Chinapii

Chinapii ("Wind Deer") is Donaji's mysterious father. He left Quie Yelaag in 1482, 11 years prior to the events of Codex Black, and never returned. Most villagers including his wife, Béelia, believe he's probably dead, but Donaji is determined to find him and her quest for her father is what sets the comic's story in motion.

Chinapii is also the original owner of Chicahualizteotl's Magical Poncho.

Name
Chinapii is allegedly a Zapotec name meaning "Wind Deer", from china "deer", and pii "wind", "air". It is implied by Yela in Chapter 4 that it was probably a made up name, as Chinapii's Zapotec was pretty bad.

Appearance
His true appearance is unknown, as he has only showed up in flashbacks as a shadowy character with deer antlers, although this is actually just an allegorical representation. Chinapii has been described as a handsome and strong man. He used to wear Chicahualizteotl's poncho and is often shown with a simple white maxtlatl (loincloth) and tilmatli (cape). On one occasion, one of his eyes is said to have taken the shape of a deer's eye, extending through a portion of his face, but it is unknown whether this was a supernatural phenomenon or just an illusion.

= Clues on his identity =

Chinapii's identity is one of the biggest enigmas in Codex Black, and as Donaji & Itzcacalotl progress in their adventures, they uncover certain clues about his whereabouts, the reasons behind his disappearance and his true identity.

Chapter 3
In Chapter 3, Donaji & Itzcacalotl visit Nirudo', an old merchant from Galahuiguichi who used to know Chinapii, as this was the last place Donaji's father visited before he left Quie Yelaag. From that visit it is revealed that Chinapii used to travel selling goods from his hunts, as well as Béelia's textiles. Nirudo' remembers how during a conversation with a traveling friend, Chinapii heard news about something that happened in a foreign nation and his expression turned "shady". Right after hearing such news, Chinapii left abruptly, leaving behind all his goods without even claiming his payment.

Chapters 4 & 5
Several clues are revealed as Donaji & Itzcacalotl return to Quie Yelaag:
 * Yela and Nachi tell Itzcacalotl that Chinapii wasn't born there, and his Zapotec pronunciation was terrible, implying he came from a different region.
 * He was wearing Chicahualizteotl's poncho when he arrived. Béelia was 18 years old around that time.
 * For the same reason, his "Zapotec name", "Chinapii", is probably a fake one he made up.
 * Later on, Itzcacalotl decides to interview several villagers, to which he's told that he was a "handsome man".
 * He was strong enough as to put all the other men of the village in shame (much like her own daughter does).
 * He built Donaji & Béelia's house in a different fashion than the rest of the village's.
 * He has some sort of connection to deers, as he seemed to be able to "charm" them before hunting them.
 * He earned the nickname "Deer Eye" after a hunt in which some of his fellow hunters saw his eye transform into the eye of a deer momentarily. It is said he really disliked that nickname though.
 * Chicahualizteotl and Chinapii met during the journey that brought them to the village, although they acted like old friends.
 * Rumors say Chicahualizteotl promised to take care of his daughter when he left. The god has lost several of his memories of the time though.
 * Despite all the secrets and his shroud of mystery, Chinapii was able to earn the trust and friendship of all the villagers.
 * Béelia mentions how it looked like he was running away from his past and trying to forget who he really was.
 * Itzcacalotl notes how Chinapii's weapons hanging in a wall of Donaji's house don't look like a hunter's, but rather like those of a high ranking warrior or a lord from the surroundings of the Anahuac region. Chicahualizteotl then suggests that if he was someone of renown, his disappearance from his homeland probably didn't go unnoticed.

= Trivia =


 * The shroud of mystery around Chinapii has lead to some very wild guesses by readers about his true identity, including characters like Chicahualizteotl and even Itzcacalotl.
 * In Nirudo's flashback, the friend he was talking to together with Chinapii, is actually the same wandering warrior who gets murdered by the god of cold and ice, Itztlacoliuhqui, in the introductory scene of the animation Donaji & the Magical Poncho (2017). That's why Nirudo' mentions that his friend died 5 years prior to Donaji & Itzcacalotl's visit.
 * Everyone in Quie Yelaag say Donaji is the "spitting image" of Chinapii. This is later evident in Itzcacalotl's drawing of him, in which he also has Donaji's trademark cowlick.

= Gallery =