The Shanghai Puppet Troupe will perform the puppet show “Nezha Defeats the Dragon” in Shenzhen.

A deity originally from Chinese mythology, Nezha is often depicted flying in the sky with a wheel of fire under each foot, a golden hoop, the “cosmic ring” around his shoulder and a spear in his hands. Sometimes he is given multiple arms.

As the third son of a military commander called Li Jing, Nezha’s birth was peculiar. When his mother got pregnant, she waited for three years to deliver the boy, but unfortunately a meat ball was born. His father got so angry that he split it with a sword, which caused Nezha to jump out and grow fully, even though his mind and temperament were that of a child. He flayed and disemboweled himself after committing several crimes, but was brought back to life by his master, a Taoist immortal sage who used lotus blossoms to reconstruct a body for his soul to inhabit.

Nezha has frequently appeared in ancient Chinese literature such as “Investiture of the Gods,” although the story of Nezha conquering the sea is the most famous in Chinese households. In most incarnations, Nezha is able to grow additional heads and limbs.

In the novel “Journey to the West,” Nezha was a general under the leadership of his father Li Jing. He fought the Monkey King when the latter rebelled against the Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven, but Nezha was defeated by the Monkey King and had to retreat.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 30; 10 a.m., Dec. 1; 3 p.m., Dec. 2

Tickets: 30-60 yuan

Reservations: 8955-8996

Venue: Theater in Longgang Cultural Center (龙岗文化中心大剧院)

Add: 2/F, Longgang Cultural Center, opposite Longgang District Government Building, Longxiang Thoroughfare (龙岗区龙翔大道龙岗区政府对面龙岗文化中心二楼)

Buses: 351, 361, 654, 810, 811, 812, 839, 855, 862, 983, 984, 986

(SD News)