#saimono

[deimosnohanayome]

彩雲国物語 / Saiunkoku Monogatari by Yukino Sai 2006 | dir. Shishido Jun

[minoyrheyr]

Houko Kuwashima always voicing THE WOMAN WHO PAVE THE WAY for girls in future generation. Kou Shuurei didn't became an empress nor a prime minister but she was the first woman official, the reason why women was given opportunity to join politics in the future years of Saiunkoku. She has short life but very unforgettable. She ended up marrying the emperor and spend a year with him before her time is up. She died in age of 30. Fengxian might not be the perfect mom for Maomao but like Shuurei she's stuck in a system she can't control yet she still find a way to get her man. She suffers from it, sure but she really tried to outwit the existing system despite the tragic miscommunication from her man's end. Later, Maomao use her mom's experience to also try to avoid the life of courtesan as possible so that she can continue being an apothecary. Unlike her mom, Maomao didn't do it for love but for herself. But I like to think what happened to Fengxian contribute a lot why Maomao manage to get away from that kind of life. Lastly, Fatima serve as one of Sitara's inspiration as she encourage muslims and slaves to study since she believe everyone deserve education. Both a kindhearted and intelligent woman.

[deimosnohanayome]

彩雲国物語 / Saiunkoku Monogatari by Yukino Sai 2006 | dir. Shishido Jun

[minoyrheyr]

Saiunkoku Monogatari Moodboard to show that SaiMono was inspired by "Chinese Classics/literature"

Heroine's Journey - Kou Shuurei's growth as the first woman who enter Saiunkoku's world of politics and later leave to get married. Her story questioned patriachal society norms as she try the profession exclusive for men only without erasing her feminine qualities. This type of story is quite popular in Chinese Costume Dramas where heroine get the roles usually for men. Look at the popular Pursuit of Jade cdrama where heroine might a butcher and became a general at some point.

Tragic Romance - Their interests are doomed from the start. Heroine want to enter politics but her ML is the emperor of the country. There's power imbalance but its not their fault. They are in very complicated situation. They did their best to get their happy ending tho. Their story reference Chinese tragic love stories that are important in Chinese literature like Butterfly Lovers, and Cowheard & Weaver Girl. The story constantly compare the heroine to Celestial Maiden's story where her ML wish he can do what the human lover did in the story, to hide the maiden's robe so she will not leave him.

Wuxia - Ensei and Seiran's adventure in Sa province where bandits are rampant because it was abandoned by the government. At some point, the same province even suffered from epidemic. So we have someone like Ensei who had to become a governor without passing the civil official exam. His character is actually inspired from Yanqing of Water Margin aka the classic Wuxia book. The courtesan of Kogarou who helped raise the heroine but behind their back she's the leader or heroine's dad assassin backstory are also very Wuxia setting.

Xianxia - 8 immortals of Saiunkoku worshipped by people. As homage to them as one of the founder of Saiunkoku, the main noble families are renamed after them and their respective province territory. Despite existing in the world setting, they never became the star of the story. They only observe and help humans from time to time. The 8 immortals is heavily inspired from Baxian, the 8 immortals in Chinese mythology.

Court Intrigue - It has some court intrigue, politics and economics since heroine became a civil official. It became more prominent when heroine became censorate to investigate corrupt officials so she will know who want her ML's head and protect citizens. Again, another well-loved genre in Chinese classics.

Folktales, Idioms, Poems, Tropes & more. - Aside from the popular Chinese classics, SaiMono constantly referenced so many tropes that exist in Chinese stories. You will notice some Chinese poems, idioms and folktales being referenced in SaiMono world setting here and there. The anime even use the Chinese er-hu for the opening since our heroine is also a good er-hu musician.

[minoyrheyr]

The new episode kinda confirm that Ferdinand reminds me of SaiMono's Ko Kijin when it comes to his dynamic(mentor) with the heroine. Though I think Ko Kijin is more a softie and open book despite wearing masks everyday. He has a good first impression for me. But its the opposite in Ferdinand, Ferdinand has bad first impression for me and I'm still warming up to him until now. Its inevitable tho since Ferdinand is very immerse to his noble duties than Ko Kijin who revoke his noble status to help a friend and very concern to those people in need. I can't help but think Ferdinand is like if we gave Ko Kijin a chance to be the love interest. I still think he's the best guy in SaiMono. A guy who know how to handle money and still kind is very hot to me IDC.

[minoyrheyr]

I know now why I like this scene. It's PURE VOICE ACTING without much background music. You heard them raw. Its immersing you to imperial court atmosphere.

This is why Houko Kuwashima playing a role in Apothecary Diaries and Jaadugar that feature strong girls as MC is very important to me.

[minoyrheyr]

I think Yan Zhengming (Coins of Destiny), Shi Ryuuki (Tale of Saiunkoku) and Jinshi/Ka Zuigetsu (The Apothecary Diaries) share similarity in the aspect aside from being beautiful pathetic yearner ML that all of them are in the position they never wanted? Or they never see themselves as this leader-figure?

Yan Zhengming (Coins of Destiny) - The spoiled and lazy eldest disciple with hidden potential of Fuyao sect. After their outing to Dragon Island with his sect family to expand their horizon as cultivators, he lose his master and find themselves being hunted down by mysterious individuals so the situation forced him to lead his sect siblings. Since he has no interest in his responsibility and didn't trained seriously prior, he lost the most important person to him(Just imagine Shuurei and Maomao died but don't worry they will be back as immortal) and that sad event made him to mature quickly. He became the protector and parent figure of his younger sect siblings even though he still doubt his leadership because he can't find the way back home. Only a true Fuyao sect leader can open up the path back to Fuyao sect. It's a Danmei but it has the same pair dynamic where the MC is more competent and loser ML being inspired by them. Both manhua and donghua adaption are sadly canceled.

Manhua images: Cheng Qian was sold off by his parents to an old man to become a disciple of the declining mysterious Fuyao sect. There, he met his eldest brother Yan Zhengming. The financial backer of the sect. He was completely enamored by his beauty but not fond of Yan Zhengming's privilege side.

Liu Yao Audio Drama theme song entitled "Carved into my Bones" that explore Yan Zhengming years after Cheng Qian's death. His yearning and unhealthy obsession to reunite with his childhood crush but he can't die yet because of his duty as the sect leader and he has younger sect disciples to look after.

Shi Ryuuki (Tale of Saiunkoku) - Ryuuki is the youngest prince mistreated by his family all his life except for his beloved half-brother Seien. After his beloved brother was exiled, his existence was ignored in the palace as if he's like a ghost so he planned to leave. But then, the emperor's advisor threatened him to be the emperor after all of his brothers died in civil war. He kinda or almost became a puppet emperor for the advisor's scheme. When he became the emperor, he didn't take his job seriously and even sleep only with men making sure he will not leave an offspring, hoping others will overthrow him so he can leave the palace that filled him with terrible memories. To his surprise, the woman he fell in love with and his father figure palace archivist convinced him to learn to become an emperor for good. To give opportunities to lower class citizens and to fight against the prejudice to women. He's an emperor but honestly, he felt more like a public servant to me because he's inexperienced, being bullied by veteran politicians left and right in the story.

Manga images: Shuurei has become the emperor temporary consort to guide him to learn governing. Since the emperor refuse to meet her, with nothing to do, she decided to visit her father in the Palace's archive. Sadly, she didn't find anyone there and so she decided to reach a stem of cherry blossom for her tea's aesthetics. A stranger helped her reach it and had a tea with her, claiming he's a friend of her father. The stranger is actually the young emperor Shi Ryuuki.

Saiunkoku Monogatari first ending themesong entitled "Greatest Unrequited Love" that obviously tackles Ryuuki's lonely, long but worthy journey to win Shuurei's heart. It was without a doubt difficult road but he highlighted that it also give him joy, simply thinking about her and yearning to meet her. He don't mind detours of their relationship because of simple happiness like that.

Jinshi/Ka Zuigetsu (Apothecary Diaries) - The recluse moon prince. He's never interested in the throne and prefer to be a vassal who serve the emperor instead so he make a gamble between him and his older brother, the current emperor who's actually his biological dad. He need to ensure there will be an heir other than him so he act as trusted eunuch to watch over the emperor's harem/inner court under the emperor's permission. Later, he fell in love with an apothecary girl who prefer a peaceful life away from politics that made him more determined to leave his luxurious life. In the turn of events, the same girl was abducted by people who had problem against the royalties so he have no choice but to investigate what's actually transpiring behind the palace walls and finally make action as the prince, no longer as eunuch, revealing his true self to save her.

Manga images: After the recent incident about the deaths of consort's baby in the inner court, Jinshi as the trusted eunuch, searched for someone who helped them by leaving a message secretly containing of pointers to protect the child's life. Turns out it was a servant girl named Maomao. Jinshi was impressed by her medicine and poison knowledge so he became interested in her. She was later then employed as Consort Gyokuyou's poison taster and personal attendant.

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto season 2 anime ending themesong entitled "Love is a Remedy" about Jinshi's perspective of story and gratitude after he was saved from the loneliness he experience inside the palace by simply Maomao's existence in his life.

[minoyrheyr]

Shi Ryuuki being an exceptional assassin and Ka Zuigetsu is commanding an army like a military general

You know what's funny? Ryuuki's father-in-law is also an assassin and Jinshi's father-in-law Lakan is a military tactician so it works.

Then we have old men challenging their authority. When Ryuuki thought he finally rescued Shuurei, she's actually poisoned. Immortal grand advisor Sho arrived and said that he might have the antidote, implying he has conditions before giving it or Shuurei will die. Lakan on other hand confronted Jinshi that its time to finally take off his Jinshi persona and embrace his Moon Prince influence to save Maomao. People usually hate these type of despicable characters who questioned their faves authority but I LOVE IT because I like watching my fave characters overcame their trials and weakness.