KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — “Like this also can,” was my reaction to reading about a Chinese period drama that has stirred up enough controversy to even rile up China’s official government media.
To think that the Zhejiang Provincial Committee went so far as to publish an op-ed complaining that a character in Pursuit of Jade was overly good looking, to the point it could lead to misunderstandings of Chinese culture among international viewers.
Hilariously though, another government news site CCTV News loved the character’s style, saying the costume design choices gave the character a unique oriental charm.
Pursuit of Jade? Is this some auntie’s shopping trip rom-com?
No-lah.
Pursuit of Jade or 逐玉 (Zhu Yu) is a very popular new Chinese-language drama based on the web novel written by 团子来袭/Tuan Zi Lai Xi.
Directed by Zeng Qingjie, it stars Tian Xiawei as the daughter of a butcher who rescues a fallen nobleman played by Zhang Linghe.
They end up in a marriage of convenience that blossoms (but of course) into one of real affection, but alas, they end up being separated by conflict and intrigue.
While in China it aired on the streaming platforms Tencent Video and IQIYI, it is also on Netflix and since its worldwide release on March 6, 2026 it has become a global hit.
On release, Pursuit of Jade debuted at number six on Netflx’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows chart.
Fast-forward to the controversy please
Fine. While Tian is very winsome as the heroine, Zhang is just as pretty and there, critics say, is the problem.
It’s not a Chinese period drama without at least some sword waving and there are battlefield scenes where Zhang gets to don armour and well, apparently look too good while doing so.
He’s even garnered a nickname — General of (Liquid) Foundation due to the heavy makeup he dons in the battle scenes.
Taiwanese-American actor Peter Ho somehow ended up in the discussion with people sharing screenshots of him as Qin dynasty warlord Xiang Yu in the drama The Legend of Chu and Han that came out in 2012.
Ho has been very diplomatic about all this discourse that he did not ask to be included in, only saying, “They are two different types of dramas, and cannot be compared.”
Anyway if you really want to know how good Zhang looks in this show, someone on TikTok was super helpful and made this clip of some of his best looks in the series.
What do the fans say?
Fans have pointed out that Zhang’s portrayal is very much true to the source material.
Writer Tian has described her hero as having “eyes like black lacquer” and a “face like cold jade.”
In other words the hero is supposed to be handsome because at its heart, it is a romance in what is popularly known as the “slow burn” category.
Slow burn — no love at first sight here, instead its very gradual, almost glacial pace, will they-won’t they kind of romance that hooks a certain type of reader or viewer who does not care how much foundation their “general” wears so long as it looks good.
Should I watch this?
Having watched a couple of episodes I can truthfully say that if you’re not into romances, give this a pass.
Sure, there’s some mystery and intrigue (that’s more confusing than some of our politicians’ speeches) and a fair smattering of comedy but if you’re not in it for romantic chemistry and smouldering looks, this is probably not the show for you.
Honestly I think some of the criticism being levelled is just jealousy because Zhang Linghe is not the first, nor will he be the last, actor to be absurdly good-looking, or as the Gen Zs say, looksmaxxing in a drama, what more a period drama.
If you think logically, you could also level the same criticism at Tian’s portrayal of a butcher. In all the scenes where she’s wielding a butcher’s knife, she is perfectly put together, makeup on point, looking like she smells of jasmine and peony and not pig offal.
There was this other scandal…
Zhang recently apologised for a remark criticised as racist when, on a variety show, he critiqued a sketch of him as making him “look like he was from South-east Asia.”
He said, in a statement in both Chinese and English:
“I am truly sorry that my words on the variety show caused any of you discomfort. Please know that I always believe every culture has its own beauty – and it was never my intention to cause any hurt or be disrespectful. Over the years, I have been touched by the incredible support from fans across South-east Asia – whether through messages, letters, or even traveling all the way to China to see me.
“I am deeply grateful for all of it, and the last thing I would ever want is for anyone who supports me to feel sad because of this misunderstanding,” he said.
The controversy seems to have faded like cheap foundation because Pursuit of Jade is still super popular and Zhang Linghe is now all over my social media feed (thanks algorithm).
One husband has even used his wife’s love of the show and fangirling over Zhang to comedic advantage as you can see below:
Will they get a happy ever after?
Watch the show, this article contains no spoilers.
Anyway you can catch JJ Lin singing the OST for the show below.
