Shang Tsung's Possible Mythological Origin Explored

 

Mortal Kombat certainly has a lot of mythologies going on. I previously discussed how Shao Kahn could be based on the Bull Demon King, and Shinnok was probably based on Tongtiao Jiaozhu. It's easy to think of Shang Tsung as that evil corrupted Taoist priest based on his outfit from the very first game. However, thanks to AI, I started discovering more characters. True, there was the White Bone Demon in Journey to the West but the character was female. Now it's time to present another character called Shen Gongbao, a character with whom Shang Tsung (and perhaps Lo Pan in extension, who inspired Shang Tsung) was based upon!

Shen Gongbao is one of the most vile villains in Chinese mythology. Tongtian was a fallen Elder God. The Bull Demon King was a brute force that required the Judgment of the Elder Gods. Shen himself was a villain who had some skulls. Shang Tsung's trademark projectile was a flaming skull. Shen was actually a jaguar demon disguised as a human. Both are ambitious, cunning, and deceitful individuals who stop at nothing to gain what they want. 

Mortal Kombat is practically a hodge podge of mythology. The Elder Gods' head elder resembles the Jade Emperor. Yama would've been the true ruler of the Netherrealm. Meanwhile, the One Being is what if Pangu became a violent force of nature INSTEAD.