Editing Nezha (section)

== Iconography ==
Nezha is often depicted as a youth, although he does sometimes appear as an adult from time to time. He is often shown flying in the sky riding on the Wind Fire Wheels ({{lang|zh-Hant|風火輪}}), has the Universe Ring ({{lang|zh-Hant|乾坤圈}}) around his body (sometimes in his left hand), the Red Armillary Sash ({{lang|zh-Hant|浑天绫}}) around his shoulders and a Fire-tipped Spear ({{lang|zh-Hant|火尖槍}}) in his right hand. Sometimes, he is shown in his "three heads and six arms" form ({{lang|zh-Hant|三頭六臂}}).

In the Yuan dynasty ''Sanjiao Soushen Daquan'', prior to his reincarnation into the mortal realm, he is a great immortal under the Jade Emperor, who wears a golden wheel around his head, has three heads, nine eyes, and eight arms, and can blow azure clouds out of his mouth. After his suicide and resurrection by the Buddha, he wields a spear and an embroidered ball.<ref>{{Cite web |title=圖書館 - 中國哲學書電子化計劃 |url=https://ctext.org/library.pl?if=gb&file=101033&page=77&remap=gb |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=ctext.org |language=zh-CN}}</ref>

=== Origin ===
According to [[Meir Shahar]], the name Nezha comes from [[Nalakuvara]], depicted as a heroic [[yaksha]] general in the [[Mahamayuri]]. The link to Nalakuvara is established through variants in his Chinese name appearing in translations of Tantric Buddhist Texts.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Li|first=Zhuying|date=2024-02-22 |title=The transformation of images of Nezha and the changing cultural discourses in Chinese national style animated films from 1979 to 2019 |journal=Humanities and Social Sciences Communications |volume=11|issue=1 |doi=10.1057/s41599-024-02802-2 |issn=2662-9992|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wei |first=Mengxue |date=2024 |title=Mediatization of Religion and Its Impact on Youth Identity Formation in Contemporary China|journal=Religions |language=en |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=268 |doi=10.3390/rel15030268 |doi-access=free |issn=2077-1444}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Cangianto |first=Ardian|date=2022-12-30 |title=Chinese Temples and Buddhism Unite In Harmony |journal=Jurnal Nyanadassana: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan, Sosial Dan Keagamaan |volume=1|issue=2 |pages=107–119 |doi=10.59291/jnd.v1i2.15 |issn=2964-3562|doi-access=free }}</ref>

The original variant Naluojiupoluo ({{lang|zh-Hant|那羅鳩婆羅}}) changed to Naluojubaluo ({{lang|zh-Hant|捺羅俱跋羅}}), Nazhajuwaluo ({{lang|zh-Hant|那吒矩韈囉}}) and finally Nazha ({{lang|zh-Hant|那吒}}). The simple addition of the "[[Radical 30|mouth radical]]" ({{lang|zh-Hant|口}}) to Na ({{lang|zh-Hant|那}}) changes the name to the current form Nezha ({{lang|zh-Hant|哪吒}}).

In addition, Nalakuvara's father Kubera was eventually absorbed into the Buddhist pantheon as the Heavenly King [[Vaiśravaṇa]]. Shahar notes that Vaisravana was somehow connected to the historical Tang Dynasty general [[Li Jing (Tang dynasty)|Li Jing]]. This explains the name and position of Nezha's father, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King [[Li Jing (deity)|Li Jing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asia.haifa.ac.il/pdf/dep-seminar-meir-sahar.pdf |title=Nezha's connections to India Deities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426005333/http://asia.haifa.ac.il/pdf/dep-seminar-meir-sahar.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-26}}</ref>

=== Worship ===
[[File:Templo Na Tcha, Macao, 2013-08-08, DD 01.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Na Tcha Temple of the Centre of Macau]], a Nezha temple behind the [[Ruins of St. Paul]], in [[Macau]].]]

Nezha is worshipped in [[Chinese folk religion]] and is called "Marshal of the Central Altar" or "Prince Nezha", the "Third Prince".

As in traditional folklore, Nezha flies around swiftly on his wind fire wheels, so he is also regarded as the tutelary god of many professional drivers, like trucks, taxis, or sightseeing bus drivers. They tend to place a small statue of Nezha in the vehicles for a safe drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwaninsights.com/tag/nezha-the-third-prince/|title=Associated News|website=Associated News|access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref>

Nezha is also often regarded as the patron god of children and filial piety. Parents would make an offering to Nezha with the hope that their children would grow up strong, healthy, and be dutiful and respectful.