Ten Brothers

Ten Brothers (Chinese: 十兄弟; pinyin: Shí Xiōngdì) is a Chinese legend known to be written around the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644). It has been told and spun off in various adaptations, and remains popular since it is one of the oldest Chinese legends to feature characters in a superhero fashion.

The more modern version of the story has the couple swallow ten pearls and give birth to ten brothers. Each one of the brothers then possesses a different supernatural power, though he develops his power as the story progresses. At the end the brothers battle some form of an antagonist, and they only win when working in unity. However, if the ten brothers come in touch with limestone, their power disappears and they become helpless.

The number of brothers varies among Chinese ethnicities. The Yi people have 9 brothers, the Zhuang people have 8 brothers, the Han people have 5 brothers, the Li people have 10 brothers.

The story has been adapted many times in Asian movies and TV series most notably in China and Hong Kong.

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