Pearls of Wisdom

from the TV series:

The Story of Pearl Girl

Directed by Xie Ze.

Adapted from the legend of Kunshan Jade by Tan Tian Yin

Starring: 

Zhao Lu Si

Duan Wu / Su Mu Zhe

Main Role

Ju Yu Nino

Yan Zi Jing

Main Role

Tang Xiao Tian

Zhang Jin Ran

Main Role

The Story of Pearl Girl is set in China in the Tang Dynasty. It is about a beautiful girl who works as a slave as a pearl diver. The story focuses on jewelry merchants and the interesting topic of business. We cannot fault the Chinese for being good at business. It is also the most subtle yet intense, suspenseful romance, where the character's moral virtue cannot be questioned. With beautiful cinematography and costume design, not to mention a stunning cast, this is sophisticated television at it's best. It also offers insight into Chinese philosophy from which I have gathered a number of quotes that you might want to remember, which I called my 'Pearls of Wisdom". 

Episode 1

Master Yan - 'A real man never goes back on his words'

Episode 2

Assistant - "We're not looking back, we're looking ahead". 

Assistant - (to Master Yan) "When it comes to schemes no-one compares to you".

Yan - 'I've dedicated my life to one thing, keeping a clear mind, that's why no-one can match me'

Zhang - 'People only see the brilliance of the mermaids tears, but they don't know how many pearl divers lie buried beneath that glow'. 

Episode 3

Zhang - 'In this fleeting life, like grass, everything will pass and everything will get better. Cherish it while you have it and remember the beauty of what's lost. That way in our hearts we can keep a little something unique'

Duanwu - 'Then everything can pass like that'. 

Yan - 'In this world you have to rely on yourself to survive".

Episode 4

Zhang - "In the south-sea the mermaids dwell. Riding waves through  depths so clear. Their tears turn into pearls that swell. While the dragon's palace unveils the frost. The mermaids drift with the tides flow. Endlessly bound to toil below. At the oceans floor they seek, mother shells, sacred clams endure. The irons cold edge in the furious sea as fierce winds swell. Their strength wanes under the burdens they dredge. One tear of a mermaid is bought with the blood of countless pearl-divers".

Episode 5 

Yan, punishing Duanwu - 'A nobody deserves to be trampled'. 

Episode 6

Duanwu to Li Wu - 'Remember a woman should not be bound by her so called destiny. Remember to look ahead, don't look back'.

Zhang 'Don't judge without being in another's shoes'.

Yan - ''I'm an old fox'. 

Song

The moon sinks, ripples dance, violet stars awaken. As time dissolves without a trace frosted memories scatter, silk cannot veil the past. Fate is drifting in silence. Let wind and sands accompany the road ahead. Looking back joys and sorrows linger, no regrets remain. Breaking free from the depths of darkness. Like pearls of tears we swirl with fates embrace

Song

'The pearl fades lost in a vast crowd. Memories whisper, longing burns across a thousand miles. I wish to be a faint light in the darkness, shining across the shore, waiting here just for you. My heart struggles, love runs deep, time must not waste our bond. Old dreams linger, yet we walk different paths. Through joy and sorrow I journey for you alone. Costing my all to protect you. Tears fall silent, love speaks no words, hoping to be by your side. Dreams fade, fate ends, only the sorrow of parting remains. My unwavering longing turns to endless care. Ah beyond words'. 

Song

Looking back at the snowy peak how many travelers shed tears. Twin stars shine across the the endless road. Sighing over the vast sea, my longing unfulfilled. Can't escape destinies grasp. From withered memories, new years sprout, shattered yet never destroyed. The purple star has no regrets as it reflects on the lake. Mortal life is but a few fleeting words. May we reunite someday. 

Assistant Wei to assistant Pang - 'A businessman must keep his word after saying something'. 

Episode 8

Shrimp to Duanwu - 'You work too hard you should take a break'.

Duanwu - 'I can only rest easy if I work all the time'

Episode 10

Yan to Duanwu - 'Business is a war without swords'. 

"The law of the jungle"

Episode 11. 

Yan to Duanwu - Life is like a journey by ship. Sometimes missing someone means they're gone for good. What you need to do, is to follow your heart firmly, move forward, without looking back, without lingering.

Episode 13 

Duanwu - "They say we all live in darkness, but look, if you look up there is light. 

Duanwu - 'Mum I'm sorry , I can't find father. I  thought that once I found him, I'd no longer be alone, but in the end, I must keep walking this path alone'. 

Yan to Duanwwu - 'Now I understand why you feel there's nothing left to hold onto in this miserable world' 

Song

Snow falls, cold wind rises, waves forge pearls, shining bright. Facing the light crossing rugged paths, never giving up. Wrapped in silk, slipping into the world, creating a legend of light. Alone, forging ahead. Gazing at the stars above longing fills the vast land. My heart is forged like a pearl shining bright. Struggling through trials with a vow never to let go. This resilience will be forged into a song. 

Song

. 

Life flows like a boat navigating joys and woes. Longing for different shores. Aware this moment may tear my heart apart. Better to roam alone. Many depart none return. How can we resist gazing at each-other amid the blooms?

Your face glows like lanterns in the light. 

Love fades on the stone bridge, yet bonds remain. How can we endure the binds of longing. Like a grand dream, a lone cup of wine. May this world hold both sorrow and warmth. To hide a broken heart away with laughter and tears. A debt across time waits. A simple tale unfolds. Nothing compares to soft rice and sweet tea, may this fate intertwine. 

Episode 14 

Zhang - 'My sleeves are fragrant, I can't send the flower to my lover far away. The flower is not rare. I just want to use this flower to express my sorrow'. 

Jade Goddess - 'Love me tender, love me long'. 

Master Du - 'Do you want more tea, I'll make it for you'. 

Zhang to Yan. - 'You don't need to show your teeth in everything'. 

Cao Da - 'It's better late than never'.

                'Make the best use of things and men'. 

Episode 15

Yan - 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained'

Kang - 'Play it by ear'.

Episode 16 

Yan to Duanwu - ' I've always been a man with nothing. All these years, I got this far because I took risks, I am blessed'. 

Episode 17

Yan to Duanwu - 'Can I kiss you'?

Episode 18

Kang to Yan - 'Stay alive master we have to live'!

Episode 19

(Shrimp dies)

Song 

Two stars shine bright, facing each-other from afar, sighing over the vast sea my longing unfulfilled. Can't escape destinies grasp. From withered memories, new years sprout. Shattered but never destroyed Guarding your final light, stars and moon turn, waxing and waning in time. The mortal path rises and falls. Meetings and partings are beyond our control.

Episode 20

Herders - ;Dear, now that you have survived, live on with all your strength'

'The setting sun fills the ground. Deep feelings best forgotten,. Blood stains my clothes. Tears drench my chest. In the chill of dusk, grief soaks my bed. White bones lay buried beneath wild grass. Yellow sands linger in the shadowed old city'. 

Herders - 'The world twists and turns, hard to foretell. And the human heart is a mystery as well a tune of Sorrows veil fills the air. Pouring out tales of heartbreak and despair. I hope we've been through all the hard times. Although life is short it's beautiful'. 

Duanwu - 'Even heartbreaking matters must end'. 

Episode 22

Yang to Duanwu (Who is now: Su Muzhe)

'Smart people only do what is good for them'. 

Muzhe - 'You should only rely on yourself, not others'. 

Huan to Muzhe - 'You told me that Jewelry has spirit, If you are not calm when making jewelry the jewelry will not be outstanding'. 

'We don't fight for others, we fight for ourselves'. 

Lady Yingtao - 'Have you thought it through'?

'Yes'.

'Then go ahead'. 

 

Lady Feng receives Su's letter. - 'Congratulations Su Mushe. All hardships will pass. May you move forward with all your heart, with no mountains or seas to hold you back'. 

Episode 26

Su to Yan - 'You told me once that people can only believe in themselves'. 

Kang to Yan - You must live well. 

Episode 29

Duanwu, 'You really need to think ahead'. 

Episode 30

Yan to Kang - 'The greedier you are, the more you will fail'. 

Episode 31

Song

Flowers bloom in spring filling the city with the wind. Waking from the dream. I still regret our near miss. Who is in pain, who yearns as they part. Who re-imagines the countless possibilities of the past. 

Su to Yan - 'It's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. The mistake lies in our birth. The mistake is in the things that cannot change'.

Song

From withered memories new years sprout. Shattered, yet never destroyed. The purple star has no regrets as it reflects on the lake. Guarding your final light. Seasons shift winter fades to spring. Flowers bloom and fall. Joy and sorrow, union and parting - such is life. Stars and moon turn waxing and waning in time. Yet bravely entwining in darkness.  Life is just love, hate and desire on repeat. The page of fate leaves us unread, unknown. The mortal path rises and falls. Why count gains and losses along the way. Alas, life always leads to death. May we meet again one day. 

Su - 'We all live in this world with no parents to pamper us, no brothers to protect us, like floating duckweed. But when duckweed gathers together, supporting each-other it won't drift aimlessly'

Episode 32

Su to Mr Quin. - 'If I didn't try, I wouldn't have got this far'. 

Episode 34

Su to Yan - 'I always thought the living were more important, just like the road ahead is more important than the road you came'. 

Yan to Su - 'Maybe your 8 years on the pearl farm made you yearn for freedom and a big world. It also makes you who you are now'. 

Su - 'Maybe'. 

Zang - 'Time is precious'!

Episode 35

Tang to Su - 'The broader the world, the greater the freedom'. 

Episode 38

Yan - 'Those who seek immortality cannot get it, because life is actually short. Many people are seeking immortality - but I think it's best if you make the most of the moment'. 

Yan to Duanwu, 'Duanwu whatever you do in the future, you will never be stumped by anything or anyone, okay'?

Shizu Cui - 'A little impatience spoils great plans'. 

Episode 40

"Business is complex. I want to have a free mind. Advance bravely, like a boat on the water. When you go against the current face the wind and keep moving. When you go down-stream take advantage of the situation. I want business to be fair. I want to have a clear mind. I wish the Yangzhou jewelry guild prosperity and splendor. 

Over the last 40 years, I have done business in many places, seen countless mountains and rivers and seen the bustling world. I have regrets but I don't regret them/ I hope that self reliant people will change from stone to jade and from sand to pearls".