While many fans of the Heaven Official’s Blessing novel series by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu got to its official donghua adaptation via the books, others arrived via the popular Chinese animated series itself.
What’s interesting, though, is that it doesn’t seem to matter which path to the donghua fans of protagonists Hua Cheng and Xie Lian took in order to meet them, the pair quickly became one of the most popular, if not the most popular, animated couple ever.
Now, with millions of copies of the Heaven Official’s Blessing (aka Tiān Guān Cì Fú) books sold, and tens of millions of views of its donghua, four years after Season 1 of the animated series premiered, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian are still two of the animation world’s most-beloved characters.
And for reasons that involve both their individual characteristics, and their incredibly strong relationship.
Xia Lian and Hua Cheng themselves
Xie Lian: Known for his resilience, kindness, and gentleness, and for his transformation from a beloved crown prince to a god who has now been banished from Heaven twice, Xie Lian’s journey of self-discovery and self-healing resonates with viewers right from the donghua’s first episode.
Viewers who also empathize as, even when events are not Xie Lian’s fault, because he feels the choices he made during those events should have been better, he takes on most of that blame for himself.
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After all, he has gone through so much incredible pain in his life, what’s a little more? He can bear it. He is just not sure others who may be blamed instead of him can.
Look at how Xie Lian dealt with the accusation from Lang Qianqiu that he had killed the Royal family during the Golden Banquet, for instance.
Instead of explaining that he had only killed the King and, by doing so, had saved tens of thousands of people’s lives, he accepted the blame and, thus, Lang Qianqiu’s hatred along with it.
That way, Xie Lian believed, he could prevent Lang Qianqiu from the devastation he would feel if he found out it was An Le, his childhood friend and someone who he loved dearly, that had betrayed him.
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His story then of going through and overcoming the most devastating adversity, while still maintaining his integrity and his kind soul, has grabbed viewers’ hearts.
Combine that with his eventual acceptance of love after centuries of abject loneliness, and that also makes Xie Lian one of the most endearing characters in Chinese donghua.
Hua Cheng: Meanwhile, Hua Cheng’s character is compelling due to his immense loyalty towards Xie Lian — a loyalty that spans over 800 years — as well as for his strength, and for his complex backstory.
As a ghost king, and one of the Four Calamities, Hua Cheng’s power intrigues fans. Especially as, instead of using that power indiscriminately as someone truly evil would, he often seems to conserve it for punishing those who deserve it.
However, it is Hua Cheng’s unwavering devotion to Xie Lian that has really captured their hearts.
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Especially as we witness his transformation from a bullied and sick child living on the outskirts of life to an all-powerful figure, and all of it motivated by his love for Xie Lian, and his insistence that, no matter what happens, he will become so monumentally powerful that he will always be able to protect him.
A devotion that has also seen Hua Cheng show up to every major event in Xie Lian’s life — even when he was so small and so weak, he couldn’t do anything but watch — and a devotion Xie Lian simply wasn’t aware of.
It is Hua Cheng’s fortitude, combined with his incredibly protective nature when it comes to the man he loves, as well as the depth of that love, that provide a stark contrast to his fearsome reputation as Crimson Rain Sought Flower.
And all of that makes the man so uniquely appealing.
Relationship dynamics between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian
The relationship between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, often referred to as “Hualian,” by fans is, of course, central to their popularity.
It is a story of love that spans centuries, showcasing an intense bond that ultimately transcends the boundaries of the three realms (heaven, earth, and ghost).
That relationship between the two is depicted with an unusual balance of romance, mutual respect, and a deep understanding of each other’s personalities.
A dynamic that has been praised by many fans for its depiction of true healthy love, loyalty, and the theme of finding one’s place in the world through that love.
The narrative’s focus on the emotional connection Hua Cheng and Xie Lian have, rather than just physical or superficial aspects, also adds to the depth of their popularity.
Finally, the all encompassing love Hua Cheng feels towards Xie Lian, combined with Xie Lian’s gradual acceptance and return of that affection, creates a narrative arc that fans find deeply satisfying.
Cultural and danmei genre appeal
Heaven Official’s Blessing has broken ground in the Chinese donghua scene by portraying an emotionally healthy same-sex relationship, even while the donghua suffers from censorship due to current Chinese laws.
This has garnered significant attention and support from fans for the Heaven Official’s Blessing donghua, but especially from those in the BL (Boys’ Love) community.
The donghua’s romantic combination of fantasy, mythology, and a love that will transcend the ages also appeals to a wide audience.
One that, especially due to the use of Chinese mythology, features complex storytelling, rich world-building, and character-driven plots involving some of the most interesting characters in animation.
The cultural elements, like the cultivation themes and the depiction of the three realms, add authenticity and depth, and that in turn enhances the characters’ allure.
In other words, when you look at why Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are two of the most beloved characters in Chinese donghua four years after the donghua premiered, it is easy to see that the richness and depth of both the characters and the plot have a lot to do with it.
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Watch both seasons of Heaven Official’s Blessing on Crunchyroll, and keep your fingers crossed we will eventually get a Season 3.
Entertainment journalist covering Japanese and Chinese anime industry for a decade.
Favorite donghua — World of Immortals, A Will Eternal, The Demon Hunter, Perfect World, Battle Through the Heavens, Fabulous Beasts, Spy x Sect, Soul Land, Tales of Herding Gods, Heaven Officials’ Blessing, Qi Refining for 3000 Years.