Thanks for the source! I saw that film too. I think it’s the one where father king is asked by the dragon king to kill Nezha as punishment for his naughtiness, but can’t do it, and instead hands his sword to Nezha, his son, ordering him to commit suicide and due to filial piety, he obeys, and kills himself with the sword. A huge pool of blood covers the ground, in this stunning animated scene.
It appears none of this is in the new films.
Sangren has updated discussions of it in his newest book, Filial Obsessions, which I cited. Note that Sangren’s research is not restricted to Taiwan but relates to the mainstream Chinese traditions, especially the Fengshen yanyi.
Magnus Fiskesjö <nf42@cornell.edu>