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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alzrius" data-source="post: 2830437" data-attributes="member: 8461">I can't expand on the direct reference, but the idea there seems to be thematically drawn from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanjincho" target="_blank">Kanjincho</a>, a very popular kabuki play.The play is about the famous figure Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who is fleeing, along with his faithful sohei (warrior monk) Benkei, assassins from his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo.When the pair comes upon a holding of Yoritomo's that they must pass, they try to disguise themselves. So refined is Yoshitsune, however, that the soldiers quickly realize who is attempting to pass through their checkpoint. Desperate, Benkei, still in disguise, attempts to convince the soldiers that this person cannot be Yoshitsune, and to prove it, beats him. The soldiers let the pair pass.The reason they let the pair pass, however, was not because they were convinced of the deception - indeed, they all saw through it. However, to strike your lord is the height of dishonor; it is the worst shame. That Benkei was willing to make such a sacrifice for his liege awed them so greatly that they couldn't bring themselves to arrest the two.This is largely the same principle for the Scorpion Clan in L5R, I suspect; you dishonor yourself so that that which you serve may proceed smoothly.</blockquote>