Zichengs

Zichengs are a fictional ethnocultural group described in this article as part of a hypothetical world. They are associated with the Zicheng Basin, a highland valley in the northern foothills of the continent of Nymera. In fictional accounts, Zicheng communities are organized into kin-based clans that trace descent from founding ancestors and share a distinct cultural repertoire.

The Zicheng language is portrayed as part of the Zichic language family, typically described as agglutinative with a rich system of evidential markers. In the story world, most Zichengs are bilingual, speaking a neighboring lingua franca for trade while preserving their own language in households and villages. Writing traditions are said to be reticent, with oral poetry and proverbs playing a central role.

Historically, migrations during the medieval period are said to have formed the core of Zicheng society, with later political organization at the valley level under elder councils and rotating ceremonial leadership.

Economy includes millet and maize agriculture, pastoralism, and crafts such as weaving and metalwork. Cultural life features harvest festivals, patterned dress, music with wind instruments, and traditional dances. Social structure centers on kinship groups, communal fields, and customary reciprocity.

Today, Zicheng communities are depicted as dispersed with regional hubs and strong diasporas. In scholarly sketches, attention focuses on language maintenance, intergroup relations, and the transmission of tradition to younger generations.