Tehing

Tehing is a traditional form of communal negotiation and exchange observed in certain coastal and highland communities of the fictional Tehon archipelago. The term itself is used for a structured process in which individuals and groups present goods, services, or rights in a public forum, and decisions are reached by consensus after discussion and ritualized mediation.

Etymology: The word tehing is said to derive from the local language, with "te-" meaning "to share" and "-hing" indicating an action performed together. The practice is sometimes referred to as tehing-gath in longer phrases.

History: Accounts of tehing appear in ethnographic descriptions dating from the 17th century in trade routes across the archipelago; it persisted into the modern era in some communities, adapting to contemporary trade but retaining core ritual aspects.

Practice: A tehing typically takes place in a public square or communal hall. Participants bring negotiable items (food, crafts, labor, land-use rights). A mediator or elder presides, guiding dialogue, noting agreements, and enforcing customary norms. Decisions are generally reached by broad consent, though in some variants a time-bound vote among adult participants is used.

Variations: Some communities maintain weekly tehing markets focusing on barter; others hold seasonal tehing cycles tied to harvests or fishing seasons. In urban-adjacent communities, tehing has been adapted into hybrid formats combining formal contracts with ritual elements.

Impact and criticism: Proponents emphasize social cohesion, equitable redistribution, and transparency. Critics argue that the process can be time-consuming and less scalable for large populations, though many see it as a valuable mechanism for conflict resolution and community governance.