Spirit of the Valley

The Spirit of the Valley(谷間の気性, Tanima no Kishō) is a philosophy adopted by the people residing in the Land of Valleys. Its existence is a reflection of the nation's geological location; for it is surrounded on all sides by larger nations. Oftentimes, the philosophy is compared to a coin, due to the fact that there are two main tenets which compose it. The first revolves around the concept of "Humble Strength": a quality which is epitomized by the whole of the country. As the vast majority of the nation's citizens are farmers, "Humble Strength" manifests itself in the striving to obtain a personal strength that can be used in the defense of one's home...whilst remaining conservative enough that the world of ignorant of one's true strength.

The second tenet revolves around the concept of "Facing Death". If the Land of Valleys is threatened by an outside power, the Spirit of the Valley inspires every man, woman, and child to rise up with all their might. Even if death is the only perceived outcome, adherents to the Spirit of the Valley will gladly lay down their lives in defense of their homeland. To this end, the tenet of "Facing Death" revolves around staring any and all enemies in the eye with boldness and fighting, even at the ultimate cost. Retreat is never an option.

Whilst humbly held within the hearts of each and every citizen of the Land, the Spirit of the Valley is physically manifested in the form of a symbol. Two circles, each representing one of the philosophy's tenets, are unified in such a manner that turning the symbol on its side results in the image of an individual standing strong. This symbol is highly valued by the people of the Land of Valleys, so much so that it is emblazoned upon flags, clothing, and has even been adopted as the symbol of the nation's Hidden Village.