Chinese drama Under the Microscope lets viewers learn the lives of ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty. IQIYI
When referring to history, some big events or historic figures may pop into our minds. That’s also what many history dramas are showing us. Yet, a recent Chinese drama – Under the Microscope which aired on iQIYI – turns to the lives of the ordinary people during the Ming Dynasty.
一提到历史，我们脑海中就会浮现出一些重大事件或历史人物，这也是我们在许多历史剧里看到的内容。然而，最近在爱奇艺平台播出的国产电视剧《显微镜下的大明》，便讲述了明代普通人的生活。
The drama opens with the story of a young man called Shuai Jiamo helping measure the land for a farming family, but only to find the calculation result is different from what’s recorded on the land deed. This “small event” lays the groundwork for the silk tax case later and introduces the problem of tax injustice in that era. Following Shuai and his friends’ fight to solve the problem, Under the Microscope gradually presents viewers with a realistic and vivid picture of the lives of ordinary civilians at the bottom.
该剧一开场，一个名叫帅家默（张若昀 饰）的年轻人帮助一家村民丈量田地，却发现计算得出的田亩数与地契上的数字不符。这桩“小事”为后来的丝绢案埋下伏笔，最终揭露出当时社会税收不公的问题。《显微镜下的大明》讲述了帅家默和朋友们为拨乱反正而努力的故事，逐渐向观众展现了一幅现实而生动的平民生活画卷。
Many details in the drama also help viewers get closer to ancient lives. For example, it shows people cutting silver to give change and carrying certificates for travel. It also shows the customs that the ordinary enjoyed like datiehua or molten iron fireworks and dragon dance.
剧中的许多细节也让观众更加贴近古代生活。例如，该剧拍出了明代人会“剪银子”找零，出行还要携带文书证件。剧里还展示了普通百姓喜欢的风俗，如打铁花（或者说铁汁烟花）、舞龙。
The drama was adapted from the book with the same name by Ma Boyong. “Only learning the situation of the ordinary people can help us gain a better understanding of each order and law from the government and then the changes of the history,” Ma wrote in the book.
《显微镜下的大明》改编自马伯庸的同名小说，他在书中写道:“只有了解普通人的生活，才能更好地理解朝廷颁布的政令和律法，从而理解背后的历史变迁。”
History, in fact, is a collection of stories of people. Though some people were brought to the spotlight for different reasons, it never becomes an excuse to take the “little” people for granted. After all, they are the main part of history and also the most direct thrust to influence the course of history.
历史，其实就是人的故事的总合。虽然有些人出于不同的原因成为了焦点，但绝不能以此为借口，不把“小人物”当成一回事。毕竟，普罗大众才是历史的主要组成部分，也是影响历史进程的最直接推送力。
以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报》高二899期
