The Mainland

"The Mainland" is a Shinzoka term for the continent of Tsominku, the vast landmass where most of the The Crest of Zabutur series takes place. It got its name from the locals of Krawvill and Krippa, who reside on the continent of Munjang-Îue, which is much smaller by contrast, and also less visited, particularly the northern half where the Shinzoka primarily live.

Despite its primary use by Shinzoka, it was actually originally coined in the Madizi tribes by pirates and traders. After the events of the Great Jalenga War, the Shinzoka became more isolated and the Madizi came around to Krawvill much less.

Nowadays it is primarily used by Kagero-Kiza agents who are tasked with 'scouting out the Mainland'. These women usually become so culturally and behaviourally different from their Krawvillzé counterpart that among scholars and even other Shinzoka, that they are sometimes classified as "Mainland Shinzoka" as opposed to the purist "Native Shinzoka". Since most native Shinzoka don't ever visit Tsominku, the term "Mainland Shinzoka" appears to be a slightly disparaging term.

Other Uses
Occasionally the term gets used by frequent visitors to Krawvill or Krippa, and so apart from Shinzoka, the most common users of this term are the Zaderei to the south. Madizi merchants and traders will sometimes offhandedly refer to the continents as "the Mainland" and "the Island", despite the latter being a gross understatement of Munjang-Îue's true size.

Madizi still use the term in modern times, as many of the inhabitants of the islands surrounding the coasts still refer to continental Matsakan as "The Mainland". It is also used by the Kumenza wanderer Zoroka Chandaki and her comrades, known colloquially as The Mavericks. However, what "mainland" the three of them are referring to if not Tsominku is not entirely clear.