The names in a historical C-drama do more than identify characters. A well-chosen name can quietly signal family background, temperament, social role, or the story’s central image. Pursuit of Jade (逐玉, Zhú Yù) is a particularly good example because jade appears in both the title and its heroine’s name.
The 2026 historical romance follows Fan Changyu (樊长玉) and Xie Zheng (谢征). Public listings identify the series as a 40-episode adaptation broadcast by iQIYI and Tencent, with Tian Xiwei and Zhang Linghe in the lead roles. See the series details and cast on DramaWiki.
This guide explains the names character by character, then shows how to borrow the method behind a C-drama name without simply copying it.
What Does the Title 逐玉 Mean?
The title contains two compact characters:
- 逐 (zhú): to pursue, chase, follow, or drive onward;
- 玉 (yù): jade.
So Pursuit of Jade is a close semantic rendering of 逐玉. But 玉 is richer than the English word jade alone. In Chinese literary and philosophical language, jade may evoke beauty, refinement, moral character, rarity, and something precious that must be protected.
That makes the title work on several levels. It can describe the pursuit of a person named Changyu, the pursuit of something precious, and the preservation of integrity through danger. Those layers are part of why two-character Chinese titles often feel more suggestive than a word-for-word translation.
Fan Changyu: 樊长玉
Pinyin: Fán Chángyù
Surname: 樊 (Fán)
Given name: 长玉 (Chángyù)
樊: the family name
樊 is an established Chinese surname. Like most surnames, it normally functions as family identity rather than as a description of the person. Trying to translate every surname literally often creates a meaning the Chinese name does not actually carry in everyday use.
长: duration, growth, and stature
长 has more than one pronunciation and meaning. In 长玉, it is read cháng. Depending on the phrase, it can suggest length, lasting quality, or growth. The same written character is read zhǎng when it means to grow or to be an elder, so context and confirmed pronunciation matter.
For this fictional heroine, 长 contributes strength and extension rather than a delicate ornamental feeling. It makes the name feel grounded.
玉: jade and cultivated value
玉 is one of the most enduring Chinese name characters. It can suggest beauty, preciousness, purity, or cultivated virtue. Historically, jade was admired not only for appearance but also as a metaphor for character.
Combined, 长玉 is better understood as a literary name with associations of enduring or growing jade-like value—not as a fixed sentence with one official translation.
The heroine also has the courtesy name 善君 (Shànjūn) in published cast information. 善 suggests goodness or skill, while 君 can mean a ruler, gentleman, or respected person. A courtesy name belongs to a historical naming convention; it is not the same thing as a second modern legal given name.
Xie Zheng: 谢征
Pinyin: Xiè Zhēng
Surname: 谢 (Xiè)
Given name: 征 (Zhēng)
谢: the family name
谢 is a common Chinese surname. Although the character can mean “to thank” in other contexts, a surname is normally left untranslated. “Thank Zheng” would therefore be a misleading treatment of the name.
征: setting out with purpose
征 can mean to go on a journey or expedition, conduct a campaign, or seek. It has forward motion and a martial register, making it especially suited to a character whose story involves concealed identity, conflict, and the battlefield.
Unlike 玉, 征 is not soft or decorative. It sounds decisive. That contrast helps the two leads feel distinct before the plot even explains them.
Published cast information gives Xie Zheng the courtesy name 九衡 (Jiǔhéng). 九 is nine; 衡 can refer to balance, measurement, or a crossbar. As with many literary courtesy names, the complete impression matters more than forcing the characters into a literal English phrase.
Why These Names Feel Like Historical Drama Names
Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng work because their names align with the tone of the story:
- They are compact. The given names use one or two characters, so they are easy to remember.
- They carry imagery. Jade and expedition suggest qualities without explaining the entire character.
- They contrast. 长玉 feels valuable and enduring; 征 feels active and martial.
- They fit the setting. Courtesy names reinforce the historical world, even though the drama is fiction rather than a naming manual.
This is useful inspiration for modern naming, but historical-fiction names can sound unusually elevated in daily life. A name that is perfect for a general, prince, or heroine may feel theatrical on a school register or business card.
How to Create a Chinese Name Inspired by C-dramas
Start with the quality you want, not the character you want to imitate. For example:
- refinement or integrity: 玉, 瑾, 瑜;
- clarity: 清, 明, 澄;
- courage or forward movement: 征, 毅, 行;
- harmony: 和, 宁, 安;
- growth and vitality: 生, 荣, 茂.
Then test the complete name:
- Say the surname and given name aloud in Mandarin.
- Check tones and unwanted homophones.
- Search for strong modern associations.
- Ask whether it sounds like a real contemporary person, a pen name, or a fictional hero.
- Verify the meaning of the full combination, not just each isolated character.
For a more classical direction, explore our guide to Chinese names from the Shi Jing, Chu Ci, and poetry. For a name connected to birth information and Five Elements, read how a birthday-based Chinese name is created.
Create Your Own Chinese Name
The best lesson from 逐玉 is not to copy 长玉 or 征. It is to choose a clear image, make it fit the person’s identity, and check whether the complete name sounds natural.
Use our Chinese name generator to explore original name ideas with characters, pinyin, meanings, and cultural context. Treat the results as a thoughtful starting point, then review the final choice with a fluent speaker—especially for legal or professional use.
Sources and editorial note
Series title, release details, principal characters, and courtesy names were checked against the Pursuit of Jade series listing. Character explanations are linguistic and cultural readings, not official translations supplied by the production. This article does not reproduce dialogue, plot text, posters, or promotional stills.