WORLD BUILDING: HARRY POTTER
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTEN MAGIC AND WESTERN MAGIC.
Magical Cores and Spells.
Eastern magical cores tend to be stricter than Western magical cores. Their magic is a lot more frigid, and, therefore, there is a lot more training needed to control and use magic. In fact, Eastern magic is mostly about control rather than creativity and thought, which is different from Western magic.
Western magic tends to be dependent on creativity and belief and thought, which is why when someone uses the same spell but has different ideas for how the spell could be used, the spell shapes itself to the magic user’s wishes.
However, both of them need aspects of both: without creativity, Eastern mages would not be able to do some of the higher level spells used ( especially high-level elemental spells ) while, without control, Western wizards would be unable to cast spells, especially those of a higher level of skill.
Eastern mages tend to have specialisations, but it’s not uncommon for Eastern mages to be able to use a wide variety of spells and have a marginal knowledge of multiple areas of specialisations. The specialisations tend to split between different elements, animal control/attraction, plant control, medicine, and seals. Some even have unique specialisations like exorcism.
Western wizards, however, tend not to have too many specialisations: most wizards can use spells that span across different elements and different applications. They tend to only specialise due to their job or different classes ( like Transfiguration or Defence Against the Dark Arts ). They also tend to have a lot more mundane magic as well, such as cleaning items, that Japanese mages do not use.
Status.
Japanese magic is differentiated to several different groups depending on skill level and clan size: novice, apprentice, skilled, teacher ( or 先生, sensei ), master ( skill level ); independent ( slang: clan-less for those who believe heavily in clan magic being stronger ) and clan. There is also a subcategory of clan called banished, from those who were a part of a clan but disowned either due to criminal activity or because they disagreed with the clan ( it depends on how strict the clan is, and, generally, how much power one clan has; clans with more power tend to be stricter ).
Those of the novice class tend to just be starting out or little kids. They don’t have much magical power, aren’t able to cast spells fast, and generally have low level spells like lighting fires or blowing slight breezes. They either have had little to no instruction.
Those of the apprentice class are teenagers who have been studying magic for a while. They have a lot more magical power, depending on how naturally talented they are they could have all of the magic they’re going to get or only a small percentage of their adulthood magical power and are able to cast a variety of spells, and they know a lot more mid-level spells; although, no high-ranking spells at all. They tend to have an instructor, either through a clan or from another independent mage.
Those of the skilled class are young adults or adults who have been studying magic for a while. This skill level is average for most adults and are where most adults can be placed. They tend to have all of the magical power they’re going to get in their lifetime without illegal magical strengthening, and they know a variety of spells or are heavily specialised. This is where instruction tends to stop and either they continue to learn and experiment with magic on their own or they remain stagnate.
Those of the teacher class are adults who are stronger magically than skilled mages. They were either naturally talented, trained for most of their life, or both. They tend to be specialised in a certain area of magic; although, there are those in the teacher class that are jack-of-all-trades and have no specialisation. Teachers make up 20% of the magical population of the Eastern world, and most of them belong to clans. They also tend to only teach within clans as well.
Those of the master class are highly skilled mages, and they make up less than 1% of the magical population of the Eastern world. ( In comparison, they tend to be of the same level of Albus Dumbledore and Voldemort in their prime ). They rarely teach students, and, if they are specialised, they tend to be the ideal of that specialty. There are only sixteen masters in the Eastern world currently, and they make up a council of masters that look over the Eastern magical world.
Independent mages were not born into a magical clan but shown magical ability. Occasionally, an independent mage will get sponsored by a clan ( depending on how high their magical talent may be ) and will be taught by a clan; although, they would still be considered ‘independent’, just attached to a clan. Some, however, get picked up by independent teachers and learn without the influence of a clan.
Clan mages tend to be born into a magical family and are raised with power on their fingertips. They tend to be trained by birth into the magical world and are under the watch and rule of their clan. If they take a misstep or do something the clan does not agree with, they can be banished by the clan and forced to never learn magic from that clan again. Banishment is considered to be a disgrace to clan mages.
Casting spells.
Novice Japanese mages tend to use a conductor ( like wands, but staffs and fans can and have been used ) and verbal magical spells to cast spells. These spells also tend to be weak but rather fast to use. They tend to have to forcibly move their magic in order to use a spell.
Apprentice Japanese mages tend to forgo the conductor ( unless using a rather complicated spell ) but make a wide gesture with a part of their body ( such as waving a hand or moving a leg ) and state a spell verbally. They tend to have to forcibly move their magic in order to use a spell.
Skilled Japanese mages forgo the conductor completely and either use a small gesture ( such as a small movement of the hand or a tap of the foot ) or state the spell verbally ( while reciting the spell in their head ). If it’s a spell that they are very familiar with, their magic will move in the way it’s supposed without much concentration, but if it’s a more complicated spell or unfamiliar spell, then they need to concentrate on moving their magic themselves.
Teacher Japanese mages tend to make very small gestures ( such as a twitch of a finger or a toe ), and would rarely have to state a spell verbally unless using a very high-level spell. They no longer have to concentrate on moving their magic themselves; their magic tends to move the way it’s supposed to with just a thought of the spell.
Master Japanese mages either make very small gestures ( which can be a blink or a slight movement of the eye ) or no gestures at all. They never have to speak a spell verbally unless they are using a forbidden/banned spell ( all masters know at least one ), and their magic moves easily with the mere thought of the spell they want to use.
Due to this, Western mages, with conductors, tend to be able to use spells faster, but Eastern spells tend to be stronger. However, skilled Japanese mages tend to have the same speed as Western mages, depending on how familiar they are with a spell.
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