“Do not compromise integrity for safety.”
“You can choose who you want to be, but I am Chinese.”
Is there a taste of old Beijing in this legendary drama?
It’s been a while since the end of the Spring Festival season, and this year’s domestic dramas lack excitement.
CCTV’s “North and South Migration” has decent ratings but hasn’t gained much attention.
“Crystal Hunting,” led by Zhang Songwen, has gained some popularity but has a modest rating of 4.5 on Douban.
Even suspenseful dramas like “Detective Tang 2” haven’t made a big splash.
In short, there’s a lack of a standout hit to kick off the domestic drama season. It’s time for it to make an appearance—
Within domestic dramas, there’s a genre with a strong regional flavor—old Beijing-style period dramas.
These dramas, rich in Beijing culture and legendary elements, have produced many excellent works in the past.
For those born in the 1980s, they’ve seen “The House of Four Generations,” “Zhonggulou,” and “Xiao Jing Hutong.”
For those born in the 1990s, they’ve experienced high-rated dramas like “The Grand Mansion Gate” and “Teahouse.”
However, as we entered the new century, with capital taking over, the market favored popular actors, and domestic dramas increasingly leaned towards ancient settings and sweet romance, old Beijing-style dramas gradually faded away.
Now, there’s only one satellite TV channel occasionally airing some old Beijing-style period dramas to satisfy the audience’s nostalgia—Beijing TV.
And tonight, the 41-episode period drama “Xuanwu Gate” will premiere.
Filmed in 2017, originally planned for 60 episodes, the version airing on Beijing TV has been condensed to 41 episodes, primarily focusing on the historical parts, as seen in the comparison with the original trailers. However, this reduction has turned the series into a purer period drama by removing many contemporary urban segments.
Speaking of Xuanwu Gate, many immediately think of the delicious food on Niujie Street.
This rare period drama set in Xuanwu Gate, does it capture the authentic flavor? Let’s take a taste.
1. Story: Rooted in Niujie, a family protects a treasure for decades, a grand period drama with patriotism
Period dramas often revolve around two main settings: Northeast China or old Beijing.
Because these are fertile grounds for storytelling.
When it comes to Xuanwu Gate, it naturally tells the story of old Beijing.
In the early years, the inner city of Beijing was about nine kilometers long from north to south and six kilometers wide from east to west, hence called “Liujiu City.”
“Si’jiu City” refers to the four gates of the Imperial City of old Beijing and the nine gates of the inner city.
We are familiar with the four gates of the Imperial City.
The nine gates of the inner city are: Zhengyang Gate, Chongwen Gate, Chaoyang Gate, Fucheng Gate, Dongzhimen, Xizhimen, Anding Gate, Desheng Gate, and Xuanwu Gate.
This drama tells the story of a jade carver, Li Yunjin (played by Zhang Fengyi), who was commissioned to create a jade pomegranate symbolizing the prosperity of the country and presented it to Empress Dowager Cixi.
Subsequently, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China, and the feudal rule of the Qing Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, and Li Yunjin’s family was caught up in the turmoil.
With the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, the feudal rule of the Qing Dynasty was completely overthrown. In order to protect the national treasure, Li Yunjin sacrificed himself.
The mission to protect the national treasure was then passed on to his son, Li Tianshun (played by Ren Zhong).
When the War of Resistance against Japan broke out, facing the barrels of Japanese guns, Li Tianshun vowed not to yield.
He uttered the poignant words mentioned earlier and was subsequently killed by the Japanese on the street.
For generations, the Li family, with the help of their neighbors, fought against various evil forces to protect the jade pomegranate symbolizing the prosperity of the country. They faced the danger of losing their lives several times but ultimately, with the unique resilience and stubbornness of the old street, they protected the national treasure and upheld the dignity of Niujie.
Based on the trailer, “Xuanwu Gate” has at least three major highlights:
Firstly, the ups and downs of the family’s destiny. “Starting from the small to see the big picture” is a winning strategy for period dramas. If you look at the popular period dramas in recent years such as “The Family of the Pearl River,” you’ll notice that the focus is almost always on the fate of the family, allowing the audience to witness the changes of the times within the family’s joys and sorrows. “Xuanwu Gate” starts from the Reform Movement of 1898 during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and unfolds around historical events such as the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance and the War of Resistance against Japan.
Secondly, patriotism and the drama of resistance against Japanese aggression. The story spans from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China and the period of resistance against Japan, to the early days of New China. The fate of the national treasure is intertwined with the destiny of the nation. The drama portrays not only the hardships of the war but also the sacrifice of craftsmen protecting national treasures. There are scenes of war, family dramas, and action scenes.
Lastly, the authentic period feel. The drama focuses on Xuanwu Gate, the old street, and various traditional Beijing cultures are naturally indispensable. For example, scenes from different eras and different characters entering and leaving Xuanwu Gate are captured through aerial shots and large-scale atmospheric shots. Scenes of the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion and the Japanese invasion are depicted. There are also scenes filmed repeatedly at Niujie, a place of historical and cultural value. Characters are dressed in different costumes and styles from the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, the War of Resistance against Japan, to the liberation and founding of the People’s Republic of China. For example, during the War of Resistance against Japan, there is a scene of a Peking Opera actor wielding a dagger to assassinate a Japanese officer, culminating in a blood-soaked stage.
This authentic period feel is what gives birth to a work rich in historical flavor.
2. Actors: Ren Zhong leads, Zhang Fengyi, and Siqin Gaowa provide solid support, with a gathering of talented actors
To revitalize a period drama, the performance of the actors is crucial. Especially for a drama like “Xuanwu Gate,” spanning such a long period, casting considerations need to take into account two points: suitability and acting skills.
Firstly, suitability refers to whether the actors’ age, status, and experience are suitable for the roles. Secondly, acting skills determine whether the actors can portray the spirit of the era.
Looking at the cast of “Xuanwu Gate,” the main actors include Ren Zhong,
Wang Zijian, Zhang Fengyi, Siqin Gaowa, Tong Lei, Li Guangfu, Tian Hua, Li Chengru, Li Yixiao, Ma Jingwu, Li Mingqi, Lei Kesheng, Zhao Yi, Yu Bin, and others, with many talented actors contributing to the ensemble.
Among them, five actors are particularly noteworthy:
1. Zhang Fengyi – Although playing a supporting role as the jade carver Li Yunjin, Zhang Fengyi’s performance is likely to be the highlight of the entire drama. Zhang Fengyi is well-suited for period dramas, with notable works from his younger days including “Farewell My Concubine” and “Camel Xiangzi.” Despite his reduced output in recent years, his performance as Sha Ruijin in “In the Name of the People” stands out. His portrayal of Li Yunjin, although a supporting character, is poised and meticulous, facing Empress Dowager Cixi without servility or flattery, and facing foreign guns without fear. Even when ultimately shot by foreign invaders, his body remains stiff and upright. It’s easy for such characters to be portrayed as overly dramatic, but Zhang Fengyi handles the role with ease. Nowadays, Zhang Fengyi is even more suitable for emotionally complex and challenging roles than in his youth.
2. Siqin Gaowa – Although her roles are limited, Siqin Gaowa’s performances are always memorable. Coincidentally, her main scenes are with her old partner Zhang Fengyi from the younger days, known for “Farewell My Concubine.” Siqin Gaowa’s peak performances coincide with the peak period of domestic historical dramas and period dramas. Particularly noteworthy are her roles as Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang in “Kangxi Dynasty” and Granny Bai in “The Grand Mansion Gate,” portraying characters who are dignified, wise, and capable of calmly strategizing in the face of adversity. Her appearance as Empress Dowager Cixi will be cherished by the audience.
3. Ren Zhong – Ren Zhong plays the lead role of Li Tianshun, the father and son in the drama. Ren Zhong has been in the industry for a long time, rising to fame early in his career with “Emperor Wu of Han.” He later became a popular young actor with urban dramas like “Home, nth Power” and “Beijing Youth.” In recent years, his roles in dramas like “If Time Flows Back” and “When the Wind Blows in the Half Summer” have been influential, but his current roles are different from those of his youth. In “Xuanwu Gate,” his character carries significant weight, and it is hoped that Ren Zhong can return to his peak form.
4. Tong Lei – Tong Lei rose to fame immediately after her debut in Hai Yan’s drama “The Deep Cell.” She later appeared in major productions like “Drawing Sword,” with a promising career trajectory. After a hiatus of nearly a decade, she returned to the screen, often playing supporting roles in dramas like “Bright Starry Sky,” but the glory of being a lead actress no longer belongs to her. In this drama, she plays the female lead, with significant screen time, portraying a character who ages from youth to old age. Hopefully, she can once again shine brightly for the audience.
5. Wang Zijian – When people mention Wang Zijian, many immediately think of comedy. During the peak period of “Tonight’s 80s Talk Show,” he was almost synonymous with talk shows. Wang Zijian and Li Dan are the stars who emerged from this show. After “Tonight’s 80s Talk Show” ceased production, Wang Zijian focused on acting, although his glory days did not match those of his talk show days. Many audiences lamented this change. Unexpectedly, after another round of time, domestic talk shows are no longer as popular as they were two years ago, but Wang Zijian, steadily making his way in acting, is not short of roles. In the drama “An Family” starring Sun Li, he played Wang Zijian, a talkative character, which was very endearing. In “The Woman of Thirty,” he played Zhang Zhi, a character originally detestable but portrayed as likeable by him. Wang Zijian is a natural comedian with excellent dialogue delivery and doesn’t need to resort to being vulgar. This unique style of performance enables him to firmly establish himself in the entertainment industry.
In this drama, however, he plays a tragic character, a descendant of the royal family, inevitably experiencing the vicissitudes of the times. Let’s see if Wang Zijian can prove his dramatic acting skills.
3. How can a period drama spanning a hundred years with an old Beijing flavor become a dark horse? This drama may set an example.
As mentioned at the beginning, most of the highly praised old Beijing-style period dramas were concentrated in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 21st century.
During this period, most of the old Beijing-style period dramas were led by veteran actors, with authentic stories and actors capable of portraying different eras’ atmospheres.
The cast of “Xuanwu Gate” features both new and old actors.
Screenwriter Yang Guoqiang’s masterpiece is the highly rated “Teahouse,” demonstrating his skill in depicting old Beijing.
Director Wang Xiaokang has both successful and less successful works.
From the trailer, it seems that this drama has a good period feel, with some scenes from the War of Resistance against Japan looking very realistic, instantly immersing the audience in that era.
From the story, creative team, to the cast, “Xuanwu Gate” has the potential to become a hit period drama.
Its biggest feature lies in its span of a hundred years, covering the Reform Movement of 1898, the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, the warlord era, the War of Resistance against Japan, the Liberation War, and narrating the legend of a family spanning three generations protecting a treasure.
It truly depicts the vicissitudes of life.
For a generation that has missed the heyday of old Xuanwu Gate, being able to look back in the drama is worthwhile.