Nezha
Protection deity reborn from lotus, slayer of dragons.
Nezha (哪吒, Nézhā), also known as Nezha the Crown Prince or Natha, is a protection deity in Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is 'Marshal of the Central Altar' (中壇元帥), and he was later given the title 'Third Lotus Prince' (蓮花三太子) after becoming a deity. He appears in classic Chinese novels such as *Fengshen Yanyi* and *The Journey to the West*.
- born
- Shang dynasty, as a ball of flesh after three years and six months of gestation
- died
- Committed suicide by carving up his own flesh and dismembering his bones to save his family
- field
- Protection deity in Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Chinese folk religion
- nationality
- Chinese (mythological)
- known_for
- Slaying the Dragon King's son Ao Bing, resurrected with lotus roots, wielding Wind Fire Wheels and Fire-tipped Spear
Lore & Background
According to *Fengshen Yanyi*, Nezha was born during the Shang dynasty at Chentang Pass as the incarnation of Lingzhu Zi, destined to assist King Wu of Zhou. His father was Li Jing, later the Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King. After three years and six months of gestation, Lady Yin gave birth to a ball of flesh; Li Jing attacked it with his sword, and Nezha jumped out as a boy who could immediately walk and talk. He became a student of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren. At age seven, Nezha killed a Yaksha and then Ao Bing, the third son of the East Sea Dragon King, using his weapons the Huntian Ling and Qiankun Quan. He later shot an arrow that killed the Verdant Cloud Boy, leading to conflict with the demoness Shiji, whom Taiyi Zhenren killed.
Reader's Guide
Nezha's significance lies in his role as a complex deity embodying filial piety, rebellion, and redemption. His suicide—carving up his flesh and dismembering his bones to repay his parents—is a dramatic act of self-sacrifice to save his family from the Dragon Kings' wrath. His resurrection by Taiyi Zhenren using lotus roots symbolizes renewal and transformation. In popular culture, his story often includes the Dragon Kings demanding child sacrifices, though this detail originates from the 1979 film *Nezha Conquers the Dragon King*, not the original novel. Nezha appears in *The Journey to the West* with a different iconography, lacking the Wind Fire Wheels and other items, though later adaptations blend the two traditions. His enduring legacy is as a protector deity and a symbol of defiance against unjust authority.
Did You Know?
- Nezha was born as a ball of flesh after three years and six months of gestation.
- He committed suicide by carving up his own flesh and dismembering his bones to save his family from the Dragon Kings.
- His master Taiyi Zhenren resurrected him using lotus roots to construct a new body.
- In *The Journey to the West*, Nezha was born with the word 'Ne' on his left palm and 'zha' on his right.
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