'Pursuit of Jade' actress Tian Xi Wei on portraying Fan Chang Yu

Recently, CCTV (China Central Television, the national television broadcaster of the People's Republic of China) released interview clips featuring Pursuit of Jade actress Tian Xi Wei, where she shared insights into her character, her goals as an actress, and more. 

Based on your understanding of the character, from the design of costumes, makeup, and props to the blending of characters’ emotions and the building of relationships between characters, how should a film or television work be made in order to truly generate genuine emotional resonance with the audience?

I think whether it's the design of costumes, makeup, or props, or the blending of emotions, they ultimately all point to one purpose: to make the audience believe — to believe that the character is convincing and to believe in the relationships around that character.

In Xigu Lane, a great deal of space [or screen time] was devoted to depicting relationships among neighborhood people. Scenes like slaughtering the New Year pig and putting up Spring Festival couplets — these familiar, everyday scenes make the entire world of Xigu Lane more believable. The director devotes a great deal of detail early on to carefully portray these neighborhood relationships, as well as the harsher sides of human nature at that time [in the drama].

But in the face of conflict, or when it comes to justice, they choose kindness. I think this is a moment when the brilliance of human nature shines through — one that makes people feel deeply moved, even to the point of tears. I think it's truly wonderful.

This drama is set against the backdrop of the Sichuan–Chongqing region and includes many elements with local characteristics. Did you feel a sense of familiarity while performing?

For example, the bowl of intestine noodles that Changyu serves is actually something very distinctive of the Sichuan–Chongqing area. It felt very familiar and comforting while filming that scene. And it really made me want to eat it.

If in the future you encounter works with these kinds of traditional cultural elements again, which aspects of your hometown's traditions would you like to showcase?

The presentation of local customs and traditional culture in film and television is very meaningful. It can strengthen our confidence [and make us feel proud] in our cultural identity.

Later on, I think I'd like to present the dragon and lion dances from my hometown (Tongliang Dragon Dance). Because the dragon and lion dance (Tongliang Dragon Dance) is very popular, visually very appealing, and also very infectious [in its energy]. I'd really like to recommend it to everyone. As my parents always say, you still have to eat your meals and get your proper sleep.

The character of Fan Changyu is inspired by the female general Qin Liang Yu. In the drama, there are both delicate emotional storylines and a strong sense of devotion to family and country. How did you balance these two aspects of emotion in your performance?

In Chang Yu, I felt a kind of quiet, finely grained [subtle yet quiet] resilience. Even after her parents’ passing, in that dark period of her life, she managed to live out her own personality [live on in a way that shaped and expressed her own personality] resiliently. When I saw the [content for the] first episode, I felt like my heart was pounding like a drum. I wanted to give it a try. I wanted to play this role.

I think Chang Yu's persistence and growth run in parallel. She has always been protecting something — it's just that the scope of what she protects keeps expanding. When she was in Xigu Lane, she protected her younger sister, her butcher shop, and the people close to her — her friends and even her husband. But when she stepped onto the battlefield, the things she protected were the people behind her and the very land of her country.

How do you understand this sense of persistence and growth in the character of Fan? What kind of strength do you hope to convey to the audience through this role?

Her spirit, to me, feels a bit like a small blade of grass slowly taking root in the cracks of stone in Xigu Lane — firmly and steadily. She is sincere, kind-hearted, and possesses a strong life force [vitality].

I hope that when people see the character of Fan Chang Yu, they also feel, "I can do it too. I can also live freely, optimistically, and with resilience. I can, when facing difficulties, [keep] moving forward step by step. I can also have the courage to make my own choices." That's the kind of strength I hope to convey to the audience.

When she steps onto the battlefield, I think she is deeply shaken. It feels like a storm of bloodshed. She has no choice — she has to protect the brothers behind her, so the only thing she can do is move forward, swinging her blade. Then, drawing on what she learned from her father and from her own life experiences, she counters every situation as it comes and bravely defeats the enemy.

But at the moment of victory, I think what emerges in her heart isn't joy, but rather a kind of exhaustion, a choice made not of her own will. That’s how I see that scene. In fact, that scene is where she ultimately kills Shi Hu. 

And the expression on her face as she stands there — my understanding is that after such a brutal struggle, she isn't happy about her victory. Rather, everything that had happened felt like something she had no choice in and was beyond her control. In that moment, she had to protect what she wanted to protect, and that was the only way she could do it. And when she stands up afterward, there’s also a profound sense of extreme exhaustion.

The drama gave some memorable lines, such as "I'll slaughter pigs to support you," which has even been picked up and used by netizens in their own lives. Which line do you personally like the most?

"I'll slaughter pigs to support you" actually comes up quite often. I feel really happy hearing it, because it makes the connection between the audience and the characters in the drama feel much closer. And viewers can take lines from the drama and apply them to their own real lives. So I'm quite fond of this line.

Many scenes in the drama are highly distinctive and possess a striking sense of beauty. Which scene is your personal favorite?

It's actually quite hard for me to choose, because every scene is very distinctive and impactful. But if I had to pick one, I would probably choose the scene where Chang Yu enters the capital to receive her honors. In that scene, Chang Yu is wearing floral hair ornaments. And even the little horse is adorned with small flowers. The entire street is richly decorated, and it looks very lively. It feels like a vivid, tangible portrayal of a victorious return.

The drama has many close-up shots, and netizens have even called them your "career-defining shots." These moments demand a high level of precision in eye expression and subtle detail. How did you handle and convey them?

Actually, what comes through in those shots — whether it's the eyes or subtle expressions — is the character's natural reactions to the situation in that moment. The director very keenly captured them and then enhanced them through camerawork and music.

There were also many details that were planned in advance. For example, when Chang Yu receives her wedding dress, she doesn't reach out to take it [right away] — instead, she first wipes her hands on her clothes, and only then takes it. I think this small detail conveys a lot of information.

[It hints that] her family is actually quite financially strained. It shows how much she cherishes the wedding dress and reflects a young girl's slight sense of restraint and her little excitement when facing such an important life event. It also reveals her simple, kind personality. I think it's these kinds of details that make the character feel more convincing and real.

The line, "When a person is truly happy, the heart makes a sound," really resonated with audiences. It was also discovered that this was actually written by you. Could you share the creative process behind both the line and the quote?

Although Chang Yu may seem carefree and easygoing on the outside, she is actually very delicate and sensitive at heart. When that line appeared, I immediately felt that its feeling was very much like Chang Yu herself — light, lively, and [someone with very] infectious [energy].

When I was dubbing that line, I could really feel her sense of happiness in that moment and fully immerse myself in the character. Seeing the person I had imagined, I wanted to convey that feeling to everyone — that sense of happiness. Words actually carry a great deal of power.

When I wrote that passage, it must have been because I wanted to say something to the world, or to record these things. But when someone truly understands what lies beneath those words, it makes me feel very happy — as if someone is resonating with me on the same wavelength. I think that's a one-in-a-million kind of moment.

What kind of actress do you hope to become in the future?

Actually, from my debut until now, my mindset has always been the same — to become a truly good actor. [As an actress,] I can shape characters. I can present many different facets and portray different personalities. I can also take on the social responsibility [that comes with it all].

I want to convey a beautiful, positive sense of spirit, or for audiences to feel truly inspired when they see a character. I once came across a line that says, "When you create a powerful female character, there may be ten thousand women like her appearing in real life." I think that's something incredibly meaningful, and it's the kind of work I'll continue doing.

Source: Weibo