Ming Cult - Organisation

Organisation

The cult is headed by its leader, called the jiaozhu (教主). The Left and Right Bright Messengers (左右光明使) serve as the leader's deputies. The cult also has four Guardian Kings (護教法王) who assist the leader in overseeing the cult's activities. Ranked below the Guardian Kings are the chiefs of the five banner divisions (旗主). The five divisions are each named after the one of the Five Elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal). The cult's members are spread throughout these five banners. The cult has headquarters and bases spread throughout the land and are often disguised as ordinary buildings, such as inns and shops to avoid identification by the government. The cult's main headquarters, called zongtan (總壇), is based on Bright Peak (光明頂) in the Kunlun Mountains.

The Ming Cult's structure in Persia differs from the one in China. In Persia, the cult is led by a woman, selected from three specially chosen virgins called "Holy Maidens" (聖女). There are twelve Guardian Kings (寶樹王) instead of four. The Three Messengers (Wind, Cloud and Moon) are tasked with safekeeping the Holy Flame Tablets, the cult's most sacred artefacts. They are also the most powerful in martial arts of all the cult's members in Persia.