Culture

Culture

“‘Sheng Wanwu’ TV Drama Melds Ancient Daoist Philosophy with Modern Storytelling”

The Chinese phrase 生万物 —literally “give birth to all things”—has long resonated beyond the pages of ancient philosophy, now surfacing as the title of a high‑profile television drama that is set to debut across mainland screens this week. To understand the cultural weight the series carries, it helps to trace the words back to their Daoist roots, where they first appeared as part of a cosmic formula that has guided Chinese thought for millennia.

A light‑hearted story from the Chinese province of Jiangsu has taken the nation’s social media by storm, offering a rare slice of feel‑good news amid the usual headlines of geopolitics and economics. On August 9, 2025, a man from the city of Xuzhou posted a short video that quickly went viral on Weibo and Douyin: after a three‑month absence, he returned home to discover his modest courtyard brimming with watermelons. The fruit, described in the clip as “large” and “juicy,” numbered about eight in total, with some of the melons weighing as much as 15 jin—roughly 7.5 kilograms each.

Culture

Ding Yuxi’s Tear‑Filled Gaze Goes Viral, Highlighting Authenticity and Shifting Masculinity in Chinese Reality TV

When the cameras rolled on the latest episode of the popular Chinese variety show “中餐厅” (Chinese Restaurant), a brief, unguarded moment stole the spotlight not for the food or the business drama, but for a pair of eyes that seemed to hold a whole bottle of wine. Actor Ding Yuxi – known to his growing legion of fans for his curly hair, gentle demeanor and the boy‑ish charm that has anchored his rise in dramas such as “十年一品温如言” – was caught on screen with what Chinese netizens have affectionately called “酒汪汪的大眼睛”, literally “wine‑soaked big eyes”. The phrase, a playful twist on the more common “水汪汪的大眼睛” (big watery eyes), quickly ignited a viral hashtag on Weibo and Douyin, drawing thousands of comments that ranged from “心疼小丁” (our hearts ache for you, little Ding) to “被感动到了” (we’re moved).