Chinese historical romance drama Pursuit Of Jade has been generating widespread discussion online, with viewers and critics actively debating its storyline and character portrayal.
Much of the attention has centred on lead actor Zhang Linghe, 28, who plays the war general Xie Zheng, also known as the Marquis of Wu’an.
His on-screen appearance has sparked mixed reactions, with some netizens criticising his overly polished look, pointing to his fair complexion and refined makeup.
The character’s styling has even led to playful online nicknames such as “foundation general”, with viewers joking about his seemingly flawless battlefield readiness.
While the original novel describes Xie Zheng as a handsome and refined figure with a “face like cold jade”, critics argue that the drama adaptation may have exaggerated this trait, shifting the portrayal away from a hardened military leader.
This has fuelled debate over whether the character appears more romantic than rugged, with some audiences commenting that he looks more suited to a love story than a war setting.
The discussion has also reached official channels, with a Zhejiang Provincial publicity account noting that the ornate costume design and polished presentation may weaken the traditional image of a disciplined military figure.
It further cautioned against a wider entertainment trend where visual appeal is increasingly prioritised over character depth, warning that this could influence younger audiences’ perceptions of history and culture.
However, the portrayal has also received support from other quarters, including CCTV News, which praised the styling for incorporating traditional opera-inspired elements such as pheasant-feather headpieces, describing it as a creative blend of cultural heritage and aesthetic design.
