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Hong Meiling
Main Profile
Name: | Hong Meiling | |
Alternate spellings: | Hong Meirin, Hoan Meirin | |
Species: | Youkai | |
Abilities: | Control of "Qi", Chinese Martial Arts | |
Age: | Unknown | |
Occupation: | Gatekeeper and Gardener of the Scarlet Devil Mansion | |
Location: | Scarlet Devil Mansion | |
Description: |
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Relationships: |
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Appearances: |
Official Games
Print Works
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Titles: | See Character Titles |
General Information
Hong Meiling is a youkai, though it isn't currently known which specific category she actually belongs to. She guards the entrance to the Scarlet Devil Mansion along with her henchmen. She is known for her mastery of the martial arts, part of which can be seen from her movement which is performed with Shin-Kyaku (a move in Chinese martial arts).
Story
During the events of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, she bravely fought against the intruding heroines but ultimately failed to complete her job.
In Touhou Hisoutensoku she saw a roaming giant that she was certain was an incarnation of a God of Calamity, "Taisui Xingjun". However those she warned didn't realize the seriousness of the dangerous situation they were facing. Thus it was up to Meiling alone to defend the Scarlet Devil Mansion and all of Gensokyo from this destructive deity.
Other Information
Name and Concept
- The character for Hong literally means "Scarlet" in Japanese and "Red" in Chinese, and Meiling means "Beautiful Bell". The latter part of her name, Meiling, is at least a common Chinese name. These characters can be read in Japanese as "Kurenai Misuzu", and you'll sometimes see her name mispronounced or miswritten that way.
- Using English name order, her name would be Meiling Hong, which is used normally by Chinese diaspora or emmigrants into Western countries.
Trivia
- Sadly, despite reaching some level of recognition by becoming a playable character in Immaterial and Missing Power (albeit through a downloaded patch), Meiling was the only character not to have a storyline. She is almost universally considered a bottom tier character in the game as well, despite the fact that she has some of the most impressive combos in the game, as shown in here. Whether this was by accident or if Twilight Frontier was making fun of her is unknown...
- Many of her lines in Touhou Hisoutensoku indicate that Meiling has boastful pride in China. "You're all not there yet! You're all children compared to 4000 years of history!" The script also reveals that she reads manga created by the tengu, compares Yuyuko to a jiangshi (Chinese vampire), and notes that Tenshi and the celestials read Chinese works. (Many of Tenshi's win quotes in SWR come from Chinese classics.) This is how Chinese characters in Japanese manga and anime are almost always depicted: a pervasive stereotype of the alleged common traits and unmerited pride of Chinese people.
- Meiling's win quote against Sakuya in Touhou Hisoutensoku does not imply that Sakuya abuses her, but rather builds a formal, friendly setting between the two. Meiling telling Sakuya that she always goes easy on her could hint that the two sometimes have friendly battles. If it were a formal match, she would (and could) very easily take the Chief Maid down. As Sakuya greatly cares for Meiling in canon (as well as advises her on the importance of not slacking off), this can be taken to some credibility.
- Meiling and Remilia's win quotes against each other in Touhou Hisoutensoku regarding manga that Remilia let Meiling borrow suggests that their relationship very friendly, and that they are just fighting for the fun of it.
- If Meiling loses to Youmu in Touhou Hisoutensoku, the latter will ask if Meiling shouldn't just use a weapon, namely a green dragon blade. This can be a source of confusion, since many would imagine the legendary Green Dragon Crescent Blade wielded by the famous Chinese general Guan Yu, but women seldom use pole arms in Chinese martial arts. In Japan, the term has become a common misnomer for the liuyedao and other Chinese sabers. As Youmu admits she has only heard about them in stories, the use of her local, incorrect term is likely intentional.
- One of her Skill Cards in Hisoutensoku resembles Krizalid's Typhoon/Tuhon Rage from KOF '99, 2000, and 2002: Unlimited Match.
- Meiling is sometimes compared to Chun-Li from Street Fighter on notable traits.
- Meiling looks very similiar to Orange.
Fandom
- She is more widely known as "China" (中国, pronounced Chuugoku), the one whose real name is never remembered.
- In fanworks, she doesn't take that well which leads her being shunned or defensive of her name.
- It is known that in 2ch, there was a debate on how to read Meiling's name. One side said Hong Meiling, and the other said Kurenai Misuzu. The debate ended (sort of) when a user said "Why don't we just call her 'China', as her clothing seems to identify her the most." As a result, even after ZUN said "Hong Meiling" is the correct pronunciation in an interview, people kept on calling Meiling "China".
- Meiling's nickname is further ingrained into the minds of fans by her clothing, and also by the name of her stage BGM, "Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea". Her stage theme tends to be more frequently remixed by fans than her boss theme, "Shanghai Alice of Meiji 17", to the point where "Chinese Tea" became her theme in Touhou Hisoutensoku.
- A popular Flash animation called "My Name is Hong Meiling" spawned the meme "Sakuya-san, Sakuya-san, cleaning stop! Room cleaning stop!" (after which she gets stabbed in the forehead with a knife).
- She is commonly referred to as the "lazy guardian" of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, though whether this stems from her actual personality or from the nickname "China" is unknown. Many Japanese people complain about the reliability and quality of products manufactured in China. There are many fanfics that depict an enraged Sakuya behind a sleeping Meiling in front of the gates to the Mansion. The implication is that she has the "Chinese" quality of "Shinrai no Chuugoku" (信頼の中国, which translates to Reliable China), with much intended sarcasm.
- Her relationship with Sakuya seems to be a popular topic for fan work, including comics, music and games. One running gag involves her being stabbed in the head by Sakuya's knives. This is usually due to her inability to keep unwanted visitors, mostly Marisa, out of the mansion. In canon, Meiling doesn't appear to be chastised for failing to keep Marisa out (canonically, she is known to be rather versatile at her job and the witch is the only known person whom she can't stop from intruding).
- It is also common for fan works to depict Meiling caring for Sakuya when the latter was a child. This scenario is somewhat plausible due to Meiling being a youkai and Sakuya being human, making it likely that Meiling is several decades older than Sakuya.
- Additionally, they both have the distinction of being the only characters in Embodiment of Scarlet Devil to have braided #sideburns with ribbons. This fact supports that setting.
- In the MUGEN community, Meiling is known for her "Chuugoku Satsu" attack, an obvious parody of both her nickname "Chuugoku" (China), and the signature attack "Shun Goku Satsu" (Instant Hell Murder) of Akuma from Street Fighter.
- As the result of her comedic scenario in Touhou Hisoutensoku and the nature of one of her battles (with a rather simplified background image), fans have made numerous jokes regarding drug experimentation on Meiling's part.
- In fanworks, Meiling seems to be some sort of big sister or playmate to Flandre (rather than Remilia). In comedy works, it can be to throw Meiling in the way of more danger. In serious ones, her laid back approach to her job and uncontrollably friendly nature make her a natural choice for reaching out to an otherwise isolated Flandre. Many fan works depict the two going out of their way to help each other on numerous occasions.
- Her race remains unconfirmed, but she's commonly associated with dragons due to her many shared motifs with them, such as her use of rainbows, hat, and name, and possible inspiration by the Chinese Hong. This is most prevalent during depictions of her theoretical EX mode in which she often adopts dragon characteristics.
- In some fan works, Meiling is known to say "JAOOOO" (じゃおおおお), a war-cry attributed to her. This cry originated from the 2nd Touhou M-1 Grand Prix (Comiket 73).
Spell Cards
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Name | Translated | Comments | Games | Stage | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total: 24 | ||||||
華符「芳華絢爛」 | Flower Sign "Gorgeous Sweet Flower" | Related: Flower Sign "Selaginella 9" | EoSD GoM |
St. 3: E/N — | ||
華符「セラギネラ9」 | Flower Sign "Selaginella 9" | EoSD | St. 3: H/L | |||
虹符「彩虹の風鈴」 | Rainbow Sign "Colorful Rainbow Wind Chime" | Related: Colorful Sign "Colorful Light Wind Chime" | EoSD | St. 3: E/N/H/L | ||
幻符「華想夢葛」 | Illusion Sign "Imaginary Flower Yumekazura" | EoSD | St. 3: H/L | |||
彩符「彩雨」 | Colorful Sign "Colorful Rain" | Related: Colorful Sign "Vivid Chaotic Dance" | EoSD | St. 3: E/N | ||
彩符「彩光乱舞」 | Colorful Sign "Vivid Chaotic Dance" | Related: Extreme Color "Vivid Chaotic Dance" | EoSD | St. 3: H/L | ||
彩符「極彩颱風」 | Colorful Sign "Dazzling Color Typhoon" | EoSD GoM |
St. 3: N/H/L — | |||
彩符「彩光風鈴」 | Colorful Sign "Colorful Light Wind Chime" | IaMP Soku |
Use Use | |||
極彩「彩光乱舞」 | Extreme Color "Vivid Chaotic Dance" | IaMP Soku |
Use Use | |||
光符「華光玉」 | Light Sign "Blossoming Light Orb" | IaMP | Use | |||
極光「華厳明星」 | Polar Light "Flower-Adorned Morning Star" | IaMP | Use | |||
華符「破山砲」 | Flower Sign "Mountain-Breaking Cannon" | IaMP | Use | |||
三華「崩山彩極砲」 | Three Blossoms "Colorful Ultimate Mountain-Breaking Cannon" | (三華(sange) maybe has a double meaning, three flowery and powerful attacks and dying gracefully (散華 sange)) | IaMP | Use | ||
華符「彩光蓮華掌」 | Flower Sign "Colorful Light Lotus Flower Palm" | StB Soku GoM |
St. 5 Use — | |||
彩翔「飛花落葉」 | Colorful Flip "Fluttering Petals and Falling Leaves" | StB Soku |
St. 5 Story | |||
彩華「虹色太極拳」 | Colorful Chinese Flower "Rainbow Taijiquan" | Taijiquan: a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing. | StB Soku |
St. 5 Use | ||
虹符「烈虹真拳」 | Rainbow Sign "Intense Rainbow Fist" | Soku | Use | |||
気符「星脈弾」 | Chi Sign "Star-Pulse Shot" | Soku | Use | |||
撃符「大鵬拳」 | Strike Sign "Dapeng Fist" | Soku | Use | |||
気符「地龍天龍脚」 | Chi Sign "Earth Dragon Sky Dragon Kick" | Soku | Use | |||
気符「猛虎内剄」 | Chi Sign "Fierce Tiger Energy Release" | Soku | Use | |||
星気「星脈地転弾」 | Star Chi "Earth-Moving Star Pulse Shot" | Soku | Use | |||
熾撃「大鵬墜撃拳」 | Blazing Strike "Dapeng-Felling Fist" | Soku | Use | |||
彩符「極彩沛雨」 | Colorful Sign "Vivid Color Downpour" | Soku | Story |
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Official Profiles
Embodiment of Scarlet Devil - おまけ.txt
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Hong Meiling | ○華人小娘
紅 美鈴(ホン・メイリン)
3面ボスです。中国人風の妖怪です。
ってくる侵入者を積極的に排除しています。 これといった特別なキャラではないのですが、ここで初めて、ストー リーに関係あるものになっていきます。 といってもお嬢様の存在を言うだけですが。 |
Chinese Girl
Hong Meiling Ability: Control of Chi Stage 3 boss. A Chinese-looking youkai. Her clothing is colorful and somewhat traditional. She is the gatekeeper of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and prevents intruders from beyond the lake from reaching the mansion. She is by no means a special character, but she is the first character that has something to do with the main story. Even if that something happens to be merely mentioning the Mistress. |
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Immaterial and Missing Power
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N/A |
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Touhou Hisoutensoku
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Book Synopsis
Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red
- Main article: Article and Interview: Meiling
One day, a mysterious crop circle appears in the gardens of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, causing widespread speculation, rumors and gossip around the Mansion. Meiling, who was responsible for taking care of the garden, claims not to be the culprit, but admits that she's been tasked by Remilia to restore the garden to its original state now that her mistress has become bored with the crop circle pattern. During her interview with Aya, she notes she is quite worried, as she has no idea how to change the flowers back. Questioned about the crop circle's origins, Meiling vehemently denies falling asleep, so Aya goes on to talk about aliens...
- The culprit revealed at the end is Patchouli Knowledge.
Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
- Main article: Perfect Memento: Hong Meirin
- Meiling works as a gate guard at the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
- She is a well-rounded youkai, skilled in martial arts rather than focusing on a single power.
- Although this means she isn't very powerful among youkai, she has no weak points.
- She is unusually human-like and will chat with humans while on the job.
- If you don't try to get through her gate, she will rarely attack you.
- She performs Tai Chi Chuan daily, and has a nap at noon.
- The best way to exterminate her is straightforwardly, in a formal match.
The Grimoire of Marisa
- Main article: The Grimoire of Marisa: Hong Meiling's Spell Cards
- Insert Summary Here