As an adventure enthusiast with an insatiable curiosity for diverse cultures, I've always sought out the road less traveled. My journeys are often punctuated with savoring exotic vegetarian dishes and always desirous for travel at unusual bucket-list destinations. Yet, never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate developing a profound fascination for traditional Chinese attire and looks of ancient Chinese men. This unexpected love affair began with enchanting figures of Ye Hua and Mo Yuan from a captivating Chinese Drama Series "Eternal Love aka Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms".
My heart was irrevocably stolen by Ye Hua from "Eternal Love" (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms), portrayed by the mesmerizing Taiwanese Canadian actor Mark Chao, his real name being Zhao Yuting. The allure of his character has drawn me into the intricate world of Chinese imperial robes, the elegant Hanfu, and the refined aesthetics of ancient Chinese men with long hair, tying them up with beautiful accessories, elevated corners of their brows, their way of greeting each other, mannerisms, language and almost everything, except non-vegetarian food ;) The Chinese regal demeanor depicted in the series have captivated me to the point of obsession, compelling me to delve deeper into their cultural artistry.
Furthermore, Mark Chao's dual portrayal of the twins Ye Hua and Mo Yuan in "Eternal Love" is nothing short of spellbinding. The contrast between the two characters, despite their identical appearance of being Twin brothers, is executed with such finesse that it's as if Mo Yuan and Ye Hua are indeed different individuals. This masterful performance has left me revisiting the video clips and music from the series daily, a phenomenon which is unexplainable to myself, and never-before-experienced madness for any TV show or movie in my history as a movie and acting enthusiast.
As someone who watches films and loves music as a stress-buster tool, I cannot recollect such an intense, almost addictive, connection to any character or story till date, so much so as to make me revisit its scenes and music almost daily like a ritual. This newfound obsession has made me ponder about the reasons of such attachment despite being aware about the teachings of Zen Buddhism, which cautions the souls/consciousness against clinging to anything or anyone! While I recognize the spiritual implications, I can't help but immerse myself in the captivating world of Ye Hua and Mo Yuan. Yesterday came across one such particular video that has ensnared my attention and showcases the depth and duality of the Twin brother characters of Mo Yuan and Ye Hua in Eternal Love:
The nuanced distinction between Mo Yuan's stoic wisdom and Ye Hua's passionate love and resolve, both portrayed by Mark Chao, is a testament to his unparalleled acting prowess. It's not just the characters that intrigue me, but the real-life actor behind them. Researching upon the real life Actor Mark Chao aka Zhao Yuting, I discovered a humble, down-to-earth individual whose modern persona starkly contrasts with his imperial roles. His sweet demeanor and contemporary style highlight his versatile acting and the transformative power of his acting performances, making his portrayal of these ancient characters even more remarkable and nostalgic. Watching real life Mark Chao's interview, it made me even question, "OMG, how is it even possible! Is he the same Ye Hua and Mo Yuan shown in 'Eternal Love'? I wonder how he carried off those roles with so much detailed emotions and perfection!" and further confirms what a par excellent actor he is! in fact even Chinese Actress Yang Mi as Bai Qian is irreplaceable! It appears to be one of the most powerful on-screen couples with an amzing chemistry indeed!
My unexpected journey sparked by "Eternal Love," has been nothing short of profound nostalgia, sucking me into emotions and addictions I can't fully fathom as yet! Revisiting these moments depicted in the scenes and the music of "Eternal Love" daily, leaves me wondering why am I becoming addicted or clinging to something beyond my control, despite knowing well that these were just Actors and characters in a story script! Despite my years of Vipassana meditation and my deep admiration and love for Lord Buddha's teachings, walking on the path, I question if I have truly grasped the essence of non-attachment. I strangely find myself wrestling with these feelings and tug-of-war about the reasons for "Why am I getting so addicted to this" and it was further fuelled by another revelation recently -
Interestingly, since the time I bought my new laptop, I finally have stayed stuck to two screensavers on it: one of a beautiful golden infinity sign made by a dragon rising from a mountain, this screensaver flashes on my screen before I log into my windows and another of a Mentor who always inspires me, his photo is the screensaver on the backdrop of my desktop files and projects!
Now, as I look back, I realised that the random YouTube clip featuring a captivating scene with the character of mortal Su Su (played by beautiful Actress Yang Mi) speaking to a snake lured me into watching the entire "Eternal Love" series.
In one of the marketplace scenes , the snake (who was Ye Hua after he was injured in a battle) transformed into the Dragon, so as to protect Su Su while she was being harassed by a notorius and nasty local Priest.
Surprisingly, it was only after watching the entire series and revisiting the scenes over a few days, quite a few times, did it occur to me one fine day that the Dragon in my screensaver mirrors the same Dragon that the Ye Hua as a snake transforms into!
This unexpected alignment of symbols—culminating in the Dragon infinity symbol and Ye Hua turning into similar Dragon— and my addiction to the character of Ye Hua, has left me in awe and a bit unsettled. Adding to the mystery, I recently saw a man wearing a "Dragon Warrior" T-shirt, further intensifying my sense of serendipity. Couldnt take that pic, since I drove past by him very quickly, but this left me pondering if it can have any deeper significance or its just random coincidences!
These emotions of clinging and experience of coincidences have left me with unanswered questions and a yearning to understand why I feel such a strong connection to Ye Hua's character and the Dragon.
While I have much to learn about the rich cultural tapestry of ancient China, beautifully embodied by Mark Chao's unforgettable characters, the fascination this experience has created in me, is both enigmatic and worrisome at the same time!
However, the obsession to keep revisiting the scenes and music from this movie is unexplainable. I wonder whether this obsession is spiritually beneficial or not - it remains a personal contemplation as yet, but it undeniably adds a layer of irresistible enchantment to my life while I am trying to figure out the reasons for such deep emotional attachment to Ye Hua of "Eternal Love"
- Loving Light
- Dr Racchana D Fadia
Meraki Pegasus
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