sumij

Sumij is a fictional city-state that appears in speculative fiction and role-playing games as a maritime hub in the eastern sea. The name is drawn from the constructed Sumiji language, where sum means “sea” and ij means “place,” a combination often translated as “place by the sea.” The Sumiji language is part of the world-building for this setting, featuring agglutinative grammar and a system of honorifics that reflects social status and guild affiliation.

Geographically, Sumij is situated in a sheltered harbor along a coastline with a central hill fort and a network of islets connected by tidepools and wooden causeways. The climate is temperate with wet winters and mild summers, making the harbor year-round and suitable for shipbuilding and trade. The population is described in sources as a few hundred thousand, with a high density of workers in ports, guild halls, and shipyards.

Historically, Sumij grew from fishing communities in the early medieval period to a prominent maritime entrepôt. By the 14th century it functioned as a de facto maritime republic, guided by guild councils and merchant interests. In the modern arc of the setting, it adopts a constitutional framework and parliamentary representation, while preserving strong guild influence over economic and cultural life.

Society in Sumij centers on guilds—naval, artisan, and mercantile—which organize education, apprenticeship, and social status. Education emphasizes navigation, astronomy, and seamanship, and the city hosts annual festivals such as the Tide Parade and the Night of Lanterns.

Economy and technology focus on shipbuilding, trade, and navigational instruments. Historical innovations attributed to Sumij include early timekeeping devices and lantern networks to guide sailors along busy routes.

In popular culture, Sumij appears in novels and in the Shores of Sumij tabletop setting, where it is portrayed as a crossroads between mainland kingdoms and island polities.