Zonshen

Zonshen (ゾンシェン) is a human resident of Chun-nan who appears in Sonic Unleashed. Zonshen is the elder of his village and the grandfather of Chun and Yilin. He is renowned as the world's best doctor, a master healer and has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of just about any physical illness. To cure his patients, Zonshen utilizes medicines made of herbs and other natural ingredients along with secret and ancient medical techniques, such as pressure points. Due to his accomplishments, it is said Zonshen can cure any ailment.

On the PS2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed, Zonshen is the Temple Guardian of Chun-nan's Gaia Temple. His job is to both guard the temple and the Gaia Gate, and lead the ones who are worthy to enter the Gate.

Directory
''A walking treasure trove of medical knowledge who can supposedly cure any ailment. Unfortunately, much to his irritation, Zonshen's arms aren't quite long enough for him to cure his own chronic back pain.''

PS3/Xbox 360
Not much is known about Zonshen's past prior to Sonic Unleashed. What is known, however, is that Zonshen has cared much for his grandchildren, Chun and Yilin, and has spent much of his time with them, such as playing hide-and-seek with Yilin and treating Chun with medicine and healing techniques. It is also mentioned that in Zonshen's entire career as a doctor, he had not met one illness that he could not cure. Over time, Zonshen himself developed chronic back pains, but was unable to cure them himself, as his arms were not long enough to treat his own back. For an unknown amount of time, Zonshen has been deeply respected throughout the village.

At the beginning of Sonic Unleashed, the tremors created from the Earth being broken apart made the village's treasure roll away during the chaos and become lost. Zonshen, however, went outside the village to search for the treasure, passing through the village's Entrance Stage. While searching for the village's treasure, Zonshen was attacked, presumably by the Dark Gaia Phoenix or Dark Gaia's Minions, thus preventing him from returning to the village.

While missing, Zonshen, under unknown circumstances, ended up unconscious in front of Chun-nan's Gaia Temple, possibly due to the Dark Gaia Phoenix, with the village treasure right beside him. Fortunately, Zonshen was saved from the Dark Gaia Phoenix by Sonic the Werehog and Chip, who had been sent by Lin to find him. As he woke up in Sonic's arms, Zonshen assured his rescuer that he was fine and thanked him. Chip then accidentally used the village treasure to unlock the Gaia Temple, much to Zonshen's surprise. As Sonic and Chip restored a Chaos Emerald and the continent inside the Gaia Temple, Zonshen witnessed the Dark Gaia Phoenix return to his original form, and assured the duo when they returned that the beast had come to his senses.

Now safe, Zonshen returned to his village with Sonic and Chip. Once back home, Zonshen told Sonic and Chip about how surprised he was to know that the village treasure was the key to the Gaia Temple. Owing them a great deal of gratitude for saving him and letting him see his grandchildren again, Zonshen thanked Sonic and Chip, and told them that he was wholly in their debt and that they were welcome in Chun-nan any time.

The peace would not last long for Zonshen and his village, as they soon afterwards found themselves overrun by Eggman's robots. Luckily, Sonic and Chip soon returned, and Zonshen informed the duo about the situation in the village before kindly asking them to take a look for them. Sonic and Chip soon after returned, having driven Eggman's robots out of Chun-nan, and Zonshen welcomed them back. Now in more debt to them than ever, Zonshen asked Sonic and Chip how he could ever repay them for all their help, but nonetheless told them that theý had his sincerest thanks. Zonshen soon understood, however, that Sonic and Chip had to report to Professor Pickle in Spagonia, and Zonshen told them to say hello to Professor Pickle for him.

The next time Zonshen saw Sonic and Chip in Chun-nan (which was during daytime) the old medic decided he would repay his debt to the two heroes. Upon seeing Sonic and Chip, Zonshen greeted the two heroes and called them, especially Sonic, to him. Having seen Sonic transform into his "terrible, twisted" Werehog form during nighttime, Zonshen claimed confidently that he could cure Sonic and told him to come back at nighttime.

As ordered, Sonic returned to Zonshen at night, now in his Werehog form. Before he could make a cure for Sonic, however, Zonshen told Sonic that he had to study his Werehog form's strength and condition first, though Zonshen assured him that he had not met a illness he could not cure. To test Sonic's Werehog form to its fullest, Zonshen sent out Sonic to battle some of Dark Gaia's Minions outside the village, while he studied him from afar.

After having studied Sonic's Werehog form in battle, Zonshen returned with Sonic to the village, where Zonshen remarked that Sonic's Werehog form was quite strong and that he had a good idea of Sonic's condition. Zonshen then said that he just needed some time to put together some medicine and told Sonic to come back later, positive that he could cure Sonic. During the following day, Zonshen met up with Sonic again, where Zonshen asked Sonic to fetch some herbs for his cure and promised that he would mix up his medicine for him immediately if he got them. Sonic soon returned with the herbs, and Zonshen promised that he would have him back to normal soon. Despite the importance of the cure, Zonshen had a fun time coming up with it.

A while later, during daytime, Zonshen had finally prepared Sonic's cure, a mystical medicine. Claiming that it was a success, Zonshen found Sonic, and told him to drink it. Sonic hesitated and made faces, however, as the medicine was very bitter, but Zonshen insisted that he drank it all. After Sonic managed to drink the medicine, Zonshen instructed Sonic to take a jog in order to get the medicine circulating into his bloodstream. After Sonic returned from his run, Zonshen remarked his proficient running, but to Zonshen's surprised and shock, he noticed that the medicine was not working at all. Still determined to cure Sonic, however, Zonshen decided to use his extra-secret technique to cure him. Zonshen then told Sonic to come back later, as he had to prepare.

During the following nightfall, Zonshen met up with Sonic again. Zonshen told Sonic to lie on his back, and explained that he planned to cure Sonic's condition, this time by using his own Zonshen Method to touch the right pressure points with his golden finger. As Zonshen was about to touch Sonic, however, his back pains acted up again and he could not perform the Zonshen Method. To treat himself, Zonshen instructed Sonic to get some green medicine for him. Sonic soon returned with the medicine and Zonshen quickly recovered. Now trying to resume Sonic's treatment, Zonshen touched Sonic's pressure point with his Dragon Finger, but was once again left shocked as Sonic's pressure points were not responding. Now growing more frustrated at his continuous failures, but still not willing to give up, Zonshen told Sonic that he would prepare something else.

The next day, Zonshen, now more determined than ever to cure Sonic, met up with Sonic once more and proclaimed that today he would show Sonic what he was capable of by using the Zonshen Qigong technique, which was only known by master healers, to cure him. However, as this technique required solid concentration, Zonshen asked Sonic to get him some Pick-Me-Up from the village to help him maintain concentration, and promised that this time he would definitely cure him. After Sonic brought him the Pick-Me-Up, Zonshen asked Sonic to leave him for a while; he was entering a trance where he would center himself to focus and build up his qi, which was needed for the technique. Zonshen also told Sonic that he would not be ready before nighttime as he could not build up qi as fast as he used to.

While building up his qi, however, Zonshen's frustration and restless determination about curing Sonic left him so wrapped up in focusing that he did not eat and was up all night, leaving him muttering and grumbling to himself. This behavior left Zonshen rather famished and in need of nutritious energies to do the Zonshen Qigong technique. Fortunately, Chun, Yilin and Sonic brought Zonshen some of his favorite snacks and Zonshen was soon back to normal. Now having both the energy and the necessary qi, Zonshen found Sonic and announced that he was now ready to activate his technique. After performing the technique on Sonic, however, Zonshen was once again stumped as he saw that the Zonshen Qigong technique did not work either. Sad and frustrated about not being able to help Sonic, Zonshen admitted defeat, and told Sonic that he gave up as he did not know any other method that could cure him of his Werehog condition and apologized for being unable to help him.

While not being able to cure Sonic of his Werehog condition, Zonshen still proved to be a great aid to Sonic. When Sonic and Chip later returned to Chun-nan, Zonshen met Sonic again and asked him why he had an expectant look in his eyes. As Sonic explained that he was looking for a miracle cure for Irma's pains, Zonshen said that he had such a cure and provided Sonic with his special premium quality medicine, and since he was in debt to them, he gladly gave Sonic and Chip the medicine.

A while later, Zonshen once again met Sonic and Chip, who told him that a young man named Charles that aspired to become a doctor, wished to meet him. After thinking about this for a moment, Zonshen told Sonic and Chip that they could tell Charles that he could come as he liked. Zonshen was, however, forced to wait a little longer than expected, since his grandchildren would not let Charles see Zonshen before he had completed their tasks.

Eventually, Zonshen finally met Charles, who revealed that he had come to learn Zonshen's techniques. Seeing that Charles had the knowledge to become a doctor, but lacked the understanding that human contact was what a doctor needed to learn what was truly best for the patients, Zonshen agreed to teach Charles, but first assigned him to hand out deliveries to learn human contact. Charles, however, did not understand Zonshen's exercises, and it spawned a conflict between the two of them, with Zonshen getting angry at Charles' arrogant behavior and impatience.

After Charles had cleared his deliveries, Zonshen was about to give him his next assignment, but while Charles thought that he would be treating a patient, Zonshen claimed otherwise, as he had more work to do. Charles got angry and said that he came to learn the world's best doctor’s techniques from him, but Zonshen called him a ninny and explained angrily that he had to learn human contact before he could let him treat a patient. As Charles tried to protest, however, Zonshen told Charles to go home and that he had no use for him here. Zonshen was surprised to hear Charles refusing to go, however, and was interested when he heard Charles announcing that he would master human contact medicine. After his talk with Charles, Zonshen told Sonic and Chip, who were just nearby, that he had been expecting some insolent young brat, but then admitted that Charles may have some spirit after all, and gladly announced that he had his work cut out for him then.

Later on, during Sonic and Chip's battle with Dark Gaia, Zonshen saw the local Gaia Temple rise from the ground, which he said was simply incredible. Zonshen later watched on in horror with the rest of his village as Dark Gaia began to cast the world into darkness, but later rejoiced and talked to Lin when the world returned to normal following Perfect Dark Gaia's defeat at the hands of Super Sonic and the Gaia Colossus.

PS2/Wii
At some point in his life, Zonshen gave the Moon Tablet to Shuifon and told him to hold on to it for him. At some point around the events of Sonic Unleashed, Zonshen went to the Gaia Temple, but somehow lost consciousness.

While lying unconscious in front of Chun-nan's Gaia Temple, possibly due to the Dark Gaia Phoenix, Zonshen was saved by Sonic the Werehog and Chip, who had been sent by Lin to find him. As he woke up, Zonshen asked them how he could thank them for saving him and that Sonic and Chip would have his deepest gratitude, before explaining how he had ended up here. As Sonic and Chip asked Zonshen about the Gaia Temple, Zonshen explained how his village had been the keepers of the Gaia Temples and asked for their tablet fragments. Quickly, Zonshen assembled them a Planet Tablet, which was a key to the temple door, thus giving Sonic and Chip access to the Gaia Temple. As Sonic and Chip restored a Chaos Emerald and the continent inside the Gaia Temple, Zonshen witnessed the Dark Gaia Phoenix return to his original form, and assured the duo when they returned that the beast had come back to his senses.

Now safe, Zonshen returned to his village, where he at some point entrusted a Sun Tablet to Hualin for her to pass on to Sonic and Chip. When Zonshen later met Sonic and Chip again, he explained how words could not express how grateful he was and that his appreciation was boundless. After respectfully and wholeheartedly thanking Sonic and Chip even more, Zonshen told them that he gave the Sun Tablet to Hualin. He believed they were looking for it, and guided them to her. Afterwards, Zonshen gave Sonic and Chip a nugget of wisdom by explaining about how being elsewhere and meeting people would allow them to discover more, and that he would always be of service to them, though he had a very busy schedule.

Later on, during Sonic and Chip's battle with Dark Gaia, Zonshen saw the local Gaia Temple rise from the ground, which Zonshen said was simply incredible. Zonshen later watched on in horror with the rest of his village as Dark Gaia began to cast the world into darkness, but later rejoiced and talked to Lin when the world returned to normal following Perfect Dark Gaia's defeat at the hands of Super Sonic and the Gaia Colossus.

Checkup Time

 * How to obtain mission: Talk to Zonshen in Chun-nan's hub world during nighttime after clearing Dragon Road Act 1 (Day).
 * Objective: Defeat all 50 enemies.

Find A Cure

 * How to obtain mission: After clearing the mission "Checkup Time", go to the World Map, come back to Chun-nan's hub world during daytime, and talk to Zonshen.
 * Objective: Collect 10 Herbs.

Get Pumped

 * How to obtain mission: After clearing the mission "Find A Cure", go to the World Map, come back to Chun-nan's hub world during daytime, and talk to Zonshen.
 * Objective: Get to the Goal Ring without taking damage.

Chronic Ailment

 * How to obtain mission: After clearing the mission "Get Pumped", wait until nighttime and talk to Zonshen.
 * Objective: Collect all 3 medicine components.

Forbidden Arts

 * How to obtain mission: After clearing the mission "Chronic Ailment", wait until daytime and talk to Zonshen.
 * Objective: Bring Zonshen the item Pick-Me-Up from the Entrance Stage.