Ancient cultural treasures in 'Ne Zha 2'

The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has captured the hearts of audiences since its release during Spring Festival this year. As of Feb 22, the film's box office revenue has surpassed 13 billion yuan (about $1.8 billion), cementing its place as China's all-time top-grossing film.

In this legendary animation, numerous treasures of ancient cultural relics are brought to life, traveling through thousands of years and "resurrecting" on the silver screen. Let's take a closer look at these cultural elements and the real-life prototypes that inspired them.

Seven-colored lotus

In Ne Zha 2, the seven-colored lotus, a multilayered lotus root, plays a pivotal role in reconstructing the bodies of the protagonists, Ne Zha and Ao Bing. This fantastical concept is inspired by the Boshan censer, a 2,000-year-old gilt-bronze incense burner housed at the Hebei Museum in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

The Boshan censer was an incense burner used indoors during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), named for its resemblance to the mythical immortal mountain.

Barrier beasts

If you've seen both Ne Zha films, you're sure to remember the quirky and charming barrier beasts—comical creatures that serve as guardians. These creatures bear a striking resemblance to ancient relics from the Sanxingdui culture.

When visiting the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan province, you'll recognize the similarity between the barrier beasts and items like the gold-masked bronze head, large bronze masks and the bronze eagle-shaped bell.

Tianyuan tripod

The Tianyuan tripod, known as the "foundation of the Chan sect" in the film, is a key alchemical tool in the Jade Xu Palace. Its design draws inspiration from the flat, spherical bellies and column feet of bronze tripods used during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c.16th century-256 BC). The tripod's intricate decoration includes common motifs like the Taotie (a mythological creature) and cloud-thunder patterns, which were popular during these dynasties.

The tripod was a symbol of power and status in ancient China, often used in ritualistic ceremonies. Its presence in the film reflects the high position and supreme authority of the Chan sect within the Jade Xu Palace. Moreover, the overall rounded shape of the Tianyuan tripod mirrors the dun, an ancient luxury food vessel associated with the Shu royal family.

Swords of Ao Guang and Lady Yin

The Dragon King Ao Guang's large sword is striking, resembling a Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) jade weapon from the Yinxu Museum in Anyang city, Henan province. Its blade features an upward-pointed tip, serrations along the back, and a slightly tapered belly—typical characteristics of Shang Dynasty bronze daggers.

Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin, wields a sword resembling the 2,500-year-old sword of the legendary King Goujian, housed in the Hubei Provincial Museum.

Jade Xu Palace

When Ne Zha travels to the Jade Xu Palace, a group of immortal cranes flies in the sky, with two of them landing on the palace roof's chiwen (decorative ridge-top creature). This scene is inspired by the famous painting "Ruihe Tu" by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Zhao Ji. "Ruihe Tu" depicts a scene of a group of cranes flying over the palace in Bianjing (today's Kaifeng) on the night of the Lantern Festival during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Eventually, two cranes land on the palace's chiwen.

Chiwen is an important decorative element on the ridges of ancient Chinese roofs, often sculpted in the shape of a dragon. It symbolizes the prevention of evil and fire, serving as an essential feature in ancient architecture. Zhao Ji painted this scene on silk, symbolizing heavenly blessings, peace and prosperity for the country and its people.