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In One Piece Chapter 254, Usopp saw someone that fix Going Merry, later in
chapter 351, Franky told him that it actually a manifestation of a ship's
soul.

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9AWUQ.jpg)

Is this based on any real legend?


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2014-07-17T16:30:29.030
12902
2014-07-17T22:27:24.310
2014-07-17T22:27:24.310
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question
one-piece culture
Is the Ship Spirit (klabautermann) based on any real legend?


Yes it is, Klabautermann in One Piece world described as a marine holding an
hammer, the real story about Klabautermann is a small sailor in yellow with a
tobacco pipe and woolen sailor's cap, and often wearing a caulking hammer.
([source](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klabautermann))

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/k5JNem.jpg)![enter
image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jotuNm.jpg)

Klabautermann from German folklore (left) and Klabautermann from One Piece
world (right)

> A Klabautermann often assists sailors and fishermen on the Baltic and North
> Sea in their duties, and he is known to be an expert of understanding most
> watercraft.

When Usopp first meeting with Klabautermann, he was fixing Going Merry and
revert it to its original shape, not to the flying model when Going Merry got
damaged.

> Despite the positive attributes, there is one omen associated with his
> presence: no member of a ship blessed by his presence shall ever set eyes on
> him. He only ever becomes visible to the crew of a doomed ship.

Usopp saw Merry's spirit when it was already heavily damage, and the boat was
beyond repair.

> Soon enough, the boat sinking, and the spirit say goodbye to Luffy's crew.


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2014-07-17T16:30:29.030
12903
2014-07-17T16:30:29.030
2869
12902
answer