Recently, “The Longest Promise,” a fantasy drama starring Xiao Zhan and aired on Tencent Video, has successfully concluded its exclusive VIP broadcast. Since its release, “The Longest Promise” has continuously topped various rankings, setting records, and earning the praise of audiences and major media at home and abroad. Whether it’s the first time in the history of Tencent Video that comments have exceeded 10 million, the historical record of a character’s popularity surpassing 50 million, or the achievement of over 100 million interactive bullet screen comments, all these are proof of the market’s enthusiastic feedback to this critically acclaimed fantasy drama.

From July 7th, the drama has been aired on Netflix, the world’s largest streaming platform, launching a global recognition in multiple countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Furthermore, “The Longest Promise” achieved a starting score of 9.9 on IMDb, the world’s most authoritative rating site. This has significantly enhanced the international influence of the lead actor, Xiao Zhan, and has increased recognition from a large number of international fans for traditional Chinese culture and positive values.

Different from past fantasy dramas which focused on the love-hate entanglement between the protagonists, “The Longest Promise”, whether through its exquisitely elegant costumes, set design embodying ultimate Eastern aesthetics, stunning visual effects produced by the special effects team of “The Wandering Earth”, or the return to the spirit of fantasy in post-production, the theme of loyalty to one’s country and the positive influence on young people, presents a completely different style, breaking the fantasy stereotypes and redefining the audience’s understanding of “national aesthetics” and “chivalry.”

“The Longest Promise” tells the story of Shi Ying, a cold and aloof son of Kongsang, and Zhu Yan, a passionate and righteous tribal princess, who became entwined due to a single act of kindness, overcoming difficulties together, growing up together, and protecting their homeland. In the drama, Shi Ying, with the blood of an emperor, suffers countless trials and tribulations. Despite being wrongly accused and despised by people in his childhood, and experiencing the hardship of a prophecy of love in adulthood; he still takes the protection of the people as his duty, eventually sacrificing himself for his country. This seemingly clichéd love story becomes unique due to Xiao Zhan’s nuanced and multi-layered portrayal of Shi Ying, and the story’s rigorous and profound perspective on patriotism and chivalry. Xiao Zhan’s portrayal of the Divine Priest Shi Ying breaks away from the typical stoic image seen by the public. He shows shyness, a sense of humor, the purity and naivety of youth, as well as a restrained and resolute side, giving the character a more vibrant charm.

The character of Shi Ying, who was set as the son of the queen and an aspiring emperor who wished to serve the people from a young age, is also a young leader of the Jiuyi Mountain sect with the ability to nurture others through magic. At the beginning of the story, when Shi Ying starts to teach his first disciple at Jiuyi Mountain, he elucidates his understanding of destiny and the way of life, asking ‘What is the purpose of learning magic? To connect with the virtue of the gods and become the heart of all things; and to follow the laws of the four seasons to save the people from perils. Without this heart, do not enter my door.’ The dialogue here is a paraphrase of “Hengqu’s Four Sentences”, pointing out the main theme of protecting the people. The story echoes at the beginning and end of the series, and when Shi Ying asks “What is the purpose of learning magic?” for the last time during his battle with the God of Destruction Xuyao, it reaches the strongest note. The intention of “saving the people from danger” surpasses many similar plots that are trapped in love and destroys the people for personal preferences. This is the chivalry unique to China, this is the fantasy unique to China.

Knowing fate but not accepting it, the mortal body rebels against the gods. “What is the purpose of cultivating magic arts? To save the common people from danger.” From being a teacher to the end of one’s life, for the country and the family, for feelings and reason, Shi Ying, only seeks the mercy of his original heart, dies twice, and fights with his life. “WenHui Daily” twice published reviews on “The Longest Promise”, stating that this Eastern fantasy, with its three creative directions, not only satisfies emotional needs in terms of value implication, but also finds value orientation and spiritual direction for excellent traditional Chinese culture in the most popular art and literature. Especially the portrayal of Shi Ying’s broad-mindedness and compassion for all beings, not only carves out a protagonist who represents chivalry in costume dramas, but also broadens the creative vision of related genres – fantasy is not about cutting off love, nor is it about ascension in seclusion, but about compassion for all beings, saving the people, and deep affection.

“The Longest Promise”, from its first airing day to the grand finale, has attracted high attention and heated discussion on social media. The audience praised the rigorous logic of the plot, the subtle foreshadowing and echoes, the expressive character traits, and the stunningly beautiful scenes of traditional Chinese aesthetics. The character Shi Ying, played by Xiao Zhan, captivated many with his stunning ancient costumes and outstanding performance, earning enthusiastic praise and affection. The audience emotionally resonated with Shi Ying’s growth, joys, and sorrows, admiring his perseverance for love, filial piety as a son, virtues as a disciple, and his self-sacrifice for the country. “What is the purpose of cultivating the magic arts? It is to save the world in times of danger.” Shi Ying’s initial pledge and ultimate practice struck the audience’s soul, evoking an extremely strong emotional resonance. Under contemporary social values, “The Longest Promise” connects past and present with traditional and simple Chinese spirits of “chivalry and benevolence” and “country above self”, becoming a quality work that enlightens our cultural heritage.

During its broadcast, the show, as a quality drama, sparked a phenomenal discussion and still has a strong long-tail effect after the grand finale. On social media, many of Shi Ying’s classic quotes are well-known and discussed: “I once read in a book that the autumn of the West is grand, where you can see the long river and the setting sun, the lone smoke in the vast desert. Actually, not just the West, I want to travel all over Yunhuang, to see the beautiful Jiangnan like an ink painting, the North Field covered by white snow, as white as feathers, it sounds really beautiful’. ‘Xiao Zhan’s voice is perfect for promoting tourism,’ ‘Take Xiao Zhan’s Shi Ying to see the landscapes of our country,’ these topics are quoted by numerous official travel media and audiences. Everyone is sharing beautiful scenery from all over the country, expressing their love for the landscapes of our homeland.

The most classic quote from the show, “What is the purpose of cultivating the magic arts? To connect with the virtues of the gods, to set the heart for all things, to follow the way of the four seasons, to save the world in times of danger”, not only resonated with the audience’s unprecedented resonance and recognition for the spirit of national chivalry but also sparked discussions on the “original intention of enterprises” in various industries. For example, China Tower issued an advocacy statement: “What is the purpose of building towers? To stand atop high mountains, to connect the world with the internet, to fulfill China, to assist in the happiness of China. If you don’t have this intention, don’t enter my door.” The “Longest Promise” became an oath to question the original intention and boost industry spirit in all walks of life.

In our era, where everyone is “ordinary,” everyone has their own ideals, persistence, and directions to protect, be it “country,” “all beings,” or “self.” The public’s genuine pride and love for the landscapes of our homeland, their high recognition for the spirit of national righteousness and chivalry, triggered by “The Longest Promise”, essentially reflect our beliefs and sentiments nurtured by Chinese culture. This simple and passionate “original intention” has been residing in the chest of our Chinese nation for thousands of years. No matter what era, this “original intention” leads us to overcome difficulties and forge ahead. The ability to inspire such positive discussions is the responsibility of a profound and excellent work, and why it has won wide praise from the audience. We are always expecting such excellent works, not only for the enjoyment of visual beauty, the shared fate of characters, but more importantly, for the recognition and return to the simple values in cultural heritage. Its influence on the younger generation far exceeds the mere indulgence in love in “electronic pickles”*. The era needs such works and such serious practitioners.

I’ll borrow from a post made by the young actor Xiao Zhan at the end of the show: “You and I are all part of the masses, every choice is extremely precious. ‘Protect’, ‘persist’, ‘cherish’, you’ve done very well.”

Whether it’s Gu Yiye from “Ace Troops”, Xiao Chunsheng from “Where Dreams Begin”, or now Shi Ying from “The Longest Promise”, Xiao Zhan has always been telling the story of the power of ordinary people’s “choices” and digging deep into character traits that resonate with the public, conveying positive energy from his works. This is also Xiao Zhan’s original intention as a cultural worker. What kind of choice will he portray in the next story about Guo Jing in “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”, directed by Tsui Hark? It’s indeed worth looking forward to. “Listen, the spring wind will arrive soon.”

Note: *”Electronic pickles” mentioned in the article:

The phrase “electronic pickles” (电子榨菜) is a colloquial term used in China to describe TV dramas or series that heavily revolve around love stories or romance, particularly those that are seen as overly sentimental or melodramatic. The term came from a popular brand of pickles in China, which are considered a small but enjoyable snack. Similarly, these dramas, like the pickles, are often consumed as a form of light entertainment but may not have significant nutritional value in terms of deeper cultural or intellectual content.
The phrase seems to suggest that while these shows might be enjoyable to watch and can elicit emotional reactions, they might lack the depth or substance that other types of shows, such as the “The Longest Promise”, might offer.

Original article by: Chinese People’s Political Consultative Network (CPPCN – Cinese Govt. Official News Website) – Editor: Chen Shuyan
Link to the article in the original language: https://t.ly/2dSIE

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