Guo Ying (Mainland China)
Creative Award
Author Biography:
Guo Ying, residing in Hubei, China, is a writer and screenwriter. She has published more than ten novels and several film and TV scripts. Her novel The Man-Eating Butterfly Incident won the Best New Work Award at the 5th National Public Security Federation Detective and Mystery Novel Competition. Its film script adaptation received the Qianjiang Cao Yu Cup National Excellent Film Script Award. Her novel A Dream in One Room was selected for the 2015 National Excellent Online Novel Award organized by China’s General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television.
Awarded Work: The Legend of Nüshu (60 Episodes)
Story Synopsis:
Xu Nuo, a modern young woman, is deceived by her close friend when investing in a dance training school. Her friend absconds with the funds, leaving Xu Nuo in debt. Soon after, her boyfriend betrays her and leaves. Facing despair, Xu Nuo recalls a Nüshu scroll left by her late mother.
Nüshu is the only female script in the world, historically used in Hunan, China, by women under the oppression of a patriarchal society who had no access to formal education. Women used this script to communicate in secret, giving rise to myths and mysterious legends. Xu Nuo’s inherited scroll is an invaluable treasure—the work of Hu Yuxiu, a Song Dynasty empress.
On her way home to retrieve the scroll, Xu Nuo is kidnapped by human traffickers but cleverly escapes, only to fall into a deep pit and nearly lose her life. She is rescued by Xia Youyou, a wealthy woman living in seclusion in the mountains. While recovering at Xia’s homestay, Xu Nuo meets Gao Yumei, a woman who had been trafficked to the area years ago and had two children with local villagers. The fates of the three women converge.
In the remote mountains, they support each other and escape both the villagers’ pursuit and the dangers of the terrain. Upon returning to reality, they face further challenges: Gao Yumei’s cold parents reject her; Xu Nuo discovers her old family home has been taken over by a cousin; Xia Youyou’s father is imprisoned. Xu Nuo decides to take the Nüshu scroll to an auction, hoping to use the proceeds to help each of them overcome their difficulties.
It is then revealed that Xia Youyou’s family originally owned the scroll, which contains secrets of a hidden treasure. Xu Nuo’s mother had been Xia’s family’s personal maid when the scroll was stolen. To solve the mystery and find the treasure, they journey to Qingyun Temple, encountering numerous obstacles. Ultimately, they discover that the true treasure lies in spiritual redemption and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Professional Review:
This drama centers on the unique culture of Nüshu, intertwining high-stakes plotlines of betrayal, debt, abduction, and treasure hunting. It portrays three women from different backgrounds forming a pact in adversity, completing a journey of escape and spiritual redemption. The series highlights female empowerment while emphasizing the contemporary value of preserving traditional culture, creating a micro-drama with both cultural depth and strong viewing appeal.
