The one where we cry about the Yunmeng bro's... (Side Blog)

Heya dudes, it's my 18th birthday today! (Yay for alcohol and responsibilities;-;). Also, I got gifted these freaking adorable earrings that I feel like readers of this blog will appreciate.

The UK lockdown is still going strong, and as a consequence, ya'll get another side blog (whoopee). Hannah's blog two weeks ago was (I will begrudgingly admit) pretty convincing when it came to analysing the political issues of the MDZS world. And how Jin Guanyao's focus on helping the 'little people' was vastly overlooked in both the drama and novel. Btw, if you haven't read that blog post, would highly recommend checking it out.

But this week I thought I would elaborate more on why I think that Jiang Cheng is a more three-dimensional character than the fandom sometimes makes him out to be, as well as exploring an idea that I have been toying with ever since watching the Yunmeng Bro's relationship develop in the drama. (Before I get started, I just want you to know that I am very much NOT an English student, and I have had some drinks before writing this so buckle up buckaroos, this is gonna be a wild ride).

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The parallels between the Yunmeng Brothers and Eastern/Western cultural ideologies.

Whilst many view Jiang Cheng as a character that is defined by his jealousy and fear of inadequacy; envy acts as only one of this character's many motivations. Although insecurity clearly plagues Jiang Cheng in his formative years (from when Wei Wuxain was first adopted to the defeat of the tortoise of slaughter), one could argue that after the massacre of Lotus Pier, and Jiang Cheng's subsequent loss and regaining of his golden core - one particular motivation comes into the foreground and overshadows all the childish insecurity: the prioritisation of family. In this analysis, the idea of 'family' also includes the Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

Growing up as heir to the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Jiang Cheng grew up with familial pressures and expectations that Wei Wuxian was seemingly exempt from. A sense of duty and responsibility was instilled from the beginning and was evidenced by Jiang Cheng's apparent disdain for his brother's mischievous antics. Jiang Cheng was barred from the luxury of a carefree childhood, and already the idea of 'family' being above all else was being sewn into Jiang Cheng's head by his mother. As mentioned previously, the major issue that Jiang Cheng has with Wei Wuxian's carefree nature was not that Wei Wuxian was showing up Jiang Cheng, but rather that his antics were having a negative impact on the sect (and by extension - the family's) reputation. This prioritisation of family is an ideology heavily prevalent in traditional eastern cultures, and a sentiment that is shared by many other sects in this universe.

However, these ideas are only exacerbated after the tragic massacre of Lotus Pier. If the events leading to Jiang Cheng's loss of his golden core are analysed, it was selfishness (a sense of anger and vengefulness) that led Jiang Cheng to leave the safe space that his siblings had found for themselves. He went against the fundamental idea that all actions should prioritise the good of the family, and acted on the basis that revenge would be cathartic for himself. It was only until Jiang Cheng could see that his beloved brother was in danger, that the selfishness was quickly overshadowed by fear of his family getting hurt. By distracting the guards and letting himself be captured, we see the prioritisation of family winning over all else yet again.

Even post reincarnation, the audience can see that Jiang Cheng has grown into a strong sect leader. And still, the sect and his family are his number one priority. The complex range of emotions that the character has over his failure to protect his family is explored through his relationship with Jin Ling. The only surviving member of a family that Jiang Cheng worked so hard to protect, he shields Jin Ling and assumes the responsibility of being Jin Ling's guardian (despite not being part of the Jin sect). The determination that Jiang Cheng has to rebuild his family and sect from the remains left after the Sunshot Campaign is further evidence of Jiang Cheng's all-consuming prioritisation of family.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have Wei Wuxian. As an orphan, despite being adopted into the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, the audience can still see the sense of isolation that Wei Wuxian feels. Madame Yu rejects him and despite the love from both his siblings and Jiang Fengmian, he is still 'othered' from the rest of the sect. A black sheep. It is interesting to see how Wei Wuxian deals with this subtle segregation. As opposed to trying harder to fit into the ideals of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Wei Wuxian actively rebels and cements himself as an individual - separate from the clan he was brought up in. This pride in individualism is an incredibly western way of thinking and an ideology that lead to such a strong rift between Wei Wuxian and the rest of the cultivation world. On another note, it is ironic that Wei Wuxians's rebellion of conformity was praised by Jiang Fengmian as a perfect example of 'attempting the impossible', whilst Jiang Cheng's strong sense of duty was rejected.

This idea of individualism follows Wei Wuxian in many of his actions throughout the story. Whilst Jiang Cheng inherits Zidian from his mother, Wei Wuxian makes Chenqing himself. Wei Wuxian also founded demonic cultivation, a screaming symbol of individuality and rejection of conformity in the cultivation world.

One interesting aspect of Wei Wuxian's story is his relationship with the Wen Clan, namely the Wen Clan Wei Wuxain helped look after in the Burial Mounds. As discussed previously, Wei Wuxian never found himself fitting in at Lotus Pier. However, after the Sunshot Campaign and the rejection of all members of the Wen Clan, it can be interpreted that Wei Wuxian sees part of himself in the characters Wen Ning and Wen Qing. A sense of isolation. Of feeling 'othered'. And from this, Wei Wuxain takes the Wen Clan under his wing. Echoing back to Wei Wuxian's childhood, he takes the remaining Wen Clan, forms a settlement in the Burial Mounds and actively rebels against the traditional ideas of a sect. Individualism is what sets Wei Wuxian apart yet again.

It would be incorrect to say that Wei Wuxian does not have a strong sense of responsibility to the Wen Sect at the Burial Mounds. However, unlike Jiang Cheng feeling responsible to the family he was born into, Wei Wuxain feels responsible for his 'found family'. (One could compare Wei Wuxian's 'found family' to the many families that have formed from LGBTQ+ people who have been rejected from their original homes, providing each other mutual support and care).

Ultimately, this difference in cultural ideology is what leads to the Yungmeng Brother's broken relationship. Wei Wuxian does not see himself as being a true part of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect; Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, believes Wei Wuxian to be one of his own.

Therefore, when Wei Wuxian chooses to protect the Wen Clan over staying at Lotus Pier; spends more and more time with Lan Wangji; misses Jiang Yanli's wedding and breaks his promise to stand by Jiang Cheng's side, Jiang Cheng feels a growing sense of betrayal. Jiang Cheng sees Wei Wuxian go against his core belief - family over all else - time and time again. And this finally reaches a tipping point at the penultimate bloodbath at the Nightless City. In Jiang Cheng's grief-stricken eyes, it is due to a battle that Wei Wuxian started, and a fierce corpse that Wei Wuxian created that Jiang Yanli died. One of the last members of Jiang Cheng's family gone. Despite seeing Wei Wuxian as a brother, the many betrayals after the Sunshot Campaign and the death of Jiang Yanli lead to Jiang Cheng rejecting Wei Wuxian. A man who went against Jiang Cheng's core belief more times than could be forgiven.

But, in the Guanyin Temple, when Jiang Cheng finally learns of Wei Wuxians sacrifice of his golden core, the years of grief and anger that he built up against Wei Wuxian is challenged. Wei Wuxian chose family, chose Jiang Cheng, over himself.

In summary, I believe that the differences in views of Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian parallel the difference of views in Eastern and Western cultures. In the west, capitalist society meant individuality was important in order to move up in social class. Whereas in the east, conformity was considered the ideal, and part of the Confucian philosophy.