The Legend of Jade Emperor
The Legend of the Jade Emperor portrays heartfelt and genuine human emotions through characters drawn from ancient Chinese mythological legends. The Jade Emperor and his brother, who plays the antagonist, become the central thread of conflict throughout the series. Their unique, complex, and multi-faceted personalities are fully displayed in dramatic conflicts. The rivalry between the elder and younger brother begins during a martial arts competition held by the old Jade Emperor to choose his successor. The elder brother is inherently wicked, aggressive, and refuses to submit to anyone, while the younger brother is vastly different in character; though exceptionally intelligent and skilled in martial arts, he treats others with kindness and compassion. During the competition, the younger brother refrains from harming his elder brother, resulting in a tie. At a critical moment, the Jade Emperor adheres to integrity, whereas the elder brother resorts to any means necessary, nearly succeeding in ascending the throne. Just as the coronation ceremony is about to begin, the elder brother's cruel nature is revealed, forcing him to flee in panic to the mortal realm. Meanwhile, the younger brother silently endures immense inner anguish, paying the price for his benevolence - not only losing the throne but also his beloved Water Mist Fairy.
After the elder brother flees, the younger brother ascends the throne, embodying the ideal figure in the hearts of the Chinese people. He is kind, compassionate, hates evil, and spares no effort to save the common people from suffering. In shaping the character of the Jade Emperor, the series undoubtedly bestows an idealized halo upon him. However, the Jade Emperor in the series remains human, thus profoundly moving. He has treated cruelty and ugliness with maximal benevolence and tolerance, sometimes almost to the point of weakness, hoping to transform them. Harsh realities gradually make the Jade Emperor more clear-headed and mature, enabling him to understand the necessity of eradicating evil completely. The Jade Emperor in the series retains the most easily accepted personality traits by the Chinese people, such as compassion as the foundation, evil cannot overcome righteousness, and good and evil will ultimately be rewarded accordingly, reflecting specific humanitarian thoughts in Chinese traditional culture. The conclusion of the Jade Emperor overcoming evil and attaining love, friendship, and family ties is a familiar happy ending.
The elder brother in the series represents great evil and ferocity. However, in terms of character development, he is not portrayed in a stereotypical manner. Instead, his gradual transformation process and the complexity of his character are delicately depicted, creating a vivid and lifelike personage. Arrogant due to his talents and disregarding others, the elder brother stops at nothing to obtain what he desires, resorting to any means necessary. During the competition for the imperial throne, the elder brother, knowing that the younger brother was yielding to him, mocks the younger brother as weak, lacking decisiveness and boldness. At this point, the conflict between the elder and younger brother is primarily due to their differing personalities. When the elder brother escapes to the mortal world, changes his name, endures hardships, gathers demons to cause chaos, the essence of his character gradually reveals itself. His original bravery and intelligence transform into cruelty and malevolence. Regardless of everything, the elder brother fights for the throne, simultaneously striving relentlessly for the affection of the Water Mist Fairy. When he encounters Bi Yao after fleeing to the mortal world and feels a sudden attraction, all his lost feelings transform into intense love. In the cruel and cold heart of the elder brother, the only trace of sentiment remaining is for Bi Yao. Even when Bi Yao recognizes the elder brother's wickedness and confronts him with weapons, the elder brother still does not abandon his fantasies. By this time, we no longer know whether the elder brother's exhaustive efforts are for the dragon throne of the celestial palace, the one he loves in his heart, or both, and which holds more weight.
