Nezha

## Appearance

Nezha has a childlike appearance despite being over 3,000 years old. He has large, black eyes, short black hair, and gold hoop earrings. He is almost always seen with a blank face, even while crying. When he gets wet lotus flowers bloom from his head.

He typically wears a letterman jacket over his primary school uniform. He wears his iconic red armillary sash as a scarf tied in a bow. He has white socks that end just before his knees and white sneakers.

In the past, Nezha has worn his hair in the traditional double bun style with lotus-like hair accessories. He wears a black and red tunic over pink shorts. He wears golden rings around both arms and legs as well as one with a curling motif around his neck. He is barefoot.

## Personality

Nezha is deceptively quiet and childlike, but when left to his own devices he will quickly find a way to cause mischief. Because of his blank face, it is hard to tell if his actions are innocent or intentional, so he generally goes unpunished. He enjoys tormenting Ao Lie and doesn't take his studies very seriously. He doesn't get along with his father and seems to be fairly short-tempered.

## Abilities

Nezha has 5 artifacts which he may use in combat, 3 of which have been shown thus far.

Nezha's Red Armillary Sash, typically worn as a scarf, can lengthen at will and is woven from cosmic fibers, making it incredibly tough. He commonly uses it to bind people. According to mythology, the sash also has the ability to produce fire

The Universe Ring is a golden ring. Nezha was born wrapped in the Armillary Sash with the Universe Ring worn around his arm. He commonly uses it as a throwing weapon or simply strikes people with it. It can shrink or grow at will and is indestructible.

Nezha's Wind Fire Wheels take the form of skateboard wheels. They enhance speed and can be used to create flames. They were given to him by his master, Taiyi Zhenren.

Nezha has also been shown in the manhua to possess the ability to create True Samadhi Fire- a sacred fire which cannot be smothered or extinguished by water.

As his body is constructed from lotus root, Nezha can remove and grow his limbs seemingly at will, which means he is always prepared to make lotus root soup. When he comes into contact with water lotuses bloom from his head. Sometimes these lotus flowers can indicate his emotions.

## Mythology

The third son of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing. Because he's been famous since ancient times, he has a lot of different stories with a lot of different versions. His most well-known story is told in the Investiture of the Gods, a Ming-Dynasty-era compilation of Chinese mythological figures. A seven-year-old Nezha, wearing his Armillary Sash and Universe Ring bathed in the ocean, accidentally causing tremors across the sea floor and turning the water red. The dragon king, Ao Guang, disturbed by the earthquakes sends the yaksha Li Gen to investigate. Nezha insults Li Gen, causing him to attack, and responds by striking him dead with the Universe Ring. Annoyed by the blood which has soiled his ring, he cleans it in the ocean, causing even greater tremors. Ao Guang's third son, Ao Bing goes to meet Nezha, but upon his arrival Nezha calls him and his father pathetic. Ao Bing, angered, attacks, but Nezha throws his sash over his head and hits him with the Universe Ring. He then removes the tendons from the dragon's body to make armor. Hearing of his son's murder, Ao Guang threatens to report Nezha and his family to the Jade Emperor, however, when he enters the Heavenly Palace, Nezha attacks him with the Universe Ring. Because his master, Taiyi Zhenren told him not to kill the king, Nezha tears the scales from his body. Ao Guang, in revenge gathers the 4 dragons of the seas to flood Nezha's village. Li Jing is horrified upon seeing the destruction, and offers himself as sacrifice to Ao Guang. Nezha, unable to defeat the dragons, feels remorse for his actions, and disembowels himself. He peels away his skin, giving his flesh to his mother and leaving his bones for his father. Taiyi Zhenren appears and is able to capture Nezha's soul, which he then places in a body of lotus root, thus bringing him back to life.

## Trivia

* He can get drunk off coffee
* He originally had long hair, but after being mistaken for a girl several times he shaved it.
* During Halloween he has been bribed by Jiu Yue into dressing as Akemi Homura from Madoka Magica and Chihiro from Spirited Away.

1. ↑ https://journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/fsyy-en-cn.pdf