From delicate objects to gorgeous characters, from dreamlike scenes to novel ideas, film and television works present interesting plots with images, and also carry forward memories of traditional culture with technologies. On July 20, the Chinese drama “Immortal Samsara”aired, telling the story of Yingyuan, the God of War who guards the barrier, and the Lotus Fairy Yan Dan who can heal the pain, helping the weak and protecting the world together with their partners.
The show attracted a lot of attention and heated discussions on the Internet in the first week of its broadcast. With extraordinary popularity and influence，it frequently appears on the lists of major films and TV works both domestically and abroad. In fact, in many countries, there are stories about myth and magic, just like “Harry Potter” and “Game of Thrones”. But in China, there is a mythological world of “XianXia” of the Chinese themselves.，a mythical world that belongs to the Chinese people. The background of “Immortal Samsara” is the six realms of heaven, the fairyland, the mortal world, the demon world, the devildom and the underworld. Individuals with different identities and powers fight for their own sake of gains. Finally, a group of young people who are loyal and upright and take world peace as their responsibility defeated the evil. This spiritual core, which has certain universal value, has caused a great sensation among netizens in domestic and abroad and has frequently became a trending topic on Weibo(China’s equivalent of Twitter). Young audiences immerse themselves in this drama because of its lively plots and rich characters setting, and they are learning about Chinese culture while watching the drama.
Many Chinese people are fond of “XianXia” films and TV works. This type of work not only inherits a rich cultural heritage but also allows the audience to accumulate knowledge and vent feelings when watching. At the same time, this type is also famous for nearly perfect Chinese-style visual effects, from the clothing hue to the standard style, from the jewelry to the accessories. Different from the dull reality, immortal chivalrous dramas give people more room for imagination. One viewer commented after watching the drama, “immortal chivalrous dramas are like creating a dream for children who like myths. In this dream, there are confidants, love, unyielding spirit and the brave to create miracle.”
As the most effective pattern of manifestation of traditional Chinese culture, immoral chivalrous dramas can let the world understand Chinese people’s expression of emotions and pursuit of beauty. Obviously, the creative teams of “Immortal Samsara” are well aware of it. So at the beginning, they designed the drama based on traditional Chinese culture. In the already updated episodes, the characters in the drama treat things with different views and practices because of their different identities and personalities. With the development of the story, the choice between “greater good” and “individual” is also brought to a climax, which also reflects traditional Chinese Confucian ideas of "benevolence" and "righteousness".
Judging from its current production scale and audience feedback, the immoral chivalrous drama “Immortal Samsara” may start a trend of a prevailing wave of traditional Chinese culture abroad. In terms of shooting skills, the narrative mode of this drama is very smart. The main and sub-line plots are intertwined, closely linking the ups and downs of the fate and the relationship of the characters, multi-layered but focus-highlighted, interesting but insightful. In the drama, the hero and heroine encounter many hardships in the process of saving the world, but their insistence on justice and ideals never change. Emphasizing human emotions, worshiping great love and befitting the world, their story is heroic, romantic and idealistic.
“In tranquility, Ying Yuan is an innocence child, while in turbulence he is a brave adult.” The "contrast" of the hero Ying Yuan's character in this show arouses the empathy of many audiences.From the heavy-duty Emperor of the Six Realms to the sword-wielding Demon Hunter, the characters' personal charm and chivalrous spirit fully demonstrate the Chinese-style heroism. ”Her persistence is touching, and she is free and easy, which makes people yearn for.” The heroine, Yan Dan, is principled and restrained in front of major issues and is pure and natural in the relationship between family and love. The drama highlights the ups and downs of the heroine’s growth process, endows her with more personality, and allows the audience to grow up with her, showing the female power in the new era of China.
“Immortal Samsara” creates a mythological world featuring Chinese traditional culture based on Chinese local elements. Unique aesthetics and majestic themes that attract the overseas audiences, chivalrous spirit, the pursuit of peace and harmony, and a universal value that justice will triumph over evil, all of these make Chines stories more charismatic.
“With traditional culture as the core spirit, we hope to let the foreign audience have a deeper understanding of China through art forms popular among young people, and also let overseas Chinese see the expression of Chinese culture in the chivalrous world,” said the head of the drama’s creative team.
Company: Beijing Mirui Culture Co. Ltd
Contact Person: Li Junjian
Email: ijunjian@miruiwenhua.com
Website: www.miruiwenhua.com/
Telephone: 15810453656
City: Beijing