The Five August Courts were the earliest organized social structures of kuei-jin in the Middle Kingdom.
The Courts were founded by the Five Emperors, and consisted of the Court of the Black Tortoise in the north, the Court of the White Tiger in the west, the Court of the Azure Dragon in the east, the Court of the Scarlet Phoenix in the south, and the Court of the Yellow Emperor in the central regions of the country. Each of these courts pledged themselves to fulfilling specific tasks and missions for the future of the Kuei-jin and the greater Middle Kingdom. Maintaining the integrity of sacred dragon lines, reclaiming the good graces of the Spirit Courts and finding a path back to unity with the Great Cycle of Being consumed these courts' original activities.
In the beginning, this arrangement blossomed; the Five August Courts built up a solid, all-encompassing social, political and philosophical network among the Cathayans. Yet as time progressed, these Five Courts atrophied, concerning themselves more with augmenting their temporal power than fulfilling their duties. Bloody wars with other shen increased; mortal populations suffered under Cathayan-inspired blood cults; internecine quarreling pitted court against court over status, resources and access to the dragon lines. The structure of the Five August Courts split apart; each court chose to pursue its own agenda free from the restrictions imposed by the former arrangements.
The invasion of China by Mongols, with the support of the Black Tortoise Court, brought Kin-jin to the Middle Kingdom in numbers for the first time. This lead to the formation of the Quincunx, a replacement for the Five August Courts specifically dedicated to defending the Middle Kingdom from western influence, in 1304.