As an iconic character from Chinese mythology, Nezha’s story shines with new vitality in more diverse art forms in modern times.
As Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has shattered multiple box office records inside and outside China, Nezha, the iconic character from Chinese mythology, has become one of the hottest topics start from this year.
Nezha is a heroic figure from Chinese ancient mythological novels Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West. Born extraordinary, Nezha’s story began 3,000-4,000 years ago, during the Shang Dynasty, according to Chinese mythology.
The most famous tales about Nezha involves his battle with the Dragon Kings of the sea. To protect people, he slew the Dragon King’s son. Nezha sacrificed himself then, cut his own flesh and dismembers his bones, “returning” these to his parents in repayment for this debt.
Nezha’s legend has touched countless people from generation to generation. His story was told in several traditional Chinese operas, including Beijing Opera, Kunqu Opera, Shaanxi Opera, Hebei Bangzi and Shaoxing Opera, etc.
There are differences on the character of Nezha in each genre of drama. For example, Beijing Opera highlights the martial arts of Nezha, blending traditional martial arts with the unique martial arts techniques of Beijing Opera, with a lively and playful clothing design.
While Kunqu Opera focuses on the use of body posture and eye contact of Nezha, with more delicate clothing design and color. The performance style of Shaanxi Opera always goes with a range of body movements, highlighting strong emotions.
Modern Twist
In modern times, Nezha’s story shines with new vitality in more diverse art forms. As a symbol of ethnic culture, Nezha has become a hugely successful IP. Its influence spans the film and television, gaming, as well as cultural and creative industries.
The animated film Ne Zha 2 is a great example. In Ne Zha film series, Nezha is no longer a rebellious child, but a boy who constantly breaks through himself in his growth. The film has made significant improvements in animation technology and visual effects. At the same time, it successfully achieved a balance between modern technology and traditional culture.
In the cultural and creative industry, the derivative products of the Nezha IP cover a wide range of categories such as figurines, toys, stationery, clothing, beverages and food.
For example, Pop Mart has launched the “Born Bond” series of figurine blind boxes, featuring the designs of Nezha and his friend Ao Bing to correspond to the character relationships in the film. According to reports, the blind boxes sold out across all online platforms within two days of being put on the shelves.
In the future, there may be more cross-border collaborations based on the IP of Nezha.
Written by Sha Liu, picture designed by Di Wang.
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