#untamedenneagram

[littlesmartart]

so the other day I saw someone's take on 3zun enneagram types and I just... disagreed so hard, so I made my own post for it :) all the text is from this site.

I just find it a really interesting characterisation exercise trying to type fictional characters, and it can be really helpful for writing because it's made me realise quite a bit about character motivations that I'd never considered. it's also a lot of fun testing whether you've got characters right by looking at the type combination relationships and seeing if they're accurate to different ships! as you can see for 3zun, they wound up being sOMEWHAT PAINFUL ("a very nasty, very personal breakup" 😬)

[littlesmartart]

lots of people responded to my 3zun enneagram post saying they’d be interested in seeing more, so I made a sort of masterpost of the main characters! I am working on a post with a bunch of ships so watch this space for them. all future posts on this will be tagged #untamedenneagram. I stuck with the main adult characters because it’s pointless to try and type a character if you don’t know enough about them, and I have specifically avoided the Juniors, because enneagram is not recommended for anyone that young; kids and teenagers are still growing up and figuring out who they are, which means that naturally their personalities are likely to change as they mature. if people are really desperate to see the Juniors then I could maybe do a post where I make reeeeaal vague estimations on what their adult selves might be typed as.

disclaimer: these are just my opinions based on my interpretations of the characters - if you disagree, feel free to make your own post discussing your personal thoughts, but I am not in ANY way interested in getting into “ “ discourse ” ” about any of this :) also please remember, if you’re applying any of this to yourself, that whilst enneagram can be used as a fun tool for healthy self-reflection, every person is unique and we don’t always perfectly fit in boxes; take from this what is helpful and try not to get too hung up on it.

all type descriptions are taken from here. under the cut you can find the characters arranged by type with my thoughts on how they differ, as well as what I think their wings would be. MAYBE one day I’ll make something about subtypes, but I’ll need to do waaay more research 😵 if you have any thoughts/questions about my choices here, feel free to drop me an ask!

Wangji was a really clear and obvious choice as a 1 for me, as was Song Lan, as they both have a fiercely strong sense of morality and their duty within the moral structure to fix what is ‘wrong’, but they are also somewhat distant and reserved. Jin Zixuan is a choice some may disagree with, as many people’s sole impression of him is how he treated Yanli as a teen, however I argue that if you look at what we see of him over his short life as a whole, and look at his actions outside of those relationships (defending Mianmian against his own sect brothers, coming back to rescue Wangji and WWX with Jiang Cheng, leading a force in the Sunshot Campaign despite his father’s reluctance to get involved, defending a servant girl when he believed Yanli - a gentry woman - had stolen credit from her, personally going to de-escalate WWX’s fight with Jin Zixun) we do see a man who, whist being arrogant and somewhat stand-offish, does clearly have a strong moral code which he does consistently act in accordance to.

In terms of wings, I would say that Wangji and Song Lan are both 1wing2 - the empathetic 2 wing brings a need to be personally involved in righting wrongs and helping people, which is where you get the Distant Snow And Cold Frost, famous saviour of the common folk, and Hanguang-jun, who goes where the chaos is. I would say that Jin Zixuan is a 1wing9, who are more distant and measured than 2 wings, and are less uncompromising in their application of morality - which is how you get Jin Zixuan who is unabashedly giving his opinion about correct behaviour in Gusu and during the war, but in Koi Tower is far more reserved and clearly concerned about rocking the boat with his father.

Yanli and Xingchen were very very obvious as type 2 for me - it’s that consistent altruism and self-sacrifice, as well as the genuine desire to serve others whilst neglecting their own needs. I honestly think it’s a shame that they’re both presented so angelically within the narrative because it would be very interesting to see some of the darker side of the type 2, with that sense of needing to be needed, and even possessiveness. Also very interesting that both these 2s have strong significant relationships with type 1s (Zixuan and Song Lan) - a healthy combination of 1&2 can often be something of a “power couple”, with their combined genuine desires to bring justice and love and positive change to their community, and it perhaps says something about the narrative of the untamed in a meta way that both of these couples are tragically divided before they can reach their powerful potential.

I would say that Xingchen is a 2wing1 - his desire to help people is part of a moral duty for him, and the 1 wing gives him a strong drive to not only look after individuals but also to alleviate suffering in society as a whole. Yanli I think is a 2wing3 - they have the social and charismatic aspect of the 3, and care for people through building relationships and connections with the people around them in a more personal way.

Wow, JGY could not be any more obviously a 3! He is status-conscious, charming, ambitious, strives to be competent at everything he does, and obviously his core fear is to do with what he is worth - either that he will never have his worth acknowledged, or, later in the narrative, that everything he has done will be exposed and he will return to being worthless and hated. He is also very good at adapting himself to whatever - or whoever - he needs to be in order to survive, and a classic issue for unhealthy type 3s is getting so absorbed in their personas that they lose track of who they really are and what they really feel, at their core, which I think is something we see with JGY as he begins to break down.

I would say that JGY is a 3wing2 - a lot of his fear of failure is focused on his relationships (the obsession with his mother’s wish for him to be acknowledged, the years of striving for his father’s love, how terribly horribly personal getting kicked out of the Unclean Realm was for him, how much he hid from Xichen - someone who genuinely would have helped him - out of a fear that he would be unwanted and unloved if he told the truth) but also he has a huge capacity for love and loyalty and a real drive to take care of the people he loves that feels very 2. 

So I only wanted to type main characters, because you can’t type someone if you can’t get a really good hold on their personality and motivations (SORRY QIN SU ;_;) which may make my choice of including Mo Xuanyu strange, but a. his actions LITERALLY create most of the plot and really give a strong sense of who he was, and b. I am a type 4 myself and I looked at him like “oh shit, I know this kid”. Sadly we only hear about Xuanyu when he’s at his worst - deep in depression, feeling trapped and vengeful enough to resurrect a serial killer to murder his entire family - but there seems to be a huge depth and weight to his emotions that is very archetypal of a 4, he seems to have a strong tendency to make decisions based on his emotional reactions, and his notorious fashion choices (mask, ghost makeup) are him expressing his inward emotional state and bold individuality in an outward way - again, very 4. 

I don’t know if we see enough of his personality to really fully know what wing he would have, but I would take a guess that he’s a 4wing3, given that he seems to have a flair for the outwardly dramatic more than you would expect from a more introspective and reserved 4wing5.

Again, it may seem odd to have such a minor character included when I was focusing on the main cast, but I really wanted to do a full set of the types so I was really searching for a 5, and as SOON as I thought of Su She, it was so OBVIOUS that was him. Regardless of how the fandom feels about him, it is impossible to deny that he is a very intelligent and innovative man who consistently strives to learn and grapple with complex new ideas (my dude can teleport!!! TELEPORT!!! can ~ HANGUANG-JUN ~ teleport hmm???? DIDN’T THINK SO.) and whose overarching motivation seems to be a desire to gain more magical knowledge so that he can never be left vulnerable and humiliated again.

Like Mo Xuanyu, I’m not certain we see enough of him to fully know what wing he would be, but I would guess at 5wing6, given his intense work ethic, how strongly he rejects the authority of the Lans once they (in his mind) abandon him, and how desperately loyal he is to JGY right up until his death. 

I felt pretty strongly about Wen Qing being a 6 from the start, but I spent quite a while debating over whether Wei Wuxian should actually be a 7. I eventually settled on 6 because those traits - hard-working, loyal, problem-solving, defiant and rebellious to champion justice and protect the vulnerable, though defensive, evasive and anxious when under stress - seemed more at the core of his character. If you remove them, you remove who he really is. I think the reason Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing are able to bond so strongly is because they both recognise their own essential traits in each other.

The real difference you see between these two however is, I think, strongly influenced by their wings - Wei Wuxian is a 6wing7, so when things are good he is optimistic and fun-loving and looking for new and fresh experiences. Wen Qing on the other hand is a 6wing5, with that 5 motivation to seek out knowledge and learn all she can in order to protect herself and those around her. They both share the core 6 fear of not having a place where they can belong and feel safe.

Both Huaisang and Xue Yang were clear and easy to type as 7s - Xue Yang actually says a line that I think could possibly be the motto for type 7, “I don’t fear death, I fear boredom”. Huaisang definitely plays up the “scattered and undisciplined” aspect for his Headshaker persona, and the spontaneous and playful 7 traits that he and Wei Wuxian share are where they are able to bond at Cloud Recesses. A classic 7 coping mechanism is to deal with - or rather, not deal with - unpleasant situations and emotions by simply avoiding or ignoring them, which you see with Huaisang being the Headshaker (“I don’t know! Don’t ask me!” is a pretty good buffer for anything he doesn’t want to deal with) and with Xue Yang, when he seems to genuinely believe that he can just live in perpetual domestic bliss in Yi City with no consequences so long as XXC never finds out his name.

The core differences between Huaisang and Xue Yang as type 7s (setting aside the larger influences of class and privilege and purely examining their personalities) I think come from their wings, which you can mainly see when things go wrong for both of them; I would say Xue Yang is a 7wing8, as when shit hits the fan for him, he becomes furious and destructive to hide his weakness, like a very unhealthy 8. Huaisang I think is more a 7wing6, as when things go bad for him he uses his Headshaker persona as a shield but underneath he is anxious, suspicious, and emotionally isolated, secretly testing everyone around him for true loyalty, much like an unhealthy 6.

I try to avoid the stereotype of “anyone with Big Anger Issues is type 8″ but, uh, with Mingjue and Jiang Cheng the shoe really does fit. They both really rise to the occasion when forced to take on the mantle of leader by being assertive, decisive and resourceful, but they both hide behind their violent and destructive tempers to avoid addressing issues and what they are at fault for in the breakdown of their relationships.

As with a lot of these characters, I think their essential differences come out when you look at their wing-influenced traits. Mingjue is a type 8wing7, which may seem like a strange choice, but I think his 7 aspects come out in his very avoidant approach to morality - Good is Good and Bad is Bad and if you’re Bad then you should be Punished and if anything contradicts with that and makes me uncomfortable well I Simply Do Not See It. Jiang Cheng is a type 8wing9; unlike Mingjue, who thrives on confrontation and is unafraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve, Jiang Cheng clearly has greater insecurities due to his trauma and social position as a young sect leader, so tends towards whichever reaction will best hide his vulnerability, be that an explosion of temper or quietly keeping his head down and ceding political ground. The basic desire of a 9 is peace of mind and harmony, and we see that influence in Jiang Cheng when he dreams of his family being happy at Lotus Pier.  

I think both Xichen and Wen Ning and fairly typical 9s; calm, affable and peaceable, preferring to avoid conflict and being far more concerned with hearing the opinions of the people around them than voicing their own. Xichen’s hatred of conflict is pretty clear in his position within 3zun, as he tries to mediate and bring his sworn brothers back together, though whilst it is initially noble, his intentions regarding conflict do lean more towards avoidance than resolution, so ultimately they are long-term unsuccessful. 

I think there’s something interesting and kind of sad about a conflict-avoidant type 9 becoming the Yiling Patriarch’s attack dog, but I do think that is reflected in him being a 9wing8 - the Ghost General is so powerful because he’s SO FULL OF ANGER, and Wen Ning also has a strong drive for personal justice, as well as acting as a leader in during the war (he tells WWX that he has people who will help him smuggle the Jiang parent bodies out of Lotus Pier, and that would require a HUGE amount of loyalty, so presumably he’s a pretty good leader!) In comparison, the (slightly) more detached and objective Xichen I see as a 9wing1; the 1 attitude is where he bonds with Wangji, both having that very Lan attitude of “if you see a moral problem it is your duty to fix it”, and the times we actually see Xichen choose conflict are when he is standing up for justice, his morals, and people he perceives as wronged. 

[littlesmartart]

descriptions from here. as a follow up to my previous posts, here are a few more relationship combos! these are the only ones I’m really interested in exploring myself, but if you would like to see different ships, you can buy me a kofi and request it

WANGXIAN: whilst the 1wing2 x 6wing7 may seem, on the surface, like a case of opposites attract, when the relationship becomes serious, it’s their shared strong, innate core values that hold them together; they are both hard working, conscientious, care deeply about truth and honour, and want to improve the world. type ones bring the six a sense of sureness and security, fully committing to their partner. sixes bring emotional warmth and generosity of spirit, and are able to help the one be more open-minded. 

SONGXIAO: the 1wing2 x 2wing1 combination can be viewed as something of a power couple - they both have an intense drive to bring positive change to the world, and pursue it diligently as their duty in life. as a duo, they are very outward facing, and bring high ideals and strong ethical standards to any community they are part of. ones are steady, reliable, and truthful, helping twos feel secure and valued. twos bring a nurturing spirit to the relationship; warm and welcoming to people in a way that ones admire, and also gently drawing the more reserved one out of their shell.

SANGCHENG: the combination of 7wing6 x 8wing9 is a very high energy and colourful one, with two strong personalities who bounce off each other. they both tend to speak their mind, are strong-willed and resourceful, and will advocate for their friends without hesitation. sevens are usually the more talkative and love to tell stories about their mishaps, helping to frame the world around the eight as fresh and exciting regardless of their circumstances. eights bring a directness and an ability to make tough decisions, helping the sevens face difficult situations with determination and persistence. 

XUANLI: the 1wing9 x 2wing3 couple is a tad less intense and outward-facing than the songxiao combination, but they still have a drive to improve and better their world, they just tend to focus more on their close immediate community rather than feeling a duty to the entire world. they still have high moral standards, though with the peace-seeking wing9 and charismatic wing3, they are more compromising and diplomatic. when ones commit to a relationship, they fully commit, making the twos feel secure and safe. twos are not afraid to work hard to help the one open up, which more reserved ones are grateful for. 

[littlesmartart]

sweet-hobgoblin bought me a kofi and asked me to do an enneagram overview on ChengQing, so here we go...

Both types 6 and 8 have a somewhat defensive view of the world - that life is unpredictable and people are untrustworthy, so they must protect themselves and those they love - and both struggle with trust issues, but the moment they are able to let their guard down with each other, a very strong bond can be formed. They both share a lot of the same vales, believing in hard work, keeping their word, unflinching loyalty, and building a more safe and secure community for the people they care about. 

Type 6s bring warmth and empathy, though Wen Qing is a 6wing5, so she is more measured and introspective than a cheerful 6wing7 (see: Wei Wuxian), with a kind of practicality and analytical focus that the type 8 admires. Type 8s bring decisiveness and leadership skills, as well as an ability to face and endure challenges that inspires loyalty in 6s.  

[littlesmartart]

Hi! First of all, I absolutely love your Enneagram takes on Untamed characters. I feel so personally catered to every time they come on my dash lol.

Obviously everyone’s interpretation of the Enneagram will be different, but I really like the way you’ve analyzed these characters, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on something: when I first watched the untamed, I also saw JC as type 8. But later I considered that he might actually be a 4 (what with all the “if I’m mediocre I might as well not be alive”, etc). I guess ultimately it’s a question of what we think his deepest fear/want is. And besides protecting his family, I’m not sure I know! I’m just curious what made you settle on type 8 for him, and if you have any thoughts on this?

oooh okay, so - I settled on Jiang Cheng as an 8 after discussion between myself, a type 4, and my housemate @ellethinthewoods who is actually a type 8, and we both agreed that in terms of the Vibes he gives out (gets angry to avoid feeling any other feelings, very protective but also distinctly possessive, believes strongly in justice and honour, unafraid to solve his problems with violence) and what we recognise from ourselves in him, he is much more 8 than any other type.

I can definitely see why him falling into that "if I'm mediocre I might as well not be alive" spiral would make you think about him as a 4, as being "not special" and "ordinary" is the core fear of 4s... as is being somewhat melodramatic, ahem, but I would argue that such a phrase is perhaps misleading to use as a basis to type him on. for one thing, "mediocre" in this sense is not being used in the way we would use it in english (definition: of only average quality; not very good) : it is a translation of a xianxia concept referring SPECIFICALLY to someone not having cultivation. Jiang Cheng is not lamenting the fact that he is now boring and average, what he is saying is that he believes if he does not have spiritual powers he is worthless. and why does he want spiritual powers? not for the reasons a typical 4 would want them - for the sake of having them, in order to make themselves feel exciting and unique - but because he has been taught since he was young that his only value is in fulfilling the role of a powerful sect leader who can lead and protect his people... aaaand also because he's suuuuuper insecure about being less powerful than Wei Wuxian. both of which feed into the type 8 core fear of not being strong enough and not having enough control. it's also worth taking into account that at that point, Jiang Cheng is deep in both depression and PTSD. everything is gonna pack a bigger emotional punch for him and he may not act in a way that is typical for his usual personality!

another point I would argue is that, as one of the core 4 traits is that we just love feeling all the feels regardless of whether or not they're pleasant, Jiang Cheng cannot be a 4 because JIANG CHENG HATES HIS FEELINGS. NO FEELINGS HERE ONLY ANGER IS ALLOWED. FUCK YOU.

[littlesmartart]

that enneagram post is SO detailed, and beautifully set out! I'm curious where you would place mianmian (if there's enough about her in canon, sorry qin su ;_;)! I'd be tempted to place her with the 1s just based on what was in your post but that's literally the extent of my knowledge about it so very curious what you think!

hmmm, Mianmian is a tough one as we really don't see that much of her in canon. so, what can we conclude from what we do see of her?

when we see her at ease (bantering with WWX in the inn, during the lantern ceremony in Gusu, and later when she meets Wangxian again with her family) she is cheerful and playful, and socially quick-witted. when we see her with Zixuan, it's clear that she is very politically savvy, and intensely, fiercely loyal. in the xuanwu cave she is clearly deeply rattled by her own sect brothers turning on her, and seems to strongly value Zixuan and the others protecting and standing up for her. during the Soup Incident she is not afraid to tell Zixuan that he's wrong - and yet she still bodily throws herself between him and WWX's punch. one of her most defining character moments is when she speaks out against the widespread condemnation of WWX and actually leaves the Jin sect over it, so clearly justice and truth are vitally important to her, and unlike characters like Zixuan or Lan Xichen, who hold great concern about rocking the political boat so do not speak up, she is absolutely unwilling to compromise her morals, despite the consequences.

to summarise: she is naturally cheerful and charismatic, fiercely loyal to her friends, and whilst she clearly struggles with fear and danger, when push comes to shove she values her morals higher than her own personal safety.

based on this, I would say on instinct that Mianmian could be a type 6 (like Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing). I would say 6 over 1, as type 1s often have issues with repression, resistance, and aggression (think Zixuan, Wangji, Song Lan) and will often become more reserved to try and "keep themselves in check" - I don't feel like, from what we see of her, that Mianmian has any of those issues.

the basic fear of type 6 is not having security and support. I can see that as being part of why she has such a close relationship with Zixuan - who gives her both - when she lives in a sect as toxic for women as the Jin sect. it is also why leaving the sect to strike out on her own is such a powerful statement... she has fucking snapped, baybee!! enough is enough!!! it serves as a really nice narrative parallel to WWX rescuing the Wen remnants; he is a 6, and it is a character defining moment for him to refuse to be complicit any longer, and forsake any security he once had with the Jiangs in order to follow his morals. it seems very much like she decides to make that same choice.

I would finish up what has turned into a fucking essay (whoops) with a quote directly from here about type 6:

We have named personality type Six The Loyalist because, of all the personality types, Sixes are the most loyal to their friends and to their beliefs. They will “go down with the ship” and hang on to relationships of all kinds far longer than most other types. Sixes are also loyal to ideas, systems, and beliefs—even to the belief that all ideas or authorities should be questioned or defied. Indeed, not all Sixes go along with the “status quo”: their beliefs may be rebellious and anti-authoritarian, even revolutionary. In any case, they will typically fight for their beliefs more fiercely than they will fight for themselves, and they will defend their community or family more tenaciously than they will defend themselves.