Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's mysterious consultant. Handsome, elegant, and surpassingly learned.
Though no one knows where Zhongli is from, he is a master of courtesy and rules. From his seat at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he performs all manner of rituals.—Description from the Official Website[1]
Personality
A mysterious expert contracted by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Extremely knowledgeable in all things.
—In-game character attributes and profile page text
Zhongli is a calm, reserved, and polite man, who holds an air of nostalgia. Whereas he is said to have a stoic demeanor for duty, Zhongli also has a sentimental side.[2] He knows much about Liyue history and culture in part due to his time as the Geo Archon; like Venti, he has many experiences and memories, as he was a god well before The Seven even existed and one of the oldest still living in Teyvat. He holds philosophical ideas towards money and has great respect for Liyue's traditions, including those that have been forgotten or warped over time. Zhongli tends to be humble, being worried he comes off as a "bourgeois parasite."[3]
Zhongli tends to forget about Mora in transactions, agreeing to spend large sums of it without having any Mora on hand and even taking "discounts" as granted despite being an obvious scam.[4] He often ends up relying on his acquaintances for financial support, such as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor or Childe. Although he works for Hu Tao,[5] he does not like her childish behavior.[6]
It is later revealed that Zhongli's "carelessness" stems from being the creator of Mora. With the Gnosis allowing him to create limitless Mora, he never had to worry about running low on his personal finances. Unfortunately, when he chose to live among mortals, he lacked the foresight to find an alternative for them to continue minting Mora in his absence, along with creating a retirement fund for himself. As a result, he shamelessly spends the Mora of others.
Being the reminiscent person he is, Zhongli enjoys Osmanthus wine as it was the drink he and his former Archon friends used to have when they met up in Liyue. He dislikes seafood as it reminds him of the promise he made to his people in the past when he fought a particularly annoying type of sea creature, although he does not mind eating them if they have been ground to a pulp.
Appearance
Zhongli uses the tall male model. He has fair skin, amber eyes with yellow diamond-shaped pupils and red eyeliner on the lower lids of his eyes. He has mostly short, dark brown hair with a longer fringe on the right side of his face and Geo-amber tips that glow when he uses his Elemental Skill or Elemental Burst. There is one section of his hair on the back of his head that is waist-length instead of being cut short.
Zhongli's form appears to be the same as the one he uses as an Archon, as seen in his Statues of The Seven and various cinematics that show him as an Archon.
The Geo Vision seen at the small of his back behaves like other characters' Visions in most gameplay; however, it is not a real Vision, and there are a select few gameplay mechanics that reflect this.
In Archon Quest Rite of Descension in Chapter I: Act I - Of the Land Amidst Monoliths, Zhongli as Rex Lapis appeared as a brown and amber Chinese dragon with gold accents known as the Exuvia.
Summary
On the surface, Zhongli currently serves as a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He works under "The Director," Hu Tao, and seems to be well-versed in an abundance of subjects. This has earned him the respect of Liyue's citizens, granting him the label of an old-fashioned gentleman. However, this knowledge did not come from thin air. Zhongli is in truth the latest mortal vessel of the Geo Archon, Morax, also known as Liyue's overlord and protector: Rex Lapis. He now wanders the streets of Liyue, as he "ought to be here to witness its rise and fall."[7]
To the people of Liyue, their Archon carries many titles: the Geo Archon, the God of Contracts, the God of History, the Lord of Rock, the Groundbreaker, and the Warrior God among them. Having lived for over 6000 years, Zhongli has first-hand experience with much of Teyvat's history. He has presumably witnessed many of Teyvat's events, such as the cataclysm, the creation of the Chasm, and the fall of Aria, Sonnet and Canon. Nonetheless, he is most known for his cold-blooded participation in the Archon War, and his founding of Liyue.
Around the beginning of the Archon War, Zhongli was the co-ruler of the prosperous Guili Assembly alongside the God of Dust, Guizhong, and the adepti. However, their combined forces could not stop the tides of war from taking the life of Guizhong. During a certain battle, despite their efforts and the aid of the adepti, Guizhong was overpowered by the opponent and the Guili Assembly was destroyed. After a massive flood swept through the area 3700 years ago, Zhongli was forced to move his people south of Mt. Tianheng and established Liyue Harbor,[8] where it stands to this day.
In present time, Zhongli has handed over his gnosis and with it, he has lifted the heavy weight of rulership he has borne for millennia. As the gnosis is now in Fatui possession, Zhongli is no longer inclined to act as Archon. He now spends his time reminiscing and enjoying the mortal experience. However, it is not to be believed that his story is even close to being over yet.[9]
Official Introduction
In his long life, he has met countless people, and shall meet countless more still.
As they say: the waters change course, but the mountains move not.—The Raiden Shogun, commenting on the past of neighboring nations to Guuji Yae.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant
Wangsheng Funeral Parolor's [sic] mysterious consultant. Handsome, elegant, and surpassingly learned.
Though no one knows where Zhongli is from, he is a master of courtesy and rules. His grasp of Liyue's traditions is superior to that of any scholar. From his seat at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he performs all manner of rituals. Proper clothing, auspicious timing, locations and appliances, observances and regulations, all such things can be left in his hands without a care.
But though he is a man of such particularity, he never has a Mora to his name. Trade requires capital, and transport demands payment, and yet Zhongli has no such thing on him — for in the end, someone else will always foot the bill.
He will attend the most celebrated performances, and be accompanied by the loveliest thrushes. His behavior is immaculate in every way, save for the matter of money. Those around him have long gotten used to his eccentricities, and do not take this matter to heart. If you ask him, he will say: "Is that so? I don't recall anyone ever taking issue with me concerning money."
Money for goods — that is the norm. How could someone living in this world not comprehend its fundamental truths?
Has the passage of too many years eroded his sense of mortal trivialities? Or does he see his voyage through this world as though it were a stroll amongst the clouds?
Character Stories
Character Details
In Liyue's traditional customs, "receiving adepti" and "sending adepti off" are equally important.
The Hus of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who have been in this business for 77 generations, are the masters of handling funerals. However, Hu Tao, the current owner of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, primarily focuses on the art of sending mortals on their way.
For the various ceremonies for sending adepti off, Hu Tao usually employs the help of a friend in more or less the same business. That person's name is Zhongli. The adepti have been with Liyue for millennia, but only a handful have ascended in the past three thousand years, which means that everything regarding the traditions now only exists in texts. This is not something one would likely witness twice in their entire lifetime.
Not even the most particular and learned of researchers or scholars could find one fault in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's ceremonies for sending adepti off.
Everything must be perfect, from the costumes, the time, the place, the items, the weather, the scheduled length, the size of the permitted audience, to the stature, profession, and age of said audience. Nothing can be overlooked.
When folk describe Zhongli as "living history," the latter usually only smiles and sighs.
"I... just have a good memory."
Character Story 1
Friendship Lv. 2
In Liyue, if a person pays great attention to details, and has insuperable criteria by which they judge certain matters, then they are called "particular."
In truth, everyone is "particular" about something. Some people hate spicy food, others don't eat fish, and some want their tofu served sweet...
But as for Zhongli, he is particular about everything.
He attends operas performed by only the most celebrated stars, takes only the most luxuriant thrushes out for walks, and he goes into the kitchen personally to instruct the cooks as to the ratio of shrimp and fish required to make the most authentic Fullmoon Egg.
Zhongli has expertise in all manner of things, from fashion to daily essentials, to fine wines and delicacies, to teas and spices, and to flora and fauna. He is also more than capable of participating in discussions on commerce, politics, and international relations.
But on a typical day, all you will glean from him is a few pieces of useless trivia, because he particularly enjoys sharing these fun tidbits with you.
Character Story 2
Friendship Lv. 3
When making a purchase, look to haggle.
This is a common understanding among the people of Liyue. No matter what high heavens the store owner praises their product to, no matter its ancient history or classical value, prices are always flexible. Half the stated cost is a good place to start.
But when Zhongli pays up (or rather, calls for someone else to pay up on his behalf), he never looks at the price tag. As long as it catches his eye, Zhongli will pay as much as the owner asks. Indeed, he will even buy it at a premium sometimes.
But for some reason, Zhongli always forgets to bring money.
For small purchases, he has friends to help him out, and large bills he somehow finds ways to have written off.
To those merchants who secretly pride themselves on their powers of flattery, Zhongli is a man of strange proclivities: in truth, he knows a great deal about the value of money and finance, and he also understands the suffering of the people. However, he seems to not understand that poverty is part of the human condition.
Or perhaps it might be said that he cannot imagine himself being poor.
How has such a person not died of hunger yet?
Character Story 3
Friendship Lv. 4 • 
A New Star Approaches
There is no way Zhongli can starve.
Such concerns as profit and loss are beneath his notice. The Seven Nations and the world itself are where his efforts are directed.
As for wealth... He is wealth itself.
He is Morax, the overlord Rex Lapis who rules Liyue, and the Geo Archon of the Seven Archons. The very money that circulates throughout Teyvat, Mora, is named after him.
When night falls and bustling Liyue begins to slumber, he will sometimes stand atop the towering mountains and gaze upon this city, which he made with his own hands.
To the people of Liyue, Rex Lapis has many divine titles.
When he laid down Liyue's laws by his divine might, he was the God of Contracts. When he minted the first Mora and made Liyue strong by dint of commerce, the merchants revered him as the God of Commerce.
He has lived through countless years and is the eldest of the Seven, and so historians call him the God of History.
Thousands of years ago, the forebears of the citizens of Liyue Harbor struck stones together to start fires and used piled stones to create stoves. These blessings derived from the Geo element led the Geo Archon to gain the title of God of the Stove.
People from other lands tend to call him Morax, though the people of Liyue prefer to use the term Rex Lapis.
But in the hearts of lovers of opera and children, Morax's on-stage aspect, the all-conquering defender of Liyue — the Warrior God — is the most fascinating.
The delicacies that Rex Lapis discovered while lost in the streets, the plaques inscribed with his handwriting, a famous opera that he once starred in, playing the part of a warrior... Many stories and tales of Liyue are, when studied closely, stories of people visited by their deity at some point — and the citizens of Liyue are most proud indeed of that history.
Character Story 4
Friendship Lv. 5 • A New Star Approaches
As the founder of Liyue Harbor, "contracts" are the most important thing to Morax.
From simple monetary exchange and agreements between merchants to the ancient laws that Morax himself laid down, there is no part of city life untouched by "contracts."
To merchants, "contracts" are the most important standard to which they hold themselves: deadlines, invoices, shipping destinations... Only a refined and strict order can sustain vibrant commerce, which is itself the lifeblood of Liyue Harbor.
Thus the Qixing punish violators of such laws unceasingly, not only to uphold the divine rulings of Morax but also to allow Liyue to maintain its vitality.
Through the millennia, every generation of the Liyue Qixing commits to interpreting the law, including subtle amendments to plug loopholes found in the law. Any loopholes that remain undiscovered are seen by the merchants as "permissible if unaddressed," and they make killings off such holes until they are discovered and patched up by the Liyue Qixing.
Amid this game of cat-and-mouse, the book that collates such amendments has reached a whopping 279 pages thick.
The person currently responsible for maintaining this book, the Tianquan Ningguang, is secretly (and humorously) referred to as the "Tailor of Liyue," in honor of her speed in patching these laws up, and for her sharpness of eye.
But no matter how complicated or tangled mortal laws become, one of these stands above all others in the eyes of Rex Lapis.
"The one who reneges on their words shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock."
Character Story 5
Friendship Lv. 6 • A New Star Approaches
Rex Lapis, most ancient of The Seven, has lived far too long.
Rex Lapis still remembers that moment when the final archon took their divine seat, thus ending the Archon War and the era of warring gods. The Seven were a diverse lot and dispersed far and wide, but they all shouldered the burden of guiding humanity.
As time passed, many of The Seven's titles changed hands, and only two remain of the first Seven: Rex Lapis and the Anemo Archon.
The carefree Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, is the second eldest of The Seven.
When Barbatos first came to Liyue, Rex Lapis believed his fellow archon to have encountered some terrible crisis in pursuit of their duties, thus requiring his aid.
So when Barbatos descended in a gust of wind, the Geo Archon had already prepared himself to receive this neighboring deity and lend what help he may.
But as he looked, the Anemo Archon tossed a wine bottle at him.
"Here's some wine from Mondstadt. Care for a taste?"
To forsake one's duty to deliver a single bottle of wine — what a preposterous notion!
Yet the Anemo Archon kept coming to visit, to explore Liyue Harbor, all sorts of strange questions on his lips. The Anemo Archon's questions knew as little limits as the wine in his hands.
From then on, the first Seven would often gather in Liyue.
Rex Lapis still remembers how those wines tasted.
The world has changed much since then, and all that was once familiar has faded into memory.
The seven seats changed and again were changed, till five of the seven at the table were all departed.
Nor would the duty of guiding humanity be honored by the new archons.
Even the hardest rocks may be worn down after three thousand years.
Nor would the wind ever return again.
One drizzly day, the ancient ruler was strolling about Liyue Harbor, and overheard a merchant telling one of his workers,
"You've finished your duties, go ahead and call it a day."
Long did he stand amidst the milling crowd.
"Have I... already finished my duties?"
That Which Rises From the Sea
Friendship Lv. 4 • A New Star Approaches
During the Archon Wars, every corner of Teyvat was consumed in the fires of conflict. Not only did gods fight amongst themselves, but countless wicked things also sought to expand their domains.
One such type of creature caused no end of woe for the Geo Archon, long before he took that title along with his place among The Seven.
These foul creatures, straight from the murky depths of the ocean abyss, had a squishy exterior, and possessed agile tentacles that would live on even after being cut off, even secreting some thick and revolting fluid in the process.
This alone would have been enough to make them the most monstrous of all creatures, and still it was not the pinnacle of their monstrosity.
What made them so truly terrible was their small size, which gave them the ability to duck into unimaginably small nooks and crannies.
No space was too narrow for them, neither the wooden boards of tables and chairs, nor the seams of windows and doors and curtain folds, nor even books and brushes.
Many a poor soul had, on at least one occasion, unwittingly outstretched their hand, only to quickly retract it in horror with a blood-curdling scream at the sensation of something cold, clammy and damp, while one or more of these despicable creatures came crawling up their arm, leaving a shiny trail behind them...
At the behest of the people of Liyue, Morax agreed to wipe these creatures out. But these parasites upon civilization could not be destroyed like enemies on a battlefield, by simply summoning a storm of stone spears that would shatter the earth and churn the soil....
Still, he was the God of Contracts. His word had to be his bond.
So, he went through the town from house to house with prisons of stone, seizing these creatures one by one and locking them away for good...
This long campaign of pest extermination taught Morax the true meaning of "a burden lifted."
The grueling campaign itself, and the terrible smell of those ocean creatures' secretions, left a lasting impression on the deity.
Today, even when he goes out incognito as the mortal man, Zhongli, Morax gives those living, squirming seafood products a wide berth.
...Well, except for dishes where said seafood products have been sliced and diced into oblivion, such as seafood tofu. He'll quite happily eat those.
Gnosis
Friendship Lv. 6 • A New Star Approaches
Once the Rite of Parting, of which Zhongli was both director and star, was over, the Fatui Harbinger named Signora appeared before him.
By prior contract, she was here to claim the Geo Archon Morax's Gnosis.
Before the Traveler and the two Fatui Harbingers, Zhongli related the truth that he had established a contract with the Cryo Archon.
In his own words, this was his final "Contract to End All Contracts."
Yet no matter how one looks at it, the loss of his divine ability to defend Liyue was too great a price to pay.
Even amongst mortals, the basis of a contract is "equivalent exchange."
And for the God of Contracts, who must have established countless such agreements in his long years of existence, such an important contract must have come with its benefits.
Now, the Geo Archon has given away his Gnosis as his part of the deal.
What, then, must the Cryo Archon have wagered to balance the scales?
Altered Character Story
After completing Archon Quest Chapter III: Act V - Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises[verification needed], Zhongli's Character Story 5 is altered to the following version.
Character Story 5
Friendship Lv. 6 • A New Star Approaches
Rex Lapis, most ancient of The Seven, has lived far too long.
Rex Lapis still remembers that moment when the final archon took their divine seat, thus ending the Archon War and the era of warring gods. The Seven were a diverse lot and dispersed far and wide, but they all shouldered the burden of guiding humanity.
As time passed, many of The Seven's titles changed hands, and only two of the first Seven remain in positions of rulership: Rex Lapis and the Anemo Archon.
The carefree Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, is the second eldest of The Seven.
When Barbatos first came to Liyue, Rex Lapis believed his fellow archon to have encountered some terrible crisis in pursuit of their duties, thus requiring his aid.
So when Barbatos descended in a gust of wind, the Geo Archon had already prepared himself to receive this neighboring deity and lend what help he may.
But as he looked, the Anemo Archon tossed a wine bottle at him.
"Here's some wine from Mondstadt. Care for a taste?"
To forsake one's duty to deliver a single bottle of wine — what a preposterous notion!
Yet the Anemo Archon kept coming to visit, to explore Liyue Harbor, all sorts of strange questions on his lips. The Anemo Archon's questions knew as little limits as the wine in his hands.
From then on, the first Seven would often gather in Liyue.
Rex Lapis still remembers how those wines tasted.
The world has changed much since then, and all that was once familiar has faded into memory.
The seven seats changed and again were changed, till five of the seven at the table were all departed.
Nor would the duty of guiding humanity be honored by the new archons.
Even the hardest rocks may be worn down after three thousand years.
Nor would the wind ever return again.
One drizzly day, the ancient ruler was strolling about Liyue Harbor, and overheard a merchant telling one of his workers,
"You've finished your duties, go ahead and call it a day."
Long did he stand amidst the milling crowd.
"Have I... already finished my duties?"
Namecard
| Zhongli: Planet Befall | |
|---|---|
|
Obtain: Reward for reaching Friendship Level 10 with Zhongli Description: Stars fall, light dims. |
Constellation
| Lapis Dei | |
|---|---|
 | Story Chapter: Historia Antiqua Meaning: God's Stone |
Quests and Events
Archon Quests
- Chapter I
- Interlude Chapter
- Act II: Perilous Trail
- At Tunnel's End, Light (cutscene)
- Act II: Perilous Trail
Story Quests
World Quests
Events
- Moonlight Merriment
- Part II: Three to Get Ready, and Here We Go
- Fleeting Colors in Flight
- Of Drink A-Dreaming
- The Exquisite Night Chimes
- Waterborne Poetry
- Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze
Web Events
- Stone Harbor Treasure Journal
- Side by Side We Venture
- An Unforgettable Journey
- The Great Banquet of the Adepti
- Festive Celebration of Flowing Hues
- Canvas of Starlight Memories
- Discover Teyvat
- Ancient Treasures Unearthed
Character Trials
Quest Domains
- Of Mysteries and Salt — Farewell, Sweet Salt in Zhongli's Story Quest, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act I - Sal Flore
- Beneath the Ancient Tree — Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved in Zhongli's Story Quest, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act II - No Mere Stone
Events
- Perilous Trail
- Divine Ingenuity: Collector's Chapter
- The Peaks and Troughs of Life
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Water
Test Run Events
- Zhongli, Ganyu, Xingqiu, Beidou, Yanfei — 2022-01-25
- Tighnari, Zhongli, Collei, Diona, Fischl — 2022-08-24
- Zhongli, Tartaglia, Freminet, Sayu — 2023-09-05
Character Mentions
Character Stories
| Character | Stories |
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Character Voice-Overs
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- I Hope This Finds You Well (2020-12-31)
- Year's End. (2021-12-31)
- Year-End Letter (2022-12-31)
- The End of Another Year... (2023-12-31)
Trivia
- Zhongli is one of the characters with ornaments that glow. While wearing his default outfit, Hermit of Mortal Life, when Zhongli's Elemental Burst is ready, the amber gemstone on his chest will glow along with his Vision.
- During Spices From the West, Zhongli politely declines all seafood, including Fragrant Grilled Tiger Fish and Fragrant Mondstadt Grilled Fish. However, this makes him one reason that the canonicity of playable characters' preferences during Spices From the West is questionable. His Character Story That Which Rises From the Sea indicates that he only dislikes tentacled seafood and will happily eat even tentacled seafood that has been cut into small pieces. Zhongli's Character Story 1 also heavily implies that he has eaten Fullmoon Egg, which uses both cut and whole Shrimp. It therefore does not make sense that Zhongli declines even Grilled Tiger Fish and Mondstadt Grilled Fish, which are small portions[10] of cut fish.
- The other reason that the canonicity of characters' preferences during Spices From the West is questionable is Ganyu: Ganyu is a vegetarian, and as expected, her voice-over when declining dishes specifies meat as the reason for declining. However, Ganyu also declines meatless dishes in line with veganism instead, which does not match her voice-over.
- Zhongli features a long ponytail, a deeply rooted Chinese symbol of social status.
- Zhongli has scales on either side of his robe which represent the emperor's power and adaptability.
- Zhongli's design contains references to the 12 symbols of sovereignty, introduced in the zap dynasty and exclusively worn by the emperor.
- Zhongli may be one of, if not the, oldest gods in Teyvat, at over six thousand years old.
- In the Teyvat Travel Guide - Liyue, the author, Alice, names Zhongli as her companion during her travels to that region.
- According to Xiangling, Zhongli's palate is extremely precise; he could distinguish the kind of salt she used in her dish from a single bite.[11]
- Zhongli likes listening to Iron Tongue Tian, the storyteller at Third-Round Knockout.
- On the Wangshu Inn Bulletin Board, one anonymous message is likely Zhongli's.
- Zhongli is the first character whose Story Quest Chapter name did not derive from his Constellation.
- Zhongli is also the first character whose in-game Profile and Story sections change depending on Archon Quest completion; before completing the Archon Quest Chapter I: Act III - A New Star Approaches, his "Vision" is listed as Geo (and his Story section shows Vision, albeit locked until Act 3 is completed), while his constellation is labeled "???" After completing it, "Vision" changes to "Gnosis" on both his Profile and Story menus, while his constellation is revealed.
- Zhongli's Chinese voice actor (彭博) is one of the directors of Genshin Impact's Chinese voice actors.[Note 1]
- Zhongli was heavily foreshadowed to be Morax before it was confirmed with the release of A New Star Approaches in Version 1.1:
- Zhongli is extremely knowledgeable about money, government, and Liyue's traditions and history. He even remembers customs and traditions that have been watered down, forgotten, and lost to time — as if he was there himself.
- When he asks the Traveler and Paimon to retrieve the Cleansing Bell from Madame Ping for the Rite of Parting, Zhongli uncharacteristically refuses to join them. Madame Ping says that an "old friend" gave her the Bell and that, since they have come to borrow it, this friend must have "decided to take matters into their own hands." She also makes it no secret that she is an adeptus — which means Zhongli must be much older than his apparent age would suggest.[12]
- After retrieving the Cleansing Bell, the Traveler has the option to ask Zhongli either if he knows Madame Ping, or if he is an adeptus. He confirms the former and fails to answer the latter.[12]
- Zhongli is shown throughout the story to have several similarities to Venti, the Anemo Archon Barbatos:
- Zhongli states that a friend from Mondstadt would always bring him a few bottles of Dandelion Wine when they visited.[13] Dandelion Wine is Venti's favorite drink.
- Zhongli's appearance is similar to that of the Statues of The Seven in Liyue, much like how Mondstadt's Statues resemble Venti. The symbol on his jacket also matches the symbol on Rex Lapis' statues. Although the Geo Archon wears a hood on his statues which covers most of his hairstyle, it's apparent that Zhongli and the Archon share the same bangs.
- Zhongli's hair fades from black to amber, similar to how Venti's hair turns to blue-green at the ends of his braids. This was a stronger point during Version 1.0 when most of the characters who had ombres in their hair were known or theorized to be more than ordinary humans or had subtler ombres that were not as noticeable as those of Venti and Zhongli. With the release of more clearly human characters with ombres in their hair as well as the Raiden Shogun with a much subtler ombre, this point is no longer a strong point for deducing Archon identities going forward, though they may still follow the pattern.
- In the Version 1.1 trailer,[14] it is apparent that the tip of his ponytail glows when using his skills, a feature that Venti also has.
- The Rex Incognito book series implies that Rex Lapis has amber eyes no matter what shape he takes, a feature that Zhongli also has.
- Later on in the Fleeting Colors in Flight event, Zhongli remarks that "there was not quite so much ostentatious shapeshifting as the book would have you believe."[15]
- Zhongli calls Rex Lapis' "corpse" an "Exuvia." The word "exuvia" refers to the outer skin molted by some creatures as a new exoskeleton grows in.[16]
- During the Rite of Descension, Ivanovich states that "he heard" the Exuvia which Rex Lapis "appears as" during formal events, is a "celestial cross between two of Liyue's celestial creatures" (which the Chinese version specifies to be a dragon and qilin). This suggests that the Exuvia is only one of potentially several forms Rex Lapis can appear in.
- This information was one of the many circulating Liyue during the Rite that can be either true or false since the information was something Ivanovich "only heard about," and as during the Rite, Zhongli was also stated to be the God of the Stove, which was proven wrong during the Moonlight Merriment event. It is also revealed in dialogue from Zhongli's Story Quest, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act I - Sal Flore that even famous Liyue archaeologists had inaccurate information about Rex Lapis, and the whole quest itself revolved around further inaccurate information about Rex Lapis.
- During the Rite of Descension, Ivanovich states that "he heard" the Exuvia which Rex Lapis "appears as" during formal events, is a "celestial cross between two of Liyue's celestial creatures" (which the Chinese version specifies to be a dragon and qilin). This suggests that the Exuvia is only one of potentially several forms Rex Lapis can appear in.
- The World Quest Treasure Lost, Treasure Found and the book Stone Tablet Compilations: Vol. I both state that the Guili Plains (归离原 Guīlí-yuán) are named after the God of Dust (归终 Guīzhōng) and the Geo Archon himself. Neither Morax nor Rex Lapis fit into this name, but Zhongli (钟离 Zhōnglí) would.
- Several stories claim that the Geo Archon uses polearms, such as in Teyvat Travel Guide - Liyue and Diary of Roald the Adventurer: Guyun Stone Forest, which is also Zhongli's weapon of choice.
- Although he has some difficulty, Zhongli manages to repair the Guizhong Ballista, which was constructed by the adepti. Later, Keqing and a detachment of Millelith are found investigating the repairs, as getting it working within a single night should have been impossible for a mortal.
- Like Venti, Zhongli reveals his identity as the Geo Archon when he deems it prudent to do so. As such, many, if not all, of the adepti are aware of Rex Lapis's guise as Zhongli,[17][18][19] and he appeared as Zhongli in front of Signora and Childe when acting as Rex Lapis. However, unlike Venti, Zhongli's mannerisms have caused several people to compare him to Rex Lapis[20] or outright become suspicious of his nature.[18][21]
- Zhongli is one of the few currently playable characters who acknowledges (or even seems to be aware) that the Traveler is from another world, presumably because of his status as an Archon.
- In his Collected Miscellany trailer, Zhongli can be seen fighting in the Realm of Clouds, a domain created by the adepti to hold the artifacts Guizhong collected.
- The Chinese Teyvat Food Notes entry celebrating his birthday gave a real-life recipe for Zhongli's special dish, Slow-Cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup. The real-life version takes two hours to simmer, and the recipe doesn't count prep time.
- In the blog post's story, Zhongli quotes three idioms from the Xiang Dang book in the Analects, a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. The passages he quotes are about doing things in their proper way and order, particularly in regard to food and dining habits.[22] The quoted idioms are:
- 食不厌精，脍不厌细 Shí bù yàn jīng, kuài bù yàn xì, "When he ate he was not averse to refined rice, nor to finely minced meat."[23]
- 肉割不正，不食 Ròu gē bù zhèng, bù shí, "Nor would he eat food [meat] that was not properly sliced."[23][Note 2]
- 席不正，不坐 Xí bù zhèng, bù zuò, "If a mat was not straight, he would not sit on it."[23]
- He also tells the Traveler that the dish relates to the Six Ritual Jades.
- In the blog post's story, Zhongli quotes three idioms from the Xiang Dang book in the Analects, a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. The passages he quotes are about doing things in their proper way and order, particularly in regard to food and dining habits.[22] The quoted idioms are:
- Zhongli also appears in the Teyvat Food Notes' blog post for Adeptus' Temptation, in which he supervises the preparation of the dish. During the cooking process, he and Xingqiu sneak a taste of the lean meat taken from the chicken and duck used for the soup stock, much to Xiangling's chagrin.[24]
- Zhongli shares his Chinese Voice Actor with Dvalin.
- The meteor summoned by Zhongli's Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, resembles a Burr puzzle, specifically the six-piece burr which is also known as the "Chinese Cross."
- Zhongli wields the Vortex Vanquisher in his portrait art.
- Zhongli actually uses a combination of his equipped weapon and "stone spears" during his Normal Attack sequence, switching between the two as he attacks. He is currently the only playable character with this specific trait.
- Zhongli can also be seen wielding one of these stone spears in his Wish artwork.
- Zhongli is mentioned in the descriptions of the following 2 Furnishings:
Etymology
- In demonology, Morax is the 21st demon of the Ars Goetia and a president of hell, ruling over thirty (or thirty-two according to other authors) legions of demons. He teaches astronomy and other liberal sciences, and gives good and wise familiars that know the virtues of all herbs and precious stones. He is depicted both as a man with the head of a bull, and a bull with the head of a man.
- His title, "Vago Mundo," is Latin for "I wander the world."
- His Chinese title, 尘世闲游 Chénshì Xiányóu, means "leisurely wanderings in the mortal world."
- His constellation, Lapis Dei, is Latin for "The Stone of God." It follows the same pattern as Venti's constellation, Carmen Dei.
- Zhongli's design was likely inspired by Zhongli Quan (钟离权/鍾離權), one of the Eight Immortals — a group of eight legendary xian (仙 xiān) in Daoist mythology.
- The figure is said to have possessed a large magical fan that can resurrect the dead, as well as alchemical powers, which he used to transmute stones and base metals into gold and silver to save people from poverty.
- In the game's Chinese text, the adepti are known as 仙 xiān.
- In literature,[25] it is said that Zhongli Quan enjoyed writing poetry of wine, once wrote the phrase "Most leisurely guy under the heaven, Zhongli Quan" (「天下都散漢鍾離權」),[26][27] self-mockingly acknowledging that he's the most "relaxed" and "leisurely" person on this earth.
- The name Zhongli (钟离/鍾離
Zhōnglí) is derived from the State of Zhongli (Chinese: 钟离国/鍾離國 Zhōnglíguó). After the state was destroyed, its descendants called themselves either the 钟离/鍾離 Zhōnglí or 钟/鍾 Zhōng surname, making it one of the origins of these surnames.[28] - The first character of Zhongli's name in Simplified Chinese, 钟, may cause much ambiguity and confusion. 钟 is the simplified form of two different Traditional Chinese characters, 鍾 and 鐘, which have two different meanings.
- There is also a Simplified Chinese character 锺 which can be used as the simplified form of 鍾 when used as a surname. This has only been made an official simplified form for the surname in these past few years, so it may not be commonly used. Strictly, it should only be used for the surname Zhong (钟 or 锺/鍾
Zhōng). - To make matters even more confusing, in Taiwan and Singapore, a fourth Chinese character, 鈡, is occasionally used instead of either 鍾 or 鐘.
- Both 钟 or 锺/鍾
Zhōng and 钟离/鍾離 Zhōnglí exist as surnames in Chinese. - Based on the official localization of his name in Traditional Chinese and Japanese, his name should be 鍾離. However, as a result of the above ambiguity, his name is sometimes incorrectly rendered as 鐘離 even among Traditional Chinese players. The confusion may also stem from the pun below.
- There is also a Simplified Chinese character 锺 which can be used as the simplified form of 鍾 when used as a surname. This has only been made an official simplified form for the surname in these past few years, so it may not be commonly used. Strictly, it should only be used for the surname Zhong (钟 or 锺/鍾
- The name "Zhongli" is a pun that can signify him stepping down from his position as Rex Lapis. 钟/鍾
Zhōng in Zhongli is homophonous with the word for 钟/鐘 zhōng, "clock" in Chinese and they are even written the exact same way in Simplified Chinese. 离/離 Lí is the common word for "leaving" or "away." The name can therefore be taken to mean "off the clock" or "time of leaving/departure." - The Li in Liyue (璃 Lí) is a word for precious stone (usually referring to lapis lazuli) or glass.[29] The word itself contains Zhongli's li (离 lí), with an extra radical to its left (𤣩). This radical resembles the word 王 wáng meaning "king." Zhongli's li (离 lí) dropping off the 王 may be symbolic of him stepping down from his reign over Liyue. This analysis only applies to the Simplified Chinese version of his name.
- This would also imply that Liyue's name carries a secondary meaning: "The Month of the King's Departure," which bears striking similarity to the pun on Zhongli's name ("time of departure").
- Zhongli's li (离/離
lí) additionally was used as the archaic form of 魑 chī which refers to a mythical creature, such as a mountain demon or a mountain beast, which may or may not be a cryptic statement alluding to Rex Lapis being an adeptus.
- The Li in Liyue (璃 Lí) is a word for precious stone (usually referring to lapis lazuli) or glass.[29] The word itself contains Zhongli's li (离 lí), with an extra radical to its left (𤣩). This radical resembles the word 王 wáng meaning "king." Zhongli's li (离 lí) dropping off the 王 may be symbolic of him stepping down from his reign over Liyue. This analysis only applies to the Simplified Chinese version of his name.
- The name used in Zhongli's sixth constellation, Chrysos, is known as the spirit of gold in Greek mythology.
Notes
- ↑ The Chinese Version 1.1 stream on October 30, 2020, had the voice actresses on stream call him "director," then teased him about not knowing future plot details despite being an "assistant director."
- ↑ In the Analects, the phrase is 割不正不食, and is part of a longer sentence within the same passage as the quoted idiom above; the version in the Teyvat Food Notes adds 肉 ròu, "meat."
Other Languages
Character Title: Vago Mundo
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Vago Mundo | Latin: I Wander the World |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 尘世闲游 Chénshì Xiányóu | Leisurely Wandering the Mundane World |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 塵世閒遊 Chénshì Xiányóu | |
| Japanese | 浮世閑歩 Ukiyo Kanpo[!][!] | Leisurely Walk in This Fleeting World |
| Korean | 속세속세 한유한유 Sokse Hanyu | Idling Mundane World |
| Spanish | El Vagabundo del Reino Mortal | The Wanderer of the Mortal Realm |
| French | Vagabond du monde mortel | Wanderer of the Mortal World |
| Russian | Бренный скиталец Brennyy skitalets | Mortal Wanderer |
| Thai | ผู้พเนจรแห่งแดนมนุษย์ Phu Phanechon haeng Daen Manut | Wanderer of Mortal Lands |
| Vietnamese | Du Ngoạn Trần ThếTrần Thế | Travelling the Mortal World |
| German | Besucher bei den Sterblichen | Visitor Among Morals |
| Indonesian | Vago Mundo | — |
| Portuguese | Andarilho do Reino Mortal | Wanderer of the Mortal Realm |
| Turkish | Fani Dünya Gezgini | Traveler of the Mortal World |
| Italian | Vago mundo | — |
References
- ↑ Official Genshin Impact Website: Zhongli
- ↑ YouTube: The Birth of a Dragon: A Behind the Scenes Look At the Creation of Azdaha | Genshin Impact (Timestamp: 4m 0s)
- ↑ Xinyan's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter I, Act II - Farewell, Archaic Lord, Part 6: Guizhong
- ↑ Hu Tao: Character Stories
- ↑ Zhongli's Voice-Over: About Hu Tao
- ↑ Story Quest, Zhongli, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act II - No Mere Stone, Part 4: Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved
- ↑ Item: Stone Tablet Compilations: Vol. I
- ↑ Raiden Shogun's Voice-Over: About Morax
- ↑ Commission: A Bottomless Appetite
- ↑ Xiangling's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Archon Quest, Chapter I, Act II - Farewell, Archaic Lord, Part 4: The Realm Within
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter I, Act II - Farewell, Archaic Lord, Part 2: Moonfinger
- ↑ YouTube: Version 1.1 "A New Star Approaches" Official Trailer
- ↑ Event Quest, The Stars Inscribe the Year's Wishes, Post-Quest Dialogue: Zhongli
- ↑ Wiktionary: exuvia
- ↑ Archon Quest, Interlude Chapter, Act II - Perilous Trail, Part 5: At Tunnel's End, Light
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Yanfei's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ Shenhe's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ Keqing's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ Hu Tao's Voice-Over: About Zhongli
- ↑ zdic.net: 食不厌精，脍不厌细
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 A. Charles Muller: The Analects of Confucius 論語
- ↑ HoYoverse Chinese News: 提瓦特美食札记 | 山珍海味聚一堂，佳肴美馔开坛香。——除夕快乐
- ↑ Wikisource: 宣和書譜
- ↑ Chinese Paraphrase:我鍾離權乃是天下最大閒散之人。
- ↑ 都: The most/Governor
- ↑ 中国考古网:According to archaeological experts, during the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Zhongli was located in the areas of Bengbu and Fengyang in Anhui Province. It is said that today's surnames 钟离/鍾離 and 钟/鍾 are derived from this state.
- ↑ Wiktionary: 璃
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