I love how MaoMao manipulates the Soldier who thought (rightfully) that he was much higher rank than a servant girl and especially one he just gave a "participation" award to, basically. The offer of Verdigris House is the first shoe to fall and then to hammer it home that his chance is fleeting, she drops the fact that she's got two others from much, MUCH higher ranking individuals than he. She's so devious.
To put a very fine point on it, Japanese people hear "Bái Líng" as Pairin, so they actually think they are calling it as a Chinese name. The Japanese ear does not understand the difference between unaspirated sound and aspirated sound in Chinese. This problem often arises because the Chinese reading of "Bái" in Japan is "Pai" for some reason. For example, Japanese people read "白湯", a Chinese soup, as "Paitan".
To be fair to current emperor - he is not interested in Lishu - this is a political relationship. But his father (elier emperor) ... He agreed to Lishu being his concubine because he liked young ones... Fortunately he died
Yup. It’s also why Lishu’s ladies in waiting are so disrespectful towards her. Women who were concubines to an emperor, were expected to retire to a nunnery for the rest of their lives. Lishu was given to the former emperor when she was eight (thankfully due to her relationship with Ah-Duo it is heavily hinted she wasn’t touched by the pedo former emperor), so it was seen as overstaying her place to still be a consort to the current emperor. Some might even see it on par with a step-mother and step-son relationship.
@@feonaarabellaparaiso1786 add on. Ah-dou was also helped by the current emperor when he was prince back then to protect Lishu as well. They basically tag teamed each other to keep Lishu safe.
As a note: Silver at this time is an extreme commodity so making an accessory out of it is an extreme show of wealth backing and power. as well if you ever see people trading in those peices of metal that look like boats I believe those are Teals each should be worth anywhere from 500 copper coins to 1,000 copper coins(2,000 in later history) for a single SILVER tael not even a gold witch would be worth tens of Silver Tael per piece Pretty much the silver hairpin Maomao now has is an extremely rare thing as only royalty, nobles, or extremely wealthy merchants could have something like that. BTW his other hairpin is gold with a red gemstone most likely a carved ruby. Red is the color of wealth hence why alot of the palace is painted red if it is gold with a red gemstone on it it is an extreme show of position
red is good fortune not material wealth that material wealth is wrapped up in divinity and is gold which is why emperors after qin tended to wear golden robes and eventually a golden embroidered dragon pattern. yes generally speaking the core members of the imperial family wear gold items and range in colour though crown princesses notably were not allowed gold jewellery when married to other members of nobility after the marriage ceremony.
@@shaderunner7.0 It seems to be a qilin, which would traditionally be exclusively (just like dragons) be reserved for the Imperial Dynasty as the motif
Glad you mentioned Detective Conan. The author of DC, Aoyama Gosho, actually featured Maomao in the past, not in a story obviously but it was still interesting how people recognize the similarities between both mystery stories.
@@ace0135 The chapters published on a (formerly) weekly basis will be collected into volumes and released. In the Japanese version, every volume features a famous detective, both real life or otherwise. This is on the inner covers of the volume. Maomao was on there.
Mao Mao is knowledgeable but at times she tries to be ignorant bcs more knowledge may cost her life. She doesn't want to pursue knowledge further esp like politics, etc (although she is good negotiator 😅) but of course, mad scientist she is, if it's something that catches her attention, she can't help it but be curious about it 😅 but once she knew something, she did not want to carelessly say things esp if it involves the life of those with lower status, even more of those she cares about. Gyokuyo is such a teaser 😂 the way she is phrasing it first as "Mao Mao took off with someone" to see Jinshi's reaction when Mao Mao simply returns home for 3 days 😂
She has an extreme curiosity and a very huge passion towards her study. She studied apothecary so deeply that it may bring harm towards her body. Reflected by her catlike persona and her name, and how curiosity killed the cat. She just doesn't want to get involved in politics because it doesn't interest her. Which is fair because some people just don't want to involve themselves in politics. I mean I don't
Fun fact: one of the oldest known cases of what we know as forensics was by a royal Chinese investigator; he was charged with solving a murder in an agricultural community with very little for him to work with; the way he did it involved harvesting scythes, water, and flies. I learned that from an old episode of Ancient Discoveries; I can't recall the episode number or name of the episode at the moment.
On freckles and beauty standards: It's pretty common for a culture's beauty standards to be based on signifies that best align with the kind of work (or non-work) associated with the upper class. Hence you have people in the old days who find paler skin more attractive, because darker skin meant you were out in the sun more often, and thus lower class. Freckles become more pronounced in the sun, or with a tan, so they end up associated with that same sort of "works outdoors" look that is put lower on the beauty scale, for said culture. In our modern world, at least in the West, the standard has sorta flipped, thanks to the fact that most people in general work indoors, making that the "lower class" work, and people who are able to get a tan are very often the people with enough money to spare doing that sort of thing. Another aspect that has sorta flipped, relating to this, is how people that were sorta plump (altho not excessively so) used to be seen as more attractive, again because it was associated with the upper class, where today food is abundant enough that the body type that is preferred is the one that has enough time to spare burning off excess weight, in contrast to the one anyone can achieve by just eating cheap food. But ultimately, beauty standards are complicated, and even within a given culture can vary wildly.
I love how calm the dad is when she returns, imo it shows how much he trusts and knows her; he knows she will be fine once the letters started coming because he knowns how careful and intelligent she is. (at leastt hats the way it seems.. mabey later chapters reveal some more context but i havent read ahead cause i dont wanna spoil this lovely show for myself! lol)
About Lishu wearing that magenta/fuchsia dress for the Garden Party? Basically, all of the high-ranked concubines - Gyokuyou, Lihua, Ah-Duo and Lishu - wear different colors corresponding to one of the Chinese five elements to represent which consort they are: Gyokuyou, the Precious Consort: Fire (red) Lihua, the Wise Consort: Wood (Blue) Ah-Duo, the Pure Consort: Water (Black) Lishu, the Virtuous Consort's, element is "metal" and that element's go-to color is *white* (so, knowing that, Lady Lishu's maids intentionally made her wear the magenta/fuchsia dress - something that Gyokuyou herself would've worn - to make her look like a disrespectful idiot).
15:00 Honestly, the best analogy I can think of off the top of my head is idol culture. A path to fame and fortune for theoretically anyone, which also may involve some... less-than-savory elements.
Note how Maomao only uses the fingerprints to determine how many people held the bowl and how they did so. She knows about fingerprints, but not enough to know that they're all unique. The show isn't actually set in IRL China, so the author has no problem introducing anachronism, but she keeps it to a minimum.
Lishu was likely the poison target, but the taster swapped her food for Gyokuyo's because she thought that she was a brat because she wouldn't eat certain foods, unaware of Lishu's allergies.
The hairpin can have a few different meanings. When a consort gives a lower ranked girl an accessory it signifies that she has a powerful benefactor. Jinshi gave it to her right after hearing her kidnapping story. Though a man who is romantically interested in her he didn't mean it like that. As the manager of the garden buying a kidnapped girl as a servant is the fault of his position and class. It reflects poorly upon the emperor, who banned the slave trade and it reflects poorly upon Jinshi's family, as it is his responsibility to keep order in the palace. And he realizes that she's not the only one. How many more girls in his employ were kidnapped and sold illegally? How many girls are attacked on the streets because they failed to maintain order? He feels guilty so offers it as a sign of his protection. He can't save every girl immediately but he can start with the one in front of him. It marks the start of him seeing her as a real person and not a toy. Because seeing her as less than is how she ended up in that situation in the first place.
As I understand it, it's because they're considered a blemish on otherwise "clean" skin. A woman was considered most beautiful with an unmarked pale face because it demonstrates that she's not getting it dirty with work or by spending time in the sun (since freckles can sometimes be brought out by tanning), and thus likely comes from a high class position. It's also why the lead make-up was so popular, because it whitens the skin. It's also why geisha and courtesans often have very thick white make-up. As a westerner myself, of course, whiteface is weird rather than beautiful and freckles are damn cute.
@@Mirality that's what I heard too, but it's just weird as hell. I read a lot of eastern comics from different countries and that weird trope of the UGLY maiden, that suddenly becomes beautiful after getting rid of freckles is just everywhere. I mean come on, people! Freckles are so cute!
@@irashishonkova8626 More precisely, in Japan, the teeth called "Yaeba" are considered cute when they are visible and hidden when smiling, and are one of the charm points. Overseas, I hear it is called "Dracula Tooth" and is avoided. Therefore, if the teeth are simply crooked, they are not considered cute. Even so, I think it is a fact that Japan does not try to make the teeth as beautiful as they do in other countries. As expected, if it is at a level that makes life difficult, then they will correct it.
9:00 The poison was for Lady Lishu, not Lady Gyokuyo. 13:39 In Lihaku's case, his hairpin is kind of for networking, so he can ask for favors on a later date. For example, getting infomation about the rear palace, since unauthorized person cannot enter the palace. It was not for Maomao to favor from him, which is the opposite ^_^;;;
Next episode your pharmacy skills will be needed. Things are about to get interesting after episode 8 since from what Luo Men(maomao's adoptive father) said about the rear palace and what a twist of fate it was since it will be explained there a lot of plot points and explain why in the beginning of this episode when he was walking, he was not walking properly and needed a cane(not just because of his age)
I found your channel yesterday through your reactions to this show, but you mentioning Detective Conan tells me I'm definitely in the right place here. Your A+ anime taste just earned you a new subscriber!
I didn't realize on my first watch-through that Maomao had noticed Jinshi's hairpin. Though she didn't realize what it meant like anyone else would. [since her theory was that someone had given him a fancy hairpin rather than that he himself was secretly someone of higher status]
11:49 the reason at the time having freckles was seeing as "ugly" was because it represented to constant exposure tp the sun- aka low class working all day. Which is also they insisted in high class people to have more pale skin.
First! (except for you Zach, of course) I love how Jinshi became so dismayed at hearing Maomao has gone out with another man lol. Although there's not much medicine on this episode, from what I've seen of the preview next episode is gonna be interesting.
11:44 I believe in eastern cultures like China, since pale flawless skin was the top beauty standard, freckles are considered almost the same as a facial deformity or something similar. Hence why MaoMao uses that to hid from unwanted attention and is considered "ugly" or "plain" when she has her freckles on. Its the same line of thought of why the courtesans put the white face power own to emulate the high beauty standard. I don't know if eastern cultures still view it this way or not, but if I remember correctly, this was a common thought around the time period of the show.
Hello! New viewer to your channel here. Loving your reactions to Apothecary Diaries so far. As far as speculating Jinshi's identity, I think he is someone important as well. And, if you noticed in the previous episode, when he was making his way back to the garden party when Maomao was doing taste testing, did you see exactly at which location he opened the drapes? Whose seat was that he was making his way to? Hmm 🤔 Haha! This is all speculation though. Haha! Can't wait for your next reaction video! This series and Frieren are my top two of this season! ✨
Various foreshadowing is boldly and stealthily done, but I'm trying not to spoil it, so I'll bear with it. I'll grin and giggle until Zach finds out the truth. 12:20 The three Princesses Maomao's bargaining card was the introduction of the three princesses of Rokushoukan. According to the explanation in the original web story and the author's response, the price for just having tea with the three princesses is 100 silver, and 300 silver for spending the night with them. Since 1 silver is about $100, it would amount to $10,000 just for a cup of tea, and $30,000 for a night together! Based on the author's answer, Maomao's income was initially about $1,000/month. She worked for 10 months, so if she were to put half towards the payment, it would be about $5,000. Considering that he received a substantial raise when working for Gyokuyō, double that amount, or about $10,000, might have been the maximum he could have been paid. Quoting from a web novel, the original intention was to satisfy Lihaku by having him meet the three princesses, and then to allocate other senior prostitutes to him for a night of good dreams. However, Rokushoukan's landlady decided to put Ms. Pairin in charge and the difference was Maomao's debt.
You should definitely watch “Parallel World Pharmacy!” It may have more actual pharmaceutical knowledge in it. This show might be more fun in some respects. But the anime adaptation of “Parallel World Pharmacy” is a quick way to get into the series. Started as a light novel, got a manga adaptation, and now anime.
Enjoyed your video, sorry won’t comment much but got a question for you: Can you really make someone puke their guts out if punched/kicked or otherwise pressured at a certain spot in the stomach or other parts?
11 месяцев назад
i was thinking that maybe maomao's father was from the rear palace but it just hit me while watching your video. What if maomao's father was the poison maker? He is an apothecary after all he should have the same amount of poison knowledge as maomao
You shouldn't be spoiling anything.... Why is this so hard for commenters to understand? Especially since that info is revealed naturally later in the series itself.
lishus ladies in waiting don't exactly like her and liked to play pranks on her it went into it more in the novel but they didn't realize she wasn't able to eat it, and just thought she was extremely picky which is why the poison taster let it go by with a smile. But lishu was the target of the legit poison to.
Zach,now you have reach this episode and the comment I wanna post from before ..I forgot what to write all of it ..well,in both case..let us enjoy this episodes....Oh .from how the father said...I assumed Maomao are not his biological father..
Having clear, white, unblemished skin is a beauty standard in ancient China and even nowadays, so freckles are "blemishes" and are considered unattractive.
I mean the apothecary is the spiritual ancestor of the pharmacist, so technically I am. I just don't grind herbs or make medicines from their raw components like they do. I just know how to use them.
