Shen Gong Wu
The Shen Gong Wu are fictional mystical artifacts possessing magical powers featured in the animated television series Xiaolin Showdown. The powers of a Shen Gong Wu are activated when its name is called by the person who wishes to use it. "Shen Gong Wu" in Chinese means "holy skill thing" or literally "tool of God". The Shen Gong Wu are not to be confused with the Kamidogu from the Mortal Kombat series.
History of the Shen Gong Wu
Shen Gong Wu are primarily used in Xiaolin Showdowns, eponymous challenges over Shen Gong Wu, themselves. The first Xiaolin Showdown was between the creator of the Shen Gong Wu Grand Master Dashi and the evil witch Wuya. It was a great battle, in which Dashi used the Shen Gong Wu against Wuya's Heylin magic. Eventually, Grand Master Dashi was the victor, and Wuya was trapped within a mystical puzzle box. Determined to ensure that Wuya would not be able to get her hands on the Shen Gong Wu and rule the world with them, Grand Master Dashi and the dragon Dojo hid the Shen Gong Wu all over the world. Dashi then created the Xiaolin Temple and began a lineage of Chosen Xiaolin Warriors to prevent the Shen Gong Wu from falling in the wrong hands. Each Xiaolin Warrior is endowed with the power of one of the classical elements; fire, wind, water, and earth. Should Wuya ever be freed, the Xiaolin Warriors would rise up and fight the forces of the Heylin.
After 1,500 years, Wuya was finally freed from the puzzle box by Jack Spicer, but she was reduced to a ghostly form. With Wuya's freedom, the latest set of Xiaolin Warriors were put into action; the orphaned monk Omi who wields the element of water, the technologically proficient Kimiko Tohomiko who wields the element of fire, the laid back Raimundo Pedrosa who wields the element of wind, and cowboy Clay Bailey who wields the element of earth. When the Xiaolin and Heylin sides meet, the Shen Gong Wu begin to reveal themselves, and the Xiaolin Showdowns begin, again.
A Shen Gong Wu can only be located when it chooses to reveal itself, and at that point, both Wuya and Dojo can sense its revealing and can find its general location. Wuya is able to tell what Shen Gong Wu has revealed itself, while the Xiaolin must defer to the Scroll of the Shen Gong Wu to find out which one has been revealed. Jack Spicer had also devised a mechanical device that senses a new Shen Gong Wu, and Chase Young is also capable of anticipating when a new Shen Gong Wu will be revealed.
It is unknown how many Shen Gong Wu there are, as the nature of the show is for at least one new one to be revealed in each episode. In the first episode, Wuya commented that there are "hundreds," lending to the show's open-endedness.
There are two occasions during which astronomical events affect the Shen Gong Wu. When the planets align themselves, the Shen Gong Wu gather to form Mala Mala Jong. When the rare Heylin Comet flies over Earth, the Shen Gong Wu come alive and take over their user. Raimundo was subject to the Heylin Comet's magic in the episode The Last Temptation of Raimundo, and he was taken over by the Golden Tiger Claws, Third Arm Sash, Helmet of Jong and many other Shen Gong Wu. He was turned into a giant freakish brute until the comet had passed and it was safe to take the Shen Gong Wu off.
Known Shen Gong Wu
As of this writing, there have been 75 known Shen Gong Wu that were revealed in the series. In the episode The Crystal Glasses, several unnamed Shen Gong Wu were revealed. While these Shen Gong Wu were eventually collected by the Xiaolin, they have not been used, save for the Wushu Helmet. In the episode The Black Vipers, another unknown Shen Gong Wu was shown to be in the hands of the Xiaolin, and again, it was not used, named, or seen since.
Shen Gong Wu combinations
First seen in the episode Shen Yi Bu, some Shen Gong Wu can be used in unison and result in completely different effects, essentially becoming a new Shen Gong Wu. The following combinations are those that have been used within the series.
Eye of Dashi & Sword of the Storm
Raimundo first demonstrated the capabilities of Shen Gong Wu combinations by using the Eye of Dashi and the Sword of the Storm against Tubbimura in the first Shen Yi Bu Dare. This combination allows the user to fly around at lightning speed, causing all forms of wind related mayhem.
Any Shen Gong Wu & Name of Xiaolin Dragon Element
When the Xiaolin Warriors reached Apprentice level, they were taught that many Shen Gong Wu, when coupled with the name of their Element, gain new powers.
When Omi uses the Orb of Tornami with his Water Element, the Orb of Tornami can freeze objects, instead of merely producing an endless supply of liquid water (The way this combination was activated was later changed to "Orb of Tornami-Ice" for unknown reasons).
When Kimiko uses the Star Hanabi or the Eye of Dashi with her Fire Element, the Shen Gong Wu can create fire instead of fireworks or lightning.
When Raimundo uses the Sword of the Storm or the Eye of Dashi with his Wind Element, both Shen Gong Wu can conjure up strong winds, and the Eye of Dashi can create storms.
When Clay uses the Third-Arm Sash with his Earth Element, it can turn into stone. He can also use the Fist of Tebigong with the Earth Element to create fissures in the ground.
It is assumed that other Shen Gong Wu gain these powers as well.
Mosaic Scale & Monarch Wings
The Mosaic Scale held the imprisoned spirit of mischief, Sibini, and the Monarch Wings, the Mosaic Scale's sister Shen Gong Wu, would imbue Sibini with the ultimate strength and power of mayhem. When Sibini was freed from a broken Mosaic Scale, he took over Clay's body in preparation for the Monarch Wings' activation. Without the Monarch Wings, Sibini cannot exist very long on his own.
Before Sibini could attain ultimate power with the Mosaic Scale and the Monarch Wings, he was trapped within them by Kimiko using the Eye of Dashi and her Fire Element.
Mala Mala Jong
When the Heart of Jong, the Helmet of Jong, the Two-Ton Tunic, the Jetbootsu, the Fist of Tebigong, the Third-Arm Sash, the Shroud of Shadows, and the Eye of Dashi are brought together, they create Mala Mala Jong, an ancient evil demonic warrior. The person to defeat Mala Mala Jong was Omi, using the Serpent's Tail and the retrieved Golden Tiger Claws from the center of the earth from the molten lava. He then took the Heart of Jong from Mala Mala Jong's chest. The Heart of Jong gives life to the lifeless, and as long as Mala Mala Jong has the Heart of Jong within itself, it can use all of the other Shen Gong Wu as if it were a human. Mala Mala Jong can either be brought into existence by others forming him, or by the mystical alignment of the planets.
It is quite possible that all Shen Gong Wu could combine to become an unstoppable version of Mala Mala Jong.
Reversing Mirror & Any Shen Gong Wu
The Reversing Mirror is a Shen Gong Wu which can be used with any other Shen Gong Wu to perform the opposite of what it would normally do. The example given by the Mystical Scroll of the Shen Gong Wu shows that the Two-Ton Tunic would become as light as a feather. When the Reversing Mirror is used by a single person, and that person is about to be attacked by someone else Shen Gong Wu, the Shen Gong Wu backfires on its user. An example of this would be when Omi used the Fist of Tebigong on Jack Spicer, who then used the Reversing Mirror, resulting in Omi hitting himself with the Fist of Tebigong. This, however, is not a combination of the two Shen Gong Wu, but is merely the effect of the Reversing Mirror being used by itself.
Reversed Shen Gong Wu
Below are various Shen Gong Wu that have been used in conjunction with the Reversing Mirror and have had their effects reversed.
- Changing Chopsticks: The Reversing Mirror and the Changing Chopsticks make objects or people larger instead of smaller. In order to undo the change, the Reversing Mirror and Changing Chopsticks must both be used again, or the change is irreversible. If one tries to use just the Changing Chopsticks, they will become progressively smaller than their original size
- Crystal Glasses: When the Crystal Glasses look into the reflection of the Reversing Mirror, the user looks into a false or "opposite" future, than what will happen.
- Gills Of Hamachi: When the Reversing Mirror and Gills of Hamachi are used at the same time, they can cause someone to lose the ability to breathe underwater and swim.
- Fountain of Hui & Eagle Scope: The user of these Shen Gong Wu sees the opposite information than what they desire. For example, instead of discovering the way to destroy evil, they mistakenly discover the way to destroy good.
- Sphere of Yun: Enables the person trapped inside to be freed.
Serpent's Tail & Reversing Mirror
When the Serpent's Tail is used in conjunction with the Reversing Mirror, it can makes non-corporeal (ghostly) entities solid. This dangerous combination is capable of returning Wuya, the Ancient Heylin Witch, to her physical form, since she was reduced to a ghost after being trapped in a magical puzzle box. This can bring Wuya back to her physical form with or without her full magical powers, if the user knows how.
Mala Mala Jong & Ring of the Nine Dragons
When Mala Mala Jong receives the Ring of the Nine Dragons, it divides itself into the Fearsome Four, four separate Mala Mala Jongs that have slightly altered parts. Instead of the Helmet of Jong, the other three have the Wushu Helmet, and in place of the Eye of Dashi, are the Orb of Tornami, the Star Hanabi, and the Ruby of Ramses. One of the Fearsome Four also has the Sword of the Storm. Apparently, according to the Ancient Scroll, the appearance of the Fearsome Four symbolizes the end of the world. The only way to control the Mala Mala Jongs is to use the Emperor Scorpion, a Shen Gong Wu that can control other Shen Gong Wu.
Ying Yo Yo & Yang Yo-Yo
When combined, the Ying Yo-Yo and the Yang Yo-Yo become the Ying-Yang Yo-Yo, allowing the user to travel into the Ying-Yang World and leave without having either their good or evil chi trapped within the other dimension. If either Shen Gong Wu were to be used alone, one form of chi would be lost depending on whether or not the user was good or evil. The Ying-Ying Bird (Hannibal Roy Bean's messenger) is apparently immune to the magics of the Ying-Yang World and remains evil when it leaves.
Eagle Scope and Fountain of Hui
When combined the combined wu will allow you to unlock the greatest secrets of the universe.
Shen Gong Wu & Wudai Element
Although used only twice (by Raimundo and Omi), when the user activates a Shen Gong Wu and then calls out his or her Wudai Element Attack, he or she can use a combined impulse attack.
When Raimundo used the Cannon Blaster and then called out, "Wudai Star-Wind," he became a charged thunder ball.
When Omi used the Orb of Tornami and then called out, "Wudai Neptune-Ice," he was able to freeze anything in sight while using it to boost himself upwards.
Wudai Weapons
The Wudai Weapons are mystical artifacts that are similar to Shen Gong Wu that the Xiaolin Monks all own. They each have a power relating to their owner's Xiaolin Dragon element. They were found using a magical map, not Dojo's ability to sense Shen Gong Wu, so they are not Shen Gong Wu, simply other mystical objects that are classified with them. They have minds of their own, as the Spirit of the Blind Swordsman tells the monks to work with their weapons. Even though numerous times, the Wudai Weapons have been lost or stolen, by the next episode, they have been reunited with their item, once again questioning the continuity of Xiaolin Showdown, of course, when they were first discovered, the weapons traveled to their Owner all by themselves, perhaps this is how they return.
Blade of the Nebula
Raimundo's Wudai Weapon, the Blade of the Nebula, is a blue, glass-like sword, that, when actived, turns into powerful wind-chain nunchaku (many fans lament the fact that the "cool sword form" is never really used, although this is not entirely true; in the episode Wu Got the Power, Raimundo combined the Crest of the Condor with the Blade of the Nebula to use its sword form and blow away a multitude of zombified Jack Spicer clones) that have control over wind and gales that can pick up enemies and blow them away. This was the first Wudai Weapon that revealed itself, and was guarded by rattlesnakes. It appears to be a blue, jagged version of the Sword of the Storm.
Arrow Sparrow
Kimiko's Wudai Weapon is the Arrow Sparrow, a purse-like Wudai Weapon with a strap (perfect for Kimiko) with a symbol on it that looks like a bird. It contains an unlimited amount of metal sparrows, that when thrown, catch on fire and blow up in fiery explosions. This was the second Wudai Weapon to be revealed, and was guarded by a living portrait (a man who came out of a painting and fought the Wudai Warriors).
Big Bang Meteorang
Clay's Wudai Weapon, the Big Bang Meteorang, is a bronze boomerang. When thrown, it can cut through anything, including stone, rock and metal. It can also split into up to 5 smaller versions of itself for a multiple attack. This is the third Wudai Weapon that is revealed, and is guarded by humanoid cacti. Sometimes Clay has a hard time catching it, usually when it has splits into its multiple form, and has to jump out of the way of it.
Shimo Staff
Omi's Wudai Weapon is the Shimo Staff. It can transform into various weapons made of ice. It was not guarded by any sort of being, but when the Wudai Weapon was obtained, the cave in which it was kept collapsed. It is made of "solid water" (literally, ice), and seems to have human feelings and emotions. The staff seemed sad when Omi said, "No! This cannot be! My Wudai Weapon is a pitiful stick?! And guarded by ... nothing!"
In Japanese, Shimo means Frost.
Treasure of the Blind Swordsman
The Treasure of the Blind Swordsman is a mysterious, black-lustrous chest, that at first look, contains nothing. But if the user concentrates on the object of their desire, that object or objects will materialize (with the power of the spirit of the Blind Swordsman). The spirit of the Blind Swordsman seems to dwell within the chest to guide the user on how to use the chest. Even though it is wagered as a Shen Gong Wu, it is not considered one. This is the only one of the items (which aren't Shen Gong Wu) wagered in a Xiaolin Showdown, this also includes Omi's freedom. It was found with the Shimo Staff when the warriors went to find their Wudai Weapons. The Treasure Of The Blind Swordsman is almost like a genie's lamp, since the Blind Swordsman can grant you any wish you desire.
Although some may argue that the Treasure of the Blind Swordsman is technically not a Shen Gong Wu, it bears a similar effect of the Emperor Scorpion as it has such a great command over all other Shen Gong Wu. It is unknown whether it can summon Wu that are being used at that time but if so this Wu could strip the power from the majority of foes that face the Xiaolin Monks.
Possession of:
- Xiaolin (305: "Treasure of the Blind Swordsman")
- Hannibal Roy Bean (Heylin) (305: "Treasure of the Blind Swordsman" - 307: "The Return Of Master Monk Guan")
- Xiaolin (307: "The Return Of Master Monk Guan" - present)
Creator(s)
Although it is sometimes noted that Dashi was the only Grand Master Dragon and created the Shen Gong Wu, there is a less-circulated theory that there were other Grand Master Dragons that made others, such as the Eye of Dashi was created by Dashi, the Fist of Tebigong was created by Tebigong, & so on. No one really knows who created the Shen Gong Wu.
Shen Gong Wu exclusively from the Trading Card Game
The following Shen Gong Wu have not yet appeared in the television series, but do appear in the Xiaolin Showdown Trading Card Game released in October 2005 and in the Wudai Warriors Expansion Set released in March 2006. The promotional materials for the game suggest that the Shen Gong Wu in the game will appear in future episodes, however it is unknown if they will as it as equally unknown if Xiaolin Showdown was renewed for a new season
Shen Gong Wu from the Xiaolin Showdown Set
Bubble Brains
This skullcap Shen Gong Wu with a brain-shaped design grants its user a photographic memory. It is unknown whether the photographic memory will retain itself after the removal of the Bubble Brains or whether one will photographically remember occurrences when they were wearing the Wu.
Cube of Haniku
The Cube of Haniku creates ironic situations for one's opponents. This could be similar to the Puzzle Box Wuya was trapped in; since she had ultimate power, the ultimate irony would be that she had no powers whatsoever. As seen when she has her body, she is also incredibly strong, and so having no body would strip her of her strengths.
Culver Crystal
This amulet has the appearance of a white crystal inside a clear globe. It creates a glittering sphere of light to distract one's enemies or light dark areas.
Da Hippa Hoppa
This Shen Gong Wu turns all of its user's speech into rhymes, which possibly could be used to confuse your opponent. Another possible use comes from the fact that one who speaks in rhymes is quite confusing, and will be unable to let others know of certain facts, such as secrets and the plans of their enemies.
Danger Sneakers
A Shen Gong Wu that warns its user of impending danger. Although if it warns the user physically or mentally is unknown. Also the radius of the sensing danger of the Sneakers is unknown as well.
Neptune Helmet
A full-face helmet Shen Gong Wu (like the Helmet of Jong, Wushu Helmet, and Mask of Rio) which, when activated, will manipulate the air around the user to create a tiny hurricane. The created hurricane will move around with the helmet being inside the hurricane's eye.
Ninja Sash
The Ninja Sash is a golden sash with a red pendant in the middle. Once activated, it gives the user a duplicate of him/herself. Strange Wu as it has a similar ability to both the Ring of the Nine Dragons and the Shadow Slicer.
Preying Monster
This Shen Gong Wu turns its user into a preying mantis-like creature..
Rainbow Star
This strange Shen Gong Wu causes things to be rainbow colored. A possible use of this Shen Gong Wu would be to make invisible things, such as someone using the Shroud of Shadows, visible (if the Shroud of Shadows is rainbow-colored, you still cannot be seen; however, the rainbow-colored Shroud will be noticed easily).
Thorn of Tectonic
This powerful Shen Gong Wu turns your enemy's Earth Shen Gong Wu to your advantages. It has the same shape as the Thorn of Thunderbolt, and may actually be a misprint of the Thorn of Thunderbolt. However, the two Shen Gong Wu have different effects (control of earth vs. lightning).
Shen Gong Wu from the Wudai Warriors Expansion
Bear Baton
A brown baton Shen Gong Wu that allows the user to transform into a bear.
Bullhorn Blazer
A small pair of bullhorns, this Shen Gong Wu has the ability to transform into a raging bull, capable of attacking or scaring enemies.
The Bullhorn Blazer made a brief appearance in the episode 'The Black Vipers' among the Wu that Dojo had hid in a cactus patch. This was odd because it has never been mentioned in the show before and it never was after.
The Horde of Haiku
A scanner-like Shen Gong Wu that can translate any language or symbol.
Imo Gazer
A telescope-like Shen Gong Wu that allows the viewer to put anyone seen through it into a deep sleep.
Indigo Pyramid
A blue and gold pyramid-shaped Shen Gong Wu that allows its user to change an opponent's mind.
According to the text on the card, when it is combined with the Reversing Mirror, "it changes the user's mind instead!"
The Komori Sword
A sword Shen Gong Wu that lets its user hang upside down like a bat and fight well in darkness.
Mask of Rio
A mask Shen Gong Wu from the Wudai Warriors expansion. The Mask of Rio helps its user blend in with their surroundings by changing the color of the skin to become the color the mask senses around the user, much like how chameleons blend in. However, the Shen Gong Wu is a perfect match, allowing the user to blend in without technically becoming invisible.
Pearl of LiBai
The Pearl of LiBai makes its user's enemies babble poetry nonstop.
Li Bai is the name of a Chinese poet.
Polar Paws
A white glove Shen Gong Wu, the Polar Paws turns its user into a polar bear that has the ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures.