Lee

do people realise that “tan lip-bu” is not a mainland chinese name? his name shows that he’s southeast asian chinese (born in malaysia, to be exact)

it’s easy to tell! chinese names are spelled differently based on which country you’re from, due to dialect groups and inconsistent romanization

Out in the desolate border territories, his memories of the capital could seem like another life, the kind of story they'd tell in teahouses. To make it more titillating, they'd make Zang Hai out to be some kind of demon, an animal spirit in human form: A beautiful snake demon inserts himself into the household of his blood enemy. Immediately, members of the household start to die. The master of the house falls victim to his charms; the master's oldest son loses his mind; the entire household falls to ruin and the master's wife and son and daughter-in-law all take poison; and finally - The master is killed by his own son. It really did sound like the kind of story Zhuang Zhixing used to listen to over cups of fine wine. He could imagine a captivated audience oohing and gasping at all the right moments, marveling at the snake demon's cleverness and his deadly and yet irresistible allure. To cause a man to kill his own father! Did I really do that? Asked the Zang Hai in his head. Or did you do it for your own reasons?

#wipwednesday still Legend of Zang Hai.

There's something very Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio about XZ's performance as Zang Hai (this is what I meant when I kept talking about him as a vengeful ghost), and it's so much fun to play around with those ghost story vibes.

Had to add a date to the description because XZ's arms and chest do not look like that these days 😂

#xiaozhan

I do this like once a month

Great one to start with

Honestly, with hindsight, Radcliffe, Watson and Grint's public statements where they sided with trans people, expressed their support with no caveats, and willingly blew up any chances at future ties to the franchise has only gotten more and more noteworthy as more actors are revealed to be cowards

Opening credits of Hong Kong TVB's Cantonese dub of #legendofzanghai!

The new Cantonese theme song is 日光之下 (Under Daylight) by Vic Teo.

This is particularly neat for mainland audiences old enough to remember when TVB palace intrigue dramas (dubbed into Mandarin) ruled our airwaves, to see the TVB version of this show.

#legendofzanghai

Screenshots of ink painting style scenes of a city in flames and the silhouette of a man in the smoke

Screenshots of ink paintings of a tiger, a centipede and an eagle with the final painting of a man standing in front of a smokey backdrop

Extremely cool new opening sequence for Hong Kong TVB's Cantonese dub of #legendofzanghai.

The theme song and new ending theme are both sung by Malaysian singer Vic Teo.

Honestly sounds pretty good 😂

😂😂😂

Lamett ad with their mobile snack cabinet in Zang Hai colours (blue and red)

I don't often post ads but this Lamett ad (one of XZ's endorsements) for a mobile snack cabinet is so funny.

The text says 比藏海更能装 (even more 装 than Zang Hai).

The character meaning spacious 装 (able to carry a lot) also means ability to act/pretend 😂😂😂

#legendofzanghai

More anime fans should bother to read Journey to the West + Romance of the Three Kingdoms + The Water Margin to understand the literary canon a number of their favorite shows are either drawing from or referencing at a given point of time.

Happy birthday!!!

😭😭😭

Is he lucky or is he successful? 😂

A fan combined the XZ Studio video from Stefanie Sun's concert with fancams from the show so you can see XZ reacting to Stefanie's words (and I added subtitles).

#XiaoZhan

Lee watches Legend of Zang Hai: Episodes 31-40 Plot, language, culture, history, Chinese TV and novel tropes, and general commentary. Episodes 1-10 here, 11-20 here and 21-30 here. Episode 31 Zang Hai refuses your nonsense binary and also your...

Episodes 31-40 up now:

steppingonyourshadow.tumblr.com/post/7907331...

#legendofzanghai

GoT being in there is a joke

💪💪💪

Screenshots with quotes from Cao Yiwen

In the beginning, the Marquis uses his domineering aura to mask rising panic.

The moment Zang Hai says, "do you still think there's a way out", the music changes to the opening theme (also playing the moment Zang Hai receives his new identity), hinting at what Zang Hai is up to.

#legendofzanghai

Screenshots with quotes from Cao Yiwen

On one of the show's most discussed scenes, the confrontation between the Marquis and Zang Hai in prison, Cao Yiwen confirmed that Zang Hai deliberately taunts the Marquis in order to get him to take drastic action.

This is also shown by the transition from one theme to another.

#legendofzanghai

Yeah, I think so!

😘

"The Marquis and Zang-daren are shut up together," Zhuang Shan told him when he asked to see how they were. "Zang-daren is tending to the Marquis." It wasn't until he reached the door of the study that he noticed Zhuang Shan had been subtly trying to herd him away. He could hear Zang Hai's soft voice through the closed door. "I gave my life into your keeping. And now Houye has given it back to me." His father's rough, booming laugh. "Since you gave it to me, there's no taking it back. I don't let go of what's mine, Zang Hai." Zang Hai's reply was too soft to make out. Zhuang Zhixing started when Zhuang Shan cleared his throat, as if he had only just noticed how inappropriate it was to be witnessing his father in the midst of an intimate conversation. "What did the physician say?" "The Marquis said he was not required." Zhuang Shan glanced toward the closed doors of the study. "The Marquis also said to tell the Madame and dagongzi that they were not needed." Then he was needed even less. Zhuang Zhixing made his feet move.

#wipwednesday still Legend of Zang Hai. ZZX overhears something, wishes he hadn't.

I was gonna use "Marquis" but there's just something about the way Zang Hai says "Houye" that can't be replicated.

The composer wrote this piece to the scene (like writing a film score) so that it would crescendo right as Xiao Zhan's Zang Hai raised his eyes to the audience for the first time.

Go back and watch it - it's an impactful moment and great transition in part because of the music.

#legendofzanghai

CCTV have been airing a great series about aspects of #legendofzanghai.

The first two episodes were about the music and I've really enjoyed the insights from director Cao Yiwen and composer Hu Xiaoou.

E.g. the music that plays when Xiao Zhan makes his 1st appearance was written for this moment.

His powers are too great 😂

Announcement from Desire the Series that it will halt broadcast on Youku International, WeTV International and IQiyi International

Significant and worrying development if you follow danmei/baihe.

Previously Chinese platforms could get away with broadcasting banned content to overseas audiences. It seems like that loophole is closing.

Also no Savage Garden in the top 50 and no Kylie til 27???