Master Thundering Rhino

Master Thundering Rhino was a Javan rhinoceros and a master of Kung Fu. He was the previous leader of the Kung Fu Council, which protected the vast metropolis of Gongmen City after the city's single heir, Lord Shen, was exiled.

BeginningsEdit
Master Thundering Rhino was born into a long line of Kung Fu Masters, having been raised and trained under the teachings of his father, Master Flying Rhino. He became legendary in his own right by slaying the Ten Thousand Serpents in the Valley of Woe.[2]

Although it is currently unknown how Thundering Rhino arrived in Gongmen City and became the leader of the Kung Fu Council, he is noted to have been the master of Storming Ox. When the young ox skipped out on his chores and snuck into the city palace to watch Thundering Rhino spar, Master Rhino was impressed by his enthusiasm and decided to train him in the art of Kung Fu. Storming Ox proved to be a constant challenge to Master Rhino (due to the ox's favoritism of action over contemplation), but ultimately turned out to be his greatest pupil. Storming Ox eventually joined Thundering Rhino in the Kung Fu Council as his loyal friend and trusted member.[3]

Thundering Rhino is also known for his successful effort in making Master Croc turn away from his old life of crime with the Wool Stealing Crocodile Bandits. Having crossed paths with the trouble-making criminal one day, the two dueled in an epic Kung Fu battle on the shores of the Wa Su Li River. Eventually, Thundering Rhino's Kung Fu proved superior over Croc's. The defeated Croc waited for the fatal blow to end his life, but Thundering Rhino never delivered it; he instead asked Croc to use his Kung Fu for good. Moved by the Master's compassion, Croc did indeed decide to use his Kung Fu to right wrongs and protect the weak, and eventually came to sit at Master Rhino's side in the Council.[4]

In Secrets of the MastersEdit
SPOILER ALERT! Plot and/or ending details follow below. (Skip section)Added by SpottedstarComing soon! End spoilers===In Kung Fu Panda 2Edit=== SPOILER ALERT! Plot and/or ending details follow below. (Skip section)Master Thundering Rhino with Masters Storming Ox and CrocAdded by SpottedstarSome time after taking over the stewardship of Gongmen City, Thundering Rhino and his two apprentices sparred together in the palace courtyard before they were confronted by Lord Shen, who ordered them to leave his palace. While surprised by Shen's unexpected return after thirty years of exile, Rhino refused, along with Croc and Ox, and made it clear that Gongmen City was under their rule and protection. Shen said he was glad they felt that way, while a gang of wolves pushed a large wooden box into the courtyard. When Ox inquired to what was inside the box, Shen stated that it was their "parting gift", in that it would literally part them. Added by SpottedstarOutraged, Ox and Croc leapt to attack the peacock. The two were defeated, though Shen's weapons were broken by Thundering Rhino when he attempted to attack the master, whom he called a show-off. Rhino declared that this defeat was a warning, and that Shen was no match for their Kung Fu. Shen agreed, but also stated that this (referring to the object in the box) is. With that, Shen revealed his great cannon weapon. Thundering Rhino bravely prepared for battle, but was ultimately killed by the weapon's first blast.

Rhino's hammer was left mounted in the palace's center square as both a warning to others and a trophy for Lord Shen. End spoilers==PersonalityEdit== Added by SpottedstarAs head of the Kung Fu Council, Master Thundering Rhino has been noted to be revered for his wisdom, kind humor, and good deeds.[2] He has also been known to be empathetic in his decisions, providing positive support to the situation. For example, when Storming Ox was young he had skipped out on his chores to watch his Master spar. Instead of punishing him, Thundering Rhino rewarded his enthusiasm by training him in the art of Kung Fu.[3]

Thundering Rhino's mercy and compassion towards others is also made apparent in his experience with Master Croc. After defeating the criminal in battle, rather than finishing the victory by delivering a fatal blow, Thundering Rhino instead asked Croc to use his Kung Fu for the benefit of others. This act of compassion caused a change in Croc that helped him to turn over a new leaf.[4]

Fighting StyleEdit
Added by SpottedstarThundering Rhino is the most revered amongst all of the masters of the Kung Fu Council. Using the unbeatable attack of the legendary Cloud Hammer, Thundering Rhino is able to take on huge numbers of attackers and emerge victorious. Master Thundering Rhino also has "Unstoppable Force"; when he starts running, nothing can stop him. Tigress also referred to his "horn defense" as being impervious to any technique. When not engaged in battle or leading the Kung Fu Council, Master Thundering Rhino can be humorous and a great resource of wisdom.[2]

Master Flying RhinoEdit
Added by SpottedstarMaster Flying Rhino was Thundering Rhino's father. Nothing is known of their relationship except that Master Flying Rhino had mentored his son in the art of Kung Fu.

Storming OxEdit
Thundering Rhino met a young ox who had skipped out on his chores to watch the master spar. When Rhino caught him in the act, instead of punishing him he took him on as a student. Ox proved to be a constant challenge due to his aggressiveness, but Rhino's faith and perseverance was rewarded when Storming Ox reached the rank of master and became his greatest pupil, as well as his fellow member of the Council. They stayed together for years, acting as comrades in many battles and justly ruled Gongmen together until that fateful day the banished heir returned and killed Storming Ox's master before his very eyes, with the unstoppable weapon, a tragedy which broke Storming Ox's spirit.

CrocEdit
Thundering Rhino heard of Croc as his bandits, and personally stopped their threat and confronted Croc himself. Though Croc put up a good fight, he was no match for Master Thundering Rhino and accepted his fate to die. Instead, Rhino showed mercy and convinced Croc to fight for good instead of evil, an act of mercy that touched the defeated bandit, and Croc became one of Rhino's most devoted students.

OogwayEdit
Added by SpottedstarThe relationship between Rhino and Oogway was a little more personal than that of Croc or Ox. Upon first meeting the tortoise, Rhino quickly recognized him before Croc or Ox did, presumbly because of his background as a Kung Fu master's son. Similarly, Oogway immediately understood Rhino's reason for following him to stop the Wu sisters, which was to please or live up to the expectations of his father.

Oogway's last words ("Remember the path"), before his apparent death after saving trio from a river of lava, left Rhino shaken and tried to contemplate what the tortoise meant before he died. Upon coming across a desolated village (shown to be the handiwork of the Wu sisters' forces) and being offered payment by one of the villagers, Rhino finally understood the message of Oogway's words and declared that he and his comrades must fight for honor instead of personal gain. Later, after going back to face the Wu sisters and successfully defeating them, Oogway revealed himself and congratulated Rhino personally, saying his father would be proud.

ShenEdit
Lord Shen fighting the Kung Fu Council in Kung Fu Panda 2Added by SpottedstarIn Kung Fu Panda 2, Rhino was fully aware of the crimes committed by Shen when he, along with the Kung Fu Council, agreed to take the stewardship of Gongmen City, and made it clear when the banished heir returned that they would protect the city from him. Still, upon meeting the peacock, he acted civil towards him until the fight broke out between Rhino and Shen's two disciples, both of whom were easily defeated by his surprisingly strong Kung Fu skills and bladework. But Rhino staved Shen's assault with his unstoppable Kung Fu skills, but he was no match for Shen's unstoppable cannon and died in the process.

Role in the series
Master Thundering Rhino currently serves as Oogway's fellow High Council spirit, guarding the Chinese Worlds from the dark forces. When he was alive, Master Thundering Rhino fought in the 2nd Cartoonian War alongside many heroes from the realm of light.