Page "Vulcan (Star Trek)" Paragraph 51

In about the 4th century CE, Vulcans emerged from their violent tendencies and civil wars under a philosopher named Surak, who advocated the suppressing of emotion in favor of logic.

This period was known as the Great Awakening, and much of present-day Vulcan philosophy emerged from this period.

According to the Star Trek: New Frontier book series ( which, like all novels, are not considered canon ), the Great Awakening caused many wars and conflicts to occur amongst various Vulcan tribes ; those who supported Surak's cause would become separated from friends and even close family members who did not.

For cases in which parents were separated by this, a ritual was created called the ku ' nit ka ' fa ' ar, a battle to determine which parent would maintain their child.

Despite the acceptance of Surak's teachings, generations of imperfect copies of his writings, combined with changes in the Vulcan language over time, resulted in a diluted form of the culture he instituted.