I resisted the drama phenomenon for years, even abandoning Crash Landing on You 사랑의 불시착 on episode one. Then, a friend’s recommendation in February sparked a relentless six-drama marathon. Revisiting Crash Landing, its sweeping piano music suddenly felt far more meaningful. I tried to stop there; however, curiosity led me to the C-drama Pursuit of Jade 逐玉 , and all self-control dissolved. As Keats wrote, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” The show’s aesthetic perfection offers a profound, healing quality. It shines through Zhang Linghe’s flawlessly symmetrical face —revered by critics and camera alike—and the lyrical rhythm of spoken Mandarin, my mother tongue. Yet, the ultimate trap isn’t just visual or linguistic. The addictive Pursuit of Jade music is what truly captures the heart.
From K-Drama Marathons to a New Musical Obsession
Long after the screen fades to black, the melodies linger, bringing back a rush of everything we saw, heard, and felt. Since I couldn’t find the sheet music for the show’s haunting instrumental intro anywhere, I decided to transcribe it for the ukulele. If you, too, are trapped in the beautiful longing of this series, this one is for you.
Pursuit of Jade Instrumental Intro: Free Ukulele Transcription
The magic of traditional Asian stringed instruments like the guzheng or pipa lies in their unique expressive “effects”—the subtle pitch bends, fluid slurs, and rapid tremolos that give the music its haunting color, timbre, and texture. The ukulele mimics these micro-tonal textures shockingly well. As you play through this short intro transcription, don’t just focus on the melody and harmony; lean into those ornaments. For the ultimate authentic feel, make a deliberate crescendo on each tremolo to let the notes swell and truly breathe.
The instrumental introduction theme has the Chinese title 西固游思 (Xī gù yóu sī) which can be translated as follows:
- Literal Translation: “Thoughts on Wandering in Xigu” or “Reflections from a Journey to Xigu.”
- Artistic/Contextual Translation: “Reminiscences of Xigu” or “Pondering in Xigu.”
- Fan-based translation: It is most frequently transalted as “Journey Through Xigu” to refer to the original instrumental soundtrack, a work of the composer Dongdong Dong (董冬冬) (Dǒng Dōngdōng).
There are two alternative openings to this tune. In the first episode, use the first bracket and move to the third measure to continue. Subsequent episodes feature the theme starting on the second bracket.
Why Drama Soundtracks Hold a Timeless Grip on Us
This recent four-month binge-watching marathon made me reflect on why certain soundtracks hold such a tight grip on us. I realized that the music is never just background noise; it is the emotional heartbeat of the story. When I first attempted to watch Crash Landing on You, I didn’t appreciate how its sweeping melodies build a bridge of longing between two separate worlds. Now, I understand why fans still listen to that soundtrack years later. It carries the entire weight of the narrative in just a few chords.
The iconic, melancholic themes established the blueprint for how music heightens drama. The melodies act like a time capsule. The moment you hear the opening notes of a signature theme, you are instantly transported back to the exact scene, the exact glance between the leads, and the exact heartbreak you felt while watching.
This haunting quality is precisely what drew me to the Pursuit of Jade music. When a melody is that powerful, simply listening to it isn’t enough—you want to recreate it. Transcribing the instrumental intro for the ukulele was my way of stepping inside that aesthetic world. It allows me to slow down the rush of the drama and savor the notes.
Recreating Everlasting Romance: 12 Timeless Love Songs
If your heart thrives on melodies that capture this exact feeling of eternal romance and lingering emotion, you will find a whole collection of them in my book, 12 Timeless Love Songs. It features ukulele arrangements designed to let you recreate that magic yourself.
For piano players, check out my easy piano arrangement of Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”, a song that perfectly mirrors the drama’s theme of a love that spans across lifetimes.
Watch my Facebook reels for quick, 90-second piano and ukulele recordings of K-drama, C-drama, and timeless musical arrangements.
Why is story called “Pursuit of Jade” — Jade is deeply symbolic of truth and integrity in Chinese culture. It becomes apparent that the two lead characters are both on a quest – to find the truth about what happened 17 years ago. Why did their parents die?
Pursuit of Jade explained – jade in Chinese value and more
| Idiom (simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, pinyin) | Literal Meaning | Significance | Significance in the Show |
|---|---|---|---|
| 玉不琢，不成器 Yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì | “Uncarved jade cannot become a vessel” | Emphasizes that education and discipline are essential for a person to reach their full potential. | Used to frame the characters’ growth through suffering and hardship. |
| 宁为玉碎，不为瓦全 寧為玉碎，不為瓦全 Nìng wéi yù suì, bù wéi wǎ quán | “Better to be shattered jade than intact pottery” | A symbol of integrity; it is better to die with honor than to live in disgrace. | Used during high-stakes decisions where the characters refuse to compromise their integrity. |
| 金风玉露 金風玉露 Jīn fēng yù lù | “Golden wind, jade dew” | Refers to the cool breeze and dew of autumn; often used metaphorically for a beautiful or precious encounter (famously from a poem by Qin Guan). | References the fated, “meant-to-be” meeting between Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng. |
| 冰清玉洁 冰清玉潔 Bīng qīng yù jié | “Ice-clear, jade-pure” | Describes someone who is exceptionally virtuous, morally upright, and pure in character. | Represents the ideal moral state the characters aim for as they move past their initial lies. |
| 樊长玉 樊長玉 Fán Chángyù | “Fan” – surname Long Jade | humble and unpolished on the surface that is gradually “carved” and refined by the trials and hardships she faces into a woman of immense strength and character. | Fan Changyu’s name contains “jade” She is often compared to “raw jade” (璞玉, pú yù) |
Mimic the plucked sound on the high G ukulele
Make use of left hand techniques like bending, sliding, hammering on, and pulling off; and right hand technique of tremolo on a single string or multiple strings. Read about this in my 5th book in the Pick Pluck Play! Series for fingerstyle ukulele – 12 Timeless Love Songs.
Easy Piano Arrangement
I couldn’t resist arranging this haunting theme for the piano.
To curb my addiction and obsession, I will resist the temptation to transcribe and arrange the rest of the music until I’ve published the 7th title of Pick Pluck Play! Series.
