Meet Ne Zha, the child deity behind the global animation blockbuster

Spoiler alert: Major Ne Zha 2 spoilers below

Despite being one of the most well-known names in ancient Chinese mythology, many New Zealanders appear to know very little about Ne Zha.

The rebellious child deity is currently in the spotlight after animated Chinese film Ne Zha 2 pocketed highly successful box office receipts earlier this year.

Its purported gross taking of 15.9 billion yuan (NZ$3.7 billion, US$2.2 billion) makes it the highest-grossing animated title of all time, the highest-grossing non-English language film ever and the fifth highest-grossing title overall.

After being released globally earlier this year, Ne Zha 2 returns to New Zealand with an English-language version later this month, with Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh voicing Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin.

What are the origins of Ne Zha?

Ne Zha can be traced to a mythological Indian figure called Nalakūbara, according to Israeli sinologist Meir Shahar.

Nalakūbara, also known as Nalakūvara, appears in Hindu epics such as Ramayana as well as Tantric Buddhist literature.

With the spread of Buddhism in China, Nalakūbara became a subject for early sutra translators, which finally settled on Ne Zha for a name in about the eighth century, according to Shahar.

Although Nalakūbara was portrayed as a young man, Ne Zha is depicted as a child who might be modelled from Hindu deity Krishna, according to Shahar.

Ancient folklore has it that Nalakūbara was once saved by baby god Krishna and it's possible that Tantric Buddhist masters coloured Nalakūbara in the hues of his saviour, Shahar wrote in a research paper.

Similarities between Ne Zha and Krishna include killing a dragon and drawing a magic bow that no one has been able to bend.

"Nezha and the Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) incarnation of Viṣṇu (Vishnu) share significant similarities," Shahar wrote in Indian Mythology and the Chinese Imagination: Nezha, Nalakūbara and Kṛṣṇa.

"The two gods are toddlers, and their respective myths pivot upon the concealment of divine might under a misleadingly fragile appearance."

Who is Ne Zha?

A more familiar story of Ne Zha for Chinese people - one that has featured in many animated and TV series in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan - was based on a novel called Investiture of the Gods (Feng Shen Yan Yi) that was written between the 16th and 17th centuries during the Ming Dynasty.

Combining history, mythology and religion, the story is set in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) and focuses on the fall of Shang and the rise of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC).

Ne Zha, a key figure in the novel, is depicted as a mischievous and tempestuous child born with magic powers who later became a hero and helped with the righteous wars against Shang.

He was the third son to General Li Jing and Lady Yin, and was born as a ball of flesh after Yin was pregnant for three and a half years. When a shocked General Li cut the ball open, a child sprung out of it and began running around.

Other well-known stories include Ne Zha's rebirth.

The child deity killed Ao Bing, the third son of the Dragon King of the East Sea.

An aggrieved Dragon King of the East Sea sets out for revenge, approaching General Li to demand justice.

Taking responsibility for his actions, Ne Zha commits suicide to avoid causing further trouble to his parents.

Ne Zha's master, Taiyi Zhenren, eventually brought him back to life by rebuilding his body using lotus leaves and flowers.

What are Ne Zha's powers?

The child deity's powers are strengthened by his signature weapons, including the fire-tipped spear, wind fire wheels, universe ring and a red armillary sash.

He's also famous for being able to change into a form with three heads and eight arms, according to Investiture of the Gods.

Complicating matters, other ancient Chinese literature, including the classic Journey to the West (Xi You Ji), keep the headcount at three but say this form only has six arms.

In Journey to the West, which was set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ne Zha was told to go with other immortals to defeat the trouble-making Monkey King but failed.

Ne Zha is known as "General of the Middle Altar" in Daoism as well as "The Third Prince" as he's the third son of General Li, who later became a deity called "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King".

Many areas, including parts of mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong and especially Taiwan, still worship Ne Zha.

Does the plot of the Ne Zha films follow the commonly accepted narrative?

The blockbuster movie and its first instalment, which was released in 2019, loosely follow Ne Zha's story line in Investiture of the Gods but explore in detail the journey of this child deity.

Being isolated, misunderstood and cursed because of his differences, the rebellious, courageous and determined Ne Zha grows into a hero who fights against his destiny as well as an evil force.

The film includes major changes to some of the main characters.

For example, Dragon Prince Ao Bing is a good friend of Ne Zha instead of being slain by him, while General Li appears as a kind father, rather than someone hostile to the child deity.

Shen Gongbao, usually depicted as a jealous and cunning plotter, also shows love and responsibility to his family and others in the movie.

Meanwhile, Lady Yin, as in Investiture of the Gods and other shows, remains a caring and loving mother who loves Ne Zha regardless of what others think about him.

The story also brings an element of the traditional Chinese Daoist philosophy, which believes that seemingly opposite forces - good and evil or yin and yang - are not necessarily opposing each other but rather interdependent and mutually transformative.

What do cultural experts say?

Manying Ip, a professor emeritus of Asian studies at the University of Auckland, says Ne Zha represents a "flawed anti-hero" who is often hasty, reckless and makes mistakes.

"But, basically, he is righteous and willing to help people," she says. "A protector of the weak and marginalised."

She says Ne Zha is worshipped as a protector of children in some areas traditionally, but most people like him because he is "cute", "powerful" and "so human".

Ip says his "youthful rebelliousness" appeals to many and the reimagining of "this impulsive and rash young person [in the movie] would give deep resonance of recognition to contemporary audiences".

Mengying Jiang, who obtained a PhD from Victoria University focusing on the adaptation of Chinese novels and films into English, now works as an associate professor at Tongji University in Shanghai.

She says Ne Zha charmed audiences with his cuteness, fearless spirit and mastery of magical arts prior to the films by director Jiaozi (original name Yang Yu).

"Jiaozi's two Ne Zha blockbusters deepened that appeal," she says.

"Viewers connect with his irrepressible energy and boundless kindness beneath a brash exterior, his filial love and loyalty to friends, his unwavering stand against injustice and his refusal to compromise on his dreams," she says.

"These human-scale virtues resonate powerfully with modern audiences."

Matt Lowes, a student at Victoria University of Wellington who majors in linguistics and Chinese, has watched both Ne Zha films.

"The visuals are top notch, the meaning and the broader message is strong and well thought out," Lowes says.

"It is also a good movie to see to get launched into the world of China, Chinese mythology and history."