Grandmother’s Looks Passed Down Through Generations: Zhang Ziyi’s Photo Hung in Joe’s Manor

Recently, a netizen traveled to Shanxi, China and discovered a photo of the renowned actress Zhang Ziyi at the Qiao Family Courtyard. Initially mistaking it for a promotional still, upon closer inspection, the netizen realized it was a family portrait. The netizen exclaimed in astonishment, “Zhang Ziyi is a descendant of the Qiao family, what a pleasant surprise!”

In the group photo shared by the netizen, Zhang Ziyi’s grandmother was not present, instead, it featured her uncle, aunt, and their family posing with Zhang Ziyi. Zhang Ziyi had previously revealed on social media that she had never met her grandmother in person.

On a past Mother’s Day, after the birth of her daughter “Xing Xing” with singer Wang Feng, Zhang Ziyi posted a message wishing her grandmother, mother, and herself a happy holiday. When she posted a photo of three generations, she wrote, “This is my grandmother whom I have never met, my mother who bore me at 30, and the young mother of Xing Xing. Salute to all the great and beautiful mothers in the world!”

As widely known, the TV series “Qiao’s Grand Courtyard” starring Jiang Qinqin and Chen Jianbin is set against the backdrop of the Qiao family, a prominent Jin merchant family in Qixian, Shanxi during the late Qing Dynasty from the Xianfeng to Guangxu reigns. It narrates the story of Qiao Zhiyong, the third-generation head of the eastern clan of the Qiao family, who abandons scholarly pursuits to engage in commerce, overcoming numerous challenges to ultimately realize the commercial ideal of “linking the world in goods and currencies.” Zhang Ziyi’s grandmother is Qiao Zhiyong’s niece, Qiao Yulin, the third daughter of Qiao Jishi from the Baoyuantang of the Qiao family.

From the photo shared by Zhang Ziyi, it can be observed that her grandmother had a typical oval face, arched eyebrows and eyes, a smiling face like a flower; she sported a bobbed haircut, pairing an open-fronted dress with a white blouse and a black skirt, dance stockings, exuding a Westernized aura, indicating affluence. In modern terms, she appeared as a studious achiever. Reports have recounted that in the 1930s, Qiao Yulin was a legendary figure, having won the women’s singles and doubles tennis championships representing Shanxi at the North China Sports Meeting.

In fact, even during Zhang Ziyi’s rise to fame, people were puzzled when they saw photos of her parents: Zhang Ziyi did not resemble either of them. On the other hand, her brother Zhang Zinan clearly inherited features from both parents.

It wasn’t until the netizens saw the photo of Zhang Ziyi’s grandmother that they suddenly realized: Zhang Ziyi had inherited traits across generations. In comparison to her parents, her facial features and temperament bore a striking resemblance to her grandmother, as if the two generations shared the same face.

Upon learning that Zhang Ziyi is a descendant of the Qiao family, some netizens expressed regret, wondering, “Wouldn’t it be different if Zhang Ziyi played a role in ‘Qiao’s Grand Courtyard’?” However, others opined that Zhang Ziyi, dubbed “International Zhang” for her cinematic achievements, possessed a face suited for film and seldom participated in television dramas. They appreciated Jiang Qinqin’s performance and noted her real-life marriage to Chen Jianbin as a result of this series, forming a bond beyond the screen.