Horigen

Horigen is a term used in speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and some theoretical discussions to refer to a method or concept of tracing the origin and historical development of ideas, artifacts, or cultural practices across multiple timelines or domains. The term combines elements of history and origin to describe a genealogical reconstruction that is not limited to a single nation or era.

In practice, horigen involves assembling sources from varied media, oral traditions, and artifacts to construct a plausible lineage for a given object or idea. It emphasizes cross-domain evidence, hypothetical reconstructions, and the testing of competing origin narratives.

In fiction and game design, horigen serves as a tool for world-building, allowing authors to present artifacts with layered backstories, where the provenance is explained through interwoven histories.

It can also be used analytically in literary studies to discuss how authors imagine the origins of myths or technologies within their worlds.

Criticism of horigen centers on its speculative nature and potential for circular reasoning if sources are unreliable. Proponents argue that it encourages disciplined creative thinking and helps readers engage with the imagined past as a structured construct.