The Four Emanations are an important concept in Radch religion, the components from which Amaat created the universe. Each Emanation is a duality between two opposing concepts.
The Emanations are:
- EtrepaBo - Light/Darkness
- EskVar - Beginning/Ending
- IssaInu - Movement/Stillness
- VahnItr - Existence/Nonexistence
Representations of the Emanations are often depicted in Temples to Amaat, or being held by a four-armed Amaat idol. They can also be depicted separately, and Breq keeps an EskVar with her other religious idols.
Decade naming
Radchaai military ships have a number of their decades named after the emanations. The first two decades are always named after the ship's god and Amaat, while each remaining decade is named after a half of one of the emanations.