The Story Of Pearl Girl - companion piece

Chinese title : 珠帘玉幕 (Zhū lián yù mù / "Pearl Curtains and Jade Screens" (*)

English title : The Story of Pearl  Girl (changed from "The Legend of Jewelry")

(*) Translation suggested by MDL member PeachBlossomGoddess who explained in another Discussion that this an idiom alluding to the decadent luxury of the wealthy and powerful, reminding that the ancient emperors often were depicted with a "pearl curtain" before their faces.

Jinjiang Literature City website logo

Original Writing: 昆山玉前传 (Kūnshān yù qiánchuán /The Story of Kunshan Jade) by Tán Tiānyīn 谈天音  (Tiānyīn is a pen name borrowed from one of  the 500 arhats, and the author is from Suzhou, born in the 1980s, and is a resident author in Jinjiang Literature City, one of the most influential original literary websites for women in mainland China. It has more than 5.34 million online novels, nearly 10,000 published novels, and more than 250,000 signed copyright works. On average, more than 2,800 new copyrighted works are added every month. The number of registered authors exceeds 2.4 million.)

Short synopsis of drama version : "Duānwǔ, a pearl diver from Hepu, Lianzhou, was diligent, intelligent, sweet-tongued, and the only role model among all female slaves. However, she was betrayed by her best friend during an assassination attempt and almost died. She was picked up by Yàn Zijīng, the leader of the passing caravan, a businessman from Xiyu (Western Region) and thus stepped into the world of jewelry under the new name Sū Mùzhē, also meeting and teaming with  a humble gentleman: Zhāng Jìnrán," (adapted from Baidu) "After enduring countless hardships, Hepu's pearl diver Duānwǔ escapes the brutal pearl farm and crosses paths with Yàn Zijīng, a merchant from the Western Regions, and Zhāng Jìnrán, a noble gentleman. Joining Yan's trade caravan, she fights her way up, lured by the glittering world of jewels within reach. But on the journey northwest, she unearths secrets of her own past and is drawn into Yàn Zijīng's complex web of revenge, losing loved ones and facing betrayal.  Reborn as Sū Mùzhē, she ventures into Yangzhou, determined to seek the truth no matter the cost. With a clear mind free from hatred, she founds her own business, "Clear Mind," and joins forces with Zhāng Jìnrán to clear an old injustice. Yàn Zijīng, once intent on shouldering his shame and revenge alone, eventually finds peace and braves life's storms with her. As the dust settles, Sū Mùzhē reaches new heights at the Jewel Exhibition, inspiring countless women who once yielded to fate to reclaim their own paths." (Dramawiki) Note: Duān Wǔ 端午 is also the name of the "Dragon boat festival" (Duānwǔ jié 端午节)  held each year in China in June, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It commemorates the life and death of ancient History  Chinese scholar and poet Qū Yuán 屈原 (Chu Yuan), famous for his patriotism.

{"e-book cover"] The novel version in Chinese has 23 chapters and an audio version as of 2024 (but download is at own risk as the site has been flagged to be unsafe).  The novel was   reviewed on Douban  on 2023-5-29 when it was only reaching chapter 10, and it was appreciated as "quite good".  Reading in original version is possible here .  Instead of direct machine translation, try this better   English version, noticed by  baghetti  in her  novel discussion thread. A "novel outline" and a more detailed "plot summary" (click for links) have been added by MDL user May007 on Jul6, 2023, in the Photo section.

• 2024 TV series  - 40 episodes, airing from November 1, 2024

(see platforms below)

DIRECTOR Xiè Zé  谢泽 Graduate from Beijing Film Academy in 2002. He has worked from 1999 to 2015 as Cinematographer, winning awards for : 2012 Empresses in the Palace drama  2014 Red Sorghum (drama version) 2015 Legend of Mi Yue drama He worked with celebrated movie directors  -  Féng Xiǎogāng (2003 Cell phone, 2004 A World Without Thieves, and 2006 The Banquet),  -  John Woo (2009 Red Cliff2)  -  Zhāng  Yìmóu (2009 A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop and 2010 Under the Hawthorn Tree) Xiè Zé was also the Producer of 2012 movie Painted Skin: The Resurrection.  Since 2016 he has directed more than 10 dramas, among which popular 2018 Legend of Fu Yao 2021 Jun Jiu Ling 2021 Luoyang 2023 Romance of a Twin Flower (Two dramas from 2016 are almost impossible to find and not subbed: 潛伏在黎明之前  (Qiánfú zài límíng zhīqián / Lurking before dawn) and Son of Hero which got postponed till  2023 because of a  ML scandal. Another one, Nameless Detective,  suffers similar trouble and will likely stay aborted)

"Director of Team B"  Chén Xītài  陈熙泰 b. June, 1974 (50 years old) Also a photographer and cinematographer, from Taiwan,  he has worked on 2024 The Story of Pearl Girl  and Lost Identity 2021 Treasure List: Infinite Guarding 2021  Jun Jiu Ling 2019  Ten Years Late  2018 Great Expectations  and  Great Expectations - Twin Dragons  Chief screenwriter  Fǔ Tiān  (府天), real name Zhang Shuyu 张书玉 She joined Chuangshi Chinese Network 创世中文网 in June 2013 after having already become recognized as a "platinum author" on Qidian 起点 network. She specializes in court intrigues and palace romances such as her Romance in Tang Dynasty  盛唐风月 serialized on Chuangshi. Screenwriter Mǎ Shāshā 马莎莎 She has worked since 2018 on the scripts of several costume dramas: 2018 Devastating Beauty 2020 General's Lady 2023 Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (starring Tián Xīwēi 田曦薇  and Áo Ruìpéng 敖瑞鹏) Additional Screenwriters: Zhāng Róng  (张荣), Wáng Chén (王晨)

• AIRING DATES AND PLATFORMS

Special airing calendars were issued :

Drama Weibo Page with 202,000 followers, and 27.919 million posts forwarded, as of October 31, 2024 ; almost 218,000 followers and 29.3 million posts forwarded on November 4 ; 223 ,000 followers on Nov.7.

The drama has special pages on : Baidu Baike Douban Weibo Maoyan Fun fact for those who visited the drama Weibo page: it often changed its header picture, to reflect the notable places (mostly imaginary)  in the episode of the day. For instance, to the left : the palace of Xú Nányīng and Guǎngzhōu port (eps. 6-10) ; Bafang Tower in Wǔlǐng (eps.14-15),  Zhenlang Pavilion in Yángzhōu (eps.20-24) etc.

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(work in progress)

Song names in the table below link to the MV recordings with Hanzi/Pinyin/English translations on YouTube made by PeacheyBlossom. (when available from her playlist)  

OST poster on Weibo, October 31, 2024

Song Name /名称  (type of song)	Singer / 演唱	Lyricist and Composer
Pearlescent Light 《珠光重晔》 Zhūguāng zhòng yè (Opening song/Fate theme song)	Jane Zhang Zhāng Jìngyǐng or Zhāng Liàngyǐng  张靓颖	L:  Liú Jié  刘捷、Chén Kěxīn 陈可欣 M:  Liú Jié   刘捷
Only Wish《惟愿》 Wéi yuàn (Ending song/departure theme song)	Modern brothers  Liú Yǔníng   摩登兄弟刘宇宁	L:  Liào Yǔ  廖羽 M:  Wáng Zǐtóng  王梓同
Not allowed《不得》 Bùdé (Unforgettable theme song)	Silence Wang /  Wāng Sūlóng  汪苏泷	L:  Liú Jié  刘捷、Chén Kěxīn 陈可欣 M:  Liú Jié   刘捷
The World will have its time《人间有时》 Rénjiān yǒushí (everlasting love song)	Curley G Xīlínnàyī Gāo 希林娜依高	L:   Liào Yǔ  廖羽 M:  Wáng Zǐtóng  王梓同
What year is this night?《此宵是何年》 Cǐ xiāo shì hé nián (Interlude)	Jì Tīngrán 计听然	L:   Liào Yǔ  廖羽 M:  Wáng Zǐtóng  王梓同
May The Rest of My Life 《愿余生》 Yuàn yúshēng	Wú Mòchóu 吴莫愁 picture from her singing live on the Live Stream event of October 30, 2024	L:  Liú Rùnjié  刘润洁 M:  Gāo Yíng   高莹

Source:  Official OST list from the Baidu  drama page

Liú Yǔníng  has so many OST songs these days that it is almost hard to keep track of them all, lol!  He helpfully listed them in a funny livestream/interview from his livestream room in Héngdiàn, lampooning and perhaps spoiling a little TSOPG while gently promoting all those other dramas as well :  

• "Fangs of Fortune" (the song 无心生大梦 Unintentional Big Dream is in a unusual style for him)
• "A beautiful lie" (that song, You Are The One, was already released a few months ago), 
•  “Our Days" (好团圆) now airing on YouTube (song: 这一路 This Way) 
  
• "The Rise of Ning" aka Splendid Peace (starring Zhang Wanyi and Ren Min), singing Splashing Ink.
  
• "Kill Me Love Me" aka Chūnhuā yàn ,  singing Dare not meet spring
  
• "The Story of Pearl Girl" ending song  Only Wish  in the list above.
  

The near full 3hrs38' live stream including by phone with  Zhào Lùsī on her way to catch a plane, is also available on YouTube, but without English subtitles.

The song "Crescent Moon Bay" (originally from Taiwan pop group F.I.R. of September 2007) refers to Crescent Moon Lake (月牙泉 Yuèyá quán /Crescent Moon Spring), 6km south of Dūnhuáng 敦煌 , an oasis in the Gobi desert with grassy fields and a beautiful pavilion at the foot of striking sand dunes.

Although the Húnán SatelliteTVNewYearParty 2024 performance is long past, it has some vibes in common with TSoPG drama settings, in Zhào Lùsī 's dance and singing "Crescent Moon Bay". (Click on my GIF below for access to the full 4'11 performance recording on YouTube:

PeacheyBlossom's MV on YouTube with Hanzi/Pinyin/English lyrics (click on picture to listen and read)

Link back to Table of Contents

(Warning : work in progress)

Note : pictures, snapshots and GIF link to sources and more

snapshot from ep.1 GIF excerpt from ep.2	1. Duānwǔ  端午 A slave girl from Hépǔ on the coast, where pearl divers  were young and short lived.   Her back story was painful but she got hope and a revelation, together with a blood stained pearl, from Lady Bā after her being sent as "pearl hostess" for Cuī's Pearl Farm and meeting Mr Zhāng Jìnrán, before her escape. On board the ship of Yàn Zijīng, she became a cleaning servant below deck before  being allowed to try her idea for sales on land  of scrap from the jewelry trade.	Zhào Lùsī  赵露思 aka Rosy b. Nov.9, 1998 in Chéngdū Baidu, Douban  Weibo, Personal Studio,  Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Bilibili 2024 new hairstyle Actress, singer, guzheng player, archer and gymnast, animal lover, she has played in over 20 successful dramas and a handful movies since her debut in  2018  Untouchable Lovers. She already played once as SFL alongside Liú Yǔníng in 2021 The Long Ballad.
	2. Làlà  腊腊 A more timid diver and pearl hostess, befriended by Duānwǔ.	Wáng Yùnyǎ  王韵雅 b.March14, 1996 Baidu Graduate from Běijīng Film Academy ; 2018 debut in the 2019 drama Memories of Peking. She also appeared in 2023 Skip a Beat and  The Case Solver S3; 2024 Islands.
	3. Lady Bā ("Lady Eight")     八娘子 Bā niángzǐ The harsh scar-faced slave accountant and madam in Hépǔ, assigning work or tasks for some slave girls of Cuīs Pearl Farm. Yet, she also was covertly trying to protect Duānwǔ who was her own daughter when she was Lady Yàn before being captured and sold into slavery.	Tú líng 涂凌 b.Oct27, 1973   Weibo A graduate of Běijīng Film Academy, she has appeared in about 30 dramas and 7 movies since 1997, and will be in the cast of upcoming drama Northward.
	4. Young Duānwǔ Her back story is told more of in episode 2	Zhāng Xīwéi 张熙唯 b.Nov 1, 2011 Weibo She has appeared in about 17 dramas and a movie since 2019, and played "young Sāng Zhì" (Zhào LùSī 's younger character) in 2023 Hidden Love.
	5. Hǎigǒu ("fur seal")  海狗 A diver who had no respect for women and tried to kill Duānwǔ  after wrestling from her the large pearl she had extracted from the dangerous giant Tridacta shell.	Jì Hǎixīng  纪海星 b.July 11, 1988 Weibo A singer (including of OST songs) and actor, he appeared in 7 movies and a dozen dramas since 2014.
	6. Cuī Dìng  崔定 To lure the pearl divers into taking a deadly risk to find very large pearls, the Steward of Cuī's Pearl Farm promised a manumission document (freedom). (He was serving prince Tan and hiding his identity as a traitor to the Yàn)	Luō èryáng  罗二羊 db. not available Weibo He has appeared in about 40 dramas or movies since 1995.
	7. "Shrimp" Xiǎo Xiāmi  小虾米 Duānwǔ's younger brother.	Fù Bóhán 傅铂涵 b.May16, 2012 Weibo He has appeared in about 38 dramas and 2 movies since 2019
	8.  Businessman on the ship 商人乙 (Shāngrén yǐ) He presented a golden hairpin with rubies and pearls that was rejected as subpar by Master Kang, appraising for the jewelers.	Qū Gāng  屈刚 b.March 12, 1969 Weibo He has appeared in over 70 dramas and 5 movies since 2010.
	9. Master Kāng    康居 (Kāng jū) A close associate and faithful friend of Master Yàn Zijīng. He came from the Western regions, needed a cane to walk because of an old injury, and dealt ruthlessly with swindlers.   He commanded the warriors of middle deck, and was sympathetic to young Duānwǔ.	Yú Yǒnghǎi 于永海 b.March, 1990 No more info about this actor
	10. Trader in counterfeit Hétián jade  商人丙 (Shāngrén bǐng) He owed his life to Mr Zhāng Jìnrán	Lǐ Hóngquán  李洪权 b.June 29, 1968  Weibo He has appeared in about 50 dramas and 6 movies since 2003.
	11. Mr. Péng Wǔ 彭五 A  pearl merchant from Chang'an in collude with Cuī Dìng and prince Tan. He next wanted to buy the Tridacna pearl displayed by the pearl hostess who had extracted it at Despair cove.	Sūn Zhòngqiū    孙仲秋 b.Sept 7, 1987  Weibo He has appeared in about 30 dramas or movies since 2013
	12. Accountant Wèi   /Wèi Yàn  卫彦 She worked for the jewelers caravan on board the ship of Yàn Zijīng.	Mǎ Xiǎoyuàn  马小媛 b.May 3, 1993 Douban She has appeared in about 16 dramas or movies since 2014.
	13. Mr Zhāng Jìnrán 张晋然 A low-key "wandering scholar" from Cháng'ān who was on a secret mission ; he was later revealed to be Prince Yǐng's sworn brother, the 4th son of a minister and a companion to the Emperor.	"Daddi" Táng Xiǎotiān  唐晓天 b.June 2, 1991  Weibo He has appeared in about 26 dramas since 2017 including as "Sū Míngyù" in 2023 The Ingenious One, and sung OST songs for 4 dramas. Fandom Name: Dùnhào 顿号 (Chinese back sloping comma 、used to separate items in a list)
	14.  Master Yàn Zijīng  燕子京 A jeweler from the state of Kang and "distinguished guest" of the pearl farm, trading with Cuī Dìng. He was the owner of the merchant ship "The Mirage" and had come to Hépǔ to purchase the large pearls that had not been included in the imperial tribute owed by Cuī Dìng.	Liú Yǔníng   刘宇宁 b. Jan.8, 1990 Weibo Famous as "king of OST songs", he also played in 5 movies and about 15 dramas since 2016, among which 2021 The Long Ballad, as "Hào Dōu", alongside Zhào Lùsī. His role in 2023 A Journey To Love as "Níng Yuǎn zhōu" was also much remarked. He sang a song for TSoPG  OST. Fandom Name: Mó fàn, péng fēi 摩饭，棚妃 (starving concubines)
	15. Dù Míng 杜明 Zhāng Jìnrán's subordinate had the accounts notebook with the gold willow leaf token handed to the seller, when Mr Zhāng  purchased the pearl (ep.2)	Gào Chén 郜宸 No more info about this actor
	16. Attendant Páng     庞从事 (Páng cóngshì) He worked for Yàn Zijīng and could allow the servants to go on land to trade with the jewelers, if they agreed to hand over a commission, recorded by the accountant. He used to back the schemes of overseer Cáo, but found Duānwǔ's ideas interesting enough to give them a try.	Lǐ Dòng   李栋 b.Dec5, 1983  Douban He has appeared in about 36 dramas since 2013, including short roles in 2024 Dark Night and Dawn, and Blossoms in Adversity.
	17. Cuī shíjiǔ,  Cuī Zhuóhuá  崔十九、崔灼华 Legitimate daughter but disregarded for her sex, she dressed as a man and had the badge of her family to to take decisions. But she hated Duānwǔ, targeting her as responsible for the trouble at Cuī's Pearl Farm which belonged to her family assets.	Xiè Kěyín  谢可寅 b.Jan4, 1997  Weibo ; Personal Studio Graduate from Nanjing University of the Arts, former member of C-Pop group The9, she has appeared in 5 dramas and one movie since 2022 Left Right, incl. 2024 The First Shot (as Zhāng Xuěyáo). Fandom Name:  hǔ wèiduì 虎卫队 (Tiger guard)
	18. Ā  Tóng  阿彤 She was Cuī shíjiǔ's maid and also hated Duānwǔ.	Wáng Lìnà  王丽娜 b.March 23, 1999 Weibo She appeared in a dozen dramas since 2018 Fandom Name: xiǎo yáng juǎn er 小羊卷儿 (little lamb rolls)
	19.  Ā Tán  阿檀 Cuī shíjiǔ's other maid	Wàn Yǔhán  万雨晗 b.Dec, 2000  Weibo She has appeared in about 7 dramas since 2021.
	20. Cuī Jiǎ   崔甲 He hoped to escape with Cuī Dìng after the fire. But he had to turn to Cuī shíjiǔ . He murdered Lady Bā.	Yán Chāng  闫昌 b.Sept9, 1989  Douban He has appeared in 3 other dramas since 2021.
	21. Young Yàn Zijīng 燕子京 His family had been massacred under his eyes, when he was a child hiding under a piece of furniture ; he had a younger sister whom he did not know the fate of.	Chén Tiānyǔ 陈天雨 b.Oct10, 2014 Weibo He has appeared in about ten dramas since 2020, including as young "Mù Shēng" in 2024 Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (aka Black Lotus Tactics Manual).
	22.  Ā Hú   阿胡 A cleaning servant below deck on the ship of Yàn Zijīng.	Hú Kěnǚ   胡可女 b.Jul29, 1997 Weibo She has appeared in a handful dramas since 2022 Ordinary Greatness
	23. Ā Xiù     阿秀 A cleaning servant below deck on the ship of Yàn Zijīng.	Tāng Yuán  汤圆 She has appeared in 2 other dramas since August 2024, including   Love Game in Eastern Fantasy which airs simultaneously to TSoPG.
	24. Xiǎngzaǐ ("Loud") 响仔 /"Zai" informally A cleaning servant below deck on the ship of Yàn Zijīng.	Shěn Chí  沈驰 b.April 15, 1994 Baidu He has appeared in a handful other dramas since 2018 The Story of Minglan, inc. in 2020 The Romance of Tiger and Rose
	25. Cáo dà   曹大 Overseer Cáo below deck was backed by attendant Páng ; he looked benevolent, was tolerated by Yàn Zijīng. But he was trying to get back at Duānwǔ for her taking away some of his private profit making schemes.	Wáng Yīmíng   王一铭  Weibo Since 2017, he has appeared in a handful movies and in a short drama. (Baidu)

	26. Xú Lín   徐林 Xú Nányīng's attendant	Liú Shūyuán  刘书源 b.June 14, 1992 Weibo He appeared in about 16 dramas and 3 movies since 2016 Fandom Name: guǒzhī yuán 果汁源   (juice source)
	27. Special envoy Xú Nányīng  徐南英 The Special Envoy of Treasures had power to investigate the accused in the case of the arson and murder case on Cuī 's Pearl Farm. But he did not want to come too much in the spotlight, as he was siding with the Cuī and covertly embezzling funds, financing prince Tan. He also wrote poems, and knew how to evade guilt and be promoted when he returned to Cháng'ān. Despite his guilts, he was promoted to governorof Yángzhōu.	Sūn Zhīhóng  孙之鸿 b.Oct26, 1990  Weibo He has appeared in support roles in about 31 dramas or movies since 2014
	28. Pān Xínglù   潘行路 Yàn Zijīng  discussed with the Guǎngzhōu Guild Master about the opening of a new trade in colored stone to replace the lost Hépǔ pearls trade.	Gōng Zhèng nán 宫正楠 aka Daniel Gong b.Oct.17, 1984  Weibo Graduate of Beijing Film Academy ; he has appeared in about 50  dramas (not including shelved Immortality) and 13 movies since 2004
	29.  Wú Hēxiáng   吴呵祥 He said he was the Wú Zhǎng guì  (吴掌柜) shopkeeper of Wú's Herbal shop and that he had use for the load of scraps that Duānwǔ wished to sell. But it was a setup by Mr Cáo ; Duānwǔ learned a painful lesson.	not credited on the available cast lists
.	. 30. Yàn Zijīng's father and mother While playing music, Yàn Zijīng remembered in a flashback his journey as a child from Yángzhōu to the state of Kāng, together with his parents.	Ní Sōngyáng  倪菘阳 b.July 22, 1996  Weibo Appeared in about 20 dramas and one movie since 2007.  Wáng Shīméng  王诗蒙 b.Jan 24, 1985  Weibo A graduate from Shànghǎi Theatre Academy, she appeared in about 15 dramas and 2 movies since 2007

	31. Lady Wǔ, "fifth lady Féng" 冯五娘  (Féng wǔniáng) She was the unlucky daughter of Mr Féng, owner of the Zhuobao jewelry shop in Guǎngzhōu. Duānwǔ tried to get her help to find an outlet for her coral beads and handmade hairpins.	Táo Luòyī 陶珞依 b.March11, 1991 Weibo Hui ethnicity ballet dancer and actress born in Héféi but raised in Nánjīng, graduate from both Běijīng Dance Academy, and Communication University of China (CUC). Since 2010, she has appeared in supporting roles in 4 movies and over 30 dramas including 2019 Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre, for which she won the National Film Festival "Annual TV Drama Quality Supporting Actress" Award (for her playing as Ding Min Jun).
	32. A dressmaker Duānwǔ borrowed a dress for her plan to convince Lady wǔ to change her mindset and overcome her troubles.	not credited on the available cast lists
	33. The fortune teller She played on the gullibility of the persons who came to consulther but was outsmarted easily by Duānwǔ.	not credited on the available cast lists
	34. Steward Zhào   赵掌事 (Zhào zhǎngshì) He was a low-key but trusted old aide of Yàn Zijīng and helped Duānwǔ assemble the remaining valuables to enter the auction. He was given a shop as reward to retire in when Yàn Zijīng came back.	Qū Gē  曲戈 Douban He has appeared in a dozen dramas since 2014.
	35.  Shí Pántuó  石盘陀  "Shí Nawei" A trader in South Sea pearls. Yàn Zijīng asked Duānwǔ to secure acontract with him to purchase all his pearls, with help from Lady Wǔ of Zhuobao jewelry house.	Jiǎng Xiāolín  蒋潇林 b.Oct25, 1991 Weibo He has appeared in support roles in about 28 dramas and 9 movies since 2016.
	36. Law Officer He was following the case of the body found murdered on the shore, and took Yàn Zijīng  in for questioning.	not credited on the available cast lists
	37. Yuè zúzhǎng  越族长 "Yuè Xun" Cuī Shíjiǔ did not believe he was in connection with elder Cuī and that he could be entitled to pearls from the Pearl Farm.	Liú Yàjīn   刘亚津 b.Jan 2, 1959 He has appeared in about 54 dramas and 29 movies since 1996.
	38. Cuī Jìngchū  崔敬初 "Cuī Gong" Father of Cuī Shíjiǔ and elder decision maker of Cuī family, he was prejudiced against his daughter and acting recklessly, he ended up ruining his own family.	Wéi Yìbō   韦奕波 b.Nov20, 1974 Weibo He has appeared in about 44 dramas and 8 movies since 2004.

Continued in part 2, next

Link back to Table of Contents

(work in progress)

 Reservations ; Maoyan index ; Top Ten Webdramas of Week ; Heat index on Youku ; Number of people watching ;  posters ;  Douban ;  Recommendations

Even before airing, the drama was already garnering buzz.  

Reservations numbered in millions : 

On October 22, 2024, the production announced they had broken 2 million reservations for the drama, and issued the poster above.

October 25, 2024 : 3 million reservations

October 28, 2024 : 4 million reservations

October 29, 2024 : 5 million reservations

(To avoid mistakes or alterations on cheques etc, the characters

 贰 , 叁 ,  肆 , 伍 

are used for numerals instead of  二 (2),  三 (3), 四 (4), 五 (5) )

POPULARITY INDEXES, TOP TEN DRAMAS OF THE WEEK STANDING

Several indicators had it primed to become a hit : it topped Maoyan listing on first night, and despite expected competition from a fantasy drama it was still close in numbers to this also just airing newest drama benefiting from another popular pairing, two days later (the two new dramas were alternating as #1 over the three days): Snapshot of Nov.4, 01:00 am Beijing time - click on it to check latest data. Will this become a tug-of-war like what happened in 2022 with Historical romance Love Like The Galaxy 星汉灿烂 (which starred Zhào Lùsī and Wú Lěi) and xiānxiá fantasy Love Between Fairy and Devil 苍兰诀 (which starred Esther Yú Shūxīn and Dylan Wáng Hèdì) ?   The next few weeks will see which drama will be closest to heart for the audience, between The Story of Pearl Girl 珠帘玉幕 (Zhào Lùsī , Liú Yǔníng, Táng Xiǎotiān) and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy 永夜星河 aka "Black Lotus Strategy Manual" (Esther Yú Shūxīn and RyanDīng Yǔxī). The third contender to top charts, Fangs of Fortune 大梦归离 (starring Neo Hóu Mínghào and Chén Dōulíng)  was also a costume drama with fantasy elements, which remained strong in charts after a week's airing, despite being somewhat battered in Douban ratings, reputedly "harsh on idol costume dramas" (it garnered 4.9 /10 average from 11,000 ratings) whereas it was #1 in the top ten dramas watched over the week until Nov.3, with 573 points (a rather good week score). A few days later, the initial Douban rating for  Love Game in Eastern Fantasy was published with a favorable 7.5/10 rating.

STANDING AMONG THE TOP 10 WEB DRAMAS  as reported on the Marcus Here! c-drama news channel (click on picture for full reporting) It is interesting that The Story of Pearl Girl already secured a top spot among those top ten dramas, which is rather remarkable since the drama only had 3 days records. (LGIEF was not yet in the top ten list). And while it beat LGIEF by mere 0.08 decimal points (closest tie-break ever seen), on November 10, it still became #1 : as Marcus noted : "“anything over 600 points is : a great week for the drama”. Fangs of Fortune still stood at #3.

watched in China over the weekly period ending : # 10  (Nov.3, 2024 -with only 3 days records) # 1  (Nov10, 611.14 points)

On November 11, "Singles Day" which is an important day for business in China, the drama index on the three TV platforms had risen to respectable standing, which will bring in revenue for those TV channels!

HEAT INDEX ON YOUKU PLATFORM  breaking Youku's popularity points on premiere day Nov.1, 2024 poster

as kept track on by Dreams on her Youku Heat Index Ranking page : Highest peak: 10 300+ (possibly still rising -Youku has lifted the10 000 cap on 25/07/2024) 11/03 -> 10 000 11/03 -> 9 500 11/02 -> 9 000 11/02 -> 8 500 11/02 -> 8 000 11/01 -> 7 500 11/01 -> 7 000 11/01 -> 6 500 11/01 -> 6 000

Nov.2, 2024   and Nov.3, 2024

NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WATCHING (Beijing time)

10 million audience counted on Nov 1, 2024, 3 pm

50 million audience counted on Nov.2, 8 pm

100 million audience counted on Nov.3,  7pm

200 million audience counted on Nov.5,  4:27 pm

700 million audience counted on Nov.14, 10 pm

FAVORITE DRAMA CHARACTERS

WEEK 44 : 28 OCT-03NOV TOP1 :  Duānwǔ / Sū Mùzhē    (The Story of Pearl Girl) TOP2: Líng Miàomiào (Love Game in Eastern Fantasy) TOP3: Yàn Zijing  (The Story of Pearl Girl)

WEEK 46: 11-12 NOV zoom on Vlinkage :The "duel" between the two dramas was intense: the two FL were leading, and the two ML followed, before other drama characters, but as TSoPG got less into "romance" and more into "business", the fantasy drama gained ground.

RECOMMENDATIONS

On November 3, the drama has been recommended by 64 artists including  several noteworthy former colleagues on their social media, among whom Xiào Zhàn 肖战, Lù Hán 鹿晗, Wáng Ānyǔ 王安宇, Zhōu Yǔtóng 周禹彤,  Zhèng Yèchéng 郑业成  and others:

GIF excerpt from Marcus Here! reporting of Nov.4, 2024 (linked)

“The Story of Pearl Girl is not focused on the stories of noblewomen but zooms in on ancient working-class women struggling to survive, portraying the harsh yet legendary world of pearl divers. The protagonist's business journey reflects the struggle of women and showcases the beauty of traditional Chinese jewelry craftsmanship," noted Lu Jia Ning, an associate professor at the Communication University of China.  

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(work in progress)

The story starts in Lǐngnán 岭南 (a part of southern China comprising twin provinces of Guǎngdōng (广东) and Guǎngxī (广西), the names of which mean "eastern expanse" and "western expanse", respectively). Lǐngnán has since most ancient times its own characteristics with own language ("Cantonese")  and customs (heavily influenced by sea-faring trade), so Lǐngnán culture is synonymous with Cantonese culture.

Hépǔ  合浦 was a much bigger pearl harvesting area around Běihǎi 北海 in Guǎngxī province .   Btw. although the river which runs across Guǎngzhōu is called the Pearl River (Zhūjiāng 珠江), this is  not the city where pearls were harvested : the name "Pearl River" comes from the pearl-colored shells that lie within the Pearl's riverbed as it flows through the city of Guǎngzhōu.

Chinese Wikipedia informs : Sháozhōu 韶州 was a small state north of Guǎngzhōu 广州: it was the hub of ancient Shíxiá culture (石峡文化). Historically, Sháozhōu was "known as the "Famous County in Lǐngnán" and gave birth to a number of historical celebrities such as Zhāng Jiǔlíng 张九龄  and Yú Jìng 余靖." It was suppressed for 28 years before being restablished in 627 during Táng dynasty (唐代); it later came under Qūjiāng county (曲江) and the only memory now is a "Sháozhōu road" in Guǎngdōng province. 

Wǔlǐng 五岭 mountains is the other name of Nánlǐng 南岭 mountains, a major mountain range in Southern China that separates the Pearl River Basin from the Yangtze Valley and serves as the dividing line between south and central subtropical zones.  Its name means "five ridges", the mountains, mostly of karst and red coloured sandstone with spectacular steep cliffs of the Dānxiá landform. The mountains are not very high and there are trough valleys which became natural channels, for people-to-people exchanges, with five ancient roads. One part of the mountains are in Jiāngxī  province, which is rich in mineral resources, leading the provinces of China in deposits of copper, tungsten, gold, silver, uranium, thorium, tantalum, niobium and lithium. Guǎngdōng also has 34 minerals ranking in the top five deposits nationwide. Its deposits of peat, vein quartz, kaolin clay, trachyte, germanium and tellurium all rank first in the country and Zhàoqìng 肇庆  has "50 minerals, including iron, gold and copper". Zhàoqìng is a city which acts as a hub and gateway connecting the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to China’s south‑west region  ; its ancient name was Duānzhōu 端州 and it is nicknamed "home of gold" of Guǎngdōng (with mines), also known for inkstone, a unique ornamental stone :"duānyàn" 端硯 ranks first among the four famous inkstones in China. In 2004, Zhàoqìng was named the "capital of inkstones in China". The Duān inkstone is mentioned in a poem by Liún Yǔxī 刘禹锡 : "The scholar of the Táng Dynasty received a Duānzhōu purple stone inkstone and responded with a poem" 唐秀才赠端州紫石砚以诗答之. (Let's suppose Wǔlǐng mining village in the drama is inspired by Zhàoqìng/Duānzhōu ).

The map below is my composite from Google map (50 km scale parts) and a World History Map (sketch map) of the Maritime and Land "Silk Road", illustrating the travels of Yàn Zijīng's ship "The Mirage" and of the planned expedition inland to gem stone country around Héxī  corridor between mountains and deserts, reached in episode 17, when the traders stop in "Lánghuán caravan dock" and underground city (fictitious, see note on fictitious places below). The area around Yínchuān  银川  (Níngxià province) was  used for the spectacular desert, canyons, oasis, lakes, and to show the interactions of local Han and Sogdian travelers and residents from far-away state of Kāng (Samarkand). "During the period of the Chinese Táng dynasty, Sogdian was the lingua franca in Central Asia of the Silk Road, it was one of the most important Middle Iranian languages, along with Bactrian, Khotanese Saka, Middle Persian, and Parthian."

Physical map of China : The following map shows the plains and mountains, together with main cities and ports with present-day names. At the time of Táng dynasty, many names were different, and the capital of the country was Cháng'ān 长安 (today Xī'ān  西安).  The Héxī corridor is a long valley that starts near Lánzhōu 兰州 and stretches between the Great Wall and the Qílián shān 祁连山 ("shan" =mountain range),  from Xīníng to Yùmén guān (Jade Gate pass, a famous gate through the Great Wall to Inner Mongolia) close to Dūnhuáng 敦煌 (which was a main oasis on the Silk Road) ; the trail is continued through desert to Turpan the next big oasis (also known as Xīzhōu 西州 in Táng dynasty  times). The Western areas of China start from Xīníng ("xī" means West) and the Ordos Loop, which is the huge bend to the north through the part desert loess plateau which the Yellow River (Huáng Hé, "hé" means river) cuts before flowing and fertilizing the lands on its way to the East China Sea.  That river, contrary to the YangTse/Cháng Jiāng ("long river": "jiāng is another word for "river") cannot be navigated easily by ships, because of the huge deposits of silt. So bigger ships would usually sail up from the sea along the Cháng Jiāng, docking at ports such as Yángzhōu 扬州, or further upriver Hànkǒu (present-day Wǔhàn) up to Chóngqìng area. But the plains were criss-crossed with canals, some very large and deep like the Grand Canal of the Suí  (隋) dynasty, which became a life line for the Táng dynasty economy and influence (see map further below). (Note:  Yangtze or YangTse are other transcriptions for Yángzǐ jiāng 扬子江, the old name of the Cháng Jiāng, especially its lower reaches around Yángzhōu 扬州).

 [for the fun, here is a Chinese pop song which refers to these places and to the concept of "jiānghú" wandering or martial artists roaming along "rivers and lakes", made popular by wǔxiá novels and dramas, sung by the Jǐng  井 twins]. 

Note: Some names on the map below use both the UN accepted pinyin, and the American Wade-Giles transcription which is not official any longer (eg Peking for Běijīng). 

Click on the map to view it full screen, you can zoom in by clicking on the map in link.  

"The construction of the Grand Canal rapidly improved the urban status of Kāifēng (开封). In the Sui and Táng Dynasties, China’s economic focus was on the region in the south of the Yangtze River. "[...] . The dependency relationship between the politics in the north and the economy in the south in the Táng Dynasty, was described as follows:  "the north acquired the wealth of 43 states in the southeast, all were from the Grand Canal. After the Middle Táng Dynasty ended, the Grand Canal became the Táng Dynasty’s lifeline as the dependency relationship between the Yellow River and Yangtze–Huái Hé River basins was increasingly deepened. The Grand Canal, depending on whether it was blocked or unblocked, directly affected the rise and fall of the Táng Dynasty regime and the rise, fall, and alternation of many cities along the canal in Cháng'ān ,  Luòyáng and [Biànzhōu  汴州 /Biànjīng 汴京 /]Kāifēng. Therefore, canal transportation had more critical significance in the political, economic, and military senses.

In the Táng Dynasty, Biànzhōu (Kāifēng today) stretched across the canal and was the communication hub of the south–north transportation." (Text quoted from The Rise and Fall of the Grand Canal).

The  China National Silk Museum has interesting stories about some real life people who lived at the time of the Silk Road, illustrated with artifacts and small sculptures of the people of those times  : 

(7) The story  of "Sàbǎo" 薩保 (caravan leader) Master Shǐ jūnmù 史君墓 and his wife from Xīpíng (present-day Xīníng in Qīnghǎi) in China, who were traveling back and forth, and eventually were buried in Cháng'ān.   The couple was of the State of Shi [zh] and the State of Kāng 康 (Samarkand origin, far west from the Chinese borders, inhabited by a people called "Sogdians"), respectively.  Kāngjū  康居 in Táng dynasty times was part of the Göktürk Khaganate which spread from the Black Sea to Manchuria across the Mongolian plateau ; but Táng China conquered the Eastern Turkic Khaganate in 630 and the Western Turkic Khaganate in 657 in a series of military campaigns. A Second Turkic Khaganate emerged in 682 and lasted until 744.

 (8) The next story is that  of the wealthy money-lender Zuǒ Chōngxǐ 佐憧喜; he was a " Qiántíng  前庭 assault-resisting garrison" soldier from Gāochāng 高昌 . Gāochāng, a now ruined ancient oasis city close to Turpan (Tǔ lǔ fān  吐鲁番, Xīnjiāng), also known in Táng dynasty times as Xīzhōu 西州  was the seat of Qū shì Kingdom (麹氏王国, 501-640 CE ruled by the Qū family, originally from Gānsù; Qū Wéntài 麴文泰 welcomed the Táng pilgrim Xuánzàn 玄奘  with great enthusiasm in 629 AD.  

(Gāochāng seems to be one model for the caravan stop of "Lánghuán"; the ruins evoke in places underground dwellings, and the karez water system is indeed underground in Turpan.)

Pìtí quán 鸊鵜泉:  In the Táng Dynasty, it was located in the west of Fēngzhōu 丰州 , near the Yīn Mountains, Yīnshān 阴山 aka Dàqīng shān  Mountains 大青山, which are mountains in the Eastern Gobi Desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, north of Xīshòuxiáng 西受降 (northwest of the Hétào 河套 Ordos Loop, in Inner Mongolia).  The 鸊鵜 pìtí is the name of a freshwater diving bird, the grebe, which is found in many countries. Xīshòuxiáng was a Táng garrison, and can be read about in the 2012 book by Jonathan Karam Skaff: Sui-Tang China and Its Turko-Mongol Neighbors: Culture, Power, and Connections, 580-800 (pages 49–50, 189, 249, 268, 323) which stressed the role of Turko-Mongol pastoral nomads traversing the Eurasian steppe together with that of Silk Road monks and merchants, over China’s tributary diplomacy.

Another paper stated: "In 647 [Táng Dynasty emperor] Tàizōng (598-649) issued an edict to establish sixty-eight posts south of the desert, where envoys and guests coming in for visit could be supplied with horses, milk and meat. The road followed the ancient Qín "zhídào" 直道 (Direct Road) from Gānquán 甘泉 near Xiányáng  (Qín capital, close to later Cháng'ān), to Fēngzhōu 豐州 (Xīshòuxiáng), passing by the “Western Fortress to Receive the Surrendered” 西受降城, and it extended to Yīzhōu 伊州 and Gāochāng  高昌.

Note: there was in the 8th century a garrison post called Héxī.

Quirky and fictitious place names 

"Lánghuán caravan dock ： 琅嬛福地 Láng huán fúdì (Langhuan paradise) in Chinese mythology is the celestial library, the place where the Lord of Heaven 天帝 Tiāndì stores his books! That it becomes a fortified building  琅嬛坞 (Lánghuánwù) on the outskirts of the Empire, in a troubled region beset by bloodthirsty marauders like the "Black Dragon bandits" 骊龙盗 (Lí lóng dào) such as in the drama, is somewhat tongue-in-cheek! 

The Black Dragon (黑龍 Hēilóng), also called "Dark Dragon" or "Mysterious Dragon" (玄龍 Xuánlóng), is the Dragon God of the north and the essence of winter. The black dragon, or in fact black with a tinge of redness  (a color called xuán) is irascible, responsible for floods and disaster, a bringer of bad fortune.

In Eastern traditions, "loong" 龙 or "lóng", the name of the Dragon has  a pronunciation close to 狼 "láng" (wolf) but symbolizes prosperity and good fortune, embodying a positive force in spiritual journeys. They have different colors, associated with certain benefits and risks, as well as elements.  Here is a chart of the dragon's five colors and characteristics :

In ep.17, Yàn Zijīng 燕子京 told a story of wandering stars to Duānwǔ. He promised to take her to that "legendary lake" (紫荆湖 Zǐjīng hú)  at the foot of "Mount Zǐjīng" (紫荆湖 Zǐjīng shān) ; but whereas 紫荆 Zǐjīng (homophone to his given name!) is the name of the Bauhinia "purple orchid tree" with five petals (emblem of Hong Kong!!) there is no such famous and legendary lake or mountain to find in China.  (Except a modern artificial lake of that name in Fùshùn 富顺 county of Sìchuān; and a Zǐjīng Lake at the foot of Zǐjīng Mountain, adjacent to the former residence of modern painter Qí Báishí 齐白石 (1864-1957) in Báishípù Town 白石铺, Xiāngtán County 湘潭, south of Chángshā 长沙   in Húnán province; there is a curious story of this famous painter's homes in Běijīng, the last of which is a museum showcasing his art - click on his name above to watch him paint shrimps! ).

But there is a near homophone  紫金山 zǐjīn shān :  Purple Mountain , also known as Jiǎng shān (Jiǎng  Mountain)  蒋山, Zhōngshān 锺山 and Shénliè Mountain 神烈山. It is the site of an ancient mountain mausoleum (going back to Eastern Hàn dynasty : a hero called Jiǎng Zǐwén 蒋子文 was buried there ; later, under Three Kingdoms, he was seen as a spirit and emperor Sūn Quán 孫權 canonized him as the Mountain God of Zhōngshān). It is located on the east side of Nánjīng city  南京 in Jiāngsū Province. It is called Purple Mountain because the purple gravel is exposed in some faults. When the sun shines on it, it looks purple-gold when viewed from a distance. It is also the site of a national observatory for astronomy, from which asteroids are watched and a new comet was spotted in February 2023.

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(work in progress)

Thank you for this. Looking forward to it!

I'm totally amazed with your work here.

But as a history (and linguistic) freak, I have some objections on that side of your narration