban is a.

The Heiban peninsula has been inhabited as early as the by  people. The first known modern Heibanese civilization, during the second millennium BC, centred on the northern end of the Lào Mau River, near modern-day Yenbai. This initial civilization, and the communities that formed it, where known collectively as Nồm, and managed to remain almost entirely isolated for much of their early history. Contact with other emerging civilizations in the vicinity of the South Kesh Bay began around the 10th century BCE, with the arrival of people from present-day Ramay and South Kesh. In the 3rd century BCE, the Nồm communities, scattered across the country's plains, began to grow into larger matriarchal chiefdoms and small monarchies, the largest of which was the Matriarchy of Hải Bình ruled by the Trịnh dynasty. By the beginning of the Common Era (CE), this nation had expanded and annexed virtually all smaller chiefdoms in the peninsula. The Trịnh dynasty fell in the year 677 CE, and was overthrown by the Vương dynasty, considered to be the last true Nồm dynasty in Heiban, as it was under their rule that the country came in contact with Imperial Kodeshia in the 11th century.

Once the Matriarchy of Heiban came in contact with the Kodeshi Empire, a trading agreement was put in place between both nations. The Vương agreed for Kodeshi merchants to be stationed in the nation's largest port city of Sa Hóa. The agreement remained peaceful for nearly two centuries, however, as years went by, the Vương dynasty struggled to maintain its influence on the native population who had begun growing fond of the Chou dynasty of Kodesia. The Vương dynasty was challenged by the Lý dynasty and by the year 1234 CE, it had taken over the nation. However, the Lý rule was short-lived, as the Chou fell in Imperial Kodeshia in favor of the Zhou dynasty only three years after the Lý dynasty had come to power in Heiban. The Zhou Empire coerced the southern Kesh nation into consensus of becoming an imperial vassal state, to which the Lý showed little to no opposition. Zhou government officials, known as vassals, were sent to Heiban to replace the native leaders and act instead as heads of state in the name of the Emperor of Kodeshia.

As a, the nation's name was changed to Gangyou. The native Heibanese population was allowed to maintain usage of their native language so long as it was written in the. Kodeshi rule on the territory remained unfazed and unchallenged by the natives due to the strong military presence for three centuries before in mainland Kodeshia. The vassal stationed in Gangyou during this time was a loyal member of the Zhou family, and refusing to hand over the power to the Liang dynasty, while simultaneously taking advantage of the effects left by the independence of Qingcheng, the geographical distance, and incapacitated navy of Imperial Kodeshia, he, along with the Zhou soldiers stationed in Gangyou under his command, seized power of the nation and in October of 1531 established in its place the Empire of Zhouguo, with the objective of spreading Zhou influence throughout southern Kesh.

Etymology
The name "Heiban" (/hɛiːbɑːn/; hey-BAN; : 海平, : Hải Bình) comes from the Heibanese word Hải Bình (海平, meaning 'calm sea'), and it's the shortened version of its complete name, Nước Hải Bình (渃海平, meaning 'land of the calm sea'). The earliest written evidence of this name used in reference to area dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE, found in the ancient cities of the native Nồm people, who lived on the eastern side of the peninsula. The name was eventually lost during Zhou occupation and the territory was officially renamed first to Gangyou and later to Zhouguo, both names of origin. The name was officially readopted in 1608 with the overthrow of the illegitimate Zhou government, and its replacement for a native Heibanese monarchy.

History

 * Main article: History of Heiban

Vassalization of Heiban

 * See also: Kodeshia

In the mid-11th century, in the year 1059, ships coming from the Empire of Kodeshia arrived to the western shores of the South Kesh Bay, which was territory of the Matriarchy of Hải Bình, ruled under the Vương Dynasty. Upon the initial encounter, the rulers and the people of Hải Bình showed cordial but territorial toward the Eastern Keshian arrivals, particularly due to the language barrier. Imperial Kodeshia sought to settle relations in Southern Kesh as one of the first external powers to come in contact with the states of this region, to expand its trading reach beyond the eastern side of the continent. This is how, months after their initial arrival, the two states signed a trade agreement in 1960 known as the East-South Accords, where the Matriarchy of Hải Bình approved for the creation of merchant and trading posts, and the stationing of Kodeshi ships on the nation's largest harbor in the city of Sa Hóa, in exchange for protection from other global powers who might seek to assert authority and influence in the region, as well as financial contribution.

The agreement remained peaceful and interrupted for several decades, and the relationship between both states became more solidified and almost vital to the Matriarchy of Hải Bình. This became especially true, when at the start of the 12th century, Imperial Kodeshia began to send rural workers in large waves to the southern Kesh nation to work the fields, as the former had a much larger population and could benefit from exporting what was grown in Hải Bình back home. In time, this relationship became detrimental to the Vương Dynasty, which had been ruling the country for nearly five and a half centuries, as the people native to Hải Bình began to show more gratitude and devotion to the Chou Dynasty from Kodeshia, believing it was because of them that their country had started to prosper. This resulted in the fall of the Vương Dynasty, challenged, and eventually overthrown, by the Lý Dynasty in the year 1234. However, the rule of the Lý was short lived in the country as the Chou Dynasty fell in Kodeshia in favor of the Zhou Dynasty, who had a different and much more hostile approach to the Matriarchy of Hải Bình than its predecessor.

In the year 1238, Imperial Kodeshia sent representatives of the Zhou Emperor to meet with the Lý Matriarch, in order to renegotiate the terms of the East-South Accords that had been signed nearly two centuries ago. The terms presented by the Emperor of Kodeshia remained mostly in line with what had been previously establishes, however, newly additions included the increase of migration waves of Kodeshi rural workers, which in turn would result in more crops being sent to Imperial Kodeshia, half of the tax money collected by the Lý Dynasty from Heibanese citizens to be sent to the Emperor of Kodeshia, stationing of military personnel and naval vessels outside the city of Sa Hóa, and the replacement of the Matriarch of Hải Bình as head of state for representatives of the Kodeshi Empire known as Vassals. After being presented with these terms, the Lý Dynasty showed little to no resistance, as it was agreed that the monarchy would not see itself affected by the change in terms. This new agreement was known as the Binding of the Zhou and Lý Dynasties and Vassalization of Hải Bình.

As the newly established agreement came into fruition, the territory of present-day Heiban became more integrated into Kodeshia as a vassal state, with the adoption of the Guoyu language as the main language used for trade, politics, and all forms of printed information, and the integration of Kodeshi traditions, such as the use of the Lunar Calendar and the many festivities tied to it. In 1247, a decade after the signing of the new agreement, the country's name was changed to Gangyou, and the Lý Dynasty was officially dissolved through exile. By 1250, the country had reached a point that modern Heibanese historians consider to be the proper de facto annexation of Heiban by Imperial Kodeshia.

Government and politics

 * Main article: Government of Heiban, Constitution of Heiban

The Monarchical State of Heiban is a  comprising eleven. The country's is the Monarch of Heiban, who holds the title of either Queen or King; meanwhile, the  is the Prime Minister of Heiban, an 6-year term elective position who also acts as the  for Her Majesty's Cabinet. The Constitution of Heiban, also known as Nồm Gốc (𩄑㭲), is and states that the government be divided into three branches responsible for one another: the, the , and the.

Executive

 * Main article: Executive power of Heiban

The executive power is vested on the Monarch of Heiban as the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and Protector of the Faith for life or until. Since 1840, the title of Monarch of Heiban has been hereditary under a system of, meaning that the priority for next in line to the Heibanese Crown will always lie on the daughters of the Monarch before their sons. As a constiutional monarchy, the country has only had a single male sovereign, King Ngọc Hiển. In the event the doesn't meet the minimum ruling age requirement, the next person in line part of the Royal Family over the age of 21 will be declared, and serve as the substitute Monarch in the Heir's place until this one comes of age. Though bound by the Constitution, the Monarch of Heiban still holds reserve powers that may be exercised without Parliament's consent.

The head of government is the Prime Minister, an elected position deeply linked to the Legislature of Heiban but with completely separate elections. Upon election, the Prime Minister becomes the Chairperson for Her Majesty's Cabinet, and the person in charge of virtually all national and political affairs. They are the sole connection between the Legislature and the Monarchy, as all matter discussed at Parliament are then brought before the Monarch by the Prime Minister. Constitutionally, the head of government has no fixed term, however, by convention the Monarch of Heiban will call for elections every 6 years. If after the 6-year period the Monarch has yet to call for elections, the Parliament has the power to remove the Prime Minister from their position and holding elections by calling for a. Prime Ministers can be elected for two consecutive terms, and elected a total of four terms. After their election, the Prime Minister will select Members of Parliament to appoint as the Ministers of Heiban, all of whom will then form Her Majesty's Cabinet. The Ministers are the heads of the administrative government offices known as, and each of them, upon appointment, has the responsibility of overseeing and handling specific areas of government and politics, while reporting back to the Cabinet, and specifically the Prime Minister. Ministries are assigned a specific annual budget based on how important their contribution to the country is according to the government of turn, and it is then up to the Ministers to determine in which way to spend this budget and report all financial movement to the Royal Treasury, also known as the Ministry of Economy.

Her Majesty's Cabinet, is a political body comprising the Prime Minister, the Ministers, and the Functionaries, designed as a way to update the head of government with all matters pertaining to the different areas of government handled by the Ministers and Functionaries, and be advised on such fronts. Her Majesty's Council is bound to the Prime Minister, meaning that after a 6-year term the Cabinet will be replaced in its entirety unless the Prime Minister is reelected for a second term, in which case they will choose which members to keep and which ones to replace. Ministers can only be reappointed two consecutive times, and appointed a total of four times.

Legislature

 * ''Main article: Legislature of Heiban

The Legislature of Heiban functions under a formed by a  body known as Her Majesty's Parliament (abbreviated to H.M Parliament), which meets at the Palace of Laws of Heiban, also known as Cung Phép (宮法), in the capital city of Yenbai. The Heibanese Legislature is formed by the Members of Parliament, and is tasked with the responsibility of presenting bills and creating new laws. The Legislature shares with the Monarch of Heiban the powers of, and dissolution of government, both of which haven't been exercised by the sovereign since the country's inception as a constitutional monarchy.

For laws to be passed, each bill proposed by any Member of Parliament, or political coalition, must meet, in Heiban this term refers to a positive vote by half of the Members of Parliament, plus one. The Prime Minister will appoint a Chairperson, an annual position, who will act as the during Parliamentary Sessions. Parliamentary Sessions, are the period of time during which Parliament will function. For several years now sessions have started on March 3rd and ended on December 12th, however, the Prime Minister and the Monarch may call for Emergency Sessions during the Parliament’s Resting Period between December 13th and March 2nd, with the exception of days observed as Buddhist holidays.

For, Heiban is divided into 735 , each electing a single Member of Parliament by simple plurality. Elections in Heiban take place during the month of August and, like the elections for Prime Minister, have a non-fixed term of 6 years in between. By convention, the Monarch will respect the six-year period as recommended by the head of government, however, they still hold the constitutional power to call for elections whenever they see fit. Parliamentary elections are compulsory for every citizen over the age of 21, and optional for citizens between the ages of 18 and 20, as well as those living or staying abroad during the election period. Members of Parliament can run a maximum of two consecutive times for an infinite total number of times, and they may also be summoned to form Her Majesty's Cabinet as Ministers.

Judiciary

 * Main article: Judiciary of Heiban

The Judiciary of Heiban is a hierarchical system, atop which stands Her Majesty’s High Court (abbreviated as H.M High Court), comprising six judges known as the Ladies of Justice (: 貴婆功理; Quý bà công lý), and is the only position of government inaccessible to men, as stated in the Constitution. The Ladies of Justice are granted lifetime tenure, and are directly appointed by the Monarch of Heiban. As tradition, former Ladies of Justice will usually pass their recommendation on to the Monarch for new candidates. H.M High Court is stationed in the capital, at the Lotus Tribunal of Heiban, also known as the Sen Toà (蓮座), and is in charge of interpreting, defending and applying the law across the country.

Courthouses in Heiban are divided into two categories: Courts of Inquiry, which hear cases in the first instance, and Courts of Entreaty, which review specific contested decisions made by the Courts of Inquiry. Certain courthouses are known as Hybrid Courts, as they’re both Courts of Inquiry and Entreaty. H.M High Court is what’s known as a ‘Court of Last Resort’, meaning that although it will usually act as a Court of Entreaty by reviewing previous cases, H.M High Court might act as a Court of Inquiry in cases of national urgency, such as a political trials or terrorism.

All provinces in Heiban are home to a High Court, that will oftentimes act in the stead of H.M High Court in matters of regional urgency. The judges in charge of these High Courts are referred to as Prime Judges. The national High Court can be identified by the words “Her Majesty’s” or “His Majesty’s” (abbreviated to H.M) in their official name; no provincial High Court may include this designation as part of their name.

Geography

 * Main article: Geography of Heiban

Bordered to the southeast and east by the South Kesh Bay, to the west and southwest by the Iapetus Ocean, to the northwest by Verissi and to the northeast by Gxea, Heiban has an area of 929,097 square kilometres (358,726 sq mi) and lies between latitudes and. It has a 3,935-kilometre (2,445-mile) coastline along the South Kesh Bay and the Iapetus Ocean, and it's home to more than a hundred islands and islets off its shore. The country's landscape is characterised by a low-lying north-central that extends from east to west, home to many hills and valleys, and surrounded by  to the south and low mountains to the north. On the western end of this plain lies the largest in the country, Lake Bao Giá, and the southern reaches of the West Kesh river basin, one of the largest on the planet. Extending from its central region are transitional plains to the south, thinly forested and rising to elevations of about 600 metres (1900 feet) above sea level. To the north the Gxean plain abuts a, which forms a southward facing cliff stretching for more than ??? kilometres (??? miles) from west to east, across almost the entire Heibanese-Gxean border, and rising abruptly above the plain to heights of 800 to 1,600 meters (2,800-5,200 feet). This cliff demarks most of Heiban's northeastern border and the southern limit of the Vàng Ðỉnh Mountain Range.

Flowing southward from the Vàng Ðỉnh Mountains, through Heiban's plains and southern hills is the Lào Mau River. East and west of the Lào Mau, the transitional plains gradually merge with the southern highlands, a region of forested hills and high plateaus that extend to the countries's southern coastlines, creating a massive valley around the river mouth and extending in a latitudinal fashion northeastward. This valley divides the southern Heibanese highlands into two blocks, the western side presents higher elevations and rougher terrain, giving way to a much more rugged coastline, and resulting in many peninsulas and islets off its shore. Part of the western highlands is Mount Buôn Pha, an eastward facing cliff, with a 770 meter (2,526 ft.) drop into the Iapetus Ocean at its peak. The southwestern highlands are the least populated region of Heiban due to its difficult access, and are home to three Nature Realm Protectorates.

The southeastern highlands are much smaller in comparison, and much easier to cross, with two large cities being located along the highlands' southern side. These have a much more gradual transition into both the central plains and the shores, with their highest peaks being located inland rather than close to the coast. The southeastern seaboard next to the highlands is smooth and devoted of islands. Unlike its western counterpart, this region is much more populated, with some of Heiban's biggest touristic hotspots being found here. Despite its smaller size, the southeastern highlands are the northern extension of the much larger Ramay Mountain Chain, that runs accross southeastern Heiban and the Ramayan islands.

Climate

 * Main article: Climate of Heiban

Wildlife and conservation

 * Main article: Flora and fauna of Heiban
 * See also: Yenbai Convention

The Nồm civilizations that have inhabited the Heibanese peninsula since before the Common Era have always held beliefs and practices regarding the protection of nature as a foremost priority. According to records found in western Heiban, sometime between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, the consumption of certain meats was not only frowned upon but also illegal and punishable with hanging. This is attributed to the region's native religions that, much like Buddhism, encouraged vegetarianism.

In the present day, Heiban's environmentally cautious and nature-friendly policies during the last few decades has been applauded by its citizens and activists alike. Almost every political party and coalition in the country has pushed for green policies at Parliament. Some of the environmental milestones of biggest renown in the country include the creation of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity in 1903, considered a rare sight at the time, the approval of the Đất Mẹ Act in 1925 designed to put in place stricter environmental regulations on the many industries across the country to ensure good air, water, and soil quality, and the non-disturbance of the Heibanese flora and fauna, and the raise in the severity of punishments for environmental crimes, with being charged with up to 50 years in prison, or the  in some cases.

In 2021, Heiban became the first country in the world to address climate change and push for global green policies with the creation of the Yenbai Convention, named after the capital city of Yenbai, where the agreement was initially drafted and signed. The Convention put forward a goal to reduce carbon emissions by the half of the 21st century, and encourage its signatory countries to transition from fossil fuel energy to renewable ones, grant better legal protection to all flora and fauna through constitutional reform, and create more protected areas, among many other things, all of which have been part of Heiban's green agenda since 1970s. The Convention has been signed by 30 countries as of February of 2022.

There are 627 protected areas in Heiban that cover 23% of its territory, or nearly 213,692 km2 (82,506 sq mi). The state is also a self-proclaimed Ally for Nature, after having passed the Environmental Rights Act in 1991, declaring the protection of wildlife and biodiversity in the country an explicit national priority, and calling for constitutional reform. Today, the Constitution of Heiban recognizes the Rights of Nature, granting all flora and fauna within Heiban’s borders rights similar to fundamental human rights.

Heiban is a diverse nation, with countless species living in its territory. There are 312 mammal species, 547 bird species, 281 reptile species, 650 freshwater species, and 540 marine fish species according to scientists and zoologists, as well as approximately 5000 identified plant species. Much of the country’s biodiversity is contained near the southern and central regions, and around the many rivers feeding into the Iapetus Ocean and the South Kesh Bay.

Administrative divisions

 * Main article: Provinces of Heiban, Prefectures of Heiban, Municipalities of Heiban

The Constitution of Heiban divides the Heibanese territory into three levels of administrative divisions:, , and. Historically, the country was divided into regions or Hoàng (皇), today these divisions only exist for cultural reasons and are not administrative.

The first level of administrative divisions are the provinces of Heiban, of which there are eleven. Each provinces is run by a Provincial Committee, a five-people body at the head of which sits the Governor. The Governors of Heiban are elected by the citizens of their respective province every 4 years, and upon elections are tasked with forming the provincial government, the provincial committee. Despite not being a, the Heibanese government grants all of its provinces some level of autonomy, which gives the provincial governments the ability to administer policies in regards to , , , , and , as long as they don't contradict federal law. All provinces carry cultural and social importnace, as citizens tend to identify with their province of origin, all of which have their own traditions, foods, festivities, and customs.

Each province is subdivided into eight, making up for a total of 88. The prefectures of Heiban serve mainly electoral purposes, and are proportionally sized and located based on population. By law, all prefectures must have at least 50,000 people within its borders. Like provinces, prefectures fall under jurisdiction of the Provincial Committee, however, not all prefectures within the same province have the same policies, as these are oftentimes put in place based on factors such as, , and. For elections for the provincial government, each prefecture has what are called Lại (吏), which are designated cities or towns where elections take place. Almost every city in the country holds the status of Lại, however, in bigger and more sparsely populated prefectures, there will only be no more than two Lại towns. This is the case of the Khánh Văn province, where nearly 35% of its population has to mail their voting ballots to their prefectural Lại due to distance.

As a third and last administrative level, each prefecture is divided into. The municipalities of Heiban have purely electoral purposes as they are regarded as. During, each municipality will vote for a to represent them in the Legislature. The number of municipalities is proportional to the population of each province, with one municipality for every 85,000 citizens, making for a total of 735 seats at Parliament as of 2022. Prior to 1962, there was only one municipality for every 115,000 citizens, this was changed after 6 of the 11 Provincial Committees filled a complaint to Parliament, claiming that the system was only beneficial to the province of Miền Vua, which at the time had nearly 90 representatives in Parliament, while provinces such as Khánh Văn and Hướng Bắc had less than 10 each. It is estimated, according to population growth that the number of municipalities won't be in need for change until the year 2060.

The historical regions of Heiban, also known as Hoàng, were the primary national divisions between the 16th and 19th century. The region's boundaries were majorly defined by the country's rivers, making up for a total of 14 Hoàng. Each one was ruled by members of the Royal Family known as or Vợ (𡞕). The regions were abolished and substituted with the current provinces in 1812, with the adoption of a system. The title of Vợ remains in use to this day, with each of them acting as ceremonial provincial Heads of State, with no real political powers.

Foreign relations

 * Main article: Foreign relations of Heiban

Military

 * Main article: Armed forces of Heiban

The Heibanese Royal System of Defense (: 海平系統房首帝國; Hải Bình Hệ thống Phòng thủ Đế quốc) are the of Heiban, under the direction of the General Chief of Heiban as supreme commander. Though not exercised, as of the armed forces, the Monarch of Heiban holds reserve military powers such as the, mobilization of troops, and dismissal of the General Chief. The armed forces consist of the Royal Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Forces, the Cultural Army, and Her Majesty's Royal Service.

The Royal System of Defense has a combined manpower of 525,000 active duty personnel and another 828,000 active reserve personnel. The head of the armed forces, as commander-in-chief, is the Monarch of Heiban, however this title has been only nominal for several years. The armed forces are managed by the Ministry of Defense of Heiban, headed by the Minister of Defense, and commanded by the Military Assembly of Heiban, headed by the General Chief. The Heibanese has increased from $49 billion to $92 billion in 2018, accounting for approximately 3.83% of the country's total GDP as of 2021. The increase in military spending has been attributed, by the Ministry of Defense, to the growing presence of the Collective International Security Treaty Organization (CISTO) in neighboring Ramay and Cagayan, and of as an ideology in the region. In 2004, the Military Assembly declared the Republic of South Kesh a volatile state and increased protection of Heiban's (EEZ). In 2012 protection across Heiban's northwestern border, shared with the State of Verissi, was expanded, consequence of the Nzambeyan practice of disregarding international borders. As of 2022, Heiban has the largest maritime military presence in the South Kesh Bay.

The Royal Army of Heiban (軍隊皇家; Quân đội hoàng gia) is the land-based, and has a total manpower of 235,000 active personnel (duty and reserve). As a subdivision of the Royal Army, the Frontier Forces of Heiban make up one third of the total manpower, and nearly 95% of its personnel is stationed across Heiban's northern border, with the remaining 5% being located along the provincial borders. A small portion of the Royal Army is scattered across all Heibanese islands, with each one having at least 150 personnel present at all times. The Royal Navy of Heiban (海軍皇家; Hải quân hoàng gia) is the branch of the armed forces principally designated for and ; namely, -borne,, , or -borne  operations and related functions. It has a total manpower of 502,400 active personnel (duty and reserve), and at more than half a million people, it's by far the largest branch of the Heibanese military. The Royal Navy has one subdivision in the form of the Coast Guard of Heiban, which makes up two thirds of the Navy's total manpower. As a state surrounded on three sides by water, the Coast Guard's duties are considered among the most important in Heiban, these being: enforcement of the Heibanese EEZ and territorial waters, protection of Heiban's offshore islands, patrolling of the South Kesh Bay and the Iapetus Ocean, and securing of all rivers flowing into Heiban from bordering nations. During, the remaining one third of the Navy is tasked with the protection of all Heibanese ships, entering and leaving the South Kesh Bay, from , common in the waters surrounding the Ramayan islands.

The Royal Air Forces of Heiban (力量空軍皇家; Lực lượng Không quân Hoàng gia) is the branch of the military that primarily conducts. During it's responsible for, carrying out  and  missions, and providing support to  and  often in the form of  and. It has a total manpower of 195,000 active personnel (duty and reserve). During peacetime, the Air Forces' tasks are reduced to air policing, ensuring that the of Heiban is enforced by all nations, and.

The Cultural Army of Heiban (軍隊文化; Quân đội Văn hóa) is the special branch of the military, comprising two subdivisions, tasked with year-round responsibilities specific to Heiban. The Cultural Army has a total manpower of 100,000 active duty personnel. The first of its subdivisions is the Royal Guard of Traditions, whose main task is that of "cultural protectionism", a concept known in Heiban as Sự Chắn (事振). The practice of Sự Chắn isn't that of policing or prohibiting certain traditions, but to ensure that those that partake in them do so correctly and respectfully. For instance, the Royal Guard of Traditions will usually have personnel stationed outside museums, cemeteries, temples, and any other location of cultural significance to Heiban. The second subdivision is the Bureau of Environmental Security, tasked with the responsibility of protecting all and large  in the country. Originally, the Bureau was part of the Royal Army, and most of its responsibilities were handled by the of Heiban. The Cultural Army was created in 1972, along with the Royal Guard of Traditions as its only subdivision, with the Bureau of Environmental Security being included as a second subdivision in 1975. Her Majesty's Royal Service (役務皇家𧵑陛下; Dịch vụ Hoàng gia của Bệ hạ) is the oldest branch of the military, and its main and only objective is safeguarding the Queen of Heiban and all of the Royal Family. H.M Royal Service has a total manpower of 50,000 active duty personnel, and unlike the other branches, it's commanded not by the Military Assembly but by the Royal Director of Security. The Royal Service is stationed at all times outside The Garden, the residency of the Royal Family in Yenbai, the residencies of all Royal Family members outside The Garden, the residency of all Lords and Ladies across the country, as well as all of the Royal Family's private dwellings. It's also tasked with accompanying and protecting the Queen, and any member of the Royal Family, during national or international travel.

As part of its political agenda, the armed forces of Heiban have specific instructions not to intervene in any form of international conflict unless directly commanded by the Monarch, as opposed to the Military Assembly. A special military program in Heiban, known as the Heibanese Cooperative Defense Program, is, when requested, specifically tasked with abroad, such as escorting  and  from certain countries, ensuring security and  for refugees fleeing to Heiban, and assisting foreign governments in civilian protection during wartime, and in fights against.

Despite having been in peacetime for most of its history, in Heiban has been compulsory since 1945 for all citizens, regardless of gender, between the ages of 18 and 28, for an 18-month period. According to the Ministry of Defense, this is done to ensure the readiness of all citizens in the event of catastrophe or necessary war.

Education

 * Main article: Education in Heiban

The Heibanese education system is composed of both state-owned and private institutions. All academic establishments are overseen and directed by the Ministry of Education, with an annual budget of $110.400 billion, or 4.6% of the country's total GDP. The education system is divided into five academic levels:

A completed academic cycle in Heiban will last an average of 23.5 years.
 * An initial or level for children between 1 and 5 years old. As an optional level, most parents decide to homeschool their children during preschool. However, all children within this age gap are required by law to take secondary language classes of any of the four languages recognized as "necessity languages" in Heiban:, , , or . In an institution, children are enrolled at age 1 or 2, and for a duration of 4 years.
 * An elementary or level lasting 7 years, with children starting at ages 6 or 7 years old. It is from this level onwards that education in Heiban becomes mandatory by law, and parents who don't enroll children in school can be charged with  and fined accordingly. As of 2020, the literacy rate for children in primary school was 99.3%.
 * A secondary or level lasting 6 years, with students starting at ages 13 or 14 years old. At this level religious classes become mandatory across all Heibanese institutions. Students must choose one of the following specialization when enrolling into high school:  and, , , or . As of 2020, 91.4% of citizens between ages 13 and 19 were enrolled in secondary school.
 * A tertiary level or lasting 2 years, with students starting at ages 19 or 20. Students must select a  of their pleasing during which they will receive the appropriate education on that field of study. After graduation, students will receive a Basic Education Degree certifying that they have completed all mandatory academic levels, and are therefore elegible to work. As of 2015, 81.4% of all working adult citizens reported having a Basic Education Degree.
 * A final level or with an unfixed duration, for all citizens aged 21 and above. Although university isn't mandatory in Heiban, most students decide to enroll after preparatory school to gain access to better jobs, which tend to require a university degree. In order to enroll in university, one must be a Heibanese citizen or holder of a, and pass an entrance exam in the event the person enrolling doesn't have a Basic Education Degree.

Due to Heiban's compulsory military service for all able citizens, both female and male, most students will choose to enroll in the military instead of moving over to preparatory school, in which case they'll receive basic courses at the military academy they've enrolled, and be granted a National Service Degree, which is as valid as a Basic Education Degree when enrolling in university.

Education is considered of the upmost importance in Heiban, and much of the country's culture has shaped the way the education system operates. Students are expected to maintain their schools clean, and faculty must offer green and religious spaces on campus. The profession of teacher is considered sacred in the country, and every citizen is expected to pay their respects to teachers and professors alike. University professors hold one of the highest wages in the country, comparable to doctors and certain positions of government.

Because of its compulsory nature, the Heibanese government has made education public, free, and accessible for all first four levels in every prefecture in the country, while also offering public education at the university level in all major cities, with the University of Yenbai being the largest in the country, and one of the oldest in the region, receiving international students from countries across Kesh. Today, 97.3% of all citizens are or have been enrolled in some form of academic institution, with 81.4% of those being holders of a Basic Education Degree, and 70.2% of a university degree.

Economy

 * Main article: Economy of Heiban

Since the start of the 21st century, Heiban is considered the most advanced country in Southern Kesh in economic and industrial development. The national quality university education and the establishment of a highly motivated and educated populace is largely responsible for spurring Heiban's high technology boom and rapid economic development. As of 2022, Heiban has a GDP by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of $2.400 trillion, the largest in Southern Kesh, and 6th largest in the continent, with a GDP (PPP) per capita of $39,025.

Heiban is a with a  and. From the mid 1920s to the late 1970s, along with South Kesh, the country's economy was one of continent's fastest-growing economies. During the Lost Decade in the 1980s, the country, along with the entire Southern Kesh region, saw a massive economic recession. Heiban suffered significant setbacks during the Lost Decade. Growth fell by 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 1981 from the previous quarter, the first negative quarterly growth in 15 years, with year on year quarterly growth continuing to be negative into 1983. Most sectors of the economy reported declines, with manufacturing dropping 27.2% as of January 1984, and consumer goods sales dropping 4.6%. Exports in medical and research technology, heavy industry, two critical pillars of the economy, shrank 53.9% and 49.1% respectively, while exports overall fell by a record 38.3% in January, and 19.3% in February 1984 year on year.

Despite the recession caused by the Lost Decade, the Heibanese economy, helped by timely stimulus measures and strong domestic consumption of products that compensated for a drop in exports, was able to avoid a recession unlike the rest of the Southern Kesh economies, posting for a positive economic growth for two consecutive years of the crisis. In 1985, Heiban made a strong economic rebound with a growth rate of 7.3%, signaling a return of the economy to pre-crisis levels. Heiban's exports has recorded $531 billion in the first eleven months of the year 1985, already higher than its export in the whole year of 1983. The Heibanese economy witnessed a growth in the remainder of the 20th century from 4.1% to 4.9% annually between 1986 and 2000.

Transportation

 * Main article: Transportation in Heiban

The transport network in Heiban is one of the most developed in the region, with virtually every single corner of the country being interconnected by some form of transportation accessible to all citizens, the most popular of these being the. Set to finish in 2027, the network of railways that runs across Heiban is one of the largest in southern Kesh, connecting every provincial capital and large city with one another, as well as minor cities and towns. Apart from acting as transport methods between cities, a single railway line called The Ring, colloquially called Ổ, runs along Heiban's coasts and northern international border, creating a circular railway that connects with international train lines driving into bordering countries, as well as national lines leading to the major urban centres. Although most of Heibanese railway lines remain unaltered from when they were originally built, the undergoing project seeking to modernize the country's transport system will have replaced all long distance carriers for by April of 2022.

Maritime transportation has grown increasingly common in the past decades, as the population in Heiban's offshore islands grows, and so does the need to move between them and the mainland's financial centers, where most people are employed. are largely the most common method of transport between the islands and the mainland, however, the use of larger ships has become more frequent with the increase in population and the demand for maritime travel, this last one being particularly true as new maritime routes have been created between mainland cities, as is the case with the Nằn Lương-Ngốc Lạt ship route, the most used in the country, carrying nearly 300,000 passengers per day in either direction. Commercial maritime routes have also gained traction, as tourism in the South Kesh Bay increases in popularity. The most common international maritime routes departing from Heiban include those connecting it to the countries with shores in the east of the South Kesh Bay.

Public transportation is the most common way of commuting in the country. According to the 2020 census, 89% of the population used methods of public transportation (bus, subway, ferry, or train) as their main way of travel. All public transport is overseen and run by the Ministry of Transport, subsidized by the government, and owned by private transport companies, such as Interra (Subways), Tàubờ and Hải Phà (Ferries and ships), or Đi Xa (Highways). The capital city of Yenbai is come to one of the largest underground networks in the continent, with 30 lines and 405 stations, with the current subway line expansion having an estimated finish date set for 2023, which will add 4 new lines and 43 stations.

, though not as common as every day transportation, is highly available across most cities in the country. Every provincial capital and urban prefecture is home to an international airport, making for a total of 16, with the largest and most frequented of them being Yenbai International Airport in the country's capital. All international airports offer layover and non-stop long distance flights to Avalonia, Artemia and Kesh, however, Heiban isn't a common layover stop itself due to its location in the southern hemisphere; only a few flights will have layovers in Yenbai or Thầy Đây, with the most common route for layovers in Heiban being those between western Artemia and southern Kesh. National flights are available for nearly all citizens as most minor cities host national airports, with the busiest national air route being that of Yenbai-Thầy Đây, the two largest cities in the country.

Despite its extensive transport infrastructure, the government of Heiban has managed to balance this with the green policies that have been a national staple for nearly a century. No transport line goes through or near protected areas or national parks, and all city parks and urban green spaces are as far away from the local highways as possible. In 2002, Queen Mộng Thi put forward a campaign encouraging citizens to use public transport instead of purchasing new cars, this was backed up by the elected government a year later when new driving laws were put in place in 2003, allowing car owners the usage of their vehicles only a set amount of days per week. Initially, this law would only affect cars, but in 2005 a reform expanded the law's reach to apply to motorcycles, trucks, and tractors.

Demographics

 * ''Main article: Demographics of Heiban

As of 1 January 2020, Heiban had a population of 61.4 million, according to its last census, with an estimated population for 2021 of 62.6 million, projecting for an annual population growth rate of 1.94%. According to the Constitution of Heiban the only official and national language is, spoken by virtually every citizen in the country as either a first or second language, with the official percentage of fluent speakers being 99.6% as of 2020. The country also recognizes four languages academically as "Necessity Languages" (㗂必要; Tiếng Tất Yếu), these being, , , and. More languages are spoken across the country in concentrated areas however, these are only categorized as "Minority languages" and carry no official government recognition.

Population

 * Main article: Population of Heiban

As of 2022, there are ten cities in Heiban with a population of over one million people, with the largest of these being the capital city of Yenbai, one of the largest capital cities in the world by area and population. All large cities in the country have access to the sea, whether direct by being coastal cities, or indirect by being located on a river. As of 2020, 47% of the population lived in the twenty largest cities, and 35% lived in the smaller cities, making for a total of 82% of the population living in, while the remaining 18% lives in.

Ethnicity

 * Main article:, , 

Based on the 2020 census, the Secretary of Population and Census of Heiban issued a statistical report that stated that around 93.2% of the population identified as ethnic and linguistically, making Heiban one of the most ethnically homogenous countries in southern Kesh. The Nồm people are the native population of Heiban, with records of their presence in the peninsula dating as far back as 2,000 BCE. Linguistically, every Nồm person in Heiban declared a full comprehension and usage of the in every day life, with the cities reporting the largest number of Nồm citizens being the capital city of Yenbai (9.8 million), Thầy Đây (7.4 million), and Quốc Món (6.5 million).

make up the largest ethnic minority in the country, with the latest census reporting only 2.1% of the population to claim ancestral ties to the former Kodeshi Empire (present-day Kodeshia and Qingcheng). During the country's time as a vassal, Zhou people used to make up the largest ethnic group at an estimated 52%, however, this number has been decreasing with time as Heiban entered a period known as "Kodeshi Cleansing", during which those of ethnic Zhou background would be excluded from "Nồm spaces", this was the closest Heiban has gotten to practice, however, these practices always remained purely of social and cultural nature and were never promoted by the government. Zhou population only increased in the 20th and 21st century with Heiban's rebuilding its ties with Kodeshia. Today, there are 1.2 million Zhou people in Heiban, and the cities with the largest Zhou populations are Giáp Đạt (800 thousand), Yenbai (300 thousand), and Giả Phố (100 thousand), with an approximate remaining 91,400 Zhou people scattered across the country.

make up the second largest percent of the population at 4%, however, these are not categorized by the government as a distinct ethnic group, and as such, many mixed people tend to either identify was Nồm or 'Other'. Because of this, as well as historical reasons, that occurred during the era of the Three Monarchs, such as illicit marriages, kidnapping of infants, or the destruction of birth certificates, the estimated real percentage of mixed people on Heiban, according to most scientists and anthropologists alike, is somewhere near 40%. Out of the 2.4 million people that identify as 'mixed', about 80% are categorized as Nồm-Zhou, 18% as Nồm and other southern Kesh ethnicity (mostly Ramayan or Prabhati), with the remaining 2% being those of mixed foreign ancestry, such as Zhou-Ramayan or Prabhati-Ramayan. The cities reporting the largest percentage of Mixed people in Heiban are Yenbai (1 million), Thầy Đây (800 thousand), and Tải Dông (600,000), with an approximate remaining 59,900 mixed people living in other parts of Heiban.

A remaining 0.7%, or 430,490 people, were categorized under 'Other' during the 2020 census. Most people under this category are those of Ramayan, Prabhati or Cagayano heritage, with Ramayan representing the largest number at 290,500 people. The cities with the biggest cities of citizens ethnically categorized as 'Other' are those in the southeastern region of the country, with the city of Sứ Bất being home to the largest Ramayan community in Heiban.

Language
[[File:Languages_of_Heiban.svg|right|thumb|365px|105%

]] The Consitution of Heiban recognizes the as the only official national language, spoken by around 99.6% of the population. Heibanese is the native language to the region, and as the only language in the world of descendance it has been categorized as a  by certain linguists in the country. As a result from lasting Kodeshi occupation during the region's early development as a state, the introduced and linguistic influence from the  have become integral parts of the Heibanese language that have been carried into the present day. The, or Chữ Nôm (𡨸喃) is a logographic writing system, that shares many characters with the used in the 13th century, with certain characters however, being unique to the Heibanese language and developed to better fit Old Heibanese vocabulary. Due to these similarities, the Guoyu and Heibanese languages are somewhat mutually intelligible in their written form, however this does not apply to spoken language, especially as both languages have grown apart over the years due to geographical distance. In the 20th century, due to the script's increasing presence in the region as a result of colonial settlements, the country officially adopted the, known in Heiban as Chữ Mới (𡨸㵋), as a national and signage script. Despite rising popularity in the usage of Chữ Mới, which is considered easier to read by a majority of the population, the government insists in keeping Chữ Nôm as the primary national script, considered an integral aspect of Heibanese culture.

The second most common language spoken in the country is, with nearly 14 million people speaking it as a first or second language. Most of the Guoyu-speaking population is comprised of bilingual citizens whose first language is Heibanese, whereas the number of people that have Guoyu as a first language in Heiban is around 2 million. The reason for almost 20% of the population to pick up Guoyu as a second language is due to Heiban's education system, which requires al citizens to learn one of the country's four "Necessity languages" (㗂必要; Tiếng Tất Yếu). The most popular of these languages is Guoyu, mostly due to shared similarities with Heibanese, such as script and vocabulary. Citizens whose first language is Guoyu are mainly concentrated in the country's northwest, in line with the cities with the largest population of ethnically Zhou people. Many mixed Nồm-Zhou people identify as and are usually raised speaking both languages simultaneously.

At 5 million speakers, makes up the third largest language in Heiban. Much like Guoyu, the largest percentage of Ramayan speakers at 4 million, comes from those who've learned it as a second language. The Ramayan language is a much more common Necessity Language in southern Heiban, as opposed to Guoyu, which has more popularity in the north. The biggest concentration of Ramayan speakers is in the city of Sứ Bất, locally known as the "Ramayan capital of Heiban". Consequently, a majority of the Heibanese-speaking population in this region are more frequent users of the Chữ Mới script compared to the north where Chữ Nôm has a wider use. The Ramayan languages (Ramayan and ) have historically carried a big significance for Heiban, and were considered the most important languages to learn for business and economic reasons, and Ramay and South Kesh were some of the country's biggest trading partners. However, this has changed in recent times as Ramay has leaned more with ideologies opposing those of Heiban, and South Kesh begins to resurface from a human rights violation crisis in the late 20th century.

Other common communities of linguistic minorities exist along the country's northern borders, and certain neighborhoods in some of the country's largest cities have entire populations of speakers of minority languages, like it's the case of the cities of Mã Lôi Cao and Bắc Điền. The most common minority languages found in Heiban are and.

Religion

 * Main article: Mẹ giáo, Religion in Heiban

The Constitution of Heiban recognizes only one religion as official on a national level: Mẹ giáo. Although is observed and legal in Heiban, it is socially perceived as wrong or immoral not to adhere to any religion, with the  Heibanese population making up less than 1% of the total. When entering Heiban, it is required by law to state one's religious status, and in similar fashion, all Heibanese passports and IDs must have a 'religion' line, where citizens must declare an official faith or self-identify as. As of January 2022, about 89.4% of the population identifies as Mẹ giáo, 5.2% identifies as, 3.9% identifies as Uyghandist, and the remaining 1.5% identifies as 'Irreligious' or 'Other'. Mẹ giáo is passed down from mother to their child, meaning that until said child comes of age (18), they must adhere to the same religion as their mother.

Prior to the integration of Heiban into the Zhou Empire as a vassal state, the territory was home to several small local religions, traditional to Nồm culture. It is believed that many of these religions merged into one at a point in time between the 3rd and 4th centuries, as anthropological evidence of many of the same traditions and customs dating back to these years appear across the peninsula, and in places where, prior to the 3rd century, its inhabitants would follow different religions practices. These first pre-colonial faith was given the name of Tin Nhất (信一), and it is the staple for much of the foundation of not only Mẹ giáo as the national faith, but of many Heibanese practices and ideologies (preservation of wildlife, matriarchal society, etc.).

Taoism was first introduced in the 12th century, as a result of growing trading relations between Heiban and Kodeshia. In the mid 13th century, the religion gained more traction as it became the official religion of Heiban as a vassal state. This was done in an attempt to fully integrate the Heibanese territory into Zhou values and lifestyle. Taoist temples were constructed all over the country, and in the larger cities, with a more prominent Zhou presence, the practice of Tin Nhất came close to forbidden. Despite the efforts, much of the native population refused to practice Taoism as an act of resistance, and which persisted for much of the territory's occupation. This resistance came later into play in the mid 16th century, when Samot Uyghandist missonaries arrived to the shores of the peninsula looking to spread their religious believes across the region. Much of the native Heibanese population found refuge in the newly introduced religion, which was not prohibited by the Zhou authorities, and by 1515, an estimated 85% of the native Heibanese population was fully adherent to Uyghandism.

Mẹ giáo (媄教) didn't exist formerly as a religion until the mid 17th century. The religion is a result of the native Nồm religious beliefs that managed to be preserved during Kodeshi occupation a century prior, and the Uyghandist beliefs and practices introduced by Samot missionaries. Mẹ giáo belief system consists of the, or Tứ Phủ (四府), each representing a different realm: Heaven, Mountains, Water and Earth, and each ruled by a different. These Mothers, or Mẫu (母), have been part of Nồm folklore for centuries, and of origin unknown. It wasn't until the arrival of Uyghandism, that the Mẫu began to be considered native Nồm women who had reached enlightenment, and lived in Heiban around the 6th century BCE, based on the first appearance of their artistic depictions. With this, developed the idea of the, or Tứ Diệu Đế (四妙諦), and as a way to observe Tứ Diệu Đế, religious practices came into play, such as , , praying to the Mẫu, the cultivation of ' (德行), and the observance of ' (五戒).

The observance of Ngũ giới has become particularly important in Heiban as a state, and to ensure the complete integration of Mẹ giáo in all aspects of society, in 1910 the government and the Monarchy put forward a set of five sacred laws known as Ngũ phép (五法), modeled after the Ngũ giới. The Heibanese Ngũ phép are as follows:
 * 1) To abstain from onslaught on breathing beings: This includes the acts of  or, ordering or causing someone else to kill another human being, , , , and in recent times it’s been used to promote the practice of  and  nationwide. Loopholes have been built around this belief in order to justify the , which can be dictated by the Monarch of Heiban or the Ladies of Justice. Crimes performed against this belief are punishable with the death penalty.
 * 2) To abstain from taking what is not given: This includes all forms of, , , , , , ,  and . Crimes performed against this belief are punishable with imprisonment.
 * 3) To abstain from misconduct concerning sense-pleasures: This includes, with the legal  being 21 years old. Crimes performed against this belief are punishable with imprisonment or the death penalty.
 * 4) To abstain from false speech: This includes the criminal offense of, , as well as any form of defamation of the government and its ideology through written or spoken speech. All published material that doesn’t align with this precept is banned or censored, and punishable with imprisonment or the death penalty.
 * 5) To abstain from alcoholic drink or drugs that are an opportunity for heedlessness: This includes the consumption and distribution, whether through selling or buying, of .  and  have been excluded from this belief for several decades. Crimes performed against this belief are punishable with imprisonment.

The Protector of the Faith of Heiban is the person in charge of interpreting and protecting the national religion, as well as deeming which practices are to be considered moral or immoral. Traditionally, this title is held by the Monarch of Heiban and is passed down in hereditary fashion, however, this title is not exercised, and its responsibilities are given instead to the Mẫu phụ, also known as the Religious Guardian. The Mẫu phụ of Heiban is always a woman, and is re-selected by the Head Monks of the Four Palaces every 20 years. The Head Monks are the heads of the Four Palaces, and are the people in charge of spreading the religious teaching to the rest of the nation.

Sexuality and gender

 * Main article: Women's rights in Heiban, LGBTQ+ rights in Heiban

Since its inception as a, the state of Heiban has been a self-declared , a tradition that dates back to the times of the Nồm states of the peninsula, prior to contact with Kodeshia was established. As such, much of the country's fundamental laws around, , , , and , have always included, and in certain instances favored, women. Virtually all forms of inheritance, including that of in Heiban's own Royal Family, are  in nature, meaning that are passed down from mother to daughter (or son in some instances), but never from the father. In a similar fashion, all citizens are receptors upon birth of their maternal surname and maternal religion. The country has a ceremonial, without any government functions, known as the Matriarch of Heiban, a hereditary position that serves an entirely symbolical function, reintroduced to the country as a nod to the ancient Matriarchs of Heiban. in the country have not been contested for nearly five centuries, and women are often more encouraged than men to apply for positions in government, finances, and science. Because women in Heiban are, culturally, expected to act as both providers and nurturers, new mothers are constitutionally entitled to 52 weeks of paid, which can sometimes be contested for more. A does exist in the country, where men earn on average 76% of what women are paid for the same work, because of this, it is not uncommon for single mothers to move and raise their children together, as their salary combined is oftentimes larger than that of a mother and a father. This has increased with the years, leading to a new family composition by the name of Mẹ đôi (媄堆).

Mẹ đôi saw its first and biggest boom in the early 90s, when about 60% of single mothers across the country reported to be living in a shared house with another single mother. Eventually, this resulted in many of these women living together forging to acquire the benefits that came with legal unions in areas such as hospital, rent, ownership, taxes, and social security. During the time however, though not illegal, there was no part of the Constitution that mentioned and relationships, resulting in an increasing demand, in 1994, for same-sex marriage to be added to the Constitution. A bill was presented to Parliament in August of 1995 that would allow for same-sex marriage nationwide. The bill was passed on 6 September 1995, however, it was only made to include legal unions between two women, as men were still expected to procreate and take part in heterosexual marriages. This was contested when in 2001, Prince Bảo Sơn, the oldest child of Princess Tố Nhi, current Heir Aparent to the Heibanese Crown, was confirmed to be in a relationship with another man. In support to his grandson, Queen Mộng Thi presented a bill to Parliament to extend the legal status of same-sex marriage to be applied to men. This bill was passed on 16 October 2003, and was revised to also include the recognition of same-sex unions that had taken place in other countries. have never been debated in Heiban, as the state religion and native traditional beliefs show no indicators of intolerance toward same-sex relations. Based on ancient records, it is estimated that in early Nồm civilizations, men and women alike would marry people of the same gender to raise children together in the absence of one of the biological parents, however, this has yet to be confirmed, due to major linguist differences that arise during translation. Queer people in Heiban are often respected and not discriminated against, particularly those of older generations. Nevertheless, exceptions exist, particularly in the northeast of the province, where Zhou presence is more prominent. In 2017, the LGBTQ+ organization "Heibanese Queer Front" conducted an online survey about queer people in Heiban that managed to gather nearly 100,000 responses across the country, and out of these responses, 89% of queer surveyors affirmed to feeling safe in non-queer spaces, 87% of non-queer surveyors claimed to not be bothered by LGBTQ+ presence in Heiban, and 94% of all surveyors agreed when asked "is Heiban LGBTQ+ friendly?". Since 2003, laws have been created to protect queer youth, and in 2009 the Ministry of Education called for a to be put in place in all academic institutions. are held every year in the month of October in the country's largest cities, with the one held in the capital city of Yenbai being one of the largest in the continent.

There are records of people existing and being openly present in Heibanese society that go as far back as the 3rd century. It was not uncommon for men to wear women's clothes, as these were oftentimes produced in larger quantity, and in more recent times have been considered more comfortable to wear during the summer months. Men were encouraged to wear make up and keep their hair long, as it was associated with, and in turn considered positive. During the 13th century, certain men would want accessibility to women's jobs, and for this they would begin to live as women. These practices were severely pushed back with the introduction of Zhou values, and made illegal during most of the 15th century. However, as with many other early Heibanese traditions, transgenderism became reintegrated in the country during the 19th century, and today, Heiban is one of the countries to perform the largest amount of (SRS), receiving patients from all over the world.

Health

 * Main article: Health in Heiban

Health and medical care in Heiban is overseen by the Ministry of Health, along with the many non-ministerial government agencies, with total national expenditures on health amounting to 25.9% of the total GDP in 2018. Heiban's employs nearly 13.4 million people across the entire country, in all areas of medicine (,, , , etc.). Since the 1990s, the Heibanese government has put extensive focus on the healthcare system, increasing the budget of the Ministry of Health from 5.3% of the GDP in 2001, to 12% in 2004. This, in turn, has resulted in many medical breakthroughs taking place throughout the years in many of Heiban's laboratories, and the development and high end technology to be used for both and. As of 2020, one of Heiban's main exports are, such as , , and medication, as well as , such as , , and.

Since 2006, Heiban has had and, which all citizens and foreigners have constitutional right to access. It's estimated that around 63% of the population are reliant on the public healthcare system, while the remaining 37% are possessors of a, oftentimes provided by the private companies to their employees and their immediate family. There are nearly 2,000 across Heiban, most of them located in the provinces of Miền Vua, Ðông Sự, and Ngoài Vực. Something that has been criticized several times by the general public, is the from medicine in the country, as almost no hospital or clinic in Heiban has a praying space, and virtually all medical research is conducted without regard to.

in Heiban has grown in importance, particularly during the 21st century, as classes such as, , and , go from optional to compulsory status in most high schools across the country. As of 2022, university medical students amount to nearly 22 million.

Culture

 * Main article: Culture of Heiban

Heiban's culture is unique to the region, drawing aspects of ancient traditions and customs from the native Nồm population, as well as introduced elements from the Kodeshi Empire around the 11th century and onwards. Heibanese culture itself is regarded as a hybrid mixture of these regional customs merging together, and influenced by the national religion, Mẹ giáo, which in itself draws aspects from Uyghandism, a Samot religion, and native Nồm religions. In 2018 the Ministry of Culture issued a report proclaiming the 'cultural unity' of Heiban, stating that nearly 98% of the population adhered, followed, and respected national cultural traditions and integrity, with only a minority, usually members of immigrant families, not partaking in Heiban's customs. This is attributed to the work of the Royal Guard of Traditions (: 保衛傳統𧵑皇家; Bảo vệ truyền thống của Hoàng gia), a branch of the military tasked with enforcing the Heibanese concept of Sử Chắn (事振).

Sử Chắn
Sử Chắn (事振), literally translated as "shielding history", is a Heibanese cultural concept, that consists in ensuring that those who follow Heibanese traditions do so respectfully, correctly and with the right intention. This is usually done through teaching, lawmaking, guiding, and exposure. The practice was first developed around the 18th and 19th centuries as a way to teach Heibanese children how to properly follow traditions, however, it was during the 20th century that Sử Chắn gained traction and recognition as a common practice with the increase in, migratory waves, and tourism. Today, it is very common for Sử Chắn to be practiced with foreigners and tourists visiting the country, to ensure that they are properly partaking in Heibanese tradition without being disrespectful. Although Sử Chắn is generally viewed as a positive thing, it is inherently a neutral concept, and people are free to choose their approach to the practice. For instance, while some shops will teach tourists how to wear traditional Heibanese attire, others might prohibit the selling of traditional clothing to non-Heibanese people, and both instances are considered to be Sử Chắn in practice. In essence, the main goal of Sử Chắn is to avoid cultural disrespect, which can be done by enlightening foreigners or sheltering the tradition from them. Sử Chắn can never be practiced by non-Heibanese people, as it's viewed as an extreme act of disrespect to the country.

Common practices
Many of Heiban's common practices date back to before the 10th century, and though many have been adapted with time, they are still important to Heibanese culture, and considered a core aspect for national identity. Some of the most common practices done to this day are:
 * Nhất nhìn Nhất chào (一𥆾一嘲): Literally translated as "first seen, first greet". A common practice in Heiban for non-family settings, consists in greeting people in a group starting with those known the longest to those yet to meet. This practice has existed in Heiban since the 7th century, but has gotten less strict with time. Today, it's not really important for people to greet a group in the exact order of acquaintance, as long as those that they don't know yet are greeted last. This is because a proper formal introduction in Heiban is considerably longer than a greeting, and is therefore considered rude to leave those people who only require a greeting waiting for the formal introduction to be over.


 * Khóc Sen (哭蓮): Literally translated as "to mourn the lotus flower". A practice observed at the end of every lunar month, consists in laying a lotus flower on the nearest river for every lost loved one recently. As part of Khóc Sen it is also common to recite the Từ Tang (自桑), a spiritual prayer to honor a person's death. Those who have not lost loved ones they can remember will usually not take part in the practice, or will instead lay a flower for a loved one of a friend. The biggest instance of Khóc Sen in recorded Heibanese history took place in 2001 after the death of the Queen Mother Hải Vân at the age of 85, for whom it is estimated that nearly 40 million people laid a lotus flower.


 * Tặng Mình (贈𠇮): Literally translated as "to gift oneself". This practice dates back to the 16th century, not long after Heibanese independence from Imperial Kodeshia, and it consists in bringing a gift whenever entering someone's house for the first time. The act of giving someone a gift in Heiban is considered a very respectful act, and it hails from the importance given to the concept of individual ownership. Making gifts symbolizes trust, respect, and appreciation in Heibanese culture.

Art

 * Main article: Heibanese art

Heibanese art includes both age-old art forms developed through centuries and recently developed. Its origins have been heavily influenced by Nồm art, and by scenes from Kodeshi epics, with the most recent addition of Uyghandism and Mẹ giáo influence in the more contemporary art forms. Traditional Nồm art started as a style of visual narrative through paintings in stone, that depicted subjects in two dimensions without perspective, with the size of each element in the picture reflecting its degree of importance. In this technique the main elements are isolated from each other by space, eliminating the intermediate ground that would otherwise imply perspective. This art form was later influenced by Kodeshi presence in Heiban, resulting in the development of (: 𡥵𤞖䏾; Con Rối Bóng), that consisted in creating an artistic narrative of tales and key elements of Kodeshi influence wile using Nồm art techniques. Today, the most frequent narrative subjects from paintings include Kodeshi and Nồm, Uyghandist and Mẹ giáo tales, as well as fictional Nồm about the earth, its formation and events, that have been accustomed to the modern age form of storytelling.

Much of modern Heibanese almost exclusively depicts images of the, part of the Mẹ giáo pantheon, and of Uyghandist figures, differentiating itself from the Samot style by using techniques of a much more traditional and antique  form of art brought in from Imperial Kodeshia in the 15th century. and are the most common materials used for traditional Heibanese sculpting, especially among the Nồm people whose ancestors would almost exclusively make sculptures out of carved wood. Between the 12th and 19th century, the people of Heiban developed a refined stone sculpting art and architectural influence by immigrant Kodeshi civilization. The Temple of Tiền Lúc is among the most famous examples of this practice.

Entertainment

 * Main article: Cinema in Heiban, Heibanese music

Film
The in Heiban is one of the largest in southern Kesh, with the five largest  in the country spending an average of $15.4 billion annually. Most of the movies produced in Heiban specialize in the and  and  genres,  and  films not being as well received by the general audience. Though foreign film industries are usually well-received by the public and government alike, particularly those of east Kesh and north Avalonia, movies from certain countries must be put under review to ensure and censored accordingly to ensure that they don't act against the government's ideologies.

Films were first introduced in the country in the early 20th century, after its popularization in Artemia and east Kesh. The production of film didn't take place in Heiban until a few years later, with the first Heibanese film Im Lặng Là Vàng, directed by Lạc Trọng Chính, and released 18 March 1914. The mute, black and white, 85-minutes feature film took 7 months to film and it costed almost $3.2 million, or $40.6 million when adjusted for inflation. It was acclaimed by the critiques and the public alike. As the first domestic film, it was the one to set the standard for the Heibanese film industry during most of the 20th century in terms of production, script, and themes. Heibanese cinema is characterized by its use of unsettling and dialogue, as well as big expressions from its actors. The most popular genre in the country is horror or thriller, which has become a staple of modern Heibanese culture.

Heibanese TV shows and films are usually much lighter than movies in themes and production, with the most popular being  and. is fairly common in the country, especially in films, with spending an average of $12.4 billion annually. The first animated Heibanese film was Truyện Ngắn, released in 1995 and making nearly $200 million at the. Heiban also imports animated movies and TV shows produced abroad, which are then to Heibanese or subtitled. Aside from scripted shows and domestic films, the silver screen is also characterized by, usually hosted by or hosting Heibanese celebrities, and comprising different segments like , , and within a same episode. Variety shows have received overwhelmingly good critiques and receptions since they first aired in 1990, and are usually considered as the main way to keep up with mainstream media in the country. The most well-known of these shows is Thật là vui thú!, which in 2016 hosted an episode with Queen Mộng Thi as guest.

Music
Traditional Heibanese music takes considerable influence from Kodeshi musical elements and mixes them with aspects of the native Nồm population. , introduced and adopted in the 6th century, are at the core of what could be considered the national music, found in nearly all pieces of and. The national instrument, the, is a two-stringed instrument, whose strings were formerly made of and are today frequently made of  or , and though it's much commonly found in traditional Heibanese music, it's made its way into modern songs fairly often. Historically, music in Heiban has been a form of of the many different folk tales native to Nồm people, only later introducing stories of Kodeshi origin. However, and particularly during the Vassalization of Heiban, people would use song lyrics as means of communication, especially when it came to heeding warnings or spreading news without the authorities founding out. One of the most popular of these is the song Kẻ Thù Bí Mật, translating to "the snake in the grass", famously used by Nồm people in the 14th century to warn about Kodeshi soldiers approaching. With the so called "Heibanese Liberation" in the 1900s, the national music scene was subjected to a major lyrical shift, as songs with more uplifting messages, such as and love songs, gained popularity across the country. This is oftentimes referred to as historians as "the Rebirth", attributed to the improvement of the country's political and social climate by the government's reform a few decades prior. In the 1930s, with the popularization of film and television, the country had began to see its first broadcasts containing, usually aired in between shows or movies. Originally, music videos would just display the singer, and sometimes a small band behind them, throughout the duration of the song, but as time went on, and particularly during the 1950s, music videos started to incorporate stories and plots that were usually being narrated by the singer through lyrics. The 1960s and 1970s in Heiban saw the rise of international songs making their way to the homes of the general population, and especially those sung in and  became particularly well-received.

The standard for the modern Heibanese music was set in the 1980s and 1990s, with quick outspread of and, both of which have become some of the most popular  in the present day. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the country became witness to its large wave of for music artists among the younger population, product of the newly introduced concept of, , and , that would usually market to a specific demographic. Today, these artists are largely among the most famous in Heiban and internationally, particularly in the Southern Kesh region, having developed the concept of "Heibanese pop", and those who fall under this musical term and genre make up by far the largest revenue out of any other, contributing up to $8 billion to the country's GDP each year. in Heiban are frequent and many have been adopted as national traditions, with the largest of them being the Lotus Festival, taking place in the city of Giả Phố, in the Biên Giới province, every May 14th during Heiban Day, meant to celebrate national pride.

Cuisine

 * Main article: Heibanese cuisine

Heibanese cuisine is one of the few cultural elements in the country to openly integrate aspects of many different civilizations and cultures throughout the continent, as opposed to just Kodeshia. Much of what is considered traditional Heibanese cuisine can find its roots in the culmination of Kodeshi, Nồm, Ramayan, Prabhati and Cagayano foods and cooking styles. Throughout the years, Heiban has developed what's known domestically as Ăn Sự Dạy (咹事𠰺), roughly translated as "eating instructions". Ăn Sự Dạy consists of many different practices and traditions carried over before, during, and after any meal, with different variations depending on the type of meal, its location, the number of people, and the time of year. Some of the more common practices of Ăn Sự Dạy include: only eating once the oldest person in the table has taken the first bite, blessing the food, lighting a specific amount of candles, using floor-level tables for certain occasions, etc. were the main introduction of foreign meals to Heiban, with the Kodeshi restaurant chain Zhenkekou being one of the most well-known and popular in the country. Traditional pre-colonial Nồm cuisine finds its way into modern Heibanese cuisine through the integration of ingredients such as, , , , and particularly. Mushrooms are the most prominent food in Heibanese cuisine, and can find themselves as the main ingredient in almost all of the country's most popular foods, snacks or desserts, including the national dish Nấm Tiệc (埝席), which consists of mushroom heads stuffed with chopped mushroom,, , and. For decades now, each province in Heiban has had their own regional approach to Nấm Tiệc, each stuffed with different ingredients, and today, eleven versions of the national dish exist, one for each province. Aside from mushrooms, the usage of fruits, particularly in desserts, is considered a Nồm culinary tradition, with fruits such as, orange, coconut, , , and being among the most commonly used for both savory and sweet dishes. Apart from mushroom-based dishes, various are considered among the oldest culinary traditions in Heiban. As one of its tourism slogans, the Ministry of Culture claims that Heiban has "a soup for everything", with there being soups for, dessert soups, cold soups, soups for specific holidays, remedy soups, and many more. Popular Heibanese dishes include mushroom pastries (埝𠮾; Nấm Ngọt), mango ice cream, fried rice noodles (炒米粉; Sao Mai Phấn), coconut and orange coffee, and chocolate-covered crickets (巧克力𡥵啼; Sôcôla Con Dế).

A peculiarity of Heibanese cuisine is the almost complete avoidance of meat, a direct result of the adoption of Mẹ giáo as the state religion. Since the 14th century, many Heibanese people follow a strictly or  diet, which reflects in the population's consumption of meat. Heiban is among the smallest producers and importers of meat in the world, and many non-vegetarian mainstream foods are usually made with a vegetarian alternative. Fish has been an exception for the most part, particularly in the south of the country, where most agricultural workers rely on fishing for a living, as the land is not as arable as the rest of the provinces.

Sports

 * Main article: Sports in Heiban

Holidays and festivals

 * Main article: Heibanese holidays