In China, based on new regulations regarding actor credits, the disparity between the stage names and real names of the lead duo in the promotional materials for the period drama "Gui Luan" is attracting significant attention.

The three major organizations in the film and drama industry announced new rules on the 12th. For all video works released or distributed after July 10th, performers' names will prioritize their real names as listed in their household registers, with stage names uniformly supplemented in parentheses. Promotional activities using only stage names will also be prohibited.

"Gui Luan" is a period drama that wrapped up filming in May, starring Zhang Linghe (張凌赫) and Lin Yun (林允). With the application of the new rules, the lead credits in promotional materials are expected to change from Zhang Linghe to "Zhang Jiawei (Zhang Jiawei)" and from Lin Yun to "Fei Xia (Fei Xia)." However, the gap between their sophisticated stage names and their simple-sounding real names has attracted attention, and on the 17th, related terms trended high on China's SNS Weibo (Weibo).

Chinese netizens' comments about the two's real names included a flurry of remarks such as "It's like a cast list from a 90s rural drama" and "'Jiawei and A Xia' sounds like a rural romance drama." Furthermore, comments were also seen stating that "it wouldn't feel out of place" even if it were said to be a spin-off of the popular comedy drama series "Liu Laogen," which is set in a rural village in Northeast China.

"Jiawei" is a relatively common and approachable name in China, giving an impression of sincerity and calmness rather than glamour or artistic flair. Coupled with his background as a science and engineering graduate from a prestigious university, the name "Zhang Jiawei" evokes images like "the smart older brother next door" or "the reliable senior at university," creating a noticeable gap with the image of the dignified nobleman roles he has played in period dramas.

Furthermore, Lin Yun's real name "Fei Xia" is also an unadorned name reminiscent of a naming style common in the 90s. While "Xia" (霞) holds the beautiful image of clouds colored by morning or evening glow, its widespread use as a female name in the past evokes a sense of nostalgia.

The reactions surrounding this change in credit notation once again highlight the significant role stage names play in shaping an actor's image and in creating the world of a work. (Mathilda)