Sarah Xhang begins every day, unlike many Slokasians, she doesn’t drink milk or cereal but instead eats a soup known as Pijah. Pinjah which is made from veggie stock includes tofu slices and a unique meat alternative known as Papu made from potato. Sarah is part of the 15% of Slokasians who are vegans. Sarah is a Minjian, specifically the Jiaosheng Sect.
The Jiaosheng Temple Compact was founded in 1894, after the collapse of the Minjian High Conclave. Scholars had gathered in the city of Jiaosheng in Colorado Province to discuss tenants of their faith. They agreed upon a policy of non-aggression which included the intentional killing of animals as well as the consumption of alcohol due to being associated with drunken behavior. Temples across Slokais began to sign the compact with the members agreeing to follow the new rules. By 1910 around 60% of all Minjians in Slokais were members, with many practicing Veganism. As a result of the large population, businesses providing vegan cuisine began to be founded across the country. This period also led to the mass production of Tofu, as it became a common meat substitute used in popular dishes.
During the 1950s, Juan Costa declared the Jiaosheng Sect to be a dangerous “communist sect”. In 1954, a law required all persons to present required documents when entering markets. This policy was targeted at the Minjian community as a whole, due to identification being required to be signed by either a registered minister or a Catholic priest. This policy combined with intimidation and the expanded role of Catholicism in policy led to the Jiaosheng Temple dropping to less than 10,000 members by 1960. During the civil war, when food became even more scarce people of all backgrounds consumed less meat, leading to the popularizing of Papu.
Papu has existed within Slokasian Cusine since the 1600s, being based on an even earlier indigenous dish from the Ibaloi people. Papu is made, by mashing potatoes or root veggies into a thick paste and then forming round patties similar to beef. Papu was originally an exclusively vegan dish, although it soon began to be adopted as a replacement for the traditional Friday fish. Post-war, many people who grew up during the war continued to make Papu which is now a mainstream dish often served with a side of rice and drizzled with soy sauce.
During the 80s and 90s, Veganism made a return, especially with the growth of environmentalism and a growing food pallet. The Jiaosheng Sect also returned although remains more regional with the highest numbers being in Colorado, Grand Bank, and Silverado Province. Popular brands have also begun to cater to vegan diets with Sun-Mart launching the Good Harvest Line of vegan meal kits and snacks such as taro and mushroom rice.
