Unified Civilization
Last updated 2026-09-06
The unified civilization was the global culture spanning the whole planet that was established after the Heavenly Principles conquered Teyvat. It was destroyed following the war of funerary flame 6,000 years ago, and knowledge of its existence and history has been forbidden by Celestia ever since.
History
The unified civilization was established after the Heavenly Principles defeated the ancient dragons and their Seven Sovereigns in a war over the control of Teyvat.[1]
Its inhabitants were granted fundamental knowledge that allowed them to master various aspects of the world and elevate their civilization to extraordinary heights. The angels taught mortals the uses of fire, the working of hemp and rope, as well as knowledge related to survival, craftsmanship, and exploration. They also imparted higher concepts, such as profound thoughts and pure ideals, teaching humanity to maintain strength of spirit, persevere through hardship, and develop dreams belonging to mankind alone. However, over time, the knowledge granted to mortals was taken beyond the limits established by the heavens.[2]
6,000 years ago,[3] Nibelung returned to Teyvat and fought the Heavenly Principles in a conflict that became known as the war of funerary flame.[4] The war brought enormous devastation to the planet, with some settlements, like Delphi Pytho, collapsing underground.[1] Following the conclusion of the war, the Heavenly Principles sent down Celestial Nails to purify the land from the corruption of the Abyss that had been introduced by Nibelung, though the impact from these Nails lead to many settlements being destroyed.[5] After this event, the unified civilization was completely dismantled, and knowledge of this era was banned by Celestia from that point onwards.[1]
Culture
The unified civilization was a human society governed directly by Celestia. The Heavenly Principles and the Four Great Rulers were directly known to and worshiped by the human population during this time. Speaking the names of the Heavenly Principles or their Shades was considered taboo, so many alternate names or titles were used when referring to them instead.[1]
Individual city-states were administered by Angels, who served as the divine envoys of Celestia.[6][7] These angels had the ability to foresee the future, and they were tasked with using these powers to guide humanity.[8][9][10][11]
The Three Moons were also worshiped during this time.[12]
Regional Civilizations
| Name | Present-day territory | Divine envoy |
|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | Mondstadt | Unknown |
| Sal Vindagnyr | Unknown | |
| Lang-Gan | Liyue | Zibai |
| Delphi Pytho | Inazuma | Unknown |
| Unknown Tsurumi Island civilization |
Unknown | |
| Unknown Mt. Yougou civilization |
Unknown | |
| Ys | Sumeru | Unknown |
| Khab | Unknown | |
| Meropis | Fontaine | Sybilla |
| Unknown | Natlan | Yohualtecuhtin |
| Hyperborea | Snezhnaya | Koitar, Nicole |
| Patraipolis | Unknown | Unknown |
Arcadia
Arcadia was a nation in Mondstadt, they built temples to worship Istaroth, the Ruler of Time, and Asmoday, the Ruler of Space. It was composed of multiple city-states, with the holy city of Arcadia serving as its capital. It was destroyed during the War of Funerary Flame, when it was buried under endless winter.
- Elysium was a city-state of Arcadia located in what is now known as Windrest Peak and was controlled by the Gunnhildr Clan.[13][14]
Sal Vindagnyr
Sal Vindagnyr was a nation that spanned over the area now known as Dragonspine. The founders of Sal Vindagnyr discovered a verdant mountain while seeking refuge from a land of snow and strife and settled there, naming the mountain Vindagnyr. They eventually met their end during the War of Funerary Flame, when Celestia sent down the Skyfrost Nail, destroying their Irminsul tree and transforming the area into the blizzard-covered wasteland seen today.
Lang-Gan
Lang-Gan was a nation that spanned over the area now known as The Chasm. The nation was governed by Zibai as the divine envoy of Celestia. Lang-Gan became tainted with Abyssal corruption during the War of Funerary Flame, and Celestia decided to cleanse it with a Celestial Nail. The nation was destroyed, creating the Chasm, but Zibai sacrificed herself to stall the Nail enough that the survivors could be evacuated. They mainly settled in Chenyu Vale afterwards.
Delphi Pytho
Delphi Pytho, also known as Delphi, was a nation that spanned over the present-day Inazuma. The War of Funerary Flame wreaked great destruction across the heavens and earth, and as a result of this disaster, Delphi Pytho fell into the ocean and severed from the surface world, leading to the creation of Enkanomiya. During the Archon War, Orobashi fell into Enkanomiya and led its people aboveground, into a newly-created Watatsumi Island by his scales.
Ys
Ys, also known as the lost Ancient City of Ys, was a city-state located in what is now the Great Red Sand of Sumeru.[15][16] Ys was a harbor in the rainforests, where waters and grasses flourished.[17] According to legend, its high priest was granted the authority to lead the city by its divine envoy, who bestowed upon them the Silver Radiance of Gradlon.[15][17] Following the war of funerary flame, Ys was destroyed when a Celestial Nail descended from the sky, transforming the rainforest into a desert and causing the city to be swallowed by the flowing sands.[15][18][19]
After the fall of Ys, its survivors likely formed the nomadic tribes scattered throughout the desert, which later worshipped King Deshret.[20]
According to Little Mao, Zhiqiong had not written to him in a long time, leading him to speculate that she was probably off on an adventure somewhere like the Ancient City of Ys.[21]
Khab
Khab was a civilization that existed in what is now Chatrakam Cave in Sumeru, and built one of the great towers that once rose across the land, nearly touching the firmament. Its inhabitants aspired toward the high heavens, but the tower eventually collapsed and sank beneath its own weight into the depths of the earth.[22]
Meropis
Meropis was a nation that spanned over the area now known as Sea of Bygone Eras, in Fontaine. Sybilla was the envoy tasked with protecting their Irminsul tree.[23] They worshipped the Three Moon Goddesses, offering songs and dances to them, and from its harbor, silver ships would ferry noble souls to the Moon Capital.[12][24]
Eventually, their descendants rejected the oracles and sought to escape the fate given to them by the divine. In response, Celestia sent gigantic waves to destroy their cities, followed by a hundred days of rain that drowned the remaining settlements. After the waters receded, no cities or civilizations remained above the high waters. The surviving peoples and their descendants lived among forests and rivers, having lost their former knowledge and wisdom, later forming the various tribes of Fontaine.[25] Sybilla was the only angel to survive, but losing her mind and form, remaining in the form of a golden bee among the ruins of the city until she was found by Remus.[23]
Countless years passed without another major civilization taking its place in the region, until Remus accidentally discovered the ruins of Meropis, where he met Sybilla and transformed the Irminsul tree into a golden ship, the Fortuna.[25][23][26] There, upon the ancient ruins of the city, he built a great tower, gathering the scattered to build a new nation, Remuria.[27]
Hyperborea
Hyperborea, also known as the Golden City, was an ancient civilization located in present-day Snezhnaya. Hyperborea was led by Koitar, the first angel, and aided by several Angels, including Nicole. Hyperborea was the main battlefield between the rebellious Angels, led by Koitar and Anacharsis, and the Heavenly Principles. The conflict ended in defeat, and Hyperborea was destroyed by a Celestial Nail.
- The site now known as the Spiral Abyss was once a massive underground city-state of Hyperborea. The city was divided into two main areas: the "Abyss Corridor," which connected different worlds, and the "Abyssal Moon Spire," which led into the unknown.[28] The city also appears to have been connected to Anacharsis.[29]
Patraipolis
Patraipolis was an ancient civilization mentioned by Vitruvius and Nicole alongside other civilizations such as Arcadia, Lang-Gan, and Delphi Pytho.[30]
Unnamed Civilizations
Other civilizations that were part of the unified civilization included:
- A civilization once existed on Tsurumi Island that worshipped the Three Moons,[31] and, like other nations, ships carried the souls of the dead to the Golden Hall on the moon.[32] It was destroyed when a Celestial Nail descended from the sky, after which the island became shrouded by fog.[33]
- A civilization was built on the sands north of Mt. Yougou. Its foolish ruler dreamed of building a high garden in honor of the Irminsul.[34] It was likely destroyed by the great flood that struck Inazuma.[35]
- A civilization once existed in Natlan, guided by Yohualtecuhtin.[36] They had ritual sites where sages studied the mysteries of flame and sought to perfect the rituals for transforming phlogiston.[37] During the War of Funerary Flame, the civilization eventually collapsed and was reclaimed by Natlantea, led by Xiuhcoatl, and most of its angels were subsequently devoured by dragons.[38] Later, Natlan's original Ley Lines were severely damaged, and under the guidance of Ronova, Yohualtecuhtin used fragments of the old Ley Lines to reconstruct a similar network, creating the Night Kingdom to aid her people.[36] Afterwards, a Celestial Nail fell into the Night Kingdom.
- A civilization that had learned to master fire succeeded in maintaining a permanent source of light within its walls. However, its inhabitants turned this power against their own people, causing a devastation that reduced countless lives to bone and ash. Celestia eventually extinguished the fire and punished the land, which later became inhabited by life once more.[2]
- A civilization whose knowledge centered on weaving and rope developed countless golden strands and used them to construct an inverted tower that sought to reach the heavens. In their attempt to obtain the supreme fruit they had imagined there, its inhabitants defied the boundaries imposed by Celestia. As punishment, the transgressors were sealed within the canvases they had created and bound eternally by their own cords.[2]
- A civilization devoted to attaining ultimate knowledge took its pursuit beyond the limits of humanity. Its inhabitants regarded their bodies as burdens and descended into the depths of the sea, continuing their exploration through their eyes and hands. Their ultimate goal was to behold the dark abyss beyond this world, but Celestia intervened before they could reach it, returning them to their original forms and bringing their pursuit to an end.[2]
Trivia
Etymology
- Meropis is the name of a fictional island created by the ancient Greek writer Theopompus in his work, Philippica; as a parody of Plato's Atlantis.
- Ys is the name of a mythical city on the coast of Brittany that was swallowed up by the ocean.
- Khab (Persian: خواب) means sleep.
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Unified Civilization | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 统一文明[39]/统一的文明[40] | — |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 統一文明[39]/統一的文明[40] | — |
| Korean | 통일된 문명 Tong'ildoen Munmyeong | — |
| Spanish | Civilización Unificada | — |
| French | Civilisation Unifiée | — |
| Russian | единой цивилизации yedinoy tsivilizatsii | — |
| Thai | อารยธรรมที่เป็นหนึ่งเดียว[39] | — |
| Vietnamese | nền văn minh thống nhất | — |
| German | Vereinte Zivilisation[39]/Einheitliche Zivilisation[40] | United Civilization/Unified Civilization |
| Indonesian | peradaban yang menyatu[39]/peradaban yang bersatu[40] | — |
| Portuguese | Civilização Unificada | — |
| Turkish | birleşmiş medeniyet | — |
| Italian | Civiltà Unificata[39]/Civiltà Unitaria[40] | — |
Change History
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book: The Byakuyakoku Collection, Vol. 2 - Before Sun and Moon
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nicole's Character Story: Character Story 1
- ↑ Archon Quest, Song of the Welkin Moon, Act V - A Nocturne of the Far North, Part 1: In the Shifting Light of the Moon
- ↑ Archon Quest, Song of the Welkin Moon, Act VI - Melting Moonlight in the Morning Mist, Part 1: Where Does Her Name Rest?
- ↑ Event A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon Quest, A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon: Act II: The Realm of Rocks
- ↑ Artifact, Finale of the Deep Galleries: Deep Gallery's Lost Crown
- ↑ Artifact, Flower of Paradise Lost: Amethyst Crown
- ↑ Artifact Set: Prayers for Destiny
- ↑ Artifact Set: Prayers for Illumination
- ↑ Artifact Set: Prayers to Springtime
- ↑ Artifact Set: Prayers for Wisdom
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Artifact, Aubade of Morningstar and Moon: Moonlit Offering's Libation
- ↑ Blessing Domain Entrance Description: Thorny Crown of the Mountain Wind
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Hannelore
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Weapon Description: Silver Radiance of Gradlon - Sublimation
- ↑ World Quest Act, In the Wake of Narcissus: Act IV: Rowboat's Wake
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Weapon Description: Silver Radiance of Gradlon
- ↑ Artifact, Gilded Dreams: Shadow of the Sand King
- ↑ Story Quest, Nahida, Sapientia Oromasdis Chapter: Act II - Homecoming, Part 2: What Shape Does the Self Hold
- ↑ Book: The Lay of Al-Ahmar
- ↑ World Quest, Chenyu's Blessings of Sunken Jade, Part 3: An Ancient Sacrifice of Sacred Brocade
- ↑ Mastery Domain Entrance Description: Steeple of Ignorance
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Artifact, Fragment of Harmonic Whimsy: Harmonious Symphony Prelude
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Diotima
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Book: The History of the Decline and Fall of Remuria, Vol. 1
- ↑ World Quest, Canticles of Harmony: First Movement - In the Hall of the Sea King, Part 1: Underwater Nocturne
- ↑ Artifact, Fragment of Harmonic Whimsy: Ancient Sea's Nocturnal Musing
- ↑ World Map, Interactable: Spiral Abyss
- ↑ Artifact, Finale of the Deep Galleries: Deep Gallery's Bestowed Banquet
Alone she walked through the ruins of the Spiral Abyss, intent on finding the trail of the voyager that the magical swordmaster had spoken of... - ↑ World Quest, A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 1 - Paradise, Part 1b: Unofficial Chronicle of the Desert Pavilion
- ↑ Loading Screen Tip: Tsurumi Island
- ↑ Inazuma Hidden Exploration Objective, Quest-Like: "Boatman"'s Task
- ↑ World Quest, Through the Mists: The Sun-Wheel and Mt. Kanna
Once, strange objects fell from the heavens, one of which landed upon this island, after which your sky returned to its clear state. Afterward, the fog started to emerge. Though you had the power to disperse that fog, it meant little to you either way. - ↑ Forgery Domain Entrance Description: Court of Flowing Sand
- ↑ Mastery Domain Entrance Description: Violet Court
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act IV - The Rainbow Destined to Burn, Part 1: Beneath the Secret Source
- ↑ Mastery Domain Entrance Description: Blazing Ruins
- ↑ Weapon Ascension Material: Blazing Sacrificial Heart's Hesitance
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 Zibai's Character Story: Character Story 1
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 Interactable, Morepesok: Vestnik (Article: The Theory of Historical Echoes)
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