Whispers of Fate

A very Chinese-flavour drama with eastern phylosophical ideas

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS -

This post is part of a trilogy where I analyse only the cultural and historical artistic aspects, as well as two Eastern philosophical perspectives with strong presence in the drama, without tackling other elements such as wuxia themes, Confucianism, sci-fi inspiration, and so on. The links to the complete three-acts review with images are in the comments.
By accident when adding this part, I erased the previous review :
NOTE: Although the story is remarkable, the execution and direction has flaws that impact the overall result, so the final score is a balance between the outstanding aspects of the drama rarely seen in any kind of drama or serie (that gives the extra points to reach the 8) with its flaws. Luo Yun Xi and Jeremy Tsu - outstanding.acting

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As we enter this THIRD and last ACT about Buddhism, the framework that gives structure to the whole story, it felt fitting to bring the classical theatre resource where a character steps in at the beginning to set the scene and offer context. Honouring that tradition, I’ll quote the answer that Mo’at gives to Jake Sully in the movie Avatar when he asks the Na’vi people to teach him their worldview and wisdom: “It is hard to fill a cup that is already full.”

This phrase didn’t just pop into my mind by chance. Buddhism is a philosophy and religion completely different from Western conceptions and beliefs, and since it sits at the heart of Shui Long Yin’s narrative, I tried my best to do justice to its principles. Although I kept things as concise as I could, this time you’ll need to be extra forgiving with me.

As actor Luo Yun Xi said himself (see ACT 2), Tang Li Ci seeks enlightenment. Let’s embark together on that search and see whether he attained what he was looking for, or if , at the very least, the journey was worthy.

Buddhism, the general framework

“All things are impermanent; they arise and they pass away.”

While Daoism is about finding harmony with the Dao, Buddhism is a path of understanding meant to transcend this world and the suffering inherent in it. It originated in India around the 5th century BC with Siddhartha Gautama who, after attaining enlightenment, became known as Buddha, or “the awakened one.”

The foundation rests on the Four Noble Truths:

1) Life contains suffering

2) Suffering has a cause (craving and attachment)

3) There is an end to suffering (nirvana and enlightment)

4) There is a path to end suffering

(NOTE 1 - Masters Puzhu and Fang Zhou // Although there is one “internal” path to end suffering, there are two “external” ways to walk that path. Puzhu represents the Buddhist archetype of the hermit who isolates himself from humanity and external distractions to walk the path. Fang Zhou represents the Buddhist archetype of the master who actively involves himself in worldly affairs with compassion.)

The ultimate goal is to wake up from the "dream" of cyclic existence, the Samsara, realising the true nature of reality. This is achieved by understanding and internalising several key principles:

Impermanence: All conditioned things are in a constant state of change.

Karma: The law of cause and effect, where intentional actions shape future experiences.

No-Self : The perception of a fixed, independent "I" is an illusion.

Nirvana: The unconditioned state, the cessation of suffering and the end of the cycle of rebirth, achieved by disolving all harmtful states of minds

So, let´s walk this path through Shui Long Yin together.

Impermanence: life as a dream or the stage of a play // “All phenomena are like dreams” - Heart Sutra

Some of the comments regarding the ending of Shui Long Yin revolve around the idea that everything Tang Li Ci did seems meaningless because no one remembers he existed. Even worse, not only are all the bad omens now living good lives, but TLC has never even existed. Was the whole drama, and all the time and emotions invested by viewers, pointless?

In the drama, Tang Li Ci voices a similar distressed question during his dream coma, and Fang Zhou’s answer guides not only him, but us, along the Buddhist path...and might add, the drama.

(NOTE 2 - Zhoudi Tower // In the dream, Tang Li Ci is disheartened and defeated because Yique YingYang is already back after ten years, and he feels that all the deaths and efforts back then were meaningless. Fang Zhou, a Buddhist teacher answers: “Even if YQYY is alive, are all the people who were able to live and enjoy life during those ten years not worthy of that?” … “In this world, not a second of effort is wasted.”)

By this point, we already know there are three stories: the original timeline, where Ye Mo kills Tang Li Ci only to realise that without emotions the Holy Son isn’t perfect and can’t achieve immortality; the second timeline, the one the drama actually follows; and the third one, the new life we glimpse at the end, where Tang Li Ci is no longer explicitly present nor ever existed.

So? Which one is real? The first one we never saw? The second one we grew attached to? The final one we only catch a glimpse of? Buddhism states that just as our dream experiences are mere appearances of the mind, so too are beings, their environments, their pleasures, and all other phenomena. The strong theatre-stage effect of the drama (ACT 1) seems to work like a visual metaphor of this.

(NOTE 3 - Tang Li Ci’s dream in Zhoudi Tower // From a Buddhist perspective, this dream and Tang Li Ci’s confusion about what was real bring up the topic of phenomena as mere appearances of the mind.

This doesn’t mean those phenomena don’t exist; it means they don’t exist on their own, only in relation to the mind. We believe the only “real” timeline in the drama is the one we just experienced because we formed a connection with it. The others feel unreal because we didn’t immerse ourselves in them, even though, at the back of our mind, we understand they existed too - but only from the moment we are introduced to them, not before.

We can see this idea represented in different moments and ways throughout the drama, through both cinematic and narrative resources: the contrast between chaos and fighting versus the calm, quiet tea scene in the Buddhist temple at the beginning; the reality in which Liu Yan lived all those years, where Tang Li Ci is a murderer and the most despicable being, versus Chi Yun believing the marks of Yique YingYang are beautiful and enhance Tang Li Ci’s attractiveness.

(NOTE 4 - All phenomena are like dreams // The quiet calm of a tea ritual and a baby sleeping at a lakeshore versus the chaos and action-packed fighting in the temple’s front yard.)

(NOTE 5 - Matrix (1999) – iconic sci-fi movie directed by the Wachowski sisters // The best way to explain it is this movie

2. Karma, suffering, and samsara: Even things aren´t “real”, we still suffer...Why? How? // “If you know your own mind and develop it, you will become a Buddha; do not seek Buddhahood outside yourself”

Every sentient being wants to be happy and avoid suffering. We tend to think that the causes of happiness or pain are external, but Buddhism states they actually lie within our own mind.

The mind isn’t a material object or a by-product of physical processes; it’s an immaterial and continuous entity, different from the body. Every action we take leaves an imprint or potential on our very subtle mind, and in time, its corresponding effect will arise. Virtuous actions bring happiness; harmful actions bring suffering. This is the law of karma, and it affects all lives, constantly.

At the beginning of Whispers of Fate, Tang Li Ci already has a partial understanding of these ideas taught by his master, Fang Zhou, and he reflects with the monk on intention and karma. When he decides to enter the jianghu, he is, without realising it, following Fang Zhou’s path to end suffering through the worldly-affairs way. At that point, his obsession and his merely intellectual grasp of these concepts and teachings prevent him from truly embracing them, as he still doesn’t fully understand what that way means or how it works.

(NOTE 6 - Tang Li Ci speaking with the Buddhist monk about intention, karma, and suffering. By entering the jianghu, he will come to learn and understand human emotions (hate, fear, love, obsession) and the deeper meaning of things, just as Fang Zhou told him many times.)

So, the world itself is the result of karma — the actions of the sentient beings who live in it. A pure world is the result of pure actions, and an impure world is the result of impure actions. Since all actions are created by the mind, all things, including the world, are created by the mind as well.

(NOTE 7 - Impermanence, karma, samsara // Every relationship and every character is shaped by karma and samsara. Hatred turns someone into an inherently bad person; attachment turns an object into something inherently pleasant and capable of making them truly happy. All mental afflictions work like this: they color reality with their own bias, and we end up responding not to what things truly are, but to the distorted version of them.)

While the body disappears at death, the mind - now called the very subtle mind, and without the memories of that life - continues to exist. Depending on the karma that grows, we reincarnate into a fortunate form (human or god) or an unfortunate one. We can’t choose; karma rules. This uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth, without any freedom to choose, is called samsara.

3. The Path to Liberation from Suffering, and Enlightenment // “Samsara is like a wheel that turns through the force of contaminated actions performed by mental afflictions”

Mental afflictions such as attachment, hate, malice, jealousy, greed, and delusion are to the mind like clouds to the sky: bad habits that can be eradicated because they are not the sky itself. They are distorted perceptions that cling to things as if they had inherent or independent existence.

In the drama, this idea of clarity as the true nature of the mind is highlighted by Fang Zhou’s teaching: “Every person is born good” — which is also shared by Confucianism, by the way.

The strongest ignorance is the intuitive feeling that we possess a real and objective self that exists independently of other phenomena or things: the ignorance of self-grasping. Because we esteem ourselves so intensely, we feel attracted to objects and people that seem appealing, we desire to separate from those we dislike, and we feel indifference toward the rest. Therefore, attachment, hatred, and indifference arise. I’m sure you’ve already pictured countless examples from the drama while reading this.

Attention should focus on creating mental states that bring real happiness (love, patience, generosity) and also on letting go of mental afflictions completely by addressing their root: the mind’s tendency to cling to a fixed self. By tackling the causes of suffering within, external ones like illness or death lose their power to disturb us. This lasting freedom from mental afflictions and suffering is what Buddhism calls liberation, or nirvana. In other words, this is the path to truly freeing oneself from suffering.

There’s a sequence in Episode 2 that sums up everything above, so I’ll simply replay the dialogue, presented as a voice-over during the scene when Tang Li Ci is leaving the temple:

Tang Li Ci: “Masters and servants can turn on each other for money; brothers can betray and kill each other. In the end, the heart is the hardest to see through. Demons are everywhere.”

Monk: “Amitabha. Right and wrong, good and evil, they are just a thought apart. What you can’t let go is obsession. You’re very wise. You go through the sea of suffering by yourself. I believe you’ll eventually reach the other shore.”

** Some translation don't address the specific term "sea of suffering" but instead go for "salvation lies in your own hands". Although the essential meaning is the same, the second avoid the específico and direct reference to Buddhism - a bad take in my opinion as it's about Buddhist beliefs.

(NOTE 8) The path to liberation from suffering – The journey and the destination // From attachment to life, to the past, and to Fang Zhou, to loving new people and appreciating the human world and its beings, and ultimately managing to let go.

It’s worth noticing that, despite the different levels of wisdom each character had reached before the time reversal, almost all the villains’ endings carry a note of compassion. You might have thought “finally!”, but there certainly wasn’t a sense of “hate” or “I’ll wish you eons of suffering” left floating in the air.

Liberating only oneself from suffering isn’t the highest aim on the Buddhist path. Beyond wisdom, it’s kindness and love for others that form the true foundation for helping all beings reach the same state. Those who seek enlightenment do so guided by the mind of Bodhichitta: a mind that, moved by deep compassion, naturally wants to awaken in order to help all sentient beings directly.

The Buddhas are those beings that, having completely removed all traces of ignorance from their minds, have freed themselves from the dream of samsara and attained omniscient wisdom, along with the limitless ability to help others.

And with this understanding in mind, I hope you can find more meanings to the ones you´ve already found in Whispers of Fate. As for my part, the analysis of this trilogy has now come to an end.

** Epilogue (closing and ending notes) ** - I´ve link the three parts completed with images in the comments to a better review

Whispers of Fate is a drama about loss, grief, and attachments; but at its core, it’s a story that reflects on and questions what it means to be human from a very Chinese perspective, rooted in China’s history while staying in tune with its present. We see that search in every character, although I want to highlight three.

Nothing in this world is perfect, and neither is this drama. It’s a complex and ambitious project with a distinctive Chinese flavour that can look ordinary and simple on the surface, yet be slow and fast-paced, common and uncommon, all at once. And when we bring in our Western viewpoint, shaped by a Judeo-Christian background or even a modern secular mindset, we really do need to empty our cups first.

For me, the beauty of Whispers of Fate lies in its distinctive Chinese aesthetics, but also in the way it blends Eastern philosophies into its storytelling. In a way, the original title “Shui Long Yin” and its literal translation “Water Dragon Chant” is the most fitting, as the whole approach of the drama reminds me of those apparently simple tales and legends through which ancient cultures and societies explained the world, what it means to be human and why we are here.

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How Many Times Can TLC be Framed? Let Me Count the Ways.

Would you believe this is my first ever LYX costume drama? I've seen him in only one modern before where he did good but his FL dragged the show down. Needless to say I wanted to see him in a genre that fit him and here he definitely didn't disappoint; actually none of the actors did.

Pros: The entire series centers around the ML or TLC as it should and his evolution. He initially had 3 arcs as someone else pointed out. The first one was as an over confident immortal who wanted to bring his senior Fang Zhou back to life; that was his obsession. He had tried to save him but failed because their other disciples walked in and one (LY) got into the middle causing a massive backlash, killing FZ. LY went crazy and joined as I called them "Team lunatic" and the third one simply disappeared and we didn't see him much other than in flashbacks and at the end of the show.

TLC's obsession with bringing FZ back was an ever consuming thing (he lived, breathed it); he put FZ's heart into his own stomach and kept FZ’s body in a coffin because of the power he had could essentially bring FZ back but at the cost of his own life. Unfortunately, LY stole half of that Rebirth thing and the puppet GMD the coffin with the body replacing it with a fake. TLC's obsession was such that he treated the people around that he first hired or saved like tools for his own means. When he came out of seclusion 4 years after the incident (and healing from LY's savage attack), it was to clear his name that LY, GMD, and the biggest villain YM who created puppets like GMD in images of himself and GMD followed. The opposition had a lot of middle villains that could do serious damage to TLC. LY kept harming TLC but he didn't kill him. Couldn't bring himself to. Because though TLC couldn't die, because he was from another realm, his immortality could be depleted as we saw his hair go from black to gold to white in the last episodes.

The dynamic was that there were many villains especially the main one, plus LY that was always doing something in the way and TLC's over confidence though he most of the time could predict his opponents move and outsmart them, they did get a few on him too. He didn't anticipate just how many people/puppets he had to deal with plus the evil pill disaster and YM and bringing FZ back to life. TLC's first thought personal arc was all about FZ and that he didn't matter as long as he could bring FZ back. Things started to shift as he started noticing the people around him weren't tools but helped him out of life threatening situations like AS with her blood or CY and SLH always on the frontlines willing to sacrifice for him. At first only FZ and LY were his only friends and LY later a lunatic enemy until the end; but than he started to open up and have feelings of friendship and protection towards these new people in his life. SLH was one of the best characters because he saw through TLC and told him what was what. He wasn't just a cold assassin but also preceptive. He called TLC a lot on his cover ups and made TLC really think hard about his steps.

FZ taught him how to read, write, and how to have feelings. Though when ZCJ confessed to him, he told her he didn't learn that emotion. He felt something for AS and felt CY was his younger brother. AS was also very preceptive but she understood his heart unlike SLH was more tactical. He had had other friends like XX who was comic relief in this otherwise, Puzhu, General Jiang who though we lost among others, went above and beyond for TLC and his little group. There were other great characters especially Jeremy who played GMD/YM. He was an amazing villain. FYL who played LY; first time in a lunatic villain role and he nailed it. I have to say absolutely every actor did a wonderful job as their characters. Master Shao's actor I've seen many times before was great. CHS though a guest from Bilbao Palace along with all the other guys whose character names I don't remember, the dude who was always directionless, his disciple who fell for ZCJ. ZCJ and her beginning arc was great. All the villains (even little Xiao Shi which was sad), except one who just didn't hit villain will be in the cons.

By the time TLC's final arc came around and he started to regard his friends very closely, they started leaving or getting killed off. AS turned out to be FZ's sister and GMD erased her memories so she could get close to TLC but her pure heart didn't harbor hatred but caring and love. Once her memories returned even though she did harbor some hate, she really didn't but she needed to grieve so after helping TLC destroy the first GMD in secret while pretending to be on GMD's side and saying mean words to TLC, she left altogether, more about this in the cons. But before any of this TLC finally let go of his obsession with bringing FZ back to life but releasing his heart from his stomach (ironically he needed to be kidnapped with FZ's body in the coffin as bait which still fell and shattered and FZ's body dissolved as TLC wounded, cried tortured tears. And ZCJ--who had turned to the dark side as while her own kidnapping LY tattooed a butterfly which made her a long lost fake princess--shoved a poisoned needle that LY cultivated for 4 years with poison just for TLC into him believing LY's lies that the needle will cripple him and she could control him like a puppet and make him love her; her own obsession), and the heart absorbed the needle and the poison so even in death FZ saved TLC's life as his heart, needle, poison and all was released.

CY's death was very hard (you had tears as did TLC) and XFT's meddling as well as GMD poisoning him and it distracted TLC, so XFT and GMD could kill Master Shao; she had already infiltrated the sword society thanks to the worst mistake Puzhu ever made by vouching for her (because of three year chess experience; though she was using him every moment. Then them being stuck in a cave, sharing secrets with his broken leg, their attraction to each other that wasn't meant to be. And lastly she supposedly helped him in the war by helping getting rid of the transformer and the dude creating them). After that greed, power hungry sword society leaders quickly sided with her against TLC no questions asked even when SLH, XX voiced suspicions; it was hushed.

Then when LY was finally captured after TLC rescued him this was after beating the ever loving snot out of him; I'll be honest I rewatched that scene several times. It was so deserved and overdue and giving LY his own memories and pain of what really happened so he would understand once and for all. Wish it was done way before though (as bait for TLC to come to Master Shao's funeral) when he was rescued by TLC and TLC of course attended and when they accused him of killing Master Shao and again of being YM, and than the tongue twisters between Puzhu and TLC at the mourning place; TLC showed off the fact that XFT knows how to block his heavenly power. All the other guys got the message. (Not to mention the not knowing what freedom was to the Peach Bitch calling her pathetic). And Puzhu said that whole you don't leave with LY or you will be condemned by everyone on purpose because he knows TLC doesn't care about being condemned by all as we've seen happen time and time again here. Then when he sees that TLC is fading and XFT stupidly takes advantage of that to kill both (by herself mind you; all her lackeys just stand there stunned) all the other guys warn him plus Puzhu disperses both powers as back up arrives for TLC. TLC takes away LY after which XX gives a very smart and intelligent speech (about stupidity of the sword alliance and blindly trusting the enemy; how disappointed Master Shao would be in them) a food for thought to everyone else and then you see everyone whoever stood by TLC's side just walk away saying they are done they are not dealing with this anymore. I'm going back to my island or whatever it is but it's quite obvious right then and there whose side they really chose. Sometimes words like that do not need to be spoken. They are just acted out. That's called real faith and trust. And the antidote is in the world.

LY sadly dies because of Xiao Shi's palm strike when he arrived at the cave for no reason and TLC though he checked everything on LY, didn't know about that. It was a heart wrenching moment because from the original 4 brothers of Z Tower, TLC was the only one left. LY returned the half of the Rebirth scroll he stole so TLC could kill YM once and for all. Probably the most gut wrenching was when TLC was broken and crying over little plates he made for CY, Master Shao, and LY. He was devastated and said he was all alone now which wasn't true; while he was in that cave, his friends like ZCJ who got a redemption arc along with the miracle physician, Ms. Hong, and XX dressed as a woman (which was added as the bit of humor to this somber part), Puzhu, SLH, the disciples, Fu Ren, were going all around the regions distributing the antidote and helping each other. These were still his friends and I really wish he knew that.

Meanwhile, TLC created a devise to reverse time to go back before YM was born meaning he wouldn't be born either; essentially rewriting history and bringing everyone back to life. The other price is that no one would remember him because technically he never existed. So after battling YM as the latter connected their realm to the mortal one nearly destroying that one, TLC killed YM with a sword and the full rebirth scroll; telling him his essence will be mortal knowing all of the emotions and just to make good choices; starting from birth without memories. TLC hit his time reversal device and fell into the void dissipating himself as he said an important line FZ once spoke "saving thousands of lives at the price of one is worth it."

Then next scene everyone is alive, SLH is reunited with his wife and FZ is having a meal with AS whose chef is Zhumei. They all manage to bump into each other but not now without knowing each other. Some funny moments and I'd like to believe that TLC was reborn as a white fox mixed with a dragon as the last scene was with XX who I honestly think recognized TLC but other then laughing and saying "silly fox", that was all that was needed and a bit of a voiceover made sense.

Woof, didn't think I'd write so much and we still haven't done the cons but the ending for me was done properly. I think TLC did everything he needed to do and lived his life and evolved as the people around him helped him. I can't see it any other way. Because if he stayed alive, YM would be reborn. They were connected and TLC wanted to sever that connection once and for all. I just wish we saw more of the important people alive that were great allies to the gang at the end.

I loved the costumes; they were stunning. TLC loved flapping his massive sleeves at people though BTS they could be cumbersome for other people. Every accessory, the scenery and sets that were real were beautiful too and the CGI was just right. The OSTs didn't overpower. And LYX's crying in particular as well as when he would really fight, people weren't kidding when they said he was born for costume dramas.

Cons: How many times can TLC be framed? Let me count the ways. Dear lord the first arc of the series LY framed him at least 3 times and it was like a hamster wheel, so repetitive. I've never had a drama drag in the beginning, it was getting old. I have to say that the writing and some editing was the worst here. Not to mention the zillion and a half flashbacks; twice each would have been enough (and also not in the same episode), they would had another 1/4th extra to film if most of that was deleted. It was a hot mess; many episodes had multiple of the same flashbacks. Like we get it already! It felt like the writer thought we had brain damage and wouldn't remember something we saw 20 minutes ago; absolutely ridiculous.

I'm going to address a very important point as it had the comment section divided. Personally, I think AS did exactly what she needed to; she just got her memories back and had a brother to grieve for and literally had no time because there was war and so much going on around her. I don't know how she didn't lose her mind. The man she fell for and cared deeply for though he claimed to have killed her brother, everything pointed to the opposite. Plus she had had the heart disease because she had been feeding him her blood so he could survive each time the situation was dire. What was completely wrong was the way they made her disappear after writing him a "Dear John" letter and not even explaining that she had the heart disease and didn't have long to live. It made him think she just didn't want to be around him anymore and given her relationship to FZ things were complicated so he let her be but it was like she was just sliced off with a knife and that's it. Very poorly written. Or when she would just appear out of nowhere like she did in cold as hell northern forest; people were searching for him in one specific and she just magically appeared to save him, didn't make any sense. At least write that they had a connection and she could feel him or something. But nope. Many times things needed to be explained and then acted out and neither were done so you felt lost like can we have a bit of a backstory?

I don't care who she was or wasn't but XFT was the peach bitch from start to finish. She only ever cared about herself. She killed people without a second thought; her own freedom was all that mattered, I think regardless, her crocodile tears for Puzhu were fake. She was a seductress and she knew how to manipulate people especially men as long as she got what she wanted like infiltrating the sword society and corrupting them by killing Master Shao and than cutting off his arm; like why and blaming the murder on TLC first portion of frame job and then came the rescue of LY where she just went all out and called him YM altogether like LY had done in the beginning. It was stupid because LY had never seen YM but she working directly for GMD knew YM made GMD look like him so how was that even remotely believable. So again we circle back to the frame jobs of the beginning. Eye roll worthy. So the fact that she took herself out in the last episode had nothing to do with anyone. And I personally didn't need to see her again reborn though I know it was more for Puzhu's aka Crown Prince's now sake, still could have done without. She wasn't a villain like the word would be but just an eh that followed instructions and was a puppet in a sense herself. Nothing anyone said made me like her. Her actress did a good job, that's really all. Oh and ZCJ's antler princess head piece looked ridiculous.

The last battle between TLC and YM was supposed to powerful because this is it and yet it fell flat because for starters they're darting in and out in between that metal tree contraption, secondly there's dialogue nonstop, so you somehow have to manage to read what they're saying and watch them fight but it wasn't like an actual full fight but darting, striking blades, than using spells and repeat plus constant dialogue. Editing had to be better here; fight like really fight not soft fight, don't talk, you can have instrumental music in the background to build the fight. Had that happened it would have been awesome and appropriate; 40 episodes were building up to this and it was very anticlimactic. And episode 40 felt rushed.

Would I recommend it? I would. It's gorgeous and the story though had issues sometimes with writing and editing; it was a deep and complex story which you really have to delve into. So get on watching.

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