Meiling Hong

Meiling Hong is a character from the Touhou Project games.

Meiling is a youkai, though it isn't currently known which specific category she actually belongs to. She's the gatekeeper of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She is known for her mastery of the martial arts, part of which can be seen from her movement which is performed with Shin-Kyaku (a move in Chinese martial arts).

In the Unlikely Heroes Chronicles fics, Meiling is a member of the Unlikely Heroes.

Appearance
Meiling has aqua-blue eyes and long, scarlet hair that symbolizes both her name and the place that she's guarding. Her green beret and dress resemble traditional Chinese clothing mixed with the red guard uniform. Her beret has a gold star on the front with the Traditional Chinese character "龍" that is read and pronounced as "lóng" in standard Chinese and means dragon. She wears white pants in her fighting game sprites.

Personality
Meiling is very laid-back, which sometimes gets her into trouble, and is known to take siestas while on the job. She regularly receives challengers and is a worthy opponent of the strong. She isn't outwardly aggressive towards humans unless they are trying to trespass on Scarlet Devil Mansion property, though it seems the only humans who trespass are powerful enough to defeat her in the first place. She'll also sometimes have conversations with bypassers.

Many of her lines in Touhou Hisoutensoku indicate that Meiling has boastful pride in China (though she does also says she loves Gensokyo with all her heart): "You're all not there yet! You're all children compared to 4000 years of history!" comparing Yuyuko Saigyouji to a Jiang Shi, and noting that Tenshi Hinanawi and the Celestials read Chinese works. (Many of Tenshi's win quotes in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody come from Chinese classics.) This is how Chinese characters in Japanese media are commonly depicted; stereotypically prideful. The script also reveals that she seems to spend a lot of time reading manga written by the tengu.

Abilities
Meiling's mastery of Tai Chi Chuan is her main ability in combat, but other than that, she has no youkai-like ability. While not particularly strong as a youkai, she is described as being well-rounded, with no particular weak point when fighting humans; this is likely why she was hired to watch the gate of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. This Qi is not an ability to skillfully be kind and considerate of others – this Qi is not the same as how it is used in the word "kikubari" meaning "attentiveness or consideration for others". Rather, it is the kind of Qi that pertains to auras, the Qi of martial arts. It's an ability to see and discern the shapes of energies and auras within the body. It is the exact same Qi that is used frequently in other works outside Touhou Project, but this could be a coincidence. Her danmaku as well as her flight is probably due to this ability.
 * Usage of Qi

Trivia

 * Meiling became a playable character in Immaterial and Missing Power through a downloadable patch, although she wasn't given a a scenario.
 * If Meiling loses to Youmu in Touhou Hisoutensoku, Youmu will ask if Meiling shouldn't just use a weapon, namely a green dragon blade. This can be a source of confusion, since many would imagine the legendary Green Dragon Crescent Blade wielded by the famous Chinese general Guan Yu, but women seldom use pole arms in Chinese martial arts. In Japan, the term has become a common misnomer for the liuyedao and other Chinese sabers. As Youmu admits she has only heard about them in stories, the use of her local, incorrect term is likely intentional.
 * One of her normal bullet attacks (along with a few of her skill cards) in Touhou Hisoutensoku resembles Krizalid's Typhoon/Tuhon Rage from The King of Fighters '99, 2000, and 2002: Unlimited Match.
 * Meiling looks very similar to Orange.
 * Meiling is one of the few characters to not make a cameo appearance in Hopeless Masquerade. The reason is currently unknown.
 * Meiling is loosely based on Hong Mei (red eyebrows), a Tai Chi grandmaster and leader of the buddhist shaolin temple where the five elders of Kung fu are from.