# Matai Shang — The Warlord of Mars character guide

> Matai Shang in The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** wise old Matai Shang, Shang

**First appearance:** 0000-i-on-the-river-iss

## Snapshot

The Holy Hekkador of the Therns, a holy man whose sanctity is a mask for lies, abduction, and the cold use of other people's faith.

## Who they are

As head of the thern religion, Matai Shang commands reverence across Mars, but his power rests on fraud and he knows it. When confronted, he shrinks back and calls truth a lie, dragging Dejah Thoris from a balcony while others fight his battles; his fear shows through the white of his rage. He is the engine of the early pursuit, the man whose schemes force Carter and Thuvan Dihn to chase him toward the frozen pole.

## Relationships

### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang and Thurid are uneasy allies and rivals, both scheming for their own ends against John Carter and his allies.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang is a manipulative antagonist who threatens Dejah Thoris and her family.

### [Kulan Tith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/kulan_tith)

_rivalry_

Kulan Tith and Matai Shang are adversaries, with Matai Shang being a treacherous figure in the conflict.

### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang and Thurid are uneasy allies and rivals, both scheming for their own ends against John Carter and his allies.

### [Thurid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/thurid)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang and Thurid are uneasy allies and rivals, both scheming for their own ends against John Carter and his allies.

### [Kulan Tith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/kulan_tith)

_rivalry_

Kulan Tith and Matai Shang are adversaries, with Matai Shang being a treacherous figure in the conflict.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang is a manipulative antagonist who threatens Dejah Thoris and her family.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_rivalry_

Matai Shang is a manipulative antagonist who threatens Dejah Thoris and her family.

## In the story

### [On the River Iss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/i-on-the-river-iss)

Father of Therns; meets Thurid in a boat on the Iss, indicating an alliance.

### [Under the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-under-the-mountains)

Mentioned as the Father of Therns; his commands are obeyed by Lakor.

### [III: The Temple of the Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-the-temple-of-the-sun)

Father of Therns; mentioned as having possibly used the same entrance.

### [The Secret Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-the-secret-tower)

Father of Therns, orchestrates the trap and drags Dejah Thoris into the tower.

### [On the Kaolian Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/v-on-the-kaolian-road)

Holy Thern; leads the party fleeing to Kaol, leaves guards at the fortress.

### [A Hero in Kaol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-hero-in-kaol)

Holy Hekkador of the Holy Therns, he is present at court and does not recognize John Carter.

### [New Allies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/vii-new-allies)

Father of Therns, exposed as a liar and captor; agrees to produce the prisoners but flees during the night, shattering Kulan Tith's faith.

### [Through the Carrion Caves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-through-the-carrion-caves)

Mentioned as the captor of Dejah Thoris, believed to be hiding in the land of the yellow men beyond the ice-barrier.

### [X: In Durance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/x-in-durance)

Father of Therns; allied with Thurid; watches the confrontation with malicious intent.

### [The Tide of Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-the-tide-of-battle)

Father of Therns, appears at a doorway with Phaidor, showing rage at the scene.

### [Rewards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-rewards)

Argues with Thurid over Dejah Thoris and participates in dragging her onto the flier.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters/matai_shang
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warlord_of_mars_se/characters