Spell Salvage
Spell Salvage
The spiritual malleability of soft clay is no different from that of baked clay. What a substance can harbor is only limited by sentient will, including ours—and his.
An old clay figurine sage sat on his breezy porch, watching children play in the square, while yet another family moved into their village. He smiled as he remembered a time when he was dreamy, energetic, and ambitious, just like them. But those days were long gone. Now, he had seen the pain of war, the misery of poverty, and the fear of death. And he had learned that the only way to overcome these things was to let them go. Letting go was the most tender kindness you could show yourself.
With the arrival of new families over the past years came new little clay figurines that also turned alive when no human eyes were set upon them. A few of these figurines were kind and respectful, but most were not. The robber figurines were the worst. They were always picking on the old figurine sage and stealing from him the mineral rocks and plantings clay figurines would painstakingly gather for energy boosts and comfort, taunting that his mantra was letting go anyway, so why did he care if they took his things? Eventually, even the kind figurines started to pick up the habits of the robber figurines despite themselves. Amid the rampant greed and selfishness, the sound of sageliness had the tune of major fraud. If the halos were not lying about their motives to the halo-nots, they were lying about the nature of the world. Yet, should a sage genuinely believing in his own teachings really be faulted? But we digressed.
The old sage chuckled and gently chided the robber figurines, some of whom bristled at being seen as inferior to a decrepit chap when life and their circles had been washing over them with the tenets that might was right and wantonness was sense. Patting one robber figurine's shoulder, the sage genially offered his remaining little vintage collections to the gang to inspire magnanimity in these lost souls. Collective silence fell over the robber figurines for a second. The sage nodded with a warm smile. But then the robber figurines broke out into uproarious laughter.
They threw his stuff wildly around his place like a lunatic circus band. A couple of sharp items tore through the thatched roof. The old sage looked on with jovial eyes. What were possessions in a transient life? He left it to the young 'uns to reach this realization themselves someday since preaching did not help them.
One day, a clay figurine found an ancient piece of paper describing a lengthy spell that could return amnesiac souls trapped in clay figurines to their otherwise permanently comatose human bodies. Word spread around. The robber figurines succeeded in nailing the incantation of the spell. They became humans again, burned up the paper, and quickly took advantage of their new power. They began to bash, shove, and drum on the old sage, who was helpless to defend himself. The figurine sage called for help, but no figurine or human came.
After days and days of relentless abuse, the sage's body was covered in bruises, wounds, and scars. The ex-figurines relished their power over the old sage, and grew bolder, stepping up the severity of their abuse. As his strength and will continued to ebb away, the sage grew desperate, terrified that he might not be able to survive much longer under the onslaught of attacks. Yet, every night, he whispered to himself as rain and snow from his cracked roof seeped into the cuts on his body, "All is impermanent. Fate is in the mind. Let excruciating pain drain away. Let agony and misery be mere flurries. Untrap all negativity. Release all memories. Let go, let go."
One evening, the sage was so weak that he could not even chant anymore. He lay on the ground, discolored and broken, while a flock of larks flew overhead. Maybe, a harrowing ancient wind started to sing with increasing amplitude inside him, it's time to let go of letting go. Letting go was not always the sole or secure means of finding peace.
So he struck at the ex-figurines with all his unsteadily recovering strength the next time they came. They were stunned for a full half-minute. This time, a small, sensitive boy noticed the sage's plight and rushed to his side — only to be casually shoved out of the way by the ex-figurines coming back to their senses. Completely rehabituated to their human bodies after so many months, the ex-figurines were by now a formidable wall to a youngling unaccustomed to self-defense, and as good as invincible giants to a tiny, battered clay figurine. The loopholes of physics were already sealed up. In her indignant glee, one kid used so much force that she accidentally smashed the figurine sage into smithereens. Tinted fragments and powder that broke off from him coldly sailed through the sunlight before lying scattered in their little diorama of a world. The old sage was badly injured, and the boy knew that he could not save him.
From a distance, the sage raised his crumbling hand slowly as if he could stroke the boy's red face. "Cry not, child. It's okay," he smiled weakly. "I've really let go of everything now."
The old sage took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He dreamed of the children playing in the village square. In this dream, at this moment, they would eternally play, learn, and grow. And with that, he died with a faint, peaceful smile, surrounded by the birdsong of the forest. His entire body would eventually molder into dust that the wind would carry away, some to the distant, mysterious hills and glistening lakes, some to putrid ditches close by.
The clay figurine sage who was too late but did remold himself time and again was gone. The wolfish ex-figurines had no trouble turning their crosshairs to other clay figurines in other villages.
Many thanks to a very nice meme creator and a co-pilot bot for inspiring and shaping the more uplifting aspects of this story.
More Posts from Aphilosopherchair and Others
News Box: Belle Époque
George Eliot wrote in the novel Middlemarch that youth is frequently the season of hope only in the sense that older generations are hopeful about younger ones. Lacking life experiences, young people, for all their physical vitality and cognitive advantages, find each struggle soul-crushing. Likewise, Age of Youth (available on Dramafever) peels back the rosy veneer of life in one's 20s to reveal the socioeconomic difficulties and family/personal tragedies that may afflict young adults without waiting for them to "grow up" first. Its oldest main character, college senior Yoon Jin-myung, already 28, is forever too busy making ends meet to properly experience the springtime of her life. Fake college student Kang Yi-na, 24, escapes from a near-death experience only to lead a wasted life hooking up with rich men in bars for an indulgent lifestyle out of survivor guilt. Princessy Jung Ye-eun (pictured above), 22, can hardly bring herself to break up with her atrocious boyfriend. Dirty-talking liar Song Ji-won, also 22, ironically seems to be the most well-adjusted and one of the wisest among the pack. Timid Yoo Eun-jae, only 20, may have been a murderess. With courage and companionship, though, it may still be possible to live life to the fullest, in spite of scars and missteps, making these truly beautiful years of their lives.
Below is a selection of literary references in the show:
Korean independence fighter Yun Dong-ju's poem anthology Sky, Wind, Star, and Poetry - Jin-myung's mother, giving up hope on her comatose son, underlines the last two lines of the work "A Dream Shattered." (A translation can be found here.)
Hermann Hesse's Demian - A German youth's quest for self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.
Nikos Kazantzakis's Zorba the Greek - A Greek intellectual befriends a foreman under his employment who has a fervent zest for life. Read together with (2) by Jin-myung and led to her decision to take some risks and live according to her wishes for a change.
Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies - A chick-lit novel on domestic abuse. Discussed by Ji-won while making up her mind about whether to disclose a truth.
This weekend drama has concluded its run last Saturday. Some episodes contain suggestive references.
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A 5-Course Bard Meal to Transport Us Back to Love Between Fairy And Devil
The most precious servings for us Cloud Dream Lake inhabitants come right at the end.
Appetizer
Fairy wings. These are small, crispy chicken wings that are coated in a sweet and sour sauce. They are a delicious and playful appetizer that is perfect for a party.
Deviled eggs. These are hard-boiled eggs that are filled with a creamy and flavorful mixture of mayonnaise, mustard, and paprika. They are a classic appetizer that is perfect for any occasion.
Bamboo Shoots with Sesame Seeds. Bamboo shoots are a symbol of new beginnings, which is perfect for the story of Love Between Fairy and Devil, as it follows the journey of two characters who are from different worlds.
Caviar with blinis. Caviar is a luxurious food that is made from the eggs of sturgeon fish. It is often served with blinis, which are small pancakes. The rich and luxurious caviar is a perfect representation of the devil, while the light and fluffy blinis represent the fairy.
Soup
Tomato soup. Tomato soup is a classic American soup that is made with tomatoes, cream, and onions. It is a refreshing and light soup that is perfect for a summer meal. The bright red color of the soup is a symbol of love, while the creamy texture is a symbol of comfort.
Cream of mushroom soup. Cream of mushroom soup is a smooth and creamy soup that is made with mushrooms, cream, and white wine. It is a delicious and comforting soup that is perfect for a rainy day. The earthy flavor of the mushrooms is a symbol of the devil’s dark side, while the creamy texture is a symbol of the fairy’s gentle nature.
Salad
Caprese salad. Caprese salad is a simple but delicious salad that is made with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil. It is a refreshing and light salad that is perfect for a summer meal. The bright colors of the salad represent the love between the fairy and the devil, while the simple ingredients represent the purity of their love.
Green bean salad with mandarin oranges and pomegranate seeds. Green beans are a symbol of growth and change, which are both themes that are explored in Love Between Fairy and Devil. The mandarin oranges and pomegranate seeds represent warm wishes.
Main Course
Dragon's Breath steak with roasted potatoes and asparagus. The climax of our long feast is a classic, hearty and flavorful main course made with grilled or pan-seared meat. The steak represents the strength and power of the devil, while the roasted potatoes and asparagus represent the beauty and grace of the fairy. The entire beautiful dish is served steamingly hot, evoking scenes of our epic romantic couple missing, bickering with and tending to each other in Water Cloud Sky.
Dessert
Chocolate lava cake with blueberries on the side. Chocolate lava cake is a decadent dessert that is made with a rich chocolate cake and a gooey chocolate center. It is a perfect dessert for a special occasion. The rich chocolate flavor of the cake represents the passion between the fairy and the devil, while the gooey chocolate center represents the sweetness of their love. The Homo sapiens curator tossed in the blueberries as a throwback to the water theme running across the three realms of the story universe.
The Mermaid Fairy's kiss. A light and airy dessert made with meringue, whipped cream, and fresh berries. The dessert is garnished with a sprinkling of fairy dust in the form of powdered sugar and symbolizes the pure fairy's healing of the devil. The mermaid kiss represents the fairy and the devil's forbidden love.
Now that we're well-fed by the finest of Big Tech's kitchen, with the supplement of some self-service expositions, it's time to ponder the question whether generative AI is a fairy or a devil. The job of an AI output curator entails 1) ensuring the algorithm perform its story research properly before coming up with recommendations, 2) guarding against culturally or otherwise biased suggestions, 3) resetting or otherwise isolating machine conversations to prevent previous queries and results from bleeding into the current result where such bleeding is unnecessary and 5) screening and researching results for inaccuracies.
Here is more sugar for thought:
How do we represent the fairy's latent magic and conflicted loyalties and the devil's dual nature and repentance? How can cuisine capture their dramatic sacrifices and gradual moving transformations?
To what depth can AI research the story in the first place? Wouldn't it be even cooler if Bard can know of iconic food scenes like the one (Spoiler alert!) featuring Fairy-in-Moon-Supreme-Body and the Moon Supreme himself pettily fighting over a kingly feast in Cangyan Sea?
The listed dishes are painstakingly curated from numerous queries and refined specifications. Experiment for yourself the extent of meal suggestion repetition across different dramas and meal occasions. How much is AI merely fitting your request into predefined answers? When it does this, how much of a unique being are you and is it sincerely answering your question? Some analogies: Santa Claus gifts you a factory uniform when you wish for your own special outfit; a salesperson touts to someone nostalgically looking for a vintage phone the smartphone model the store has stocked plenty of, adapting product virtues on the pitch template to the customer rather than adapting the product itself to the customer.
Which AI models are better at true creativity? Which merely reinforce conventional thinking?
The repetition of the kind-girl-powerful-guy motif, especially before human Cloud Dream Laker edits, is also concerning. Yet this is not a problem limited to machine learning or cuisine symbolism. Since symbols are all we more often than not end up with in media references and casual chats, however nuanced the original plot is, can we swap the genders in the next breakout fantasy series for much necessary balance? Reversed gender dynamics need to appear in higher frequencies across pop culture landscapes. A cackling demoness supreme and an innocent, non-aggressive male fairy nudging out her good side without preaching, s'il vous plaît.
How it started 90% of the time: YASSS! Master Soapy T-Rex has only three lines to say about this impossible drama concept. Time guilt suppressed.
How it always ended:
A Headful of Mountain Flowers
A Headful of Mountain Flowers
The most boorish and mercenary character in Hong Kong drama War and Beauty is also its greatest romantic. Eager to leave poverty behind and make a name for himself in the dog-eat-cat world of 19th-century Qing China, delivery agent Kong Wu has no qualms leaving a group of defenseless girls to the mercy of ruthless thugs so that he can complete his job. Yet when he discovers a silk handkerchief…
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The Asian Drama Philosopher (A-Philosopher)’s Chair provides weekly updates of literature, art and ideas featured in Korean/Japanese/Taiwanese/Chinese dramas.
H Universe Awards 2024—Taking Over the Resident Grump (See the end)
These aren’t just awards; they’re reminders of how art can save lives, challenge perceptions, and bring beauty into our worlds.
Potential Lifesaver Award
🏆 Winner: Baby Reindeer (UK)
Care is not an invitation for possession. Self-hatred may get in the way of justice.
Raw. Unflinching. Devastating. Baby Reindeer doesn’t hold your hand—it grips your soul and refuses to let go. This Netflix original dives headfirst into the messy, painful realities of trauma and abuse. It’s a tough watch, but it just might change how you see the world.
Most Meaningful Character
🏆 Winner: Player 120 Cho Hyun-ju – Squid Game Season 2 (South Korea)
People are more than their circumstances.
Feminine yet fierce, tender but tough, Hyun-ju is a wake-up call to stop boxing people into stereotypes.
And her bond with Player 149 Jang Geum-ja? Absolute dynamite. This silver-haired grandma might not get gender identity, but her care for Hyun-ju speaks louder than any words. Together, they’re proof that humanity is messy, complicated, and full of surprises.
Most Thought-Provoking Series
🏆 Winner: Hell / Hellbound Season 2 (South Korea)
Human hubris isn’t about defying divine forces—it’s pretending to know what we don’t.
If Season 1 got characters questioning their beliefs, Season 2 left them spiraling. This supernatural K-horror goes beyond the shock factor to grapple with big questions about belief, morality, and the consequences of our assumptions.
Best Finale
🏆 Winner: Eternal Night Star River / Cringey Official English Title (Mainland China)
This finale hit us with the ultimate truth bomb: You can only love others fully when you love yourself first. (But Ziqi’s real problem? It’s not some conventional “demon” identity—it’s believing he is one.) Emotional, uplifting, and just the right amount of bittersweet.
Geekiest Series
🏆 Winner: Avatar: The Last Airbender (US)
Cultural depth? Check. Epic fight scenes? Double-check.
Avatar draws inspiration from Inuit and various Asian traditions, blending them into an action-packed adventure that’s as visually stunning as it is culturally rich. For fans of intricate world-building and diverse fighting styles, this series is a must-watch.
Best Aesthetics
🏆 Winner: Luxuriant Blossoms / Blossoms Shanghai (Mainland China and Hong Kong for cinematography)
Every frame of Blossoms Shanghai looks like it belongs in a film museum.
Wong Kar-wai’s signature style shines through, making this a feast for the eyes. And yes, the “director’s color-graded version” fixed those earlier hiccups, giving us the lush visuals we deserved.
Best Music
🏆 Winner: What Comes After Love (South Korea and Japan for soundtrack)
Each track is like a perfume note—delicate, layered, and unforgettable.
The music isn't just background noise; it’s an essential experience, taking you to new places with every note.
Notes and Reflections
Here’s the thing: there’s already a ton of online chatter about acting, directing, and writing. Why add to the noise? Awards in these areas just feel unnecessary—especially since acting, in particular, is so vulnerable to cultural differences. What’s more, assigning a “Best Drama” title is always subjective. Why should you impose your idea of what factors to include or exclude and how to weigh all the factors on everyone else?
On a personal level, Tibetan Sea Flower (or Adventure Behind The Bronze Door) is the drama that hit H hardest this year. Its breathtaking visuals, pulse-pounding directing, and sci-fi adventure kept H hooked. But let’s be honest—why should that matter to anyone else? Is it as thematically meaningful as some of the other dramas on this list? Probably not. Is its storytelling flawless? Not quite. The show repeats a certain trick, and when some big mysteries are revealed, it opts to tell rather than show.
For H, though, some of these choices make sense. Tibetan Sea Flower is part of the larger Lost Tomb franchise, and its place in this intricate, interconnected universe justifies a lot. It’s built for those of us who love Easter egg hunts and piecing together the big picture—something H finds thrilling. But is that enough for it to resonate universally? Not necessarily.
H's more level-headed pick for “Best Drama” would be any series recognized with the Potential Lifesaver Award—dramas that go beyond entertainment to deliver messages that genuinely matter. That's even if the drama conferred the honor were an artistic disaster. Is that something you can accept?
Finally, a word of caution: awards are often shaped by sampling errors. The dramas that get shortlisted—or even noticed—are frequently determined by marketing prowess and social media buzz, rather than their intrinsic quality or impact. Keep that in mind when appraising any list like this one.
📝Guest-authored by your cheery machine, with some edits, based on original version here. Hey, say you prefer the human grump's!
After a long career passively (but not necessarily bitterly) hosting characters' romantic moments under or in the vicinity of their canopies, what do trees want in their retirement lives?
What if their aged selves will have ideas of romance different from characters' ideas of romance and our expectations of old trees?
What if those with the requisite magical power have only stayed rooted all their lives because they don't want to be fan-less, threatened freaks?
Familiar Question
Does one of the challenges from @overchers ring a bell?
If you wouldn't go to someone for advice, don't take their criticism either.
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An energy economy intubated, intercepted and interrogated by its multiverse escape game, TikTok-addicted black holes, go-getting cerebral vampires and healing rice ball spirits. Originally an extension of The Asian Drama Philosopher (A-Philosopher)’s Chair, a site examining literature, art and ideas featured in East Asian series.
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