>>719213713
The story of the "Standing Man", is that of a lone traveler who was offered shelter by a noble family in feudal Japan. On the same night, a group of assassins is sent to kill every member of the family in a bloody coup; the traveler attempts to flee carrying a large bell on his back, but is cornered by the bandits. They attack him, stabbing him, cutting him, beating and berating him, but the man is unmoved and stares at them aggressively. Many moments pass until the leader of the bandits realizes he has been long dead. Yet still, he stood there with the heavy bell on his back giving them the same threatening look, taking it as a sign the man has an incredible strength of spirit the bandits leave their bloody deeds done. The next morning the body of the man is found by the remaining servants of the deceased family still frozen in the same pose. It is then revealed that under the large bell he had been carrying he had hidden Yakichi Hanayama, the youngest heir to the Hanayama clan. As a tribute to this courageous act that spared their family, it is tradition for every male heir to bear the tattoo of the fearless man who saved them and is a symbol of kindness, hope, and great spiritual strength to them all.
