What is song playing on Heaven Official’s Blessing, Ep 1 as Hua Cheng walks the woods with Xie Lian?
Michelle Topham 
One of the many stunning things about the Chinese animated series Heaven Official’s Blessing (aka Tian Guan Ci Fu) is the donghua’s gorgeous soundtrack.
Music that perfectly illustrates the emotions of each scene throughout the entire series.
This begins in Heaven Official’s Blessing, Episode 1 with, not only the beautiful opening theme song ‘No Parting‘, but also that touching song that plays towards the end of the episode when Xie Lian as the bride is sitting in the litter waiting for the Ghost Groom.
The song is heralded by the sound of the wind, and bells softly jingling, followed by a silver butterfly that slowly flies across the scene as Xie Lian senses someone approaching.
A hand with a red string tied around one finger then pushes aside the curtain of the litter, and reaches for Xie Lian.
The first bars of that incredibly romantic song begin to play as we see a man dressed all in red smiling quietly.
The woods at night then change into a vibrant city scene from years long gone when Xie Lian was still a 17-year-old prince, and rescued the young boy who fell from the city wall.
And thus, with those scenes and that song, Heaven Official’s Blessing sets itself up to tell one of the most heart-wrenching stories of two men whose love for each other will last not only a lifetime, but forever.
What is that song playing on Heaven Official’s Blessing, Episode 1 as Xie Lian leaves the litter and meets Hua Cheng — Crimson Rain Sought Flower — for the first time?
‘One Flower, One Sword‘ ( 一花一剑 ) by Li Xinyi
The song that accompanies Hua Cheng and Xia Lian as they walk through the night woods together is called ‘One Flower, One Sword’ , and is performed by Mandopop singer Li Xinyi (aka Rex).
It was written specifically for Heaven Official’s Blessings, with lyrics that tell the story of the lives of Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, ending with how their love will last forever:
仙乐琉璃，映流芳盛世光景
白衣少年，如飞鸟逆空降临
风卷花落，玉面似镜照孤星
拂古训，一闪，浮光掠影暗夜深邃，藏多少幽绿眼睛
银蝶蹁跹，宛如迢迢连天星
须臾间挟荒山野径，循声觅影
月华粼粼流照君，纵履霜亦孤行一念花树绕香云，一念随剑影
轻拈桃花向仙庭，电闪惊雷鸣
且使白驹撵过隙，物换星移
济苍生，一花一剑一愿人间幸听闻太苍山，难复故国踪迹
断壁连残垣，城池飞沙扬砾
繁华覆灭人面成疫，战火疮痍
抽丝剥茧一身谜，无名却耀青荧一念花树吹墨云，骤雨素花净
时间琥珀中流幻，赴桃源之境
雾沉云暝渐敛却，浮尘晴霁
抵不过，一花一剑一人雨中笠留恋花树亦怜君，伫望候远信
任凡尘俗世笑我，山间祈长明
去向未言说曾经，繁花似锦
业火尽，一花一剑一世与君行穿行于天地间，惟愿逐一双影
One Flower, One Sword English lyrics:
The celestial music and the glazed tiles reflect the splendor of a prosperous era,
A youth in white, like a bird descending through the sky,
The wind swirls the falling flowers, his jade-like face mirrors the lonely star,
Brushing off ancient teachings in a flash, with fleeting images, just a glimpse of his gloryThe deep night harbors countless green eyes,
Silver butterflies dance, like stars connecting the vast sky,
In a moment, they traverse wild mountains and paths, following sounds to find shadows,
The moon’s ripples shine upon you, even if you tread on frost, you walk alone.One thought conjures a tree of flowers surrounded by scented clouds, one thought follows the shadow of a sword,
Lightly plucking a peach blossom towards the immortal court, lightning flashes and thunder roars,
Let the white horse gallop past fleeting moments, as time and stars change,
To save the world, with one flower, one sword, one wish for human fortune.Hearing of Mount Taicang, where traces of the old country are hard to find,
Broken walls connect with ruins, the city stirs up sand and dust,
Prosperity destroyed, faces turned to plague, scars from warfare,
Untangling the threads of mystery, nameless yet shining with a blue glow.One thought blows ink clouds from the flower tree, sudden rain cleanses the white flowers,
In the amber of time, an illusion flows, heading towards the peach blossom paradise,
As fog and clouds gradually dissipate, revealing clear skies from the dust,
Yet unable to withstand, one flower, one sword, one person under the rain in a hat.Loving both the tree of flowers and you, gazing into the distance, waiting for news,
Letting the mundane world mock, praying for eternal light in the mountains,
Not speaking of what has been, though flowers were once splendid,
The flames of karma extinguished, with one flower, one sword, one lifetime walking with you.Traveling through heaven and earth, only wishing to chase after two shadows.
Listen to Li Xinyi’s ‘One Flower, One Sword‘ either via the donghua’s full 62-track soundtrack on Spotify below, (track #2) or in the YouTube video featuring that stunning Episode 1 ending scene.
You can watch both seasons of Heaven Official’s Blessing, and the OVA that was released after Season 1 ended, on Crunchyroll.
RELATED: How to watch Season 1 of Heaven Official’s Blessing completely free — and legal
About the Author
Steven Reynolds