Childe/Zhongli
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| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Tartaglia/Zhongli |
| Alternative name(s): | ChiLi (ambiguously used) TartaLi, タル鍾, 公钟 (Top Childe) |
| Gender category: | M/M |
| Fandom: | Genshin Impact |
| Canonical?: | no |
| Prevalence: | most popular Genshin Impact ship on AO3 |
| Archives: | Childe/Zhongli on AO3 |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Childe/Zhongli is the most popular ship in the Genshin Impact fandom.
Like many M/M ships in the fandom, some fans only ship this pairing with one specific top/bottom dynamic, and may signal this with the specific shipname they use. See List of Genshin Impact Relationship Names for more context.
Canon
In canon, Childe (also known as Tartaglia) refers to them as business associates. The character of Zhongli was introduced to the player character through Childe, during the Liyue archon quest plotline. The two characters have not interacted in canon since the quests released with the 1.1 update in November 2020 (and a small web event released around the time of that update).
Fandom
This pairing was widely shipped almost from the launch of the game, only briefly not being the top ship in the fandom on AO3 (behind Diluc/Kaeya). As of October 2023, there are over 14,000 works in the pairing tag.[1] On the AO3 Ship Stats 2023 they are listed as the 72nd most popular ship on the site.
Common Tropes and Fanon
- Childe as Zhongli's Wallet: Zhongli has a taste for expensive things but lacks a normal mortal's conception of currency. Childe is often portrayed drawing on Fatui funds to buy Zhongli nice things, and often acts as a sugar daddy to Zhongli in both canon-related and AU fics.
- Post-1.1 Update Reconciliation: The Liyue storyline ends with Childe having endangered Zhongli's nation, but realizing by doing so he's been tricked into being a pawn for Zhongli's own scheme. Fanworks often explore the aftermath of this event, which is not explored in canon, ending in the two being reconciled, often after a period of time apart.
- Marriage Chopsticks: The Zhongli character teaser trailer includes a purchase of dragon-and-phoenix patterned chopsticks by Zhongli, for Childe, using Childe's money, which is widely believed to be a reference to ancient Chinese dowry traditions. See also the Tartaglia | Childe and Zhongli's Marriage Chopsticks (Genshin Impact) tag on AO3.
- Non-Human Traits: Childe's Foul Legacy Transformation and Zhongli's dragon form provide fertile ground for Size Kink, Monster Fucking, and Eggpreg smut, in both directions.
Controversies
- This Twitter thread, Archived version which claims shipping Childe/Zhongli is racist because Childe is from a place inspired by Russia and Zhongli is from a place inspired by China, making their relationship comparable to colonialism, especially if Childe is topping. The thread still continues to be occasionally referenced with derision by members of the fandom[2].
Example Fanworks
Fanfic
- The Autumn Winds Are Sighing by Bgtea
- in terms of physical attack damage (we have no physical attack damage) by heavymoons
- an emperor's duty by oronine
- What I Cannot Put into Words, I Offer You in the Weight of Gold by suibianitsfine - longfic featuring many common tropes such as battlesexual childe, enemies to friends to lovers, dragon zhongli & foul legacy childe, slowburn, childe is zhongli's wallet, reconciliation
- Entirely Out of Spite by Bgtea.
Fanart
- In his hand by LunoS
Fanvids
Cosplay
Videos
Zines
- Resonant Waves
- Crystallize (Genshin Impact zine)
- 囍: An Eternal Vow - Wedding theme
- Reunion - free, digital zine
- Moon in One's Cup - Tea theme
- Eclipse - AUs
Doujinshi
- Aoi to Inori to (蒼と祈りと) by Lilla circle - Anthology (December 12, 2023)
- Sui Xing Yu Li Ming (碎星与黎明) by LunoS
Archives and Communities
- Zhu Yan Wen Jing Ge Forum (a Chinese fannish forum for ZhongChi/离达 only)
- Ta Ta Li Forum (a Chinese fannish forum for Tartali/公钟 only)
Other Fannish Resources
- Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli (Genshin Impact) tag on AO3
- Tumblr: #tartali, #zhongli, #chili, #zhonglide, #zhongchi, #childe x zhongli
- Pixiv: #Tartaglia/Zhongli (タル鍾), #TartaLi, #zhongli, #Zhongli (鍾離), #Zhongli (钟离)
- Twitter:
References
- ^ Wayback Machine snapshot from 21 October 2023 shows 13.3k publically accessible works. A logged in view on 29 October shows 14.1k total works.
- ^ Twitter post mentioning 'infamous genshintwt thread', Archived version
| Genshin Impact | |
| Characters | Diluc • Childe • Kaeya • Zhongli • Xiao • Traveler • Venti • Scaramouche • Paimon • more |
| Ships | Childe/Zhongli • Alhaitham/Kaveh • Diluc/Kaeya • Venti/Xiao • Albedo/Kaeya • Childe/Lumine • Chongyun/Xingqiu • Raiden Ei/Yae Miko • Cyno/Tighnari • Beidou/Ningguang • Jean/Lisa • more |
| Locations | Mondstadt • Liyue • Inazuma • Sumeru • Fontaine • Natlan • Snezhnaya • more |
| Part of the Fanlore Project on Genshin Impact! Join us, say hello on the talk page, or join our Discord! | |