K'un-Lun (焜伦) is a mystical lost city located in a pocket dimension, and one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven. This mystical city lies in the Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山), one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. The mountain range exists entirely within the Himalayas of Tibet within the region of China. The gate to K'un-Lun can be accessed every 10 years. The Iron Fist serves as the guardian of the gate and K'un-Lun's protector.[1]
History
Ancient History[]
1,000,000 BC[]
The city of K'un-Lun is was founded when a group of humanoid aliens crashed landed in a pocket dimension approximately one million years ago. The ship's warp drive engine somehow created a permanent oscillating rift between the pocket dimension and Earth. They would appear atop a mountain in the Himalayas of Tibet. The 100 K'un-Lunian survivors created a city around the spaceship, using its material and design to build the city. No one in the the city aware of that the central hall is the former interior of the spaceship.[2]
The K'un Lunians used a gem called the Great Jade Crystal to view Earth and could be used the manipulate the city to arrive in the Earth Dimension at more frequent intervals.[3]
H'ylthri[]
The pocket dimension was home to the H'ylthri, aggressive plant-like creatures are sworn enemies of the people of K'un-Lun. They reside in the land outside the city. A natural animosity took place between the two as the H'ylthri were the original inhabitants of the city and have attempted to again dominate and infiltrate the mystical city much like weeds do to a garden.[4]
Origin of the Iron Fist[]
Another being existed in the pocket dimension; Shou-Lao the immortal dragon. During a performance of the dragon riders of K'un-Lun for the entertainment of its Yu-Ti, Shou-Lao went berserk and attacked the city's leader. He was slain by Quan-St'ar, who cut out the dragon's heart. Enraged at this, Yu-Ti banished Quan-St'ar from the city and revived the dragon by melting its heart and placing it in a sacred cavern.[5] From this moment, each Iron Fist had to accomplish the final test of defeating this dragon in order to absorb part of its power. He was reborn over 66 times.[5]
S'ahra Sharn[]
S'ahra-Sharn was the evil mirror city of K'un-Lun, consisting mostly of thieves, cutthroats and murderers it became home to the outcast Quan-St'ar.[5]
Iron Fist 1,000,000 BC[]
Sometime later an Early Human woman named Fan Fei became the Iron Fist after slaying the dragon Shou-Lao.[6] She and the other Stone Age Avengers fought an out-of-control Celestial called the Fallen, eventually defeating it and later sealing it in an underground chamber in what would become the modern-day country of South Africa.[7]
Seven Capital Cities of Heaven[]
K'un-Lun is one of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven which, like K'un-Lun, appear on the earthly plane periodically. The other cities are; K'un-Zi, Peng Lai Island, Z'Gambo, Under City, Tiger Island, and the Kingdom of Spiders. However, every 88 years all these cities align in a heavenly convergence creating the Heart of Heaven. The cities held a tournament and each has a champion to represent them; K'un-Lun's, of course, was the Iron Fist. The tournament decides the celestial clock meaning earth was the prize. The winning city would appear every 10 years rather then the normal 88 years.[8]
1st Century[]
Chiantang[]
Over a millennium ago there lived impulsive Chiantang, brother of the Dragon King, both of whom were in fact 100 ft deadly flying dragons taking on human forms. An enraged Chiantang transformed to his true dragon form and ravaged and killed many citizens of K'un-Lun. He ruled the city for some time with terror and death.[9] He has been defeated, captured, and exiled on different occasions by the power of the mystic sword Dragonslayer.[10]
8th-19th Century[]
In 730 AD, Li Park was active as the latest incarnation of the Iron Fist. He used his powers to trick a group of invaders from slaughtering a Chinese village.[11]
In 1227 AD, Bei Ming-Tian the Iron Fist confronted the Mongolia Army invaded his village, which was close to K'un-L'un Mountain, he protected villagers the invaders,[12] and slayed Genghis Khan himself in battle.[13]
When the Phoenix headed toward Earth, Yu-Ti started having strange dreams that a young girl with green eyes and red hair could control it. After Yu-Ti found this very girl in K'un-Lun, he took Fongji Wu to the temple and started her training, declaring her the new Iron Fist. Manifesting the Phoenix Force, Yu-Ti let her go through the ritual of Shou-Lao the Undying, emerging after two days with its power as well. Finally arriving, Fongji mastered and became the Phoenix's new host, departing into space to never be seen again.[14]
In 1545 AD, Wu Ao Shi became the only woman ever to have the title of Iron Fist. She later became the Pirate Queen of Pinghai Bay.[15]
In 1860 AD, the British Empire and the French Empire allied together to fight China during the Second Opium War. They faced the Bei Bang-Wen the latest warrior to take up the title of the Iron Fist at the Forts of Taku. Although a great warrior, the army lost and were taken prisoner and forced into hard labor, and then the power of the Iron Fist left him.[16]
In 1878 AD, Kwai Jun-Fan the latest incarnation of the Iron Fist left China for the US. He became active in the Wild West, especially Texas. He was slain by Shou-Lao 'The Dragon'.[17]
Arrival of Orson Randall[]
In 1898 AD,[citation needed] a westerner named Phineas Randall crashed his trans-global airship into the heart of K'un-Lun and survived with his 8-month pregnant wife. She gave birth to their son Orson Randall.[18]
20th Century[]
Sometime after 1914, Orson left K'un-Lun to explore the world and arrived in Europe during World War I. He joined a group of heroes who fought together as the Freedom's Five. The team consisted of Phantom Eagle, Union Jack, Crimson Cavalier (Jean-Luc Batroc), and a new Sir Steel (Ned Chapel). Together the heroes battled the Martians.[19]
In 1933, when Orson Randall refused to answer the call of K'un-Lun, the Immortal Weapon of the city of K'un-Zi was sent in his footsteps to get him to participate, but Orson killed his assailant. From there, Orson was tracked by the other immortal weapons, especially the Prince of Orphans. Orson eventually dissolved the Confederates of the Curious in order to protect them from his enemies. He then faked his own death while transferring all the fortune gained during his adventures to Wendell Rand. Soon after, he went to Thailand, where he immersed himself in opium for many years in order to conceal his own chi from the Ch'i-Lin demon, a creature who killed the holders of the Iron Fist power whenever they had reached the age of 33 years.[20]
Arrival of Wendell Rand[]
Wendell Rand traveled to K'un-Lun to become Iron Fist. After saving Tuan and his son Nu-An from an attack, he was adopted by Tuan and allowed to live in the mystical city. Shakirah fell in love with Wendell and bore him a daughter, Miranda. Wendell's adoptive brother Nu-An was secretly in love with her as well and the pain of seeing her with another man caused him to drive her and her daughter from K'un-Lun.[21]
The Steel Serpent tried to win the right to battle Shou-Lao to gain the Iron Fist, but would be defeated in combat by Wendell Rand. He would try to gain the power of Shou-Lao anyway, but he would only partially succeed in doing so and be injured by the ancient dragon instead. The disgraced Davos would then be expelled from K'un-Lun for his actions. Wendell did not go on to challenge Shou-Lao and left K'un-Lun instead.[22]
Arrival of Danny Rand[]
When Wendell sought to return to K'un-Lun. He took his son 9 year old son Danny Rand and wife Heather. His business partner Harold Meachum came along as well. On route to the portal Danny fell off a treacherous passage and dragged his mother and father over the ice shelf with him. While he and his mother landed on a ledge below, his father dangled over the sheer drop of the mountainside and called to his partner for help. Hoping to take over Rand's share of the business, Meachum instead caused him to lose his grip and plunge to his death.[23] Soon thereafter, denizens of K'un-Lun found the boy and took him to their city. There Daniel was brought before Yu-Ti, who had secretly plotted the murder of both Wendell and Heather. Yu-Ti apprenticed Daniel to the martial arts master Lei Kung the Thunderer.[24]Rand's training under Lei Kung was rigorous. At age sixteen Rand earned the Crown of Fu-Hsi, king of the vipers, vanquished four foes in the ritualistic Challenge of the Many, and defeated Shu-Hu, a mechanical being whose name means "Lightning".[23] Rand diligently conditioned his hands by thrusting them into tubs of hot sand, then gravel, and finally rock.[24]
Danny defeated the dragon, and in the course of the battle had the dragon-shaped tattoo burned on his chest. After defeating Shou-Lao he plunged his hands into the brazier containing the dragon's immortal heart and it charged him with the power of the Iron Fist.[24]
Modern Age[]
Tournament of the Heavenly Cities[]
The cities merged again and the warriors were all called by to compete.[25] Davos powers were restored by the Crane Mother in exchange for becoming the Champion of the mystical land of K'un-Zi.[26] Each would face each other in various arena's.[26] He revealed that he now was known as the Steel Phoenix.[27] During his match with Tiger's Beautiful Daughter, he beats the girl soundly and she is about to yield, but Davos wanted her death not her submission. His left hand was cut off by her war fan but it did not stop him from defeating her and demonstrating his new powers. Lei Kung interrupts the fight and stops his son from killing the girl.[28] Steel Phoenix was defeated by John Aman the Prince of Orphans. After the tournament had ended, he was able to rejoice for a while and even listen to the other Immortal Weapons' stories but it was short lived when John Amon revealed to them the Yu-Ti's activities and intentions.[29]
After Davos killed the last incarnation of Shou-Lao, Pei gained the power of the Iron Fist and punched Davos through a wall.[30] Now the youngest person to ever bear the mark of the Iron Fist, Pei revived Gork and all 66 previous incarnations of Shou-Lao, but Danny and Luke Cage dealt with it.[31]
Alternate Universe Versions[]
New Ultimate Universe (Earth-6160)[]
Earth-6160 was reshaped by the The Maker of Earth-1610 to his image. K'un Lun along with all the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven were ruled by the Hulk a member of the Maker's Council, likewise, the Hulk obtained the Iron Fist. The Hulk lured the Ultimates to K'un Lun, trapping them, to get rid of them for good with the help of the Immortal Weapons. However, the Ultimates were saved by Doom using the Immortus Engine.[32]
Battlerealm (Earth-15513)[]
A long time ago all the Great Masters went to war. Can you imagine? Masters from every school... the Red Hand, the Panther Clan, the House of the Jade Tiger. Even the poor bastards of the Spider Cult... all of them battling each other. To the death. Until only the Masters from the Ten Rings and the Iron Fist remained. It's always them, isn't it? Those two psychotics nearly murdered each other before they realized what they had done to the kingdom. K'un-Lun on fire and all the schools crumbling... their students dying in the ashes. It was enough to bring them to their sense. For a while, at least. The surviving Masters vowed that their rivalries would never again threaten K'un-Lun. But how to keep peace? Those ancient idiots decided to prevent bloodshed with more bloodshed. K'un-Lun would be ruled by an Emperor selected through combat... in the Thirteen Chambers. The Iron Fist's Great Master won that first tournament and brought order to K'un-Lun. But thirteen years later, he fell in the Thirteen Chambers and another master took his place. Then another, and another... so many that I've forgotten their names... until at last, our benevolent Emperor Zheng Zu, Master of the Ten Rings, won the throne. And so began his one-hundred-year reign of prosperity. Or terror. It all depends on who is telling the story, doesn't it? Now, in just a few days' time, the Thirteen Chambers will open again. Will someone finally defeat Zheng Zu? Take his throne and become the new master of kung fu? Do you think it's gonna be you? No, me neither. So here's to another thirteen years of my beloved father's rule. The Gods help us all. 
K'un Lun was one of the domains located on God Emperor Doom's Battleworld and its baron was Emperor Shang-Chi, who succeeded his father, Emperor Zheng Zu.
This domain consisted of a world where martial artists actively trained and fought against one another, similar to the original mystical city of K'un-Lun. It is also home to Shang-Chi, an exiled martial artist who lives actively on wine, as well as the Lowest Caste, the royal guard of Zheng Zu (Razor Fist, Typhus, and Nightwind) and top assassins Red Sai and Laughing Skull. K'un Lun is also home to a messenger named "Herald" and Rand-K'ai, who wields the power of the Iron Fist.
According to Shang-Chi, in the past, there was a great war that involved many martial arts schools and almost all of them were wiped out except for the Ten Rings and the Iron Fist clans. They eventually realized that K'un Lun was being destroyed and created the Thirteen Chambers challenge, wherein the masters would fight each other every thirteen years to decide the new emperor. Eventually, the Emperor Zheng Zu came to power, and would rule for 100 years.
After disobeying an order by the royal guard of Zheng Zu, Shang-Chi engaged them in combat and later a group of outcasts joined the fight, causing a distraction for Shang-Chi and he descended into a underground network of tunnels. Meanwhile, his father, Zheng Zu, ordered his top assassins and Daniel Rand to capture Shang-Chi.[33]
Below the streets, Shang-Chi was training the Lowest Caste as they complained that he wasn't giving them proper training, just as everyone else refused to train them. Kitten offered some encouragement to Shang-Chi, but unfortunately, though Shang-Chi was one of the greatest fighters ever, a master of nine of the ten techniques from the Ten Rings School, he wasn't the man he once was and could only think about getting drunk. He told them of what it would mean for him to teach them as his father would, and he informed them of all the ways that his father would torture each one of them for being so weak, then he went to find a place to pass out.
A little dissonance happened in the royal chamber after Rand-K'ai and Emperor Zu had heated words. The Emperor had just cut-off Razor Fists' hands for failing him and he wasn't in the best of moods. A visitor showed up, and it was Callisto. She had came to tell the Emperor where his son was in exchange of her admittance to join the Ten Rings.
Shang-Chi woke up only to find the Lowest Caste face-down and about to be executed by Red Sai and Laughing Skull, who was barely being controlled by Rand-K'ai. In fact, Laughing Skull stabbed Cy right through the chest, and he was about to kill Caliban when Shang-Chi leapt out and disarmed him. He yelled for the others to run, calling upon the Nightbringer Technique to summon darkness to cover their escape. They managed to get away, but everyone was remorseful at the loss of Cy; especially Rahne. Shang-Chi admitted to being his father’s personal assassin and admitted he had killed Rand-K'ai's master. He vowed to never use the Ten Rings Techniques again; however he realized that he must enter the tournament to defeat his father. The rules say that any master, great or weak, must have a school in order for him or her to enter the Thirteen Chambers tournament, so he asked the Lowest Caste if he could be their master.[34]
Later on, when the Emperor was about to introduce the combatants to the Thirteen Chambers, the Lowest Caste walked through the door led by Shang Chi. As though calls of "murderer" arose, Shang Chi declared that he was going to enter into the tournament since the only requirements were that a master had both a school and students, and so he could not be denied. Emperor Zu agreed and then summoned a gigantic open-mouthed head statue from beneath the arena and all the combatants entered it. While descending deeper into it, Shang Chi noticed that Kitten had followed him in. He chose not to dismiss her, though, since she was perpetually incorporeal and couldn't interfere; thus making her a mere observer.
Coming down to a chamber that quickly filled with water, Shang Chi met his first opponent: Namor, the Sub-Mariner. He claimed to hit with the force of the tides and to have trained his lungs to breathe water. Shang Chi defeated him easily by transforming his hands into knives and puncturing his lungs – the Mortal Blade technique. Namor was taken away by the magic's of the chamber to be healed. Chi soon realized that he would be forced to fight every one of the other contestants, but through the use of his various techniques he managed to defeat them all, claiming that he didn't fight to rule, but to prevent the further rule of his father; and none of the others could defeat Emperor Zu. As he suffered from the many blows received from his last opponents, Chi found new ones: Rand K'ai and Red Sai.[35]
Shang-Chi told Rand-K'ai his story that he was born with a heart forged by the Ebony Blade within the Eternal Flame, two Infinity Gems for eyes, and the Cosmic Cube for a brain, Emperor Zu baptised Shang Chi in the Styx River. He was a still-born but brought to life after his father filled his lungs with the ashes of the Phoenix, but in reality, he probably just couldn't remember which of his concubines Shang's mother was.
Hearing enough of the story, Rand-K'ai attacked Shang, shadowed closely by Red Sai. They put up a good fight, but Shang had only been defending. Red Sai got in a good shot with her blade and revealed that its tip was poisoned. Rand-K'ai didn't want vengeance in such a dishonorable way, but demanded that Shang repent for the murder of Lord Tuan. Red Sai spoke up and told Rand-Kai that she was sent by Emperor Zu to assassinate Lord Tuan. She failed and Shang Chi was sent by the Emperor to finish the job. Kitty pled with Rand-K'ai to understand that the command of Zheng Zu was not just the command of Shi's father, but of the Emperor as well. Rand-K'ai didn't know what he would have done in such a situation, but he understood that Shang-Chi was the only warrior who stood a chance of defeating the Emperor, so he used his iron fist technique to heal Shang.
After walking through the doors to the 13th Chamber alone, Shang-Chi met the Emperor. The Emperor chastised Shang for not completing his task of assassinating all the great masters. Shang stood defiantly, fighting back blow-for-blow. Emperor Zu taunted him by reminding him that he’d taught Shang nine on the ten styles of the Ten Rings School. He never taught Shang the 10th style, the "Spectral Touch." He then used this style, going for the killing blow, but Shang used the technique that Kitty was trapped in. Though she was stuck in her ghost form, Shang had mastered it and could shift between solid and intangible at will. In this form, Emperor Zu couldn't harm him. Shang-Chi then used all the Ring Techniques that he knew against the Emperor. The Mortal Blade, the Nightbringer, the Zero Touch, the Flaming Fist, the Shocking Palm, the Long Breath, the Daemon's Eye, Remaker's Gift, and the Lost Hope; bringing Emperor Zu to his knees.
Shang demanded the Emperor to yield, but Zheng Zu refused. He attacked his son again, but Shang channeled his energy and touched Zheng's forehead, calling upon a technique that he had recently invented; the Gorgon's Touch. The final moments of Emperor Zu were lived in a mixture of shock and terror as he turned into stone. With the battle over, Shang-Chi went out to the welcoming citizens of K'un Lun as their new emperor.[36]
Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)[]
Points of Interest
- K'un-Lun Dimension
- City of K'un-Lun
- Gate of Heaven
- Bridge of Destiny
- Central Hall of Ancestors
- Dwellings of the Commoners
- Garden of the P'an-T'ao
- Palaces of Minor Nobleman
- Tree of Immortality
- Palace of the Dragon King
- Cave of the Dragon (home of Shou-Lao)
- Land of the H'ylthri (land outside the city)
- S'ahra-Sharn
- Feng-Tu (afterlife)
- City of K'un-Lun
Alternate Universe Versions[]
Battlerealm (Earth-15513)[]
- Citadel of Emperor Zheng Zu
- Halls of the Red Hand
- Temple of the Ten Rings
- Thirteen Chambers
Residents
- Daniel Rand received his powers from this place and is its champion.[38]
- Orson Randall
- Chi
- Shai-Tahn
- Lei Kung
- Li Park
- Master Khan
- Death Sting
- Steel Serpent
- Changming
- Black Dragon
- Ferocia
- Lady Meng
- Wendell Rand
- Silver Dragon
- Shakirah
- Dragon King's Daughter
- Lord Tuan
- Cybelle
- Fongji
Alternate Universe Versions[]
Battlerealm (Earth-15513)[]
Notes
- K'un-Lun isn't part of the United Nations.[38]
- Major Events and a brief history of K'un Lun are detailed in Power Man and Iron Fist #119.
- Type of Government: Monarchy.[citation needed]
- Languages: K'un-Lun (local dialect, due to the mystical properties of this world visitors will hear it as their native language and understand it).[citation needed]
- Ethnic Groups: K'un-Lunans, Dragons, H'ylthri, S'ahra-Sharnians, others.[citation needed]
- Currency: Coins, Barter System.[citation needed]
- Although K'un-Lun, the other Seven Capital Cities of Heaven, and their inhabitants share many characteristics with the Xian and the 36 Taoist heavens, any connection between the Xian and the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven has yet to be revealed.[39] It has been theorized that the inhabitants of K’un-Lun and the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven have posed as the Xian at various point throughout history.[39]
Trivia
- The Kunlun Mountains are a real mountain range in the People's Republic of China. The Kunlun Mountain is proposed in the various legends, myths, and semi-historical accounts in which it appears.
See Also
- 121 appearance(s) of K'un-Lun
- 6 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of K'un-Lun
- 17 minor appearance(s) of K'un-Lun
- 179 mention(s) of K'un-Lun
- 6 mention(s) in handbook(s) of K'un-Lun
- 4 invocation(s) of K'un-Lun
- 14 image(s) of K'un-Lun
- 7 article(s) related to K'un-Lun
- 116 citizen(s) of K'un-Lun
Links and References
References
- ↑ Marvel Premiere #15–16
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #4
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #1
- ↑ Iron Fist #2
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Master of Kung Fu Annual #1
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 8) #13
- ↑ Marvel Legacy #1
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #8–14
- ↑ Power Man and Iron Fist #120
- ↑ Power Man and Iron Fist #118
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #24
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #1
- ↑ Invincible Iron Man Annual #1
- ↑ New Avengers (Vol. 2) #25–26
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #2
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #3
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #7
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #4
- ↑ All-New Invaders #12
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #17–20
- ↑ Iron Fist #6
- ↑ Marvel Team-Up #64
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Marvel Premiere #15
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Marvel Premiere #16
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #10
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Immortal Iron Fist #8
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #9–10
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #11–14
- ↑ Immortal Iron Fist #12
- ↑ Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #11
- ↑ Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #12
- ↑ Ultimates (Vol. 4) #6
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu (Vol. 2) #1
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu (Vol. 2) #2
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu (Vol. 2) #3
- ↑ Master of Kung Fu (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ Marvel's The Defenders S1E04
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Heroic Age: Heroes #1 ; Iron Fist's entry
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Xian's entry