Nezha (deity)

Nezha (on the left) in Fengshen Yanyi

Nezha, Na Zha or Nata (Chinese: 哪吒; pinyin: Nézhā or Núozhā^[1]; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lô-chhia; is a Taoist protection deity, the trickster, originally of Chinese Buddhist mythology. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (中壇元帥). He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" (莲花三太子) after he became a deity.

Biography

According to Fengshen Yanyi, Nezha was born during the Shang Dynasty in a military fortress at Chentang Pass. His father was a military commander named Li Jing, who later became the "Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King". Nezha's mother, Lady Yin, gave birth to a ball of flesh after being pregnant with him for three years and six months. Li Jing thought that his wife had given birth to a demon and attacked the ball with his sword. The ball split open and Nezha jumped out as a boy instead of an infant. Nezha could speak and walk immediately after birth. He was later accepted by the immortal Taiyi Zhenren as a student. He had two older brothers, Jinzha, a disciple of Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Muzha, a disciple of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

One day, while playing near the sea, Nezha fought and killed Ao Bing, the third son of the East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang. Ao Guang called for his brothers and confronted Nezha and his family. He threatened to flood Chentang Pass and report Nezha to the Jade Emperor. To save his family, Nezha flayed and disembowled himself to return his body to his parents. The Dragon Kings were moved by his filial piety and spared his family. Nezha was later brought back to life by his teacher, Taiyi Zhenren, who used lotus roots to construct a human body for his soul.^[2]

After Nezha had disembowelled himself to return his body to his parents, he appeared in his mother's dream. In the dream, he asked her to build a temple for him, so that his soul would have a place to rest. This constitutes a link to Nezha's birth because the night before Nezha was born, Lady Yin had a dream where a Taoist put something into her bosom and told her to take this child. For both incidences, a dream was used to communicate a message.

His mother then secretly built a temple for Nezha and this temple later flourished. This temple became very well known and grew vastly because Nezha granted miracle cures to the sick and the crippled. However, Li Jing soon found out about this temple and burnt it down because he was still angry at Nezha and felt that he had already caused too much trouble for their family.

Li Jing burning the temple caused Nezha to desire his father's death. Thus, enmity between father and son grew. With the reincarnation of Nezha by his master, Li Jing and Nezha fought many battles. However, Li Jing soon realized that his mortal body was no match for Nezha and so he ran for his life. On the run, he met his second son, Muzha, who fought and was defeated by Nezha. At this, Li Jing tried to commit suicide but was saved by Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, who also contained Nezha. In the end, Nezha was forced to submit to his father by another deity, Randeng Daoren.

Nezha is often depicted as a youth, instead of an adult. He is often shown flying in the sky riding on the Wind Fire Wheels (風火輪), has the Universe Ring (乾坤圈) around his body (sometimes in his left hand), the Red Armillary Sash (浑天绫) around his shoulders and a Fire-tipped Spear (火尖槍) in his right hand. Sometimes, he is shown in his "three heads and six arms" form (三頭六臂). He has the ability to spit fire in some legends.

In mythology and literature

Nezha has frequently appeared in Chinese mythology and ancient Chinese literature such as Fengshen Yanyi (or Investiture of the Gods), although the story of Nezha conquering the sea is the most well known among Chinese households.

In Journey to the West, Nezha was a general under his father, "Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King" Li Jing. He fought the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, when the latter rebelled against the Jade Emperor. They became friends later.^[3] Nezha made some appearances in the novel to help the four protagonists defeat powerful demons.

Religion

Nezha in Taiwanese religion

Nezha is regarded as a deity in Taiwanese folk religion and is called "Marshal of the Central Altar" (Chinese: 中壇元帥) or "Prince Nezha", the "Third Prince".

As in traditional folklore, Nezha flies around swiftly on his Wind Fire Wheels, so he is also regarded as the tutelary god of many professional drivers, like truck, taxi, or sightseeing bus drivers. They tend to place a small statue of Nezha in the vehicles for a safe drive.^{[citation needed]}

The Xinying Prince's Temple in Tainan City, built in 1728, is the founding temple of the Prince's Temple in Taiwan.

Taiwan's Techno Prince Nezha dance groups (Chinese: 電音三太子) were invited to perform in the opening ceremonies of the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung and the Deaflympics 2009 in Taipei, presenting a fusion of popular culture and Taiwanese traditional art.

Popular culture

The story of Nezha's feud with the Dragon King was adapted into a 1979 animated feature film, Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King.

In the role-playing game Scion, Nezha appears, along with Sun Wukong, as one of the gods of Chinese mythology whom players can choose as their character's divine parent.

Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli will be making an animated feature film, The Legend of Nezha: A Chinese Myth.

Nezha is also featured in World of Feng Sheng,^[4] an online Chinese strategy game developed by Ultizen. RuneScape developer Jagex, in partnership with Ultizen, have published an English version of the game, titled War of Legends.

In 2001, Hong Kong's TVB produced a television drama titled Gods of Honour, adapted from Fengshen Yanyi, which starred Benny Chan as Nezha. The drama was aired from July 23 to September 14.

In 1999, Nezha's story was also adapted into a Singaporean television series titled Legends of Nezha.

In the PS2 game, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, Nezha is a playable Persona going by the name of Nata Tashi.

In the PC game, Titan Quest, Nezha gives his name to an armor enchantment and is described as "a Chinese trickster god".

See also

• Chinese mythology in popular culture
• Techno Prince Nezha

References

1. ^ 國語辭典修訂本 (http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw)
2. ^ Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 12.
3. ^ http://cdweinmann.tripod.com/glossary.htm
4. ^ http://www.51fswd.com