TV-Series
Description
Mercenary Tao, also known as Tao Pai Pai, is a highly skilled assassin who appears as an antagonist in the original Dragon Ball series and makes brief later appearances in Dragon Ball Z. He is the younger brother of Master Shen, the Crane Hermit, and was a major influence on the Crane School’s martial arts philosophy during Tenshinhan’s training. Despite being several centuries old, Tao appears to be in his late forties or early fifties. He has small, beady eyes, a pointed nose, a thin mustache, and black hair tied into a braided ponytail. His clothing often bears the Chinese character for kill, reflecting his profession.
Tao’s background is marked by a lifelong rivalry with his older brother, Master Shen, which began over trivial disagreements and eventually drove them apart. At the age of 279, Tao began his career as a professional killer. His standard fee for a single assassination was one hundred million Zeni. He was hired by the Red Ribbon Army to eliminate Son Goku and retrieve the Dragon Balls that Goku had collected. Before facing Goku, Tao demonstrated his lethality by killing General Blue, the Red Ribbon Army’s strongest operative, using only his tongue. He later killed Bora, a guardian of the Sacred Land of Karin, in front of Bora’s son Upa, an act that deeply affected Goku.
In terms of personality, Tao is sadistic, arrogant, and takes genuine pleasure in killing. He views murder not merely as a job but as an opportunity to indulge his brutality. He is also cunning and willing to use underhanded tactics. When he realizes he is outmatched, he resorts to deception, such as pretending to surrender before throwing a concealed grenade. This combination of cruelty and cowardice defines his character. His primary motivations are financial gain, professional pride as the world’s greatest assassin, and later a desire for revenge after his defeat by Goku.
Tao’s role in the story is significant during the Red Ribbon Army arc. He is the first villain to completely overpower Goku, delivering a near-fatal blow with his signature technique, the Dodonpa. Goku survives only because a Dragon Ball in his shirt absorbs the attack. This defeat forces Goku to seek training from Korin, leading to a rematch in which Goku defeats Tao. After that battle, Tao is believed dead when his own grenade explodes in his face.
Tao later returns in cyborg form, rebuilt by his brother Master Shen. He participates in the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament, where he brutally defeats Chaozu and then fights Tenshinhan. During the match, Tao uses a hidden knife to cut Tenshinhan’s chest, leaving a permanent scar. He is disqualified but continues attacking until Tenshinhan knocks him out. In the Dragon Ball Z anime, Tao makes two cameo appearances during the Cell Games Saga. In one, he works as a bodyguard and flees upon learning that Gohan is Goku’s son. In another, he serves a gangster trying to collect Dragon Balls and attempts to trick Goku into giving up his own, only to have Goku easily retrieve them using Instant Transmission.
Key relationships include his brother Master Shen, who later revives him as a cyborg. Tao is also indirectly connected to Tenshinhan and Chaozu, who trained under the Crane School. His rivalry with Goku is central to his first defeat, and his lingering fear of Goku is shown in his later appearances. Tao does not undergo meaningful development as a character; he remains a ruthless killer who never learns from his defeats.
Tao’s notable abilities include the Dodonpa, an energy attack fired from the index finger that can pierce through a human body. As a cyborg, he gains the Super Dodon Wave, a more powerful version. He also possesses superhuman strength, speed, and durability. His tongue is sharp enough to kill a man. He wields a sword that can shatter, and he is known for using tree trunks as makeshift flying vehicles by throwing them and riding them through the air. While he cannot fly in the original series, some later video games grant him that ability. Overall, Tao Pai Pai stands as one of the most memorable early villains in Dragon Ball, representing a shift toward more dangerous and morally repugnant foes.
Tao’s background is marked by a lifelong rivalry with his older brother, Master Shen, which began over trivial disagreements and eventually drove them apart. At the age of 279, Tao began his career as a professional killer. His standard fee for a single assassination was one hundred million Zeni. He was hired by the Red Ribbon Army to eliminate Son Goku and retrieve the Dragon Balls that Goku had collected. Before facing Goku, Tao demonstrated his lethality by killing General Blue, the Red Ribbon Army’s strongest operative, using only his tongue. He later killed Bora, a guardian of the Sacred Land of Karin, in front of Bora’s son Upa, an act that deeply affected Goku.
In terms of personality, Tao is sadistic, arrogant, and takes genuine pleasure in killing. He views murder not merely as a job but as an opportunity to indulge his brutality. He is also cunning and willing to use underhanded tactics. When he realizes he is outmatched, he resorts to deception, such as pretending to surrender before throwing a concealed grenade. This combination of cruelty and cowardice defines his character. His primary motivations are financial gain, professional pride as the world’s greatest assassin, and later a desire for revenge after his defeat by Goku.
Tao’s role in the story is significant during the Red Ribbon Army arc. He is the first villain to completely overpower Goku, delivering a near-fatal blow with his signature technique, the Dodonpa. Goku survives only because a Dragon Ball in his shirt absorbs the attack. This defeat forces Goku to seek training from Korin, leading to a rematch in which Goku defeats Tao. After that battle, Tao is believed dead when his own grenade explodes in his face.
Tao later returns in cyborg form, rebuilt by his brother Master Shen. He participates in the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament, where he brutally defeats Chaozu and then fights Tenshinhan. During the match, Tao uses a hidden knife to cut Tenshinhan’s chest, leaving a permanent scar. He is disqualified but continues attacking until Tenshinhan knocks him out. In the Dragon Ball Z anime, Tao makes two cameo appearances during the Cell Games Saga. In one, he works as a bodyguard and flees upon learning that Gohan is Goku’s son. In another, he serves a gangster trying to collect Dragon Balls and attempts to trick Goku into giving up his own, only to have Goku easily retrieve them using Instant Transmission.
Key relationships include his brother Master Shen, who later revives him as a cyborg. Tao is also indirectly connected to Tenshinhan and Chaozu, who trained under the Crane School. His rivalry with Goku is central to his first defeat, and his lingering fear of Goku is shown in his later appearances. Tao does not undergo meaningful development as a character; he remains a ruthless killer who never learns from his defeats.
Tao’s notable abilities include the Dodonpa, an energy attack fired from the index finger that can pierce through a human body. As a cyborg, he gains the Super Dodon Wave, a more powerful version. He also possesses superhuman strength, speed, and durability. His tongue is sharp enough to kill a man. He wields a sword that can shatter, and he is known for using tree trunks as makeshift flying vehicles by throwing them and riding them through the air. While he cannot fly in the original series, some later video games grant him that ability. Overall, Tao Pai Pai stands as one of the most memorable early villains in Dragon Ball, representing a shift toward more dangerous and morally repugnant foes.