Half a month ago, I saw a topic on Weibo #Stunning Moments When Masks are Removed in Dramas#. Many people were talking about Xiao Zhan, but my first thought was the scene where Guo Xiang sees Yang Guo in "Palace of Desire".
Just when I was wondering if I was getting old, I saw a blogger post a video - a clip of the first meeting between Princess Taiping and Xue Shao in "Palace of Desire". The music was enchanting, Taiping was lively, and Xue Shao was handsome. It immediately caught my attention.
The comments below were filled with nostalgia, with many agreeing and praising the profound impression of this scene.
One comment said: "Taiping mistook Xue Shao for a lifetime." It reminded me of two tragic legends in Jin Yong's martial arts novels -
"Guo Xiang mistook Yang Guo for a lifetime, Zhang Sanfeng mistook Guo Xiang for a hundred years."
Zhang Sanfeng looked at Guo Xiang's farewell letter, and suddenly saw the intelligent and wise young girl, which happened a hundred years ago.
From the old version of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber: The Silken Threads of a Thousand Strands"
So, I searched for "Palace of Desire" and was surprised to find that this TV series from 20 years ago has a high rating of 9.1 on Douban.
Out of curiosity, I watched a few episodes and couldn't stop. After staying up late for two weeks, I finally finished watching the series.
During the viewing process, I gradually understood why it has such a high rating on Douban - meticulous dialogue, excellent acting by the actors, and exquisite Tang Dynasty costumes.
From an aesthetic and artistic perspective, this series is indeed beautiful.
Beautiful lyrics - "Your mistake is as beautiful as a fairy, your graceful figure makes my hands uncontrollable, your fluffy hair fills my vision, I can't see the roads and mountains, it's just pitch black."
Tragic beauty - Xue Shao and Huiniang, Taiping and Xue Shao, Li Zhi and Helan Shi... pairs of sorrowful lovers, stories of tragic beauty.
There are many memorable scenes in the series:
- Taiping's youthful appearance when she first meets Xue Shao
- The shadow puppetry and the song "The Mulberry Picking Girl" that appear multiple times throughout the series
- Helan Shi's unwillingness when sinking into the lake
The scene where Taiping meets Xue Shao at the Lantern Festival is the highlight of the series, accompanied by the song "Chang Xiang Shou" (Longtime Companion). It is sorrowful and affectionate, destined to be the beginning of a tragedy.
Shadow puppetry and "The Mulberry Picking Girl" appear many times in the series. The most unforgettable is the portrayal of Li Zhi and Helan Shi, as if they are the characters in the play, full of the helplessness of reality. Another scene is when Li Zhi is seriously ill, singing this sorrowful song with his beloved Taiping until he leaves this world.
Male: "...Who is this girl from? She has a face full of spring, exceptionally beautiful. This girl, please stop your beautiful steps. Do you know what mistake you have made?
Female: This general, it was clearly your horse that kicked over my bamboo basket. Look at this wide road leading to the blue sky, yet you let this despicable animal splash me with dirt. How can you blame me for your mistake?
Male: Your mistake is as beautiful as a fairy, your graceful figure makes my hands uncontrollable, your fluffy hair fills my vision, I can't see the roads and mountains, it's just pitch black..." (Full lyrics are attached at the end of the text)
Helan Shi's fate is tragic because she is too naive, thinking that her beauty alone can defeat Wu Zetian. In front of the storms and trials of Wu Zetian, she is just a fragile rose, withering with a wave of her hand.
Furthermore, this series is surprising in its bold portrayal of various themes. It includes male favorites, female empowerment, homosexuality, incest, and more. If it were made today, I'm afraid no one would dare to film it, or it would not pass the censorship.
So, is the current censorship a form of protection or a step backward?
Returning to this series. Because it is based on history, it is inevitable that some people will compare it to official historical records. If we look at this series from a historical perspective, it would be a different evaluation, and it can even be said to be neither here nor there.
Most of the characters in the series are based on historical figures, but they have been adapted to serve the plot to some extent. Although some characters have been completely changed, the majority still adhere to historical facts.
While watching the series, I would search each character on Wikipedia to learn about their background and fate. It was a way of learning and entertainment, and it enriched my understanding of the Tang Dynasty history.
If I were to give an evaluation of this series, I can only say - if viewed from the perspective of plot/art, it is definitely worth watching; if viewed as official history, there is no need to trouble oneself.
I gave it one of the few 5-star ratings because it truly deserves it. Although the entire series depicts tragedy, as life experiences increase, I realize that tragedy is an indispensable part of life. I increasingly feel that... tragedy... is the essence of life. Perhaps it is this kind of artistic work that can truly touch the depths of one's heart.
Finally, because I love the lyrics of this series, I found the script version of "Palace of Desire" and imported it into WeChat Reading. Occasionally, I take it out to reminisce, which is also a great enjoyment.
While reading, I discovered that I watched the 37-episode version, which was reportedly edited by the director to pass the CCTV censorship. Some parts about Wu Zetian's power struggles and subsequent erotic scenes were cut. The complete version has 40 episodes. It is very obvious that the earlier episodes (which were cut) had a lot of descriptions about Wu Zetian, and they were very detailed, describing her conflicts with Li Zhi, describing the fate of Chun...
Therefore, for those who love this series, this script is worth reading.
Dialogue from the shadow puppetry "The Mulberry Picking Girl":
Female: Wild flowers sway in the wind, as if pouring out their hearts, green grass trembles with sadness, endless tenderness and attachment. The first green willow branch falls into the boundless blue water, stirring up the hearts and emotions. Why does spring come every year as scheduled, but my husband who is far away never sends any news?
Male: Leaving home and country for three whole years, for the magnificent Chang'an in my dreams, the city is full of magical adventures, fulfilling the grand aspirations of a man. Now I have returned home in glory, encountering the spring of this hometown. Look at this river of spring water, look at these peach blossoms, look at these dark blue mountains, they haven't changed at all. I wonder if my wife, who I married just a month ago and then parted, is still as beautiful? Who is this girl from? She has a face full of spring, exceptionally beautiful. This girl, please stop your beautiful steps. Do you know what mistake you have made?
Female: This general, it was clearly your horse that kicked over my bamboo basket. Look at this wide road leading to the blue sky, yet you let this despicable animal splash me with dirt. How can you blame me for your mistake?
Male: Your mistake is as beautiful as a fairy, your graceful figure makes my hands uncontrollable, your fluffy hair fills my vision, I can't see the roads and mountains, it's just pitch black...