The ghost-slaying sword
Zhong Kui's most iconic weapon is a Dipper Sword (七星剑, Qixing Jian): a blade engraved with seven dots representing the Big Dipper constellation (北斗七星). The Big Dipper holds supreme importance in Taoist religious rites, and the seven-star engraving marks the sword as a tool of cosmic authority. In virtually every painting, woodblock print, and statue of Zhong Kui across the last millennium, the sword is present.
In the Gamescom trailer, the sword was prominently featured, carried by Zhong Kui's small demon attendants in the opening scene, a detail pulled directly from classical paintings like Gong Kai's 13th-century handscroll.
The sword in Taoist tradition
The Dipper Sword is a standard tool in Taoist exorcism. Ritual swords in the Taoist tradition often feature dragon and tiger patterns on the handles and Big Dipper engravings on the blade. They are described as "powerful magic weapons for slashing and killing demons." The sword is also used in the Zhong Kui Sword martial form, which belongs to the Erlangquan (Second Young Master's Boxing) system. This form has seven core techniques: Gou (Hook), Liao (Lifting), Ci (Thrusting), Kai (Opening), Yan (Covering), Jia (Framing), and Bai (Swinging). The Zhong Kui Sword was recognized as part of Cangzhou City's intangible cultural heritage in April 2023.
The fan
Zhong Kui is also frequently depicted with a folding fan (折扇). In many paintings, a red bat sits perched on the fan's tip. The bat (蝠, fu) is a homophone for fortune (福, fu), adding an auspicious blessing to his demon-quelling role. The fan represents his identity as a scholar rather than merely a warrior.
In Chinese martial arts, the fan is not a joke weapon. It has its own fighting style (Shan Zi Gong, fan martial arts) and is associated with scholarly warriors. A fan in the hands of a supernatural being could channel wind, fire, or spiritual energy. Paired with a heavy demon-slaying sword, the contrast between the two could define the game's combat rhythm.
Weapons in the game
Zhong Kui is expected to fight with both the sword and the fan. This dual-weapon setup is a major departure from Black Myth: Wukong, where the Monkey King's staff was the primary weapon. It opens the door for weapon-switching mechanics, stance systems, or complementary movesets. The trailer emphasized the sword's size. The ceremonial way the goblin attendants carried it suggests a weighty, powerful weapon.
For more on expected mechanics, see combat.