Tianshu Qitang (2)

Author: Zhou Youyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The film is adapted from selected chapters of the Ming Dynasty novel "Ping Jiao Zhen." The story depicts Yuan Gong, an official in the Heavenly Palace's Secretariat, secretly taking down the celestial scriptures when the Jade Emperor is away and carving their text onto the cliffs of Yunmeng Mountain. For revealing the celestial secrets, Yuan Gong breaks the heavenly laws and is punished by the Jade Emperor to guard the celestial scriptures on the cliffs for life. To pass the scriptures to the mortal world, Yuan Gong instructs Dan Sheng to copy the celestial scriptures from the cliffs and guides him on using them to benefit the people. The fox spirit, resenting Dan Sheng for hindering her evil deeds, steals the scriptures and conspires with the authorities to harm the people. Dan Sheng embarks on a quest to retrieve the scriptures, engaging in multiple battles with the fox spirit. In the end, Yuan Gong recovers the scriptures, crushes the fox spirit to death beneath the cliffs of Yunmeng, and entrusts Dan Sheng to memorize the text of the scriptures, ensuring they continue to benefit the people. He then burns the scriptures with divine fire. As a result, Yuan Gong is captured by the Jade Emperor and returned to the Heavenly Palace to stand trial. The film adopts a comedic style, with character designs inspired by Jiangsu's folk toys and the art form of door god silver horses, giving it a rich national flavor. Additionally, the film incorporates the artistic techniques of the comic "Pao Zhang," making the entire work lively, engaging, and full of fun.