TV-Series
Description
Len is a shaman from China and a member of the Tao family, an ancient clan that once served as guardians of the Forbidden City before being persecuted as outcasts. Raised by his father (or uncle in some versions) En Tao, Len was conditioned from childhood to despise all of humanity and to see the world as corrupt. The Tao family crest was magically tattooed on his back as a reminder of his supposed destiny to become the Shaman King and punish the world for the clan’s suffering. Len’s early personality is serious, logical, and emotionally aloof, shaped by years of harsh training that stripped him of a normal childhood. He believes that spirits like his guardian Bason are mere tools and that trusting others leads only to betrayal.
His motivation initially is to win the Shaman Fight and use the power of the Shaman King to exact vengeance on the world. However, after meeting the easygoing protagonist Yoh Asakura and experiencing genuine friendship, Len begins to question everything he was taught. He learns that not all humans are cruel, and his hatred gradually gives way to a desire to restore his family’s honor rather than destroy others. This leads him to confront and defeat En Tao, breaking free from the shadow of his upbringing. Len remains proud, short-tempered, and often egotistical—he names his own team “Team the Ren”—but beneath the tough exterior he is willing to risk his life for his allies.
In the story, Len serves as a rival and later a close ally to Yoh. His key relationships include a bickering but deep friendship with the Ainu shaman Horohoro, whom he once saved at great personal cost, and a protective bond with his sister Jun. Over the course of the series, Len undergoes significant development: he learns to trust his spirit partner Bason as a friend, accepts help from others, and matures from a cold lone warrior into a loyal teammate. He eventually marries the Iron Maiden Jeanne and has a son named Men Tao.
Len’s abilities as a shaman are formidable. His guardian ghost is Bason, a fierce Chinese commander from the era of Kublai Khan. He initially fights with a kwan-dao, a spear-like weapon, which he fuses with Bason for combat. After that weapon is broken, he wields the Hou Rai Ken (Sword of Thunder), the Tao family’s treasured heirloom. The sword can purify and enhance spirits, allowing Bason to recall past techniques and grow much stronger. Len is skilled in martial arts and sword fighting, and he can learn techniques simply by witnessing them. He becomes one of the Five Elemental Warriors, gaining the Spirit of Thunder, and can channel lightning into powerful attacks. His most notable techniques include the Chuuka Zanmai (Chinese Slash Dance) and its enhanced version Golden Chuuka Zanmai, as well as the armor-like Oversoul Bushin Yūtsū. His furyoku is recorded as 100,001.
His motivation initially is to win the Shaman Fight and use the power of the Shaman King to exact vengeance on the world. However, after meeting the easygoing protagonist Yoh Asakura and experiencing genuine friendship, Len begins to question everything he was taught. He learns that not all humans are cruel, and his hatred gradually gives way to a desire to restore his family’s honor rather than destroy others. This leads him to confront and defeat En Tao, breaking free from the shadow of his upbringing. Len remains proud, short-tempered, and often egotistical—he names his own team “Team the Ren”—but beneath the tough exterior he is willing to risk his life for his allies.
In the story, Len serves as a rival and later a close ally to Yoh. His key relationships include a bickering but deep friendship with the Ainu shaman Horohoro, whom he once saved at great personal cost, and a protective bond with his sister Jun. Over the course of the series, Len undergoes significant development: he learns to trust his spirit partner Bason as a friend, accepts help from others, and matures from a cold lone warrior into a loyal teammate. He eventually marries the Iron Maiden Jeanne and has a son named Men Tao.
Len’s abilities as a shaman are formidable. His guardian ghost is Bason, a fierce Chinese commander from the era of Kublai Khan. He initially fights with a kwan-dao, a spear-like weapon, which he fuses with Bason for combat. After that weapon is broken, he wields the Hou Rai Ken (Sword of Thunder), the Tao family’s treasured heirloom. The sword can purify and enhance spirits, allowing Bason to recall past techniques and grow much stronger. Len is skilled in martial arts and sword fighting, and he can learn techniques simply by witnessing them. He becomes one of the Five Elemental Warriors, gaining the Spirit of Thunder, and can channel lightning into powerful attacks. His most notable techniques include the Chuuka Zanmai (Chinese Slash Dance) and its enhanced version Golden Chuuka Zanmai, as well as the armor-like Oversoul Bushin Yūtsū. His furyoku is recorded as 100,001.