He conquered dynasties. He brought kingdoms to their knees. He lived through empires rising and falling — and never aged a single day. But how exactly did Wenwu survive for over a thousand years? What is the true origin of the Ten Rings? And is there more to them than the movies revealed?
Today, we dive into one of the most mysterious elements of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, using insights from comics, mythology, and logic to unravel the legend.
Wenwu And The Power Of The Ten Rings
In Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Wenwu is portrayed as a powerful warlord who discovers the Ten Rings over a millennium ago. Using their power, he builds a secretive empire, manipulating governments and toppling regimes from the shadows.
But what stands out most about Wenwu isn't his empire — it's his immortality.
The film briefly mentions that the rings grant him an extremely extended lifespan. Wenwu shows no need for food, suffers no illnesses, and displays no signs of aging over centuries. But how is that even biologically or cosmically possible?
The Rings: More Than Just Weapons
Unlike their comic book counterparts, the MCU’s Ten Rings are worn around the arms instead of the fingers, acting more like sentient energy weapons than traditional magical relics.
Their origin? Completely unknown. Even the most advanced civilizations, like the people of Ta Lo, are clueless about where they came from.
In Shang-Chi's post-credits scene, Wong reveals that the rings are emitting a mysterious beacon to somewhere — or someone.
The implication is clear: the Ten Rings are ancient, alien, and possibly cosmic or extradimensional in origin. Their influence over Wenwu isn't limited to physical strength — they fundamentally altered his biology.
Connections To The Comics
In the comics, the Ten Rings have a much more detailed and wild origin. They come from the wreckage of a crashed alien spaceship belonging to the Makluans — a race of shape-shifting, dragon-like beings.
The Mandarin (the comic version, not the MCU’s portrayal) discovered the ship and took the rings from its engine systems. Over time, the energy from the rings granted him accelerated healing, resistance to disease, and biological immortality — mirroring Wenwu’s condition in the MCU.
So while the MCU adapted the look and feel of the rings, the core idea remains: they are alien artifacts with biological-enhancing properties. And Wenwu was the first human to fully unlock their potential.
The Curse Of Immortality
But Wenwu’s immortality came at a cost.
Over the centuries, Wenwu grew colder, more detached, and increasingly addicted to control. Even when he found love and tried to abandon his empire, grief pulled him back in — turning sorrow into obsession.
Wenwu didn’t just survive — he transcended humanity, evolving into a legend and a myth. A man who lived long enough to lose himself.
And while his personal story may have ended, the mystery of the Ten Rings is just beginning.
What’s Next For The Ten Rings?
Could the Ten Rings be connected to even bigger cosmic forces like the Beyonders, or perhaps a threat the MCU has yet to reveal? Future films may hold the answers.