Why I Feel Shao Kahn Was Really Based On The Bull Demon King

I'm in no hurry to get a Playstation 5 or the Mortal Kombat 1 video game. I simply didn't like the idea of Shao Kahn getting reborn as General Shao. Kahn simply means ruler (usually spelled as Khan) as to why we have names like Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan. Basically, this tells us that Shao was called Shao. Maybe, Shao Kahn was once called Minister Shao back when he was Onaga's personal advisor in one of his past lives. Liu Kang caused Shao Kahn to be reincarnated into General Shao. What Liu Kang never anticipated was that General Shao would still become a traitor anyway.

If one could notice, Shao has what might be BULL HORNS. Also his weapon of choice hre isn't a hammer but an AXE. This really might confirm my speculation that Shao Kahn was actually based on one character from Journey to the West namely this guy...

The Bull Demon King in Journey to the West. Shao Kahn has a fondness for ramming attacks. I decided to play Mortal Kombat II via Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks. I also remember Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Shao Kahn uses his CHARGING DASH a lot like a bull. Who can remember the time when Shao Kahn flung a spear in battle? The attack can be seen in MKII, Mortal Kombat (2011), and Mortal Kombat 11. I kind of like his spear projectile better than his eye blast attack. Shao Kahn also wore a skull helmet with horns. 

The reboot continuity did play a few things more interesting with Shao Kahn. Sure, Shao Kahn never had a son named Red Boy. However, there was a parallelism that happened during the reboot which was also close to the Bull Demon King's fate in Journey to the West...

MK (2011) gave us a rather interesting take. Journey to the West had Nezha finally take the Bull Demon King to face the judgment of the Elder Gods. Shao Kahn's defeat makes me think that the Jade Emperor would decide the fate of Shao Kahn. Shao Kahn was thought to be gone but returned in MK11 with a very bad retcon for Sindel...

Just because Shao Kahn is most likely based on the Bull Demon King - doesn't mean Sindel should be given that horrid retcon. The lore everyone loved was how Sindel was forced into a loveless marriage. The new continuity had her participating in getting rid of Jerrod. I think the whole lovey-dovey scenes between Shao Kahn and Sindel can be hard to watch. Shao Kahn and Sindel going willfully lovey-dovey evil can be funny and frustrating at the same time. It's like giving fans more violent versions (but no less illogical) versions of Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa. The MK (2011) ending was already there so why "fix" what was never broken? 

Overall, I think Shao Kahn was really based on one of the most popular villains in Chinese folklore. That may also mean that Shinnok was based on a lesser-known villain, a fallen Elder God known as Tongtian Jiaozhu. The popularity of Kahn would ride on the Bull Demon King. Shinnok's lack of popularity might be seen how often Tongtian Jiaozhu isn't as featured as the Bull Demon King.