Seo Dong Yo 薯童谣

Seo Dong Yo 薯童谣 (The Ballad of Seo Dong) is one of the best dramas I've ever watched so far. It was produced by the same Director & Script Writer of Dae Jang Geum (大长今). Many people may be put off, knowing that it is a 55-episode Korean historical drama. But once you have started, you won't regret that you did.

The story took place in the Paekche Kingdom (18 B.C. - A.D 660), which is during the Han Dynasty of Korea, where Paekche (百济), Shilla (新罗) & Koguryo (高句丽) are known as the Three Kingdom of Korea. Seo Dong was the forbidden child of King Wideok (威德王) of Paekche, and was forced to live a poor life with his mother, Yeon Ga Mo (燕嘉谋).

Yeon Ga Mo (燕嘉谋) & King Wideok (威德王)

As the young Seo Dong became notorious in the village, Yeon Ga Mo decided it is time to send him to Prof. Mokrasu (木罗须博士) at Paekche Taehaksa (百济太学士), the royal institution of Science & Technology, to receive proper education. Both Yeon Ga Mo & Prof. Mokrasu were actually lovers, but Yeon Ga Mo left him because of Seo Dong's undisclosed father.

Prof. Mokrasu (木罗须博士)
A wise scientist of Paekche Taehaksa (百济太学士)

Due to the inner war for the Paekche's throne, Prof. Mokrasu was framed of the crime of armed rebellion. He escaped to Shilla (新罗) with a few members of the Taehaksa. During his escape, Yeon Ga Mo was killed by the army of Paekche, and he brought Seo Dong together with him to Shilla. At Shilla, they live with false identities and crafted things to sell to the palace of Shilla. That was where Seo Dong met Princess Seon Hua for the first time.

Young Seo Dong met Princess Seon Hua (善花公主)
- the 3rd daughter of King Jin Pyeong (真平王)

He was nicknamed Seo Dong (薯童) as the "child who sells yam" by Princess Seon Hua. His real name was Jang (璋).
Without knowing who his father was, the pendant (night-glittering gem ) was the only clue to his true identity.

Jo Hyun Jae (赵显宰) as Seo Dong / Jang (璋)
From being a commoner and falling in love with the princess of the rivalry nation, to being the diligent and brilliant apprentice of the wise scientist, and the Commander of his own army, finally the 3oth King of Paekche - King Mu (武王).

Lee Bo Young (李宝英) as Princess Seon Hua (善花公主)
She abandoned the title of a Princess, her family and her country. She became a goods trader in the rivalry nation all because of her love for Seo Dong.

Besides the beautiful love story between Seo Dong & Princess Seon Hua, the intriguing parts of the drama include the mystical prophecy of the incense, the pursuit of Science & Technology, and the Art of War.

And of course, the rivalry for love & the King's throne.

Ryu Jin (柳镇) as Sataek Giro (沙宅己楼)

Giro was the Hwarang (花郎) of Shilla. He made a deal with King Jin Pyeong, to win the hand of Princess Seon Hua, he will steal the Paekche's Book of Skills (百济神技). The book is only available to the Professors in Taehaksa. In order to accomplish his mission, Giro lived as a spy at the Taehaksa of Shilla under Prof. Mokrasu for 10 years and finally obtained the title of a Professor.

After discovering the love between Seo Dong and the princess, he hated Seo Dong very much, and the war between them begins. Giro is the worst enemy of Seo Dong. Both of them are as smart as each other. In whatever plans Seo Dong had in mind, Giro was the one who could guess it and provide counter plans.

29th King of Paekche - Bu Yeo Seon (夫余宣) & his loyal follower Heuk Chi Pyeong (黑齿平)

Bu Yeo Seon was the son of King Wideok's brother. He killed King Wideok (威德王) & Aja Taeja (阿佐太子) for the throne. He is also the one who tries to find and murder King Wideok's 4th son - Seo Dong.

Aja Taeja (阿佐太子)
Seo Dong's eldest brother, whom he very much respected

Princess Wu Yeong (优永公主)
Bu Yeo Seon's sister, who also loved Seo Dong and saved him several times from danger.

Maek Do Su (脉度水技工)
The happy-go-lucky technician in Taehaksa.
He is the funniest character in the drama, just like the role he played in Dae Jang Geum (大长今) as Jang Geum's foster father. Seo Dong was responsible for the death of his eldest son. In contrary, he treated Seo Dong as his own son.

Mo Jin (毛津技师)
The best lady engineer in Taehaksa. She loved Prof. Mokrasu and was jealous that he still could not forget Yeon Ga Mo even though she was dead. She was strict in maintaining disciplines of Taehaksa and was the best in emergency awareness & preparedness, which saved their lives several times.

Beom Ro (范虎) - Maek Do Su's youngest son. He blamed Seo Dong for his brother's death, but became Seo Dong's best pal after he learnt to forgive.
Eun Jin (恩贞) - Mo Jin's daughter, who had a crush on Seo Dong and Seo Dong's loyal supporter. Like her mother, she was skilled in embroidery and jewelery.

A scene of Seo Dong working at the Taehaksa.

Eternal Love

Opening Theme:



Nice song from Seo Dong Yo: Haemil (雨過天晴)



Jo Hyun Jae as Seo Dong:

weeeek

Heard from Redsponge: This morning CCW woke up early to go jogging, thinking today is Saturday. Then, he got very depressed when his mum told him today is only Friday and he needs to go to work instead of jogging.

CCW, as your fren ar, I have the responsibility to share this new song with you lah. You need to relearn the order of days in a week hoh, which you will get very familiar after knowing this song. And also hoh, hope you will be as motivated as NEWS~~

YAY


weeeek - by NEWS
(Released: 7 Nov 2007)
[Song written by GReeeeN]

Chorus
**
明日っからまた日月火
Ashita kara mata nichi getsu ka
Starting from tomorrow, it's Sun Mon Tue again

ほら水木まわって金土 日曜
Hora sui moku mawatte kin do nichi yo-
Look! Wed Thu return to Fri Sat Sun

夢の日々を大事にいきましょう
Yume no hibi wo daijini ikimasho-
Cherish the days of our dreams

もういっちょ
Mo- iccho
One more time

明日っからまた日月火
Ashita kara mata nichi getsu ka
Starting from tomorrow, it's Sun Mon Tue again

ほら水木まわって金土 日曜
Hora sui moku mawatte kin do nichi yo-
Look! Wed Thu return to Fri Sat Sun

僕ら日々を楽しんで生きてこう
Bokura hibi wo tanoshinde ikiteko-
Let's enjoy our everyday

さぁ行くぞ
Saa ikuzo
Come on, let's go!
**

Yamapi:
いきまーす　YAY
Ikimasu YAY
Go! YAY

月曜始まったいつもの日々
Getsuyo- hajimatta itsumo no hibi
Monday has begun like every other day

思い焦がれた週末遠い
Omoi kogareta shu-matsu to-i
The "can't wait to be here" weekend is still far away

火曜水曜慣れてきたご様子
Kayo- suiyo- naretekita goyo-su
Tuesday Wednesday showing the look of "getting used to work"

作った笑顔引きつったかも
Tsukutta egao hikitsutta kamo
Perhaps my fake smile has turned cramp

Ryo-chan:
気が付きゃ　木曜
Kizutsukya mokuyo-
Must be aware of Thursday

相当　重要
So-to- ju-yo-
Very important

明日の夜からの予定は未定だから
Asu no yoru kara no yotei wa mitei dakara
As a matter of fact, I have no plan for tomorrow night yet

Shige:
金曜一日考えよう
Kinyo- ichinichi kangaeyo-
Friday after thinking for the whole day

自由で壁をぶち壊し行こう
Jiyu- de kabe wo buchi kowashi iko-
Let's break down the wall with our freedom and go

Koyama:
日々生き抜いて心は曇り
Hibi iki nuite kokoro wa kumori
Everyday passed by just like this, feeling dull

僕たちは過ぎ去って行く
Bokutachi wa sugisatte iku
We have to overcome this to go on

Masuda + Tegoshi:
歩む心を諦めたら
Ayumu kokoro wo akirametara
If you give up the heart to move on

そこで負けだ　
Soko de makeda
There is where you lose

お気楽に行こう
Okiraku ni iko-
So, relax and go

Chorus

Masuda:
もうどうしようもない模様
Mo- do-shiyo- mo nai moyo-
Looks like already nothing can be done

やることいっぱいで気持は完敗
Yaru koto ippai de kimochi wa kanpai
A lot of things to do but my mood is completely defeated

一日4時間睡眠で日々この体力を注ぎ込んで
Ichinichi yojikan suimin de hibi kono tairyo-ku wo tsugikomunde
With 1 day 4 hours sleep, still have to devote this much energy everyday

Ryo-chan:
大人になるってどういうこと
Otona ni narutte do- iu koto
Becoming an adult, what actually happened?

外面良くして35を過ぎた頃
Sotozura yoku shite sanju-go wo sugita koro
Looks good outside, after 35 years old

俺達どんな顔
Oretachi donna kao
What will we look like?

かっこいい大人になってるの
Kakkoii otona ni natteru no
Can we become a cool adult?

Shige:
日々生き抜いて心は曇り
Hibi iki nuite kokoro wa kumori
Everyday passed by just like this, feeling dull

僕たちは過ぎ去って行く
Bokutachi wa sugisatte iku
We have to overcome this to go on

Koyama:
ゆっくりでいい辞めないで
Yukkuri de ii yamenai de
It's ok to go slow, don't give up

いつか水滴必ず石を穿つ
Itsuka suiteki kanarazu ishi wo ugatsu
Constant dropping wears the stone

Chorus

Tegoshi:
繰り返しの毎日で行き場のないこの気持ち
Kurikaeshi no mainichi de ikiba no nai kono kimochi
The everyday routine has no place to release this feeling

Yamapi:
巡り巡る目まぐるしくまわる
Meguri meguru me maguru shikumawaru
Turning here turning there, turning with dazzling speed

Ryo-chan & Yamapi:
毎日を泳ぐんだめげずにＬＡＵＧＨ　ＬＡＵＧＨ
Mainichi wo oyogun damegezu ni LAUGH LAUGH
Everyday striving for the best, don't be discouraged, LAUGH LAUGH

もういっちょ
Mo- iccho
One more time

Chorus x2

青花瓷 China Porcelain

Magnificent! I've never realized this kind of China Porcelain is named Qing Hua Ci (青花瓷). Thanks to Jay Chou's new album On the Run (我很忙), I immediately fall in love with the 3rd track:

青花瓷
Qing Hua Ci
China Porcelain
(Lyrics: Fang Wen Shan; Melody: Jay Chou)

素胚勾勒出青花
Su Pei Gou Le Chu Qing Hua
On the clean clay body, outlined the blue flower

笔锋浓转淡
Bi Feng Nong Zhuan Dan
The style of drawing changed from strong to light

瓶身描绘的牡丹一如妳初妆
Ping Shen Miao Hui De Mu Dan Yi Ru Ni Chu Zhuang
The peony portrayed on the vase was like your light make-up

冉冉檀香透过窗心事我了然
Ran Ran Tan Xiang Tou Guo Chuang Xin Shi Wo Liao Ran
Tenderly the scent of the sandalwood permeated through the window, I understand your heart

宣纸上 走笔至此搁一半
Xuan Zhi Shang Zou Bi Zhi Ci Ge Yi Ban
On the rice paper, till here the moving paint brush left half way

釉色渲染仕女图韵味被私藏
You Se Xuan Ran Shi Nv Tu Yun Wei Bei Si Cang
Using glaze, colored a drawing of the Court Ladies, the lingering charm was concealed secretly

而妳嫣然的一笑如含苞待放
Er Ni Yan Ran De Yi Xiao Ru Han Bao Dai Fang
And your beautiful smile was as sweet as the flower bud awaiting blossom

妳的美一缕飘散 去到我去不了的地方
Ni De Mei Yi Lv Piao San Qu Dao Wo Qu Bu Liao De Di Fang
Your beauty flown like a wisp of wind, to a place I couldn't reach

** Chorus

天青色等烟雨
Tian Qing Se Deng Yan Yu
The azure color is waiting for the rain (Azure sky only appears after a rain)

而我在等妳
Er Wo Zai Deng Ni
And I'm waiting for you

炊烟袅袅升起 隔江千万里
Cui Yan Niao Niao Sheng Qi Ge Jiang Qian Wan Li
Smoke from the chimney swirled up, separated by the river thousands of miles away

在瓶底书汉隶仿前朝的飘逸
Zai Ping Di Shu Han Li Fang Qian Chao De Piao Yi
At the base of the vase, inscribed the Han's Calligraphy, imitating the elegance of the ancient dynasty

就当我 为遇见妳伏笔
Jiu Dang Wo Wei Yu Jian Ni Fu Bi
Just assume I'm foreshadowing our encounter

天青色等烟雨 而我在等妳
Tian Qing Se Deng Yan Yu Er Wo Zai Deng Ni
The azure color is waiting for the rain, and I'm waiting for you

月色被打捞起 晕开了结局
Yue Se Bei Da Lao Qi Yun Kai Le Jie Jv
The moonlight was salvaged, the halo revealed the ending

如传世的青花瓷自顾自美丽
Ru Chuan Shi De Qing Hua Ci Zi Gu Zi Mei Li
Like the inherited for generations' China Porcelain, attending only to its own beauty

妳眼带笑意
Ni Yan Dai Xiao Yi
Your eyes were smiling

**

色白花青的锦鲤跃然於碗底
Se Bai Hua Qing De Jin Li Yue Ran Yu Wan Di
The white carp with blue pattern was vivid under the bowl

临摹宋体落款时却惦记着妳
Lin Mo Song Ti Luo Kuan Shi Que Dian Ji Zhe Ni
Copying the Song's Calligraphy, but during the signing, I thought of you

妳隐藏在窑烧里千年的秘密
Ni Yin Cang Zai Yao Shao Li Qian Nian De Mi Mi
The secret of a thousand year you hide in the kiln

极细腻 犹如绣花针落地
Ji Xi Ni You Ru Xiu Hua Zhen Luo Di
Extremely delicate, like a sewing needle falling to the ground

帘外芭蕉惹骤雨门环惹铜绿
Lian Wai Ba Jiao Re Zhou Yu Men Huan Re Tong Lv
Outside the curtain, the banana tree was stained by heavy rain, the knocker was stained copper green

而我路过那江南小镇惹了妳
Er Wo Lu Guo Na Jiang Nan Xiao Zhen Re Le Ni
And I passed by the little town of Jiang Nan and met you

在泼墨山水画里 妳从墨色深处被隐去
Zai Po Mo Shan Shui Hua Li Ni Cong Mo Se Shen Chu Bei Yin Qu
In the splash-inked landscape painting, from the depth of the ink, you vanished.

Repeat Chorus **

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I agree with Xiao Bo, it's really a crime to translate this song to English! Well, this is just to share the beautiful song with my English-ed friends. The original beauty of the lyrics can only be presented as it is in Mandarin. If you find any mistakes or have any comments, just comment~~

Guys or Gals?

Looking back at 2007, there seemed to be a common phenomena in the drama industry of Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

First of all, we have the Taiwan Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
(花样少年少女):

From Left: Wu Zun (吴尊), Ella (陈嘉桦), Wang Dong Cheng (汪东城)

Then, the Japanese version of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
(花ざかりの君たちえ):

From Left: Oguri Shun (小栗旬), Horikita Maki (堀北真希), Ikuta Toma (生田斗真)

In Korea, we have The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (커피프린스 1호점):

From Left: Gong Yu (공유), Kim Chang Wan (김창완), Yoon Eun Hye (윤은혜), Kim Dong Wook (김동욱), Kim Jae Wook (김재욱), Lee Eon (이언)

At first glance, you may wonder, why there are no signs of ladies in the dramas. Look again, and you will be surprised at their ability to camouflage among the bunch of guys. No wonder MrToilet also confused when ordering Heineken Green Tea.

Amazingly, all 3 dramas were top in viewer ratings.