Why I Love Chinese Period Dramas

I have recently finished watching my third Chinese period drama on Netflix. I told myself that this would be the last one. But now I’m not so sure.

I couldn’t get enough of The Rise of Phoenixes. Then I got sucked in by The Princess Weiyoung. I fully absorbed Eternal Love. What could be next?

I needed to understand what drew me in and kept me there for hours...and I’m talking hours!

I decided to use an Empathy Map to explore this love and to demonstrate some empathy for myself -- because I’m feeling pretty self judgmental right now. I become an addict who finds it hard to stop when I get like this. I fail to follow my daily habits and find it hard to focus on anything else. This has most likely heightened given we are still in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, I currently don’t have many commitments and my health practitioner and I have recently adjusted a daily medication due to fluctuating levels. So many reasons…

I will share with you my empathy map that explores my preoccupations, influences, environment, and behaviour as well as pain and gain points.

Think and Feel (preoccupations)

I am preoccupied with the romance scenes. Let’s face it. I am a diehard romantic. Once I finish the show, I will go back to those same scenes and watch them over and over. If you are wondering how to be more romantic, my friends, just watch some of those scenes.

My heart aches when there is love lost (Chinese period dramas are not known for their happy endings) and rages when power is abused.

I become preoccupied with looking for the clues in a complex story that will lead to the ending resolution.

I think I am actually drawn to the drama -- in the absence of a whole lot of activity these days, this must be filling a gap.

Hear (influences)

I love hearing the language of Mandarin. It is beautiful to me. I have picked up a few phrases and have even started learning some Chinese characters and words on Duolingo.

The accompanying music is haunting and gets stuck in my head for days. The song 天赋 from The Princess Weiyoung is on my latest playlist and I play it often.

Think and See (environment)

The settings are stunning -- both the physical sets and the surrounding landscapes, whether real or artificial.

The wardrobe costumes are gorgeous and I envision outfits I want to wear myself.

The actors absorbed their characters and allowed me to suspend my disbelief (one of the few things I remember for my English Literature courses).

The chemistry between certain characters is visible and moving. You rarely see that kind of chemistry in real life with people showing up to work in their work personas.

The organization depicted is impulsive and defensive, as described by Frederic Laloux in his brilliant book Reinventing Organizations. I would add ruthless. This is quite distinct from any organization I have experienced so I find it fascinating to watch those with power fight to keep it and those without power fight to get it and the lengths they will go to do so.

Say and Do (behaviour)

There are romantic phrases and exchanges that melt your heart -- like “I don’t just want you, I want your lifetime, not just this lifetime but all lifetimes” from The Princess Weiyoung. We just don’t talk like that today. I have read that English subtitles don’t do the translation justice though.

Those with power accept lies willingly and without question from those they love over those without power, which drives me absolutely crazy. All they had to do was talk to the witnesses!

Vindictiveness and malevolence is overt. Shakespeare’s “My lady doth protest too much, methinks” comes to mind quite regularly. I am reminding myself to read Bill Eddy’s book about high conflict personalities, after finishing Reinventing Organizations.

Power struggles that are scheming and violent, where everyone can wield a sword and engage in fantastical martial arts while wearing beautiful robes.

The rituals around weddings, funerals and honouring the dead are moving and intriguing and somewhat attractive in my current situation where structure is currently lacking.

Pain Points

I become fully immersed and forget to move, driving my Oura ring crazy with its “Is it time to move?” notifications.

I become obsessed with the characters and can’t stop thinking of their future and possible plot developments, allowing myself to spend time in a space other than the present.

Gain Points

I love seeing and hearing beautiful things and I love sensing beautiful moments. The world needs more beauty.

The reality of a kingdom ruled by an emperor and the fight for the throne makes it incredibly clear how self-actualization is almost impossible within that kind of organizational structure -- almost impossible. So I love watching characters fight for change when it will benefit the people. I also know this is not the organization for me.

What insights might I glean from my own empathy map? I now have a fuller understanding of why I love these dramas -- a fuller picture of things that hold my attention. I also know now that my need to stay in the present is real as is my need to move often. These are things within my control and within my ability.

That concludes my own personal empathy map of why I love Chinese period dramas.

Can you see where an empathy map might help you understand your clients, your customers, your employees or even your family? Just Google “empathy map templates” to help you get started.

I do need to get some other work done now though.

Just need to watch those scenes one more time...

Photo: Tammy Brimner/TLBVelo Photography