Huan Zhu Ge Ge II – Episode 6

Episode 6 – Get it here!

In this episode, Zi Wei teaches Xiao Yan Zi a couple of famous love poems.

The first one, about clay figures, is pretty cute and simple. The second employs a homophone of “si” (silk is a homophone for longing), which Xiao Yan Zi cleverly distorts in her own way to say they’re dead no matter what. “Death” is third tone though, while silk and longing are both first tone.

Unfortunately when we did Huan Zhu Ge Ge Part I, Gem the other project coordinator, tackled most of the poetic phrasing. She definitely had a more poetic way with her words to capture the spirit of the poem, and in few enough English words to fit on a subtitle. We spent a lot of nights (days for her, I guess) on opposite ends of the world hammering out some of the toughest ones. I did my best alone, and hopefully I get the meaning across enough.

HZGG II – Episode 5

This episode is pretty straightforward. Not much to report.

There’s plenty to read online about the history of the Qing Empire’s conquest of Xinjiang, not that it matters much to the story. For me, it’s just interesting to look at all the little details of the series for the first time as I’m going through each line with a fine toothed comb multiple times.

Episode 5 – Get it here!

Enjoy!

 

HZGG II Episode 4

Episode 4 – Get it here!

In this blurb, I’ll talk briefly about self-addressing terms. In short, use of “I” and “you” is considered informal. People often use their own name in third person or self-address with a term that indicates their subordinate status, when talking to someone who is ranked higher than them. Usually on top of that, older generations must be treated with respect by the younger generation, so even the old palace maids (Momos) are treated with some respect despite being servants.

When people talk in third person or self-address in third person, I try to capture that sense of awkward third-person talk, but it may not be consistent because it just doesn’t sound good in English to never use first person. But note that they rarely say “you” toward the Emperor in any sentences.

PS The Emperor uses a special word for “I” (“zhen”) when referring to himself.

Enjoy!

HZGG II Episode 3

UPDATED LINK 7/24/2020 with fixed audio and spell check.

Episode 3 – Get it here!

A few notes:

• When Xiao Yan Zi is going to see buddhas, they’re going to see “pusa.”
• One popular “pusa” is the Goddess of Mercy, or Guanyin. They pray to her a lot throughout the series.
• They freak out at Rong-momo doing something to Xiao Yan Zi, because in the last season, she brutally and mercilessly tortured/”interrogated” Zi Wei by stabbing her hundreds of times with needles.
• In the last season, Fifth Prince shoots Xiao Yan Zi with an arrow, which sets off the whole plot of the show because she couldn’t explain herself while injured and thus mistakenly became the princess.
• Also, Zi Wei was stabbed when they went on a trip around China. There were assassins from the White Lotus Sect trying to kill the Emperor, and Zi Wei blocked the Emperor with her body, saving his life. Just before the knife was pulled from her chest, she insisted that Er Kang take Jin Suo as one of his wives so she would be looked after if she were to die, and of course he said yes.
• Er Kang’s mom is Consort Ling’s cousin. So they’re distant family. That comes up a lot.

HZGG II – Episode 2

Episode 2 – Get it here.

Some show stuff out of the way:

In general, I try to use Google or Wikipedia friendly terms, especially proper nouns or references or quotes. I only include a note in the show if it’s integral to comprehension, but some may prefer a little extra context.

Some example further reading and episode notes:

• More about Prince of the First Rank, ranks of consorts, and princesses – Wikipedia
• Thirty Six Stratagems Wikipedia page
• E-Z Kneeling is something XYZ invented in the last series.
• Cining Palace – Empress Dowager’s Chambers
• Er Kang is the head of the Imperial Guard, he’s like head of security for the Palace.

Also, the Chinese captions are very inaccurately timed based on the audio, and sometimes there’s a caption but all I hear is background noise. If there’s something I didn’t translate, it’s either the same thing they’ve been repeating in the background, or not there at all.

HZGG II – Episode 1

Here is the inaugural episode. More are coming. Just need to be encoded and uploaded.

It took me a few days to figure out how to encode, how I want to upload now that everything is different.

Please spread the word, feel free to upload these to any trackers, or share them however you wish. If there is any interest in the raw, or if anyone has the ability to get higher quality raws, I’m happy to adjust. Or if there is a way to make this more accessible, I’m all ears.

Episode 1 – Get it here!

I have not done this in over a decade, so apologies for the crude production overall.

Episodes 2-12 should all be coming within the week! 🙂

~~~

Some notes:

This series makes a lot of references to the last series:

• Last season, the Tibetan chieftain chose a Qing Empire groom for his daughter Saiya. It was supposed to be Er Kang, but Er Tai, his younger brother, stepped up and took one for the team.
• Liu Qing & Liu Hong, who are opening the guesthouse/inn were Xiao Yan Zi’s friends when she was an orphan living in Beijing. Da Za Yuan (lit. “Big Hodgepodge Courtyard” is the community where they used to all live
• There are lots of Xiao Yan Zi’s old catchphrases/misuse of idioms that she continues to use in this series, like “turn strength to goo” or “turn strength to bees.”

If you’d like, you can read through Gem’s recaps of all the episodes as a refresher of all the excitement.

…Anybody still here for HZGG II?

Consider this a teaser…

Hi everyone, Tweedyy here.

A lot has changed in the 10 years since we’ve promised to try to tackle HZGG II.

Well, thanks to this global pandemic, I’ve begun to translate HZGG II by myself. It always ached my heart a little that we never got to tackle the sequel. Now, after a crappy part 3, and an even crappier revival, and an English dub of part 1, I’ve finally gotten around to HZGG II 1999 OG version (the best and only true version).

I have twelve episodes ready to go. More on the way.

I just don’t know how to release them. d-addicts is not the same anymore. Do people even hardsub anymore? Where will you find raws? I literally downloaded the version on Youtube. I want to release as hardsubs so more people can find it and view it easily.

It takes me back to simpler times, and always leaves a hole in my heart when I’m done watching it. I hope it can bring you some nostalgia in these dark weeks/months/years too.

Watch this page!

Also pls tell me where best to upload these/in which format. Thanks!