Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung is a fictional character that appears in the Mortal Kombat series of video game and associated media.

Contents

1 About Shang Tsung 1.1 Biography 1.2 Statistics 1.3 Fighting styles 2 Storyline 3 Movie appearance

About Shang Tsung

Biography

Shang Tsung is a demonic shapeshifter, who needs to consume souls in order to sustain his health and life. In the universe of Mortal Kombat, he is the epitome of cunning and decadance, as symbolised by his preference for lavish parties, grand palaces and stylish clothing. Unlike the crude Shao Kahn, this bombast is a façade of Tsung's true intellectual and mental sophistication. His nemesis is Liu Kang, but through his unnatural lifespan, he has earned the mortal hatred of many people.

Statistics

• Height: 5 ft 10.5 in (179 cm)
• Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)

Note: Shang Tsung's height is a matter of debate among Mortal Kombat fans. While he is officially listed as 5 ft 11 in (180 cm), he does not look more than 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) in Mortal Kombat II. However, in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance he does look somewhat closer to 5 ft 11 in.

Fighting styles

In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Shang Tsung uses the unarmed fighting styles snake and crane, and uses the straight sword weapon. He is considered one of the better characters in the game.

Storyline

Contrary to popular perception, Shang Tsung was not born on Outworld, but actually came from Earthrealm. Ages ago, he had somehow angered the Gods, and they cursed him: he would rapidly age, unless he consumed the living souls of other people. A side effect of consuming souls is that Shang Tsung gained their knowledge, and the constant revitalization extended his life. By becoming a roaming sorcerer, he was enlisted by Outworld's emperor Shao Kahn many millennia ago. There, he became leader of the cult of Shadow Priests.

It was Shang Tsung who was instrumental in Kahn's plan to have his dead queen Sindel reborn on Earth so he could claim both her and that realm, and it was also him who supervised the Mortal Kombat tournaments on Earth. Through his superior powers, he quickly overcame all competition. He incurred his first defeat, however, at the hands of the Great Kung Lao, who was in turn defeated later by the Shokan prince Goro. Shang Tsung consumed his soul in retaliation for his earlier defeat, and and learned of the location of Shinnok's amulet. He traded this knowledge to Quan Chi in exchange for assistance in reviving Queen Sindel at a later date. Tsung then presided over the tournament for the next 500 years, watching Goro rack up a winning streak that would eventually unbalance the furies and allow his lord Shao Kahn to invade Earthrealm.

During the tenth tournament, the final victory that would enable Kahn to conquer Earth, the Shaolin monk Liu Kang defeated Goro, breaking the streak. Shang Tsung challenged him, hoping to salvage something of that streak, and used all of his accumulated martial arts knowledge against the monk. Liu Kang prevailed, and Shang Tsung went back to Outworld. Dragged before Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung begged for his life. He told the tyrant that if they challenged Earthrealm to Mortal Kombat in Outworld, they would have to accept or forfeit. Kahn agreed to this plan, and restore Tsung's youth, gambling that the Elder Gods would not recognize him after so long. After crushing defeat for a second time, Shang Tsung contacted Quan Chi and called in the favour. When Queen Sindel was revived in Earthrealm, Shao Kahn could reach across the realms and reclaim her, forcefully merging Earthrealm with Outworld. Shang Tsung led one of Kahn's extermination squads to hunt down the fighters that Lord Raiden had protected. Upon Kahn's defeat, Shang Tsung retreated with him back to Outworld proper, when the merger was reversed.

A few years later, Shang Tsung found Quan Chi in his palace courtyard, fighting Scorpion. When Quan Chi defeated him, he gave Shang an offer: if Tsung helped him revive the lost army of the Dragon King by means of his ability to transplant souls, he would open a "soulnado" to the Heavens, giving him an endless supply of souls. In order to carry out their scheme, they needed to remove the two largest obstacles in their way: Shao Kahn and Liu Kang.

Shang Tsung introduced Quan Chi to Shao Kahn, vouched for his loyalty, and then they attacked him. After taking care of him, Shang Tsung disguised himself as Kung Lao and visited Liu Kang. As Liu practiced his kata, Shang attacked. Although Liu had the upper hand, Quan Chi struck from behind, giving Shang the opening to kill Liu and take his soul. Shang Tsung did not fully trust his ally, so he gave the Oni Drahmin and Moloch an offer: after he did what he had to, he would let them have Quan Chi. It not come to this, however. The Deadly Alliance defeated Earthrealm's champions and Raiden, and then turned on each other, only to face a resurrected Onaga who had come to reclaim Quan Chi's amulet and his ancient army. In the ensuing self-sacrificial blast of Raiden, both sorcerers apparently died.

Movie appearance

In the first movie, Shang Tsung serves as the primary villain. His tactics during the bulk of the movie are intimidation and trickery; for example, he allows Johnny Cage to challenge Goro on the condition that he may challenge anyone of his choosing in any place, thus setting the stage for Liu and Johnny's desperate move to save Sonya and leading to the climactic battle. In the end, Shang Tsung is knocked off of a tower onto spikes, where he is believed dead. Shang Tsung only has a flashback cameo in the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. He is played by actor Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa.