The Hexi Chapter of Where Winds Meet (Sixteen Sounds of Yan Yun) by 不系舟
The soundtrack is Yu Pan(玉盘 jade plate). In ancient China, the moon was often compared to a jade plate, a poetic image frequently used in classical poetry. The most famous example comes from Li Bai's lines, translated by Xu Yuanchong: "Before my bed a pool of light—Is it hoarfrost upon the ground? Eyes raised, I see the moon so bright; Head bent, in homesickness I m drowned."(床前明月光，疑是地上霜；举头望明月，低头思故乡。chuáng qián míng yuè guāng，yí shì dì shàng shuāng。jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè，dī tóu sī gù xiāng。) Here, the moon stands as a symbol of home and native land.
The dialogue at the beginning and the end of the video:
"Look! There's a white jade plate in the sky." "That's the moon."
"Uncle Jiang, why are you always looking at the moon?" "Because it's my hometown." "Oh... so it's your hometown."
Hexi河西 is a historical-geographical term, lit."west of the Yellow River", referring to what is known today as the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province. Its major cities include Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang. Serving as a vital link between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, it was the golden route of the ancient Silk Road.
The Western Regions (Xiyu西域) was a historical Chinese term referring to the vast areas west of the Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass. It primarily covered what is now Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia, extending as far as West Asia, South Asia, and beyond. Throughout history, it served as a crucial hub for trade, cultural exchange, and military interaction between the Central Plains and Western civilizations, such as Persia, India, and Rome.
Whoever controlled Hexi held the gateway to the Western Regions. This strategic position allowed them to cut off the frequently invading Xiongnu cavalry, secure the frontier, protect trade caravans traveling between the West and the Central Plains, and foster prosperous commercial exchange.
Throughout history, Hexi witnessed countless stories of joy and sorrow. As a crucial crossroads between East and West, it became a melting pot where Central Plains culture, Western Regions influences, and Buddhist art converged, leaving behind magnificent legacies like the Mogao Caves.
More than just a geographical name, Hexi carries profound historical and cultural weight. It stands as a symbol of the frontier, epic journeys, bustling trade, and the enduring dialogue between civilizations.
When Chinese players got to the Hexi chapter—after going through Liu Sanyang's story, finishing the Well-Digger's quest, and surviving the whole Anxi Army arc—players were crying so hard. Not sure how well the English localization handled it, but the Chinese screenwriters and the voice actors are so amazing.
