PeachBlossomGoddess

Tyvm for the very interesting link, I haven't seen it before. I did watch the Mummy and quite a few others featuring the Terracotta warriors. Xian is still an in progress excavation site every few years there are new things to see. Its one of my favourite short trip destinations from where I live in HK. It is a pity is no plan to open Qin Shi Huangdi's mausoleum itself. It takes so long to dig all this stuff up that I doubt even if they start tomorrow, I will be able to see it in my lifetime. Wu Tzetian's tomb is there too but also there is no plan to open it up.

Its actually excellent, way better than the Olympics opening ceremony because they are all done in a natural setting. I haven't been to them all but I have loved every one I have been to.

I was just visiting, I enjoy travelling through rural China. All those places are quite accessible tourists spots but to get to one of the lakes you have to be able to ride a horse for a couple hours through a hilly forest. The altitude made me dizzy on the way back after my pill wore off it was not fun. The other one is in front of a famous monastery there is road access. There are similar outdoor China impressions shows also by Zhang Yimou in other China travel spots, all reflecting the culture and history of that particular local area.
https://www.chinadiscovery.com/articles/impression-shows.html

I have to say that the attention to detail in this show is meticulous. They even made up many of the side characters to bear an uncanny resemblance to some of the more well known intact terracotta warrior statues. Even the carriages drawn by four horses are so similar to what was uncovered in Xian. I tore my study apart last night unearthing all my old books on the terracotta warriors and just comparing the pictures to the show. It is amazing.

They filmed in Shangri-la or Zhongdian. Its practically in Tibet and looks a lot like Tibet but at a much more comfortable altitude. Its still very high up I needed altitude sickness pills when I was there. You can hire ponies and ride up to that lake. Usually to be visited at the same time as Lijiang, which is a Unesco Heritage Site. The mountain is probably part of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain range, you can hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way. On the Lijiang side Zhang Yimou's Jade Dragon Mountain Show features the mountain prominently - looks very similar to some of what he did for Beijing Olympics but this features the ethnic minorities and possibly some of the music you refer to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvNt8T-PFRg

My mom observed that this recorded history of this period was made mostly by Sima Qian who was from Han which had succeeded Qin. History is written by the victors; in this case it is possible they may have relished in slandering Qin Shi Huangdi, his parentage and even his tyranny...

Of course not... no matter who the actor they cannot have a 40 year old play 13. That's just plain not fair. And that beard even made Ning Yi look weird but thankfully for only 1 or 2 episodes... its not a good look on anyone...

When I was young I just recited them indifferently because I had to. Now I really regret not working harder when I had the time...

I agree... the subtle unspoken messages in this drama is brilliant. She has had that come hither, seductive look from the moment she debuted - what a great casting. But nothing is made that obvious it is just implied that she is this femme fetale man eater...

Lemme just tell you, Chen Kun/(Ning Yi) would have just killed it as Qin Shi Huangdi! He has the gravitas and the attitude that is lacking here so far...

LOL... the flip side of which is god helps he who helps himself...

I tell you one bad casting decision messes everything up... just wait till you see the beard... They just needed to use another actor for the young YZ and none of this stuff would be happening...smh

Yes indeed.... not to mention immigration - Qin was probably the first great nation built on the back of immigration, meritocracy and using talent irrespective of where they come from and who they are... It is too bad China is really just not great at the propaganda war.

Ah ha yes indeed!!! You know everything!!! My dad loves using the expression but he says it in canto. I never realised where it came from.

LOL.. you mean a Zorro moustache???

Yes, I agree the uncle pulled a 180. I suppose he recognises that he has no chance since Zichu has two sons and HY intends to support the younger one. His distance from the throne is far and it is not like Zichu doesn't have other brothers who have undifferentiated claims. HY is trying to influence him probably by triggering his outrage that an illegitimate heir, not even of their bloodline should take the throne, thus undermining his support for YZ.

The second guessing of this show is brilliant. The different POVs suggest many different analysis of what is happening. It makes for the best discussions indeed.

1. I think she sent her nephews to Lv Buwei as a hedge - so that if her power play fails, her family would still have a (much diminished) influence in the court.

2. I think she had a good read on YZ being quick tempered and super protective of his mum (remember he stood up to her from day 1 for his mother) so she figured she would be able to show how unsuitable he is before Zichu can appoint him. She probably had no idea how well YZ would fall into her plans... And she knew Zichu's health was failing she figured it may also hasten his demise (which it did). What I also found interesting is how YZ''s behavior parallels his uncles attempted stabbing of Lv Buwei years ago. It is one of many scenes where they imply without coming out to say so that YZ is really the biological son of Zichu. The familial traits run strong.

But yes, overall those short episodes seem heavily dramatized... which is great, not complaining about it just wish I knew the history better.

I dunno whether Huayang really was so bold to try to pull this off but it was interesting that they suggest Wu Tzetian wasn't the only woman in history that had ambitions to rule. I also loved the way Zichu told her how unsuitable she would be and why. It is one of my favorite dialogues so far although I doubt it really took place.

Isn't it so funny that the western world thinks China doesn't understand rule of law when actually they thought about it 2000 years ago and started implementing it since...

What Mao Sui proverb? I feel like I have heard something like that too but can't for the life of me remember what it was.

I agree with you wrt Zhao king - I actually felt so sad for him I think he knew he wasn't gonna be able to whack Qin in his state of health. He just made it worse deliberately so that he could call in Mao Sui's promise to bring his heir home. This show is very interesting because I didn't realize how much sitting ducks the 6 kingdoms were by the time Ying Zheng ascended the throne. I just assumed he was the guy that did all the work but in truth his ancestors already undermined them so much that by the time he took over it was almost inevitable.

Well I know they got him drunk... and then he must have misbehaved or did something shameful that got cut?