Editing Crane Clan (section)

===Bushido & Religion===
Cranes may not be what you'd call religious, but they do have a spiritual view on art and culture, the pillars of their identity. This seldom comes to light given their very worldly concerns of wealth and influence unless you're dealing with the Asahina (who, being ex-Phoenix, ARE extremely devout) or the Kakita (who pursue their crafts with a meditative mindset which can certainly be described as religious). The result, much like their politician-idealist duality, is a complex mix.

As staunch traditionalists, Cranes most certainly respect Bushido and the main religions of Rokugan as the foundations of their social order. They might be overshadowed by the Lions, Dragons, and Phoenixes in terms of their piety, but from their perspective, they're no less dedicated; they simply live out this devotion in their own ways. For the most part, this involves taking the virtues of these beliefs and applying them to what the Crane do according to their duties and preferences.

To the Crane, a courtier navigating volatile, treacherous politics is no less Courageous than a bushi giving his life in battle against a rival Clan or Shadowlands monstrosity. An artist making a garden of transcendental beauty can enlighten the soul as much as the most insightful sermon from the Brotherhood of Shinsei. The main difference, at least from the Crane Clan's perspective, is that Bushido and the Tao treat battle and enlightenment as separate from "regular" society. The Crane, by contrast, believe that the virtues of a perfect samurai warrior can apply at the highest levels of politics, and that enlightenment can be realized through the world, not apart from it.

The Crane certainly think that this makes them just as genuine as any other Great Clan when it comes to honorably doing their duty. Though of course, to their detractors, this could just as easily be taking the easy way out by slapping a noble coat of paint on all the politicking and wealth-hoarding they were already doing. When it comes to matters of culture and etiquette, however, they are as zealous as the Lion in their devotion.