In an interview, Zhang Linghe said to authentically portray a young general, he made a conscious effort to control his weight, maintain his physique, and adjust his posture according to the character's needs.
The action scenes in the drama were all performed by himself—he practiced repeatedly in heavy armor.
The so-called "foundation general" is merely a stylistic choice in costume dramas, rather than a reflection of the actor being unprofessional or lacking dedication.
As a huge C-drama fan, I've definitely seen the buzz and memes surrounding Zhang Linghe's 'foundation general' nickname. It’s been a hot topic, especially for his role as Xie Zheng in *Pursuit of Jade*, where netizens jokingly pointed out how pristine and perfect his character looked even after supposedly intense battles. You know, that whole idea of a general fresh off the battlefield without a speck of dust or sweat, looking like he just stepped out of a skincare spa! This meme really took off because it highlights a common debate in historical or fantasy costume dramas: how much realism do we actually want versus the aesthetic appeal? I remember seeing the comparisons to Peter Ho's iconic, rugged portrayal of Xiang Yu in *King's War*, which many consider the gold standard for a battle-hardened general. Peter Ho's Xiang Yu looked like he crawled out of a sea of blood, radiating an unstoppable, fierce presence, while Zhang Linghe’s Xie Zheng was described as looking like he stepped out of a painting. It’s such a stark contrast, and it sparked a lot of discussion about what a 'true general' should look like on screen. But let's be real, a big part of why many of us watch these dramas, and why actors like Zhang Linghe are so popular, is for the 'eye candy' factor! There's a segment of the audience, myself included sometimes, who just wants to unwind after a long day and feast our eyes on some handsome young guys. The OCR even mentioned netizens saying, 'What's wrong with wanting to kick back after work and feast my eyes on some eye candy?!' And honestly, I get it. While the 'foundation general' meme is funny and sparked some interesting questions, it also points to the fact that many viewers appreciate the polished, aesthetically pleasing look, even if it's not entirely 'realistic.' For some, a handsome face is its own kind of 'wallpaper' for the screen. What I found really insightful from the original article was Zhang Linghe's own perspective. He mentioned consciously controlling his weight, maintaining his physique, and doing all his action scenes in heavy armor. That’s serious dedication! His point that the 'foundation general' is a stylistic choice, not a reflection of unprofessionalism, really resonates with me. It’s about the artistic direction of the drama. So, while the meme is a fun part of C-drama culture, it's also worth remembering the hard work and dedication these actors put into their roles, even when the final look is designed to be more 'pretty' than 'gritty.'
