Donghua Fan

Heaven Official's Blessing

Manhua

Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua

At a glance9 volumes · on hiatus

Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua

Heaven Official's Blessing was adapted into a manhua by the artist STARember, from a script by Mo Fei (墨妃). Published exclusively on Bilibili Comics from 19 October 2019, a year before the donghua, it runs to more than a hundred chapters and 9 collected volumes in China.

Origins and publication

STARember, an artist known for digital painting, turned the Tian Guan Ci Fu manhua into a true showcase. Every page looks like an illustration, with rich colours, worked lighting and detailed costumes. The collected volumes, published by CITIC Press from December 2021, were received like art books.

Online publication paused after an update in November 2023. The manhua has been translated into English by Seven Seas and into several other languages.

Volume covers

All 9 volumes of the print edition.

  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 1Vol. 1
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 2Vol. 2
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 3Vol. 3
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 4Vol. 4
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 5Vol. 5
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 6Vol. 6
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 7Vol. 7
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 8Vol. 8
  • Heaven Official's Blessing — STARember's manhua — cover of volume 9Vol. 9

How it differs from the donghua

The manhua is the most painterly version of the franchise. It follows the novel closely, at a more contemplative pace than the donghua, especially in scenes between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. The romance is more visible than in the animation, without being explicit. The 2D donghua has more movement and music, but the manhua surpasses it in visual refinement.

Reception and success

The manhua has been hailed as one of the most beautiful of its generation and helped spread the franchise beyond China. Its slow release pace, and then its pause, frustrated some readers. Its collected volumes are highly sought after by collectors.

Trivia

  • The Chinese collected volumes are published under CITIC Press's Moli imprint.
  • The manhua launched a year before the donghua, in October 2019.
  • An illustration collection from the manhua, titled Jinghong Yi Pie, was published in China.
  • The manhua runs to 101 chapters on Bilibili Comics.

My take

This manhua is a work of art. I sometimes open it just to look at the pages. The adaptation is faithful and sensitive, even if the release pace tested fans' patience. To me it is the ideal companion to the novel, to read alongside it.

Who is it for?Lovers of beautiful images and illustration, and fans of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.

— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX)The authorMo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX) 墨香铜臭The discreet queen of danmei
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