Zenless Zone Zero: The story of Yixuan

Yixuan is one of the newest 5-star characters introduced in the latest version 2.0 of Zenless Zone Zero. Her backstory gives insight into both her struggles and the mysterious world of Yunkui Summit. Unlike many characters in the game so far, Yixuan’s lore heavily connects with Taoist themes.

In the game, she serves as a powerful Void Hunter-level investigator affiliated with the Hollow Investigative Association (HIA). As the 13th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit, she balances her role as a teacher and investigator while carrying the burden of a cursed legacy tied to her past.

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Yixuan and Yijiang: Orphans turned disciples

Yixuan and her sister Yijiang in Animated Short Film "For My Yixuan" (Image via HoYoverse)

Yixuan and her elder sister Yijiang grew up as orphans. They survived by wandering the streets until the High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit took them in. Under the Preceptor’s care, the sisters trained and learned the Summit’s unique craft. They quickly showed great talent, mastering techniques as martial artists and even developing their skills.

The High Perceptor finds the orphan sisters Yixuan and Yijiang (Image via HoYoverse)

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The Cursed Sword of Yunkui Summit in Zenless Zone Zero

The master of Yunkui Summit wielded a cursed sword named "Qing Ming." This weapon gave immense power, but at the cost of the user’s memories.

Yijiang inheriting the cursed sword Qing Ming (Image via HoYoverse)

After the master died at the final use of his sword against a hollow disaster, Yijiang inherited the sword, becoming the new High Preceptor. Yixuan, unwilling to see her sister suffer, devoted herself to researching a way to break the curse.

In a Zenless Zone Zero fashion of storytelling, before she could find a solution, a Hollow disaster struck. Yijiang was forced to wield the cursed sword to fight back.

Yijiang using the cursed sword (Image via HoYoverse)

Consequently, Yijiang lost her memories and eventually disappeared. With her sister gone, Yixuan had no choice but to take on the role of the 13th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit.

The cursed sword disintegrates in Yixuan's hands (Image via HoYoverse)

When Yixuan had to wield the sword, it disintegrated and merged with her. The cursed sword’s power fully becomes one with Yixuan, but she managed to retain both her memories and sense of self and gain its powers.

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Yixuan's life after the tragedy

After becoming High Preceptor, Yixuan continued training new disciples. However, her teaching style was different. Instead of strict rules, she allowed her students to find their paths, guiding them only when necessary. She believes there is no single correct way to follow the Summit's teachings.

Official art of the Yunkui Summit (Image via HoYoverse)

Yixuan eventually accepted an invitation from Mayor Mayflower and joined the Hollow Investigative Association (HIA) as a special Void Hunter-level investigator. In Zenless Zone Zero, other than this, she serves as the current Shifu of Yunkui Summit and mentors Belle and Wise, the main characters.

The Memory Loss Theme

A key theme in Yixuan’s story in Zenless Zone Zero is the loss of memories. In her cutscenes, fragments of her disintegrated memories appear as Chinese characters like “little thing,” “hair,” “scarf,” “little sister,” “friends,” “classmates,” “everyone,” and “master.” This visual detail highlights the tragic cost of wielding the cursed sword.

Yixuan's official art with her Qingming bird (Image via HoYoverse)

Her Qingming Bird symbolizes that she eventually found a solution to the curse, but it was already too late to save her sister.

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Cultural and Taoist References

The entire character design of Yixuan in Zenless Zone Zero is heavily influenced by Taoism. Her name follows a Taoist ordination naming style. "Yi" (仪) means "rites," while "Xuan" (玄) signifies "dark" or "mysterious," both of which are common in Taoist terminology. She is often referred to as "Shifu" (师父), the traditional title for a master.

Numerous Taoist symbols like trigrams, coin charms, Yin-Yang, and Fulu (符籙) talismans are woven into her clothing. Moreover, her dialogue includes elements of Feng Shui and Qimen Dunjia, both linked to Taoist beliefs.

Yixuan performing a ritual during the season 2 quest (Image via HoYoverse)

The cursed sword "Qing Ming" has a pronunciation similar to Qingming (清明), which denotes the Qingming Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Day in Chinese culture.

During this occasion, families commemorate their departed loved ones by visiting graves and presenting their favorite foods as offerings. This is observed when Yixuan visits Yijiang’s grave, bringing char siu buns, her sister's favorite food, as tribute.

Her role in Zenless Zone Zero storyline

Currently, Yixuan serves as a key figure in Zenless Zone Zero’s story with the new area of Waifei Peninsula. Her work as a Void Hunter-level investigator allows her to deal with Hollow-related threats while continuing the legacy of Yunkui Summit.

Yixuan's first in-game appearance (Image via HoYoverse)

Yixuan’s calm but unconventional teaching approach, combined with her history and unique skills, makes her one of the more complex characters in the game’s roster.