Why, Like a Butterfly?

Han Xiang, played by Liu Dan

  This is Han Xiang. She is a character in the Chinese TV series 'Huan Zhu Ge Ge II' (Princess of Pearls II), a sensational drama in the 90's that became wildly popular and is perhaps one of the most beloved dramas of all time in China. This show has made an impact of tremendous force on my life, in a way that I could never explain. In fact, I won't even try to explain. I will only say that it is the one piece of media that has influenced me so enormously.

The main cast of Princess of Pearls II (Han Xiang is in white)

  Anyways, to an eight-year-old Caroline, Han Xiang was the most beautiful person in the world and since the beginning of time. In the show, she was a princess from a Muslim tribe on the border of China. She was born with a natural fragrance and was considered a national treasure. When she was around twenty years old, her father brought her to Emperor Qianlong as a gift of allegiance. She became a reluctant concubine, one who was in love with a man back at home.

  We see her first as a chillingly cold woman, bitter from being taken away from her homeland and her beloved. In the progression of the story, however, and as she becomes friends with the protagonists, she becomes warm, playful, timid, brave, and intelligent. Her dancing enthralled thousands, the gentle plucks of her instruments leave listeners speechless. Time and time again, she defies the not-easily-defied Emperor, remaining faithful to her principles and to her lover.

  Most thrillingly of all, she was able to attract butterflies. With a few twirls, butterflies flock to her side, playing and dancing with her, drawn in by her magnificent smell.

  Of course, this is all fiction (though Han Xiang was based on a real life concubine). But, it allowed my imagination to run wild. I would douse myself with perfume and twirl around in my driveway for hours, hoping that just one butterfly would appear. Since I was eight, I've always believed that if I always remain resilient, am beautiful and brave, demure yet strong-willed, friendly to all and become extremely talented, if I always remain true to my beliefs and my principles, then perhaps metaphorically, I can truly attract butterflies myself.

  Tragically, Liu Dan, the actress who played Han Xiang, died in a car accident on her way to the Princess of Pearls II premiere. She was a young star, about to be catapulted into overnight fame like her costars, but her time ran out and left us only the legacy of a beautiful Han Xiang. With her passing, the storyline of Han Xiang ended (a third HZGG eventually came out with a new cast), but it is assumed that she escaped back to her homeland with her beloved as an ordinary commoner. It was Han Xiang's dream to serve her country, but to have the live happily and simply, all of which she was able to do.