Welcome to the 'Best Character with [X] surname' polls!
This is where I take several characters from different Chinese media (mostly cnovels and cdrama) and run a poll on which one is the 'best'. What does best mean? It's up to you! Whether you love them, are intrigued by their characters, love to hate them, or they're your '2 second blorbos whose personality you made up wholesale', these are all reasons for you to vote for your favs!
NB: the surnames are not exactly the same in all the cases, as often they will be a different character. I am, however, grouping them all together otherwise things got more complicated.
If you can't find a surname, it's because I couldn't find enough candidates (at least 3 from 3 distinct medias) to compete. Feel free to submit candidates!
I will be posting several polls at a time, so do come back and check this masterpost to remember which polls are ongoing, who the winners are, and who's coming up next!
Finished polls: Xing/Rong/Nan/Ren/Pan/Qu/Fu/Sui/Tan/You/Sima/Xuan/Chang/Xun/Shangguan/Jian/Qian/Shu/Xi/Yuwen/Cai/Sha/Yin/Ceng/Helian/Zeng/Lou/Mi/Ji/Ping/Tong/Tuoba/Ge/Murong/Hei/Niu/Tao/Si/Pang/Zi/Gongsun/Mao/Qing/Lian
Chi/Shan/Tian/Dao/Chao/Xin/Ran/Sang/Cang/Miao/Yao/Zang/Chong/Nangong/Kong/Hai/Deng/Kang/Jun/Chun/Gui/Peng/Gong/Dai/Bao/Bian/Leng/Xian/Kan/Hou/Shao/Kou/Zuo/Lai/Tie/Huan/Min/Xiong/Cen/Dou/Misc
There's only a certain number of hyperlinks that can be added per post, so the rest of the completed polls can now be found here
All the details of the individual polls under the readmore
An - posted 15/03/24 WINNER An Zhe
Bai - posted 28/02/24 WINNER Bai Fengxi
Baili - posted 22/03/24 WINNER Baili Qingmiao
Bao - posted 1/05/24 WINNER Bao Rongxing
Bi - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Bi Changfeng
Bian - posted 1/05/14 WINNER Bian Cheng
Cai - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Cai Quan
Cang - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Cang Jiumin
Cao - posted 8/02/24. WINNER - Cao Weining
Cen - posted 7/05/24 WINNEER Cen Xiao
Ceng - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Ceng Aiyu
Chang - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Chang Geng
Chao - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Chao Zi
Chen - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Chen Qingxu
Cheng - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Cheng Shaoshang
Chi - posted 19/04/24 WINNERS Chi Zhanggui and Chi Xiaochi
Chong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Chong Ming
Chu - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Chu Wanning
Chun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER Chun Shen
Cui - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Madam Cui
Dai - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Dai Mubai
Dao - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Dao Mingsi
Deng - posted 27/04/24 WINNER Deng Kuan
Di - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Di Feisheng
Ding - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Ding Rong
Dong - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Dong Yi
Dongfang - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Dongfang Qingcang
Dou - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Dou Cheng
Du - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Du Cheng
Duan - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Duan Baiyue
Fan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Fan Xian
Fang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Fang Duobing
Fei - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Fei Du
Feng - posted 28/02/24 WINNER 'Other'
Fu - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Fu Yao
Gao - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Gao Xiaolian
Ge - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Ge Chen
Gong - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Gong Yu
Gongsun - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Gongsun Heng
Gu - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Gu Xiang
Guan - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Guan Hemeng
Gui - posted 29/04/24 WINNERS Gui Wen, Gui Yang, Gui Bai and 'Other'
Guo - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Guo Changcheng
Hai - posted 26/04/24 WINNER Hai Lanshi
Han - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Han Ying
Hao - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Hao Du
He - posted 22/03/24 WINNER He Xuan
Hei - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Hei Xiazi
Helian - posted 9/04/24 wINNER Helian Yi
Hong - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Hong Qigong
Hou - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Hou Bin
Hu - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Hu Tianying
Hua - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Hua Cheng
Huan - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Huan Xiaoyan
Huang - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Huang Shaotian
Huo - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Huo Xiuxiu
Ji - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ji Xue
Jia - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Jia Kui
Jian - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Jian Buzhi
Jiang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Jiang Cheng
Jiao - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Jiao Liqiao
Jin - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Jin Ling
Jing - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Jing Beiyuan
Jun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER 'Other"
Kan - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Kan Jian
Kang - posted 27/04/24 WINNER 'Other'
Kong - posted 26/04/24 WINNERS Kong Xiu and Alexis Kong
Kou - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Kou Baimen
Lai - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Lai Zhongshu
Lan - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Lan Wangji
Lei - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Lei Wujie
Leng - posted 2/05/24 WINNER Leng Yue
Li - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Li Lianhua
Lian - posted 18/04/24 WINNERS Lian Yufan and Lian Qiao
Liang - posted 13/03/24 WINNER 'Other'
Lin - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Lin Chen
Ling - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Ling Wen
Liu - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Liu Qingge
Long - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Long Zhi
Lou - posted 10/04/24 WINNER Lou Yao
Lu - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Lu Guang
Luo - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Luo Binghe
Ma - posted 13/03/24 WINNER Ma Xiuying
Mao - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Mao Panfeng
Mei - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Mei Changsu
Meng - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Meng Zhi
Mi - posted 10/04/24 WINER Mi Chong
Miao - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Miao Renfeng
Min - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Min Yunzhong
Ming - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Ming Yi
Misc - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Gongyi Xiao
Mo - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Mo Xuanyu
Mu - posted 22/02/24 WINNER Mu Nihuang
Murong - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Other
Nan - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Nan Feng
Nangong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Nangong Si
Nie - posted 15/03/24 WINNER Nie Huaisang
Ning - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Ning Yingying
Niu - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Niu Chunmiao
Ouyang - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Ouyang Zizhen
Pan - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Pan Zi
Pang - posted 16/04/24 WINNER Pang Yizhi
Pei - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Pei Ming
Peng - posted 29/04/24 wINNER Peng Sanbian
Ping - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ping An
Qi - posted 22/02/24 WINNER 'Other'
Qian - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Qian Jin
Qiao - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Qiao Wanmian
Qin - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Qin Banruo
Qing - posted 18/04/24 WINNER Qing Ge
Qiu - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Qiu Congxue
Qu - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Qu Lingfeng
Ran - posted 22/04/24 WINNERS Ran Lin and Ran Yun
Ren - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Ren Ruyi
Rong - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Rong Changqing
Ruan - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Ruan Nanzhu
Sang - posted 22/04/24 WINNER Sang Zan
Sha - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Sha Hualing
Shan - posted 19/04/24 WINNER Shan Gudao
Shang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Shang Qinghua
Shangguan - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Shangguan Qin
Shao - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Shao Lin
Shen - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Shen Wei
Sheng - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Sheng Minglan
Sima - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Sima Yi
Shi - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Shi Qingxuan
Shu - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Shu Yanyan
Si - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Si Yilin
Song - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Song Lan
Su - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Su Zhe
Sun - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Sun Wukong
Sui - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Sui Zhou
Tan - posted 1/04/24 WINNER 'Other'
Tang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Tang Fan
Tao - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Tao Ran
Tian - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Tian Qi
Tie - posted 5/05/24 WINNERS Tie Yinyi and Tie Miansheng
Tong - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tong Lu
Tuoba - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tuoba Yan
Wan - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Consort Wan
Wang - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Wang Pangzi
Wei - posted 8/02/24 WINNER Wei Wuxian
Wen - posted 2/03/24 WINNER Wen Kexing
Wu - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Wu Xie
Xi - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Xi Ping
Xia - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Xia Dong
Xian - posted 2/05/24 WINNERS Xian Ge and Xian Qing
Xiang - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Xiang Liu and Xiang Nanfang
Xiao - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Xiao Jingyan
Xie - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Xie Lian
Xin - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Xin Ziyuan
Xing - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Xing Zhi
Xiong - posted 7/05/24 WINNERS Xiong yipei and Xiong Chumo
Xu - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Xu Da
Xun - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Xun Feizhan
Xuan - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Xuan Shen'an | The Empress
Xue -posted 11/02/24 WINNER Xue Yang
Yan - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Yan Wushi
Yang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Yang Wuxie
Yao - posted 24/04/24 WINNER Yao Zhen
Ye - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Ye Baiyi
Yi - posted 9/03/24 WINNER Yi Bichen
Yin - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Yin Yu
Ying - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Ying Hecong
You - posted 1/04/24 WINNER You Huo
Yu - posted 11/02/23 WINNER Yu Ziyuan
Yun - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Yun Biqiu
Yuan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Yuan Boya
Yue - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Yue Qingyuan
Yuwen - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Yuwen Xuan
Zang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Zang Ming
Zeng - posted 9/04/24 WINNER Zeng Xiangdong
Zhan - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Zhan Yunfei
Zhang - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Zhang Qiling
Zhao - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Zhao Yunlan
Zhen - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Zhen Ping
Zhi - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Zhi Xiu
Zhong - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Zhong Li
Zhou - posted 2/02/24 WINNER Zhou Zishu
Zhu - posted 9/03/24 Winner Zhu Hong
Zhuge - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Zhuge Liang
Zi - posted 16/04/24 WINNER 'Other'
Zuo - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Zuo Ran
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Immortal Samsara Part 1 - Review
I really enjoyed this. It’s consistent. Yes, it can be a little slow at times, and it’s packed full of tropes, but every plotline served a purpose, and the main leads are always front and centre in the story. After 7 years of watching xianxia, this one still gets me emotionally.
I was worried that the end of Part 1 would be choppy and rushed, but I think it ended at a good place.
I was especially worried that it would end on an angsty cliffhanger, but instead, it ended with Yan Dan finally getting closure and moving on, choosing to start her life anew.
I felt as calm as Yan Dan when she decided she wanted to move on. Yes, she cried, and I cried too when she finally found out the truth that she didn’t shed her memories naturally, but rather Ying Yuan helped her purged her memories and stayed with her until she crossed over. She learned that he really did love her after all.
But, in the end, he still chose to let her go. And that’s why she’s choosing to let him go now as well. If he’s chosen to give up on them, then she won’t hold on any longer either. She’s mourned their relationship long enough.
She was angry at him back then and wasn’t able to forget for 900 years because she knew deep down that he loved her back. His actions said it. His gaze said it. But he refused to admit it, like Bai Zi Hua in Journey of Flower. That’s what frustrated and haunted Yan Dan. He kept saying he can’t love, but he kept leading her on, sending her mixed signals, protecting her, then gaslighting her. That’s why she couldn’t let go. The does-he-or-doesn’t-he question causes her to fixate on her memories for 900 years, trying to understand the truth.
But now that she’s finally gotten her answer, she’s able to find peace. She now knows that he loves her, but that’s not cause for celebration. It’s not going to change anything and she’s not going run into his arms. It doesn’t bring her joy and she’s not touched by it, but she thinks, “you really did love me after all, but you still chose to destroy our memories and let me go”. When Yi Cang says that Ying Yuan didn’t really have a choice, Yan Dan says that it doesn’t matter, because the choice was still made. Damage still done.
It’s just a fact that she’s now accepted. I also love how Yan Dan’s voice deepens with maturity when she regains her immortal memories. The deep timbre of her voice was just so calming and reassuring. It helps you distance yourself from the heartache as well. Her whole demeanor becomes steadier too.
I was bracing myself for an angsty outburst of emotions when Yan Dan remembered, but I felt strangely calm, anchored, and almost indifferent, a reflection of what Yan Dan felt. Yan Dan went through the 5 stages of grief as she watched the flashback, and she came out the other side of that a stronger person, and as the audience, you do too. No hate, no grief, just acceptance.
Does she still love Ying Yuan/Tang Zhou? Yes. It’s a fact and a burden that she can’t change, but she no longer expects anything from him. She just wants to be left alone.
I was originally worried that Yan Dan would be the first to remember before Tang Zhou, just like how Xiaofeng was the first to remember in Goodbye My Princess. Why do the FLs always have to endure the pain of remembering first? But after seeing the clarity and closure that Yan Dan got from remembering, I realized that being the first one to remember is empowering, especially if you were the one who was wronged. You get to be awakened from this dream/lie and finally be able to choose for yourself whether you want to stay or leave. Yes, it’s painful, but with your memories, you now have more agency. It’s like taking the red pill.
Tang Zhou is still ignorant, but he’s constantly haunted by these memories from a past life. So you can say that he’s been punished everyday in his mortal life. But I truly do believe that Tang Zhou would have given everything up for Yan Dan with time. While yes, Tang Zhou is devoted to his sect, he doesn’t care for taking up the mantle of being the sect’s celibate leader. And on the boat on the Forgetting River, just moments before Yan Dan regained her memories, they have a moment together where they almost lay their hearts bare to each other. He tells her that he’s willing to let go of the past for her. What matters is her, in the here and now. Honestly, it was a romantic confession. In any lifetime, he still chooses to love her.
But then they are interrupted by his immortal coil being torn part, Yan Dan rushing to save him with her medicinal flower breath, and in his half-conscious, half-remembering state, he seems to recognize her. “You’re back,” he says, presumably as Ying Yuan. And unknowingly, he pulls her in for a kiss. It’s the second time that this has happened where he acts on subconscious instinct, and I just love it. He’s not even aware of it happening. His desire for her is in the fabric of his soul and he can’t escape it.
It’s this kiss that unlocks her memories, and she’s torn out of the dream into the cruel truth that she’s on the Forgetting River again, kissing the man she wants most to forget. The irony. Fate is cruel.
I haven’t watched the trailer for Part 2 yet. I don’t need it to interrupt the peace and closure that I feel from Part 1. But what I want to see in Part 2 is Ying Yuan feeling conflicted over Yan Dan finally doing what he wanted and what he kept telling her to do: to let go of love. And the consequences of that should pain him. You want her to let go and leave? Well, she left. And if you want to get her back, then you need to work for it. You need to prove that you’re worthy of her.
I don’t know what Tang Zhou is going to do though. Will he fight for Yan Dan to stay? I really hope Ying Yuan has learned a thing or two about appreciating your loved ones from his experience as Tang Zhou. Ying Yuan should look back on his mortal experience and realize that he got a second chance with Yan Dan, and he should regret not appreciating her more.
I think Yan Dan is a great character. She’s naive, but smart, and she grows.
What I like about Immortal Samsara is that characters may go through growth and change, but they still feel like the same characters. Yan Dan still feels like Yan Dan before and after she loses and regains her memories. Tang Zhou and Ying Yuan still feel like the same person, just different versions. Yu Mo also still feels like the same person despite how much he matured over 900 years.
While I may like Love and Destiny, Ling Xi felt like 3 entirely differently people in her 3 lives.
What I also like about Immortal Samsara is that the first arc in the Immortal Realm is so pervasive in the second arc in the mortal realm. There are so many callbacks to Ying Yuan and Yan Dan’s previous life. The two lifetimes almost mirror each other like history repeating itself.
I also like how Yu Mo stays morally good and honest despite all that he’s been through. He’s never possessive of Yan Dan. He truly treats Tang Zhou as a friend and never as a love rival. When he learns that Yan Dan is in love with Tang Zhou, he’s disappointed, but he accepts it. He’s just worried that she’ll get hurt again. He also gives Tang Zhou a choice, like when Yan Dan fell asleep and he asks Tang Zhou if he wants to carry her back.
I guess my only question is how Yu Mo hasn’t pieced everything together yet lol. Yan Dan, who spent 900 years trying to forget a man, now easily falls for a man in the mortal world. And this mortal man also coincidentally has a mysterious identity of being a high-ranking figure in the Heavenly realm. Like, isn’t it obvious??
I also appreciated that there were no misunderstandings. Everyone figured out that Ying Deng was bad pretty quickly. The trio is also almost always on the same page about how to do things. It was great seeing that there were no major conflicts within the trio. The mortal arc is probably the least angstiest part of the drama because of how cooperative and supportive they are of each other. And Tang Zhou never fell for any woman who tried to fish sympathy out of him.
Ying Deng is such a one-dimensional caricature of a villain though. Driven mad with love and jealousy and tries to brute force everything. Her antics are so annoying, and she’s just so relentless and won’t stay dead. But the good thing is that Tang Zhou always sees right through her. I’m also glad that Yan Dan was the one to destroy Ying Deng after everyone else tried to punish Ying Deng on her behalf.
Overall, Immortal Samsara is a straightforward story with some predictable side-characters and tropes, but also some heart-wrenching twists. Like, I did not expect Yan Dan to have walked up and down the Forgetting River for 900 years trying to forget Ying Yuan. Usually, you just jump from a bridge or a cliff or tower and that’s that. You get a new start. You’re free. Immediate release. But Yan Dan’s suffering continued for 900 years. I still can’t get over that.
Chemistry between the leads is also good. The fact that I was still rooting for Tang Zhou despite how great and handsome Yu Mo is shows that Yang Zi and Cheng Yi really brought the characters’ emotions to life. Cheng Yi is great at subtle expressions. The opposing personalities of Yan Dan and Ying Yuan/Tang Zhou compliment each other really well. There’s friction. It’s exciting, especially when there are breakthroughs in their relationship. I loved seeing Tang Zhou learn how to flirt with Yan Dan, something that Ying Yuan never did. It was just so cute seeing Tang Zhou take initiative and being more and more bold with expressing his feelings.
It’s probably a little slower than your typical xianxia, but I think it’s still worth watching. People are right in saying that you should try the first dozen of episodes before deciding whether to drop or continue. Yang Zi and Cheng Yi definitely put in their all and carry the drama (along with Ray Chang).
I could make a whole other post about the similarities between Immortal Samsara and the other xianxia dramas that I’ve watched. I made a previous post where I ranked xianxias, and I’m looking forward to adding this drama to the list once it’s finished airing.
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Enhancing Eye Health and Vision with Chinese Herbs
Maintaining healthy eyes and clear vision is essential for our overall well-being. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a holistic approach is taken to promote eye health, focusing on nourishing the organs, improving circulation, and restoring balance. Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to support eye health and enhance vision. In this blog, we will explore some popular Chinese herbs known for their beneficial effects on eye health and vision.
Wolfberry (Gou Qi Zi)
Wolfberry, also known as goji berries, has long been revered in TCM for its vision-enhancing properties. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, wolfberries help nourish the eyes and protect against oxidative stress. They are believed to improve visual acuity, reduce dryness and irritation, and strengthen the optic nerve.
Chrysanthemum Flower (Ju Hua)
Chinese yam is known for its tonifying properties, particularly in strengthening the kidneys and nourishing the liver. In TCM, the health of these organs is closely linked to eye health. By enhancing kidney and liver functions, Chinese yam helps improve vision, particularly in cases of blurry vision and night blindness.
Chinese Yam (Shan Yao)
Chinese yam is known for its tonifying properties, particularly in strengthening the kidneys and nourishing the liver. In TCM, the health of these organs is closely linked to eye health. By enhancing kidney and liver functions, Chinese yam helps improve vision, particularly in cases of blurry vision and night blindness.
White Chrysanthemum (Bai Ju Hua)
White chrysanthemum is another herb widely used in TCM to support eye health. It is particularly effective in treating conditions such as blurred vision, dry eyes, and excessive tearing. White chrysanthemum is believed to have a cooling and nourishing effect on the liver, helping to alleviate eye discomfort.
Chinese Skullcap (Huang Qin)
Chinese skullcap has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it beneficial for eye health. It is often used in TCM to address conditions such as conjunctivitis, red eyes, and eye allergies. Chinese skullcap helps reduce inflammation, soothes irritation, and promotes healthy circulation to the eyes.
Conclusion
Incorporating Chinese herbs into our daily routines can provide a natural and holistic approach to support eye health and enhance vision. However, it is essential to consult with a qualified TCM practitioner or herbalist to determine the most suitable herbs and appropriate dosages for individual needs. Additionally, it is important to remember that Chinese herbs should complement, not replace, conventional eye care practices. By combining the wisdom of traditional medicine with modern approaches, we can take proactive steps to maintain healthy eyes and clear vision throughout our lives.
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