Jankenjin BiologyAppearance and AnatomyJankenjin are not human nor anything like creatures from Earth. In external appearance, they resemble (somewhat) human-sized kangaroos: bipedal, with long, strong hind legs and a balancing tail, and a hopping gait. They have a more simian looking face than a kangaroo's, with a blunt muzzle and good stereo vision. Their ears are smaller, and on their heads is a large, reptilian or bird-like crest. Their bodies are covered in a fine layer of structures resembling a cross between thick fur and downy feathers, called "furfeathers". In the adults, the crest is lined with larger, stiffer furfeathers, and line of thicker furfeathers also runs down the adult Jankenjin's back and ends in a large tail-tuft.
Being an alien species, Jankenjin are neither mammal, reptile, nor bird, but have anatomical features similar to ones found in all three classes:
- Circulatory and Respiratory System: Almost identical to mammals, with lungs, four-chambered hearts and a separate pulmonary arterial network. Jankenjin are warm-blooded.
- Digestive System: Jankenjin are omnivorous, with mouths contain cutting teeth (incisors) and tearing teeth (canines), but no chewing teeth (molars). Instead, at the back of their mouth is a crop, a small pouch or sack, resembling the ones found in some species of birds. Jankenjin keep a small collection of stones (originally natural stones, nowadays synthetic, ceramic ones) in their crop, and when eating, slide unchewed food back into it to be mashed up by the stones, the pulp being exuded back into their mouths for swallowing. Their stomach and other digestive organs are similiar to mammals.
- Skeletal-Muscular System: Also similar to mammals; the most noteable features being their head-crests and tails. The head-crest, like similar structures on reptiles, is semi-rigid and flexible, with a cartilage-like structure and attached muscles that permit it to be erected for display, or flattened against the back of their heads. Jankenjin tails are large and strong, and slightly prehensile; though not enough to be used as a third hand, they can be used as a third leg, and trained Jankenjin athletes can actually hang by them.
- Skin: Somewhat between a mammal's and a bird's, smooth with a fine coating of furfeathers, with thicker furfeathers along their eye-ridges and covering their scalp. Young Jankenjin do not develop the thick lining of furfeathers on their crest and down their back and tail-tuft until they reach puberty.
- Senses: Similar to human's. Jankenjin eyes are tuned slightly lower in the spectrum than human ones, enabling them to see slightly in the infrared while deep violets appear black to them. Their sense of hearing is not quite as acute as human's, but their sense of smell is keener.
- Reproduction: This is the greatest difference between Jankenjin and humans or other Earth animals, and deserves its own explanation below. The important factor is that Jankenjin are ambisexual. Depending on the circumstances, they can be either male or female. They are not hermaphrodites; instead, they have "one set of equipment that works both ways."
GeneticsThe Jankenjin home planet Teiensekai developed unicellular and multicellular life very similar to Earth, at least in the beginning. However, when plants and animals on Teiensekai started evolving sexual reproduction, the planet's evolutionary history took a sharp left turn into unique territory. Instead of evolving two sexes--male and female--living organisms on Teiensekai, including Jankenjin, evolved three.
To understand how this works, one has to look at it on the genetic level. Organisms on Teiensekai have chromosomes, similar to Earth organisms, including sex chromosomes. However, unlike the human set of X and Y chromosomes that result in either a female {XX} or a male {XY} or a non-viable form {YY}, Jankenjin have three chromosomes, dubbed J, K, and L. Each Jankenjin has two of the three chromosomes, resulting in three possible combinations: {JK}, {JL}, and {KL} (Matched pairs--{JJ}, {KK}, or {LL} are non-viable). These combinations dictate what sex a Jankenjin is:
- A Jankenjin with a {JK} chromosome pair is called a guujin.
- A Jankenjin with a {JL} chromosome pair is called a chokijin.
- A Jankenjin with a {KL} chromosome pair is called a paajin.
Sexual reproduction among Jankenjin occurs when a cell from each partner divides, splitting its chromosome pairs in half. The two pairs of cells come togther and unite into two new cells, each containing half the chromosomes of each parent cell. For example, a cell from a guujin {JK} and a cell from a chokijin {JL} will split and re-fuse, becoming two new cells, one with a {KL} pair and one with an {JJ} pair. Since the {JJ} pair is non-viable, that cell fails to develop and is usually broken down and absorbed by the other. The cell with the {KL} pair then starts dividing, forming an embryo that eventually develops into a baby paajin.
This demonstrates the two fundamental features of Jankenjin reproduction: Successful mating can only happen between two different sexes, and the offspring of that union will always be of the third sex.
Sexual DifferentiationMany organisms on Teiensekai, including Jankenjin, evolved a form of sexual trimorphism (different physical characteristics based on sex), to differentiate the sexes and prevent non-viable mating. Thus, the three sexes of Jankenjin are considered three separate genders as well, with noticeably different physical and mental qualities:
Guujin, the "Physical Gender". Physically, guujin are more heavyset than the other two genders, and have reddish skin and furfeathers. They are the physically strongest gender, though their dexterity and physical endurance is not as great. Mentally, they tend to be more direct and less intuitive than the other genders, preferring the concrete to the abstract, and are often accused by the other two genders of being hopelessly literal-minded.
Chokijin, the "Mental Gender". Physically, chokijin are about a head taller than guujin and more slender than the other two genders, and have bluish-black skin and furfeathers. Their strength is midway between guujin and paajin, though their dexterity is greater. Mentally, they are very sharp, able to focus easily on abstract problems and work out their solutions much faster than either guujin or paajin; however they tend to be very reserved emotionally compared to the other two genders.
Paajin, the "Emotional/Spiritual Gender". Physically, paajin are the smallest of the three genders, being about a head shorter than guujin and of average build. They have fair skin and blond furfeathers. They are the weakest and least dexterous of the three genders, but have the most physical endurance. Mentally, they are noted for their sensitivity to and expression of emotions, a trait which has caused guujin and chokijin to attribute to them greater spirituality than themselves.
Jankenjin PsychologyThe Ogawa/Megawa DynamicBecause of their particular form of reproduction, Jankenjin evolved a much different set of psychological norms than human beings. For starters, they do not consider themselves either male or female. Because Jankenjin are ambisexual, they are capable of assuming either the male role or the female role in reproduction. However, they cannot assume both at the same time; instead, they are capable of two different and opposite forms of sexuality, called ogawa and megawa. Strictly biologically speaking, ogawa is equivalent to "male", the seed planter, while megawa is equivalent to "female", the seed recipient and child-bearer. However, the psychological aspects are much different.
Jankenjin assign ogawa and megawa roles to the different genders according to an age-old pattern, one that dominates and practically defines their culture:
- For a guujin/chokijin pair, the guujin is the ogawa partner and the chokijin is the megawa one.
- For a chokijin/paajin pair, the chokijin is the ogawa partner and the paajin is the megawa one.
- For a paajin/guujin pair, the paajin is the ogawa partner and the guujin is the megawa one.
Note that this means guujin mothers always bear chokijin offspring, chokijin mothers always bear paajin offspring, and paajin mothers always bear guujin offspring. It is for this reason that ogawa/megawa cannot be defined simply as male/female. Ogawa/megawa encompasses not only the "husband/wife" relationship, but also the "mother/child" one. The psychology is therefore much different.
Jankenjin define ogawa/megawa not as "equal-opposites", but rather as "superior-inferior". The ogawa side of the relationship is considered dominant, protective, and nurturing, while the megawa side is considered submissive, vulnerable, and yearning. This extends not only to relationships between individual Jankenjin, but between the genders as a whole. All guujin are considered ogawa to all chokijin, all chokijin are considered ogawa to all paajin, and all paajin are considered ogawa to all guujin. For Jankenjin, equality exists only within one's gender, not between them.
The Sansukumi PrincipleDespite the apparent inequality between the genders, in fact Jankenjin culture is remarkably egalitarian when it comes to gender. The reason for this is a principle called sansukumi, which can roughly be translated as "three-way standoff." Any two Jankenjin of different genders will have an unequal relationship, one being ogawa and the other megawa. However, the addition of a Jankenjin of the third gender cancels this out: If gender A is ogawa to gender B and B is megawa to A, then C will be ogawa to A and megawa to B. Each Jankenjin becomes ogawa to one of the other two and megawa to the other one. Thus, no single Jankenjin of the three is dominant; all are equal.
Jankenjin incorporate the sansukumi principle in all facets of their society. For example, Jankenjin marriages are not between couples, but rather between trios, one guujin, one chokijin, and one paajin. This ensures no one partner in the marriage is superior to the others. Similiarly, Jankenjin government and social structures are all based on the principle of equal representation for each gender, ensuring that no single gender dominates the political or social landscape.
"Growing Up Jankenjin" -- Physical and Psychological DevelopmentLike humans, the Jankenjin personality is formed alongside their physical development. An understanding of that development is crucial to understanding the Jankenjin mind.
Conception, Pregnancy and BirthIt starts, of course, with conception and pregnancy. All Jankenjin can become pregnant and bear children. Pregnancy, of course, dramatically impacts the Jankenjin's ambisexual nature:
- When a Jankenjin conceives, her reproductive apparatus "shuts down" and her hormones go into a sort of "standby mode", making her unable to become either ogawa or megawa. This is how a Jankenjin mother usually discovers that she has become pregnant. The expectant mother remains in this state for about a month while the embryo undergoes its primary development. This first stage of pregnancy is often physically uncomfortable for the mother, akin to the "morning sickness" that sometimes afflicts human females that have recently become pregnant.
- Once primary development is reached, the embryo transfers itself into an internal marsupium, or pouch, where it continues its development away from the main reproductive system. At this point the expectant Jankenjin mother can resume her ogawa or megawa nature, although she will be unable to conceive again or get another Jankenjin pregnant until she's given birth. Biological scientists have debated why such non-productive sexuality evolved, and have generally concluded it's a social thing, like the way primates on Earth engage in sexual behavior even during times the female is unable to conceive.
- In rare situations, usually less than 3% of the time, the embryo will fail to transfer following primary development. The result is the equivalent of a miscarriage. Because of this, Jankenjin have two competing views on the "beginning of life". The older view is that "life begins at implantation", when the embryo is vital enough to transfer itself into the marsupium. The development of modern biology gave rise to the "life begins at conception" view. Jankenjin ethicists, primarily in their different religious communities, argue over which view is morally correct, and this argument is the basis for the political and legal debates Jankenjin have on contraception and abortion.
- In even rarer situations, a Jankenjin mother may not realize her embryo has miscarried, and may mistake it for implantation. The result is a "false pregnancy", where the Jankenjin mother will act and sometimes even physically appear to be pregnant until it becomes obvious she is not carrying a developing fetus. It is not unheard-of for unscrupulous Jankenjin to deliberately fake pregnancies to deceive their partners; the "fake pregnancy ploy" is a common plot device in Jankenjin drama.
- The second stage of the Jankenjin pregnancy lasts about 8 months, and if successful results in a live birth. A Jankenjin is capable of reproducing again within a few weeks of her baby's birth.
Jankenjin babies are born either hairless or with a light downy covering of blond furfeathers. Within a year, guujin babies turn reddish and chokijin babies turn dark, while paajin babies retain their blond coloration. This, and the fact that paajin retain more of their juvenile features as they grow than chokijin or guujin do, is why paajin are often called "the cute ones".
"Snogging"Jankenjin babies have undeveloped crops and cannot "chew" solid food until they are around 2-3 years old. Instead, their mothers nurse them through a process known as "snogging": A Jankenjin mother will take food and mash it in her crop, then transfer the pulp, known as "snog", into her baby's mouth, a process similar to the way some female birds on Earth feed their young.
Snogging plays an important part of a young Jankenjin child's psychological development, as it is one of the strongest bonding mechanisms between mother and child. While Jankenjin mothers almost always stop snogging their babies after they've grown up enough to receive their first set of crop-stones, the act of kissing (an imitation of snogging) is considered a display of motherly affection, so it's common to see Jankenjin mothers kissing their children, even fully grown ones.
Although physically, any Jankenjin adult can snog a baby regardless of gender, and in emergencies will do so, it is considered psychologically unhealthy for a baby to be snogged by an adult not of her mother's gender. Most Jankenjin fathers or fosters will do so only with extreme reluctance. To get around this difficulty, some more economically developed Jankenjin areas produce pre-made "snog" as baby formula, although the argument between "bottle-feeding" and "snogging" one's children is a common topic for debate between Jankenjin mothers.
An interesting behavior byproduct of snogging is that among adult Jankenjin who are ogawa/megawa partners, the act of kissing is considered an affectionate imitation of the mother/child relationship. Reportedly, some adult ogawa/megawa partners will take it a step further and perform the actual act of snogging, although that's generally considered "kinky" behavior and not a proper subject for dinner-table discussion.
Jankenjin Parent/Child RelationshipsEvery Jankenjin child has three parents: their biological mother, who is of the gender ogawa to them, their biological father, who is of the gender megawa to them, and their "foster", the third parent in the marriage triad, who happens to be of that child's gender. Each parent has a different emotional relationship with the child, helping the child grow psychologically:
- The mother is the example of ogawa behavior to the child, the nurturer and the one whom the young Jankenjin first looks up to. This sort of role is echoed when the Jankenjin child becomes an adult and seeks out an ogawa partner--a Jankenjin's role-model for a "husband" is their mother. In a sense, then, motherhood is a "masculine" behavior among Jankenjin.
- The father is the example of megawa behavior to the child. Jankenjin fathers tend to be involved more in their child's life as that child approaches puberty and starts trying to understand her own ogawa/megawa nature. Fatherhood, in a sense, is a "feminine" behavior among Jankenjin, as Jankenjin's role-model for a "wife" is their father.
- The foster is the role-model for the Jankenjin's own gender. Jankenjin have a strong sense of gender-identity; the three separate genders consider themselves almost different species. The foster helps the young Jankenjin understand themselves, and in many ways is closer emotionally than either the young Jankenjin's mother or father. This becomes true especially after the Jankenjin reaches puberty and their ogawa/megawa emotions start to develop.
Puberty, Physical and PsychologicalJankenjin reach puberty at around a dozen years of age, though there is some variation in it. All three genders develop at aboutthe same rate, although guujin are considered to develop slightly faster and paajin slightly slower. The physical onset of puberty, of course, is marked by the growth of furfeathers on the young Jankenjin's headcrest and down their back to their tail tuft. It's called "getting one's frill and tail", and it's about as awkward for young Jankenjin as puberty is among human ones.
Psychologically, puberty is the time when the Jankenjin first begins experiencing their ogawa and megawa emotions--their sexuality. Prepubescent Jankenjin children are aware of "ogawa" and "megawa" behavior, mostly through observing their mothers and fathers, but generally they don't grasp the fine points of it. As a result, young Jankenjin children often "play-pretend" ogawa and megawa behaviors, often getting them hilariously wrong. It should be noted that Jankenjin children most often play with others of their own gender. It's not uncommon to see young Jankenjin of the same gender "playing house", with one being the ogawa partner and the other being the megawa partner, and sometimes even switching roles in mid-game. Such "play-pretend" games become embarrassingly childish to the young Jankenjin once their real ogawa/megawa emotions "kick in", and it's one of the signs of puberty that a Jankenjin child will stop playing them, sometimes almost overnight.
Homosexual behavior, thus, is virtually unknown among adult Jankenjin, and Jankenjin generally find such behavior among humans to be eccentric, if not disturbed. To Jankenjin, homosexuality is considered a form of emotional retardation, a failure to develop psychologically past puberty.
"Retrograde" Jankenjin, the Controversial SexualityThroughout Jankenjin history, the ogawa/megawa relationships between guujin, chokijin, and paajin, have been considered a fundamental "fact of life" for their species, enshrined in law, custom, and religious ritual. However, approximately 170 years ago, the Jankenjin biological scientist Toruki Harumagariki discovered the existence of the Jankenjin sex chromosomes, and identified the mechanism by which two Jankenjin of different genders would always produce a child of the third gender. Toruki published a theory which remains controversial to this day: according to her observations, it was not only possible, for example, for a guujin father and a chokijin mother to produce a paajin child, but genetically speaking, it was equally possible for a chokijin father and a guujin mother to produce a paajin child.
"Retrograde" reproduction was not unknown among Jankenjin, but it is extremely rare, to the point where many Jankenjin refuse to believe it's possible. There is not much statistical information on it, but it is believed that no more than 3-5% of the Jankenjin population participates in "retrograde sex". Furthermore, retrograde pregnancies are apparently much less viable than regular ones--whereas a regular pregnancy may have about a 3% chance of miscarriage, retrograde ones may miscarry over 99% of the time. (Whether this is a natural effect of a Jankenjin mother carrying an embryo of the "wrong" gender, or a matter of hormone imbalances which potentially could be treated by medication, is not known.) Finally, the well-developed gender identities among Jankenjin make the whole concept of "retrograde" reproduction seem "unnatural" to them. As a result, the rare, "retrograde" births that would occur have long been thought to be "unnatural"--freaks of nature, condemned as abominations and violations of the natural order, and the Jankenjin parents who produced them were equally condemned as performing "unnatural acts". To this day, such behavior is considered taboo, and in most parts of the Triune Republic, is criminalized.