Teyvat’s Governance: A Reflection of the Real-World
From Fantasy to Reality — Analyzing Political, Cultural, and Societal Parallels Between Teyvat and the Real World
Abstract
A nation ruled by scholars who claim to seek knowledge, yet suppress
those who challenge their authority. A city where justice is dictated by divine
decree, leaving no room for doubt or appeal. These are not just stories from a
fantasy world—they are echoes of our own political and social struggles. In
September of 2020, MiHoYo Co., Ltd. released a RPG (short for role-playing
game) that shot to worldwide fame during its release. Known for its stunning
visual and extensive open world feature, it quickly solidified its place within the
anime, comic, and gaming communities worldwide. The game follows twin
siblings who unfortunately get separated at the beginning of the game. The
player takes on the role of one of the twins, known as the Traveler, and embarks
on a journey across the fantastical land of Teyvat to reunite with their lost
sibling. While traveling throughout Teyvat, the players are faced with different
unique systems of governance with their distinct political, cultural, and
societal-world themes. These systems reflect broader issues like
authoritarianism, social inequality, and the ambiguous morality of power,
weaving complex narratives that critically examine crime, law, and justice. In
this paper, I will be analyzing vigilantism and justice in the game through the
lens of social theory. Through analyzing these fictional narratives, I will aim to
illustrate how they mirror and critique social and political real-world issues
surrounding crime, law, corruption, vigilantism, and the complex dynamics
surrounding power and governance.
