Nezha

Lotus-reborn child-god and protector deity, son of Li Jing the Pagoda-Bearer.

Parentage

• parent: Li Jing

Domains

• war
• protection

Powers

• Be reborn from lotus flesh
• Manifest three heads and six arms

Epithets

• 三太子 chinese · Sān Tàizǐ · cultThe Third Prince; son of Li JingFengshen Yanyi 封神演義 (Investiture of the Gods); Taiwanese folk cult (primary)
• 中壇元帥 chinese · Zhōngtán Yuánshuài · cultMarshal of the Central Altar; his Daoist temple rankDaoist liturgical tradition; Taiwanese Nezha temple cult (secondary)
• 哪吒三太子 chinese · Nézhā Sān Tàizǐ · cultPrince Nezha, the Third Prince; the lotus-reborn child-godFengshen Yanyi 封神演義; Xiyouji 西遊記 (primary)

Relations

• sibling: JinzhaXu Zhonglin, Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods) (secondary)
• sibling: MuzhaXu Zhonglin, Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods) (secondary)
• enemy: Ao GuangReciprocal of chinese_ao_guang.enemy — Nezha slays Ao Guang's son Ao Bing and battles the Dragon King; core of the Nezha cycle.Xu Zhonglin, Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), ch. 12-14 (primary); Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, ch. 3-4 (primary)
• enemy: Sun WukongNezha is dispatched by Heaven to subdue Sun Wukong and battles him.Wu Cheng'en, Journey to the West, ch. 4 and 83 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Xu Zhonglin, Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods), c. 1567–1620 (primary); Wu Cheng'en, Xiyouji, c. 1592 (primary)