The monk Jong Li was a Green Lantern in 7th Century China for a time.
History
He lived with his fellow monks and Master in the Temple of the Dragon Lords. The last of those to commune with and give energy to sustain the Dragon Lords, they remained sheltered in their temple, believing their meditation could one day waken the dormant dragons and usher a new golden age, as had existed in the days of legend. One night, an escaped concubine of the Emperor named Jade Moon arrived in the temple begging for protection. The Imperial Guard arrived and during the fight Jong Li was knocked unconscious. He awoke to having barely escaped the burning Temple and fled into the woods.
Shortly thereafter, Jong Li came upon the city that his temple had overlooked for so long, and saw how horrible the conditions there were, which made him doubt everything he had believed in all his life. At this point, a young child begged him for help, but he denied the request, feeling as though he was incapable of helping anyone. However, at night, an alien being and representative of the Guardians of the Universe arrived on Earth and scanned for suitable candidates for a Power Ring. After scanning through a village the beam landed on Jong Li alone in the woods.
The alien came out of the ship in a beam of emerald light and presented both a Ring and Lantern to him, instructing him telepathically to use it to "oppose evil, to ease suffering, and protect the innocent." With that charge he was also warned of the temptation of such power. It was at that point that Jong Li became Earth's first Green Lantern and the first human Lantern of Sector 2814, though he was torn between his monastic vows of humility and seclusion and the new duty he had been given - compounded by the guilt he felt for not having been able to save Jade Moon. Nonetheless, he began to practice the use of the ring. This attracted a crowd to him, but he immediately fled, unused to being admired. Among the crowd was the child from before, who, unbeknownst to Jong Li, was the son of Jade Moon and the illegitimate son of the Emperor. The boy followed him as he escaped into the woods on a carpet made of light.
In the middle of the woods, Jong Li suffered night terrors and was woken up by the lantern, which had produced an image of Jade Moon from his subconscious, a representation of his inner struggle. The construct pleads with Jong Li to use his new powers to be a hero, and save Jade Moon from her imprisonment. Jong Li argues that he doesn't want to break his vows to his master and order by setting himself above other men. However, before he can continue his point, the image vanishes back into his ring. Jong Li decides to continue his trek on foot. He then arrives at the village of Han, whose townspeople are being harassed by the Emperor's men over tribute. Deciding to intervene, Jong Li attacks the guards and delivers the food to the villagers themselves. Again he meets Jade Moon's son, who remarks on how he can help people after all. Jong Li inquires about the boy's family (which he cannot provide much of an answer about, not knowing the full story himself), and promises to return to Han Village one day to see him again. Meanwhile, he will continue to use the ring to protect the people of China.
In spite of himself, Jong Li feels the praise of the people getting to his head, and wrestles with his inner conflict once more, this time represented by images of both his deceased master and Jade Moon. Frustrated by their bickering, Jong Li vows that he will fulfill both his oath to the temple and his responsibility to the innocent by saving Jade Moon without the ring. With the help of a magician who had been hired to entertain the king, Jong Li smuggled himself into the forbidden city. After making his way to the palace and battling General Shan and his men, he manages to take Jade Moon away. They evade many assassins, but eventually, am ambush of soldiers takes them both by surprise. Jong Li is forced to once again use his ring to ensure their survival.
Passing through a patrol of soldiers that they assume are also hunting for them, Jong Li suggests a detour through Han Village. On the way there, Jade Moon argues with him about his refusal to use the ring and his suspicions of why he was given it. Jong Li feels that defying the emperor directly is a vainglorious act and wonders if even the words he heard on the day he received the ring might have been deceptions to further corrupt his soul. Jade Moon tells him he severely underestimates the emperor's evil nature, a point which is proven when they arrive to Han Village and find it destroyed by the emperor's men for their inability to pay tribute - the soldiers they saw earlier were actually returning from razing it to the ground. Jade Moon tells him of her youth, of having been enslaved by criminals in Lung Mountain and sold to the emperor, and of her young son who was the only bright light she found in the emperor's palace. She would always tell him that it was better to be free with nothing than be enslaved with luxury, though in their attempts to secure that freedom, they were forced to go separate ways.
Jong Li recognizes her son's description as being the boy he last talked to in Han Village, and can't bring himself to tell her that he is most likely dead. His heart heavy with questions, he recalls a conversation he once had with his mentor about the mountain on which the last dragons reside. Summoning the image of his mentor with the ring, he asks him to tell him if Lung Mountain is that same mountain. The image replies in the affirmative. After some back and forth, Jong Li decides to head to the mountain and earn the favor of the dragons at the top, thereby becoming truly worthy of the ring. Only by conquering hell, he believes, may he achieve heaven.
Climbing through level after level of the mountain, and vanquishing all the criminals and bandits he finds there, Li successfully manages to cleanse the mountain of its evil and reach the summit. Then, he calls back the dragon lords back to the mountain, and they bless his soul with their divine fire. Jong Li makes it back to Jade Moon, but sees that she is being pursued by soldiers. With the ring having lost its charge overnight, he is powerless to help as she is run through by two arrows, but she had brought the lantern to him so he could recharge. Li avenges her and brings her dying form to a hospital.
Then, he calls upon the peasants and townspeople who were victimized by the emperor to charge on the forbidden city, with Li himself heading straight for the Emperor's quarters. Jong Li easily defeats General Shan, who had previously murdered the emperor himself, and the rest of the guards who come to arrest him, while outside the palace, there is pandemium as the populace and the soldiers battle. Jong Li interrupts to declare the death of the emperor, and inquires from the people what each of them desires now that their tyrannical ruler is no more. Some reply vengeance, others say they want their stolen tribute back, yet Jong Li is unhappy with the selfish nature of their wishes. It is only when Jade Moon's son, alive but covered in burn scars, comes forth expressing that his desire is for peace, that Jong Li is satisfied.
Addressing the child, Jong Li remembers their previous meetings, and the boy recalls his mother's refrain of how freedom in nothing was preferable to being enslaved in luxury. Li then asks about the third option, being free in luxury, and the boy replies that he does not see how that could be possible unless the luxury was shared with all. In response, Jong Li conjures a jade throne for him, declaring him China's new emperor. The townspeople happily carry him to it. Jong Li then hurries to Jade Moon's side.
Jade Moon is dying from her injuries, but begs Li to take her to the glade where they had rested together once, after their first escape. He does so, and sees the life fade from her as they float together in the sky. Li builds a funeral pyre for her and lights it up, promising that he will not let her sacrifice be in vain as he will honor her last request to protect her son and to be a hero for the people.
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Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Indomitable Will
- Martial Arts: Master in hand to hand, sword fighting, and the staff
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Transportation
He usually walks, but has been known to create a flying carpet with his Ring on occasion.
Weapons
Trivia
The Ring will occasionally manifest the image of his Master or of Jade Moon on its own so that he may truly know what is going on in his mind and face himself similar to the "Angel and Devil on your shoulder" routine.
Related
- 4 Appearances of Jong Li (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Jong Li (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Jong Li (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Jong Li (New Earth)
Footnotes
Green Lantern Corps member |