In the world of Fairies Albums (百妖谱), we follow Tao Yao (桃夭), a mysterious healer from Taodu (桃都). She has one rule: she only treats demons, never humans. Traveling with her are a young Buddhist monk named Mo Ya (磨牙), a fox demon called Gun Gun (滚滚), and later, a snake demon, Liu Gongzi (柳公子). This unusual group operates in the spaces between our world and the realm of Yao (妖), or demons.
Stories That Tug Heartstrings
The narrative unfolds in standalone chapters, each a self-contained tale that subtly connects themes of human and demon nature, good and evil, love and obsession. It's not about epic battles, but about quiet, profound moments.
Take the story of the Hui Hu (灰狐), the Gray Fox. A young boy saves it, and decades later, when the boy, now a hardened general, faces death, the fox returns the favor. It makes a huge sacrifice, giving up its chance to attain immortality, just to guard the man's grave for a century. This story asks: who remembers a promise longer—a human or a demon?
Then there's the Shu Jin Niao (漱金鸟), the Golden-Spitting Bird. Bound by a promise, it stays in a deserted courtyard, producing gold flakes day after day. It waits for someone who will never return, its devotion outlasting the very reason it was there. Its stubbornness is its tenderness.
A Mirror to Our World
The true charm of Fairies Albums is its refusal to paint anyone as purely good or evil. Demons have deep-seated attachments, while humans are often swayed by selfish desires. Tao Yao herself seems detached, focused only on her payment. Yet, through her work, she becomes a witness to these deeply moving stories of connection and loss. She isn't a savior; she's a facilitator, helping these untold stories find their rightful conclusion.
Reading it makes you wonder if such "demons" exist around us. Maybe they're the friends who quietly watch over us, or the people who showed us kindness we've since forgotten. These emotions, buried by time, never really leave; we just rarely pause to listen.
Reflections from Luoyang
The recent animated season, Fairies Albums: Luoyang Chapter (洛阳篇), sparked new reflections, particularly through the character Qu Fulai (曲复来). A man whose early promise faded, he spent his life toiling without seeing the prosperity he hoped for. His story echoes the classic tale of "Shang Zhongyong," (伤仲永) a child prodigy who lost his brilliance, making many modern viewers working hard yet feeling stuck resonate deeply.
His father's dying wish was for Qu Fulai to ensure his own children would be educated. This highlights a common paradox: the pressure on the next generation to achieve what the previous one could not. It’s a poignant reminder that the best way to teach is often through example, by continually improving ourselves.
Qu Fulai hadn't cried in ten years. Trained from childhood to "be strong, men don't shed tears," he learned to suppress his emotions until he became numb. This resonates with many of us who were taught to hide our vulnerability, wearing a mask of "I'm fine" until we forget our authentic selves.
The anime introduces demons like the Xian Shu (咸鼠), salt-eating mice that feed on human tears. Their existence suggests that our emotions, even sadness, have a purpose. Perhaps we don't always need to be strong. Allowing ourselves to feel, to cry, can be a source of strength that lets us go further.
Another demon, a Xian Shu, acts spoiled and cheeky, bargaining playfully. It makes you think: what if we allowed ourselves to be a little less rigid in our relationships? Sometimes, softening our approach, being willing to show vulnerability or offer a kind word, can bridge gaps that sheer stubbornness creates.
A key moment comes when Tao Yao tells Qu Fulai: "If you weren't here, who would have taught Qiao'er (乔儿) to read? Who would have buried that young soldier? The child who fell in the river wouldn't have been saved." She reminds him that the line before "qian jin san jin huan fu lai" (千金散尽还复来, spent riches return once more) is "tian sheng wo cai bi you yong" (天生我材必有用, heaven has made us talents, we are not useless).
His value wasn't in the wealth he never attained, but in the countless small, good deeds he did without recognition. We often overlook our own worth because we're fixated on grand results, failing to see the impact of our daily actions.
A Culturally Rich Phenomenon
Adapted from the popular novel by Shualuo Shuangshu (裟椤双树), the Fairies Albums animation is produced by HAOLINERS (绘梦动画). Since its April 2020 debut on Bilibili, it has garnered high praise for its exquisite art style and warm, healing stories, quickly amassing over a million followers within hours of its premiere.
The animation's artistry maintains a distinct Eastern aesthetic, often incorporating ink-wash painting elements. The color palette is masterfully chosen to match the emotional tone of each scene, and the music powerfully complements the character expressions and plot progression.
Through its demon tales, Fairies Albums reflects the light and shadows of human nature. The demons are often portrayed with a stronger sense of loyalty and emotion than the humans—the gray fox sacrifices for memory, the bird waits out of devotion. Meanwhile, the humans frequently lose their original aspirations. These stories make us ponder: what truly defines "humanity"? Demons may be myriad, but their morals are often clear; the human heart, however, is endlessly complex and difficult to fathom.
Fairies Albums uses these narratives not to preach, but to gently suggest that in moments of love and being loved, humans and demons are equal. Its power lies in showing us the value of present warmth, however fleeting, and encouraging us to cherish it.
