Zenless Zone Zero Ye Shunguang: Modeling Foreshadowing Analysis!

I wonder if any of you Proxies have noticed that in the cutscenes of the new version's main storyline, when we finally return to Sui Bian Guan, Senior Sister Ye Shunguang is already waiting outside the door. She is curiously turning her head to look at the recently repaired cable car platform.

This initial appearance of Ye Shunguang has brought us quite a few surprises, and we've discovered many interesting details about her. Let's take a look together!

1. Zenless Zone Zero Ye Shunguang - Clothing Details

First, let's talk about Ye Shunguang's outfit. The attire worn by Ye Shunguang in the storyline is the Cheongsam (Qipao), a traditional Chinese garment. Notice its characteristics: the form-fitting cut, the stand-up collar, the sleeveless shoulders, and the high slit on the lower part-it clearly belongs to the "Shanghai-style Cheongsam".

The Shanghai-style Cheongsam emerged in the first half of the 20th century, influenced by the Haipai culture of Shanghai, resulting in a garment style that blends Eastern and Western cultures, making it highly representative.

Elements of national style like the Cheongsam have appeared multiple times in Zenless Zone Zero. For instance, the NPC Sweety, associated with Yum Cha Sin, was very well-received. Similarly, the series of outfits featured in Qingyi's music video follow this trend. It is worth noting that Qingyi is a personality shaped based on ancient cultural texts from the old civilization. This implies that these ancient-style attires objectively existed during the period of the old civilization within the Zenless Zone Zeroworldview. I wonder if a new Faction will appear in the future, or if some outfits will be released to bring better-looking ancient-style attire for the Proxies.

Speaking of outfits, besides this cheongsam, Ye Shunguang might have another set of clothing. It's the yellow-toned Suibian Temple attire that appeared in the Version 2.0 preview PV. This also connects to the question we had in the storyline about why she wasn't wearing Suibian Temple clothing. As for what Ye Shunguang is currently doing while wearing the cheongsam, and why she needs to keep it a secret from Master Yixuan even when just going out for a stroll, we'll have to wait for future story developments to provide the answers.

Furthermore, while the styles of the two outfits are different, they share a common feature: both have a diamond-shaped window on the back. It's unclear whether this might be some kind of foreshadowing. Of course, it could also simply be an attractive backless design.

2. Zenless Zone Zero Ye Shunguang - Appearance Details

Next, let's look at the accessory hanging from Ye Shunguang's waist. It depicts a special crescent moon pattern, which closely resembles a variant of one of the six attributes that appears during divination at the Fortune-Telling Kiosk. So, similar to the attribute variants of Hoshimi Miyabi and Master Yixuan, could this possibly be a variant of the unknown attribute located at the very bottom?

The moon-related details on Ye Shunguang might not end there. Returning to the design of her Cheongsam (Qipao), we can find a large number of arc-shaped lines resembling crescent moons, arranged in a left-right symmetrical pattern. For example, the pattern on the collar, the sleeves on the arms, and the symmetrical crescent motifs resembling parentheses on the front lapel. The lower part also features curved designs, with arc lines continuing at the back.

Speaking of symmetrical crescent patterns, it reminds me of "lunar phases". The "Waning Moon" (残月) and "Waxing Crescent" (蛾眉月) commonly mentioned in Chinese culture form a symmetrical pair in terms of shape. The phase between the Waning Moon and the Waxing Crescent is called the "New Moon" (新月). This phase change represents the transition where the Waning Moon becomes the Waxing Crescent. When the moon is in the New Moon phase, it is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making it nearly invisible to us for an instant. From the perspective of human perception, the New Moon, as a transient lunar phase, feels like the shortest-lasting among all lunar phases, corresponding to the "Shun Guang" (瞬光, instantaneous light) in her name.

Let's look at another design element on Ye Shunguang's appearance - the maple leaf, such as the maple leaf patterns on her chest. We know that maple leaves briefly turn red in autumn, which gives them the symbolic meaning of fleeting beauty, representing transient beauty, which also corresponds to the "Shun Guang" (Instantaneous Light) in Ye Shunguang's name. Furthermore, the concept of fallen leaves returning to their roots symbolizes the cycle of life and reincarnation. The corresponding changes in the lunar phases also represent a kind of cycle.

Looking again at the pattern behind her brother, Ye Shiyuan, it originates from the "Three Hares Sharing Ears" motif found in the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, which also symbolizes reincarnation and symbiosis. Therefore, based solely on the design so far, I speculate that one of Ye Shunguang's possible settings might be "a key moment within an infinite cycle". But what exactly this refers to will have to wait for future updates!

Beyond the clothing aspects, Ye Shunguang herself has some distinctive features. Both she and her brother are Thirens, characterized by large, drooping ears on the sides of their heads and a long, fluffy, smooth tail behind them, along with brown long hair... We cannot definitively identify what kind of Thiren they are yet. If we only consider the drooping ears and red eyes, they clearly resemble rabbits.

However, if we look at the long, smooth tail, it seems more like a horse. Yet, they don't completely fit the characteristics of either, appearing very much like a fusion of multiple biological traits. Another possibility is that they are based on certain rare and exotic creatures from ancient Chinese mythology, such as the "Ear Mouse" from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, which is described as resembling a mouse but having a rabbit's head and an elk's body, and so on.

In summary, Ye Shunguang is definitely a special type of Thiren. We are really looking forward to her future appearance in the gacha pool! Don't forget to keep following us for more new articles and in-site peripherals. See you next time!