The Tao Tei are the main antagonists in the 2017 live-action monster film The Great Wall. They are an ancient reptilian alien race from an unknown planet that invaded China. They are also led by the Queen, the alpha-female of their kind.
Their vocal sound effects were provided by Jonathan Borland.
Physiology
The Tao Tei are dark green reptilian quadrupedal, carnivorous reptiles, similar in appearance to ceratopsian dinosaurs (particularly the Defenders and Queen). They possess retractable membranous head frills which resonate, allowing them to communicate with each other over long distances. These beasts possess elaborate motifs on the crests of their skulls, which gave the inspiration of the taotie motif to the cultures of Ancient China. There appear to be three main breeds of Tao Tei: Soldiers, Defenders, and the Queen.
Behavior
The Tao Tei are ravenous, aggressive, bloodthirsty and carnivorous monsters whose sole purpose is to consume anything in their path. They are eusocial creatures like ants, dedicated to serving their queen. They are carnivores, and will devour the flesh of their own to replenish their numbers. Strangely, magnetic rocks (such as lodestones) pacify them by muffling the signals from the queen. Soldiers and defenders are helpless without the constant contact with the queen.
Biography
During 1,000 BC in Ancient China, a destructive meteor crash-landed into Gouwu Mountain, turning it green. With it came forth the Tao Tei that proceeded to lay waste to China. The appearance of the creatures coincided with the magisterial rule of an oppressive and despotic emperor, making the Chinese believe that the Tao Tei were sent from the gods to punish the emperor of the time for his abuse of authority. Since then, they attacked Northern China once every 60 years, and the Nameless Order was formed to combat the Tao Tei with the Great Wall erected to safeguard the land.
During the Song Dynasty, a Tao Tei soldier ambushed a group of European mercenaries and killed all of them except for Pedro Tovar and William Garin, who killed and sliced the creature's arm. Following the duo's imprisonment by the Nameless Order, the Tao Tei attempted an invasion into the interior of China, causing casualties of both the Order and themselves before the Queen withdrew the attack. It was discovered that the Tao Tei could potentially be pacified using magnetic rocks, and after Garin managed to capture a living Tao Tei during the next attack to test if it works, a plan was devised to use them to destroy the Tao Tei through the Queen. However, the Queen managed to devise a method in digging under the Great Wall (revealing the previous attack to be a diversion), circumventing it and the Order before she led her hordes to the capital with the help of the captured Tao Tei soldier taken there.
The capital was nearly overrun, but a small contingent of the Order managed to hold them off with the help of the royal guards. The Queen was tricked into consuming meat tainted with magnets and was killed when William Garin shot an explosive arrow. The death of the queen severed the hive mind, resulting in the remaining Tao Tei to permanently freeze solid in place.
Notable Tao Tei
- Soldiers
These Tao Tei are skinny with longer limbs and snouts. Their eyes are located on their shoulders rather then the head, and are the main weak points.
- Defenders
Bulkier and more armored, these Tao Tei role is to protect the Queen, and are able to unfold their heavier frills to act as shields against bombardment. These armored frills are capable of withstanding catapults, explosions and sharp projectiles.
- Queen
- Main article: Tao Tei Queen
Gallery
Images
Videos
Trivia
- It is possible that there are more Tao Tei living in their homeworld than there were in China, but how that horde of Tao Tei got there in an asteroid is unknown.
- In ancient Chinese mythology, the original Tao Tei was a monster that represented greed and gluttony and was said to devour its own body in fits of hunger. It was commonly depicted as a dog-like creature with a human-like head and eyes located in the armpit.
- The foreheads of the Taotie have ridged symbols that resemble the actual taotie artistic motif in ancient Chinese art and heraldry.
- The Tao Tei Defenders greatly resemble the kaiju Leatherback from Pacific Rim, another film produced by Legendary Pictures.