Director Ahn Pan Seok passes away at 64
On July 14, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) held a symposium for the television drama The Heir.
Set against the backdrop of a Huizhou ink case during the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, the story follows Li Zhen (Yang Zi), the youngest daughter of the eighth branch of the prestigious Li clan. Determined to revive her family's business, she uses her talent for ink-making to lead the Li family ink enterprise back to its former glory.
Along the way, she and Luo Wen Qian (Elvis Han), the second son of the Luo family, evolve from rivals into partners as they join forces against the rising Tianmo family and challenges posed by overseas ink businesses. In the end, they create the "finest ink" and preserve the legacy of Huizhou ink craftsmanship.
Through Li Zhen's journey of growth, the drama portrays her path to becoming a leader in the Huizhou ink industry as she breaks the rule that said the craft must be "passed down to sons, not daughters" amid business struggles and technological innovation.
During the symposium, attendees engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on the creative process of The Heir, artistic breakthroughs, social significance, and its role in promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of China's traditional culture.
As one of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA)'s key guided productions, The Heir is China's first major television drama centered on the preservation and inheritance of Huizhou ink culture.
Using the thousand-year history of Huizhou ink as the foundation of its story, the drama vividly conveys the craftsman's spirit embodied in the saying, "People grind the ink, and the ink, in turn, tempers the people," as well as the sentiment of family and country reflected in the phrase, "The foundation of all under Heaven [nation] lies in the family." Through its commitment to realist storytelling, meticulous historical research, and high production standards, the series showcases the unique charm of Huizhou culture to global audience.
Lead actress Yang Zi shared her thoughts and experiences from the creative process during the event.
Speaking at the symposium, Yang Zi said, "To portray this character, I studied the traditional method of ink-making in advance. I learned about every step of the process, including burning soot, boiling glue, grinding herbs, and repeated hammering. At first, I was worried that my movements in front of the camera wouldn't look authentic. But later, I realized that these traditional techniques were actually helping me find Li Zhen's temperament. Ink has a calm, steady nature, so [she], too, remains composed. Ink is resilient, so [she] cannot be broken. Only after mastering the work with my hands could I truly give the character her spine."
She candidly shared that when she first began to break down and understand Li Zhen, she ultimately summed her up as 守正创新: "upholding tradition [fundamental principles] while embracing innovation."
"Upholding the fundamentals" refers to the ancient ink-making methods she is determined to preserve: the fire control for burning soot cannot be cut short, the number of pestle strikes in the pounding cannot be reduced, and the "spine" required both in conducting oneself and in making ink must never bend. "Innovation" means taking a new path: "Who says women can't make ink or burn soot?" What she protects are the roots of the craft, and what she carves out is her own path.
"Once I truly understood those four characters, I suddenly realized they were also applied to me. 'Upholding tradition' means staying committed to the painstaking craft of realism and remaining sincere toward the audience. 'Embracing innovation' means having the courage to take one step forward — in the subject matter [I] choose, the way [I] express them, and the way [I] portray every role. Li Zhen answered the meaning of those four characters with a single inkstick. I hope that I, too, can continue answering them through each and every work I create."
Yang Zi said that from Bai Ju in Born to Be Alive to Li Zhen in The Heir, the characters she has portrayed are all people who "uphold" or "remain steadfast in what they uphold."
She added that, going forward, she will continue to give her all and approach everything with sincerity — toward every role, toward the audience, and toward the sense of mission she carries on her shoulders.
Source: Cover News
