Empresses in the Palace
Empresses in the Palace (simplified Chinese: 后宫·甄嬛传; traditional Chinese: 後宮·甄嬛傳, lit. The Legend of Zhen Huan), is a 2011 Chinese television series based on the novel of the same name by Liu Lianzi. Directed by Zheng Xiaolong, it stars Sun Li in the title role of Zhen Huan. The series started airing in China for the first time on 17 November 2011.
Empresses in the Palace | |
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Also known as | The Legend of Zhen Huan |
Genre | Historical fiction |
Based on | Hougong Zhen Huan Zhuan by Liu Lianzi |
Written by | Liu Lianzi Wang Xiaoping |
Directed by | Zheng Xiaolong |
Starring | Sun Li Ada Choi Chen Jianbin Jiang Xin Li Dongxue Lan Xi Tao Xinran |
Country of origin | China |
Original language | Mandarin |
No. of episodes | 76 |
Production | |
Production location | China |
Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
Production company | Beijing TV Art Center |
Release | |
Original network | Shaoxing News regional channel |
Original release | 17 November 2011 |
Chronology | |
Followed by | Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018) |
Related shows | The Legend of Mi Yue (2015) |
Premise
In 1722, Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen ascends to the throne of the Qing dynasty as the Yongzheng Emperor, thanks to the help of Nian Gengyao (Duke of the Second Class) and Longkodo (Duke of the First Class).
Nian Gengyao's younger sister, Consort Hua, serves as a concubine to the Emperor and wins his favor among the women in his harem. The Empress tolerates her rival in many things, allowing her to act in ways that would normally be seen as disrespectful.
Six months into his reign, the Empress Dowager encourages her son to expand his harem and add newer, younger women to serve him and increase the family line. Among the ones who are chosen for the selection is Zhen Huan. Others among the selected ladies are Shen Meizhuang (an old friend of Zhen Huan and highborn lady), An Lingrong (the meek daughter of a low-ranking province officer) and Xia Dongchun (an arrogant girl from a powerful family).
Plot
After much strife and hardship, Zhen Huan is visibly changing from the pure and innocent girl who entered the harem, to a cruel and heartbroken woman.
Along the way she experiences a miscarriage after being mistreated by Consort Hua. However, even though Consort Hua's mistreatment contributed to it, the main cause of the miscarriage is an ointment given to her by another concubine who Huan thought of as a sister, An Lingrong.
Eventually, Consort Hua is imprisoned in the Cold Palace for her many misdeeds, and is eventually given a death sentence and told to commit suicide. Although she refuses at first, Huan makes a visit and tells her that the Emperor has never loved her and only favoured her to please her brother, general Nian Gengyao. She also tells her the reason for her infertility was a special incense granted to her by the Emperor. In the end, Consort Hua commits suicide but refuses to do so in the way that was decreed.
The Empress plots against Zhen Huan, arranging things so that she ends up unknowingly wearing the late Empress Chunyuan's clothes. Yongzheng is enraged by this and puts her under house arrest, where she becomes disillusioned with him. At this time she is pregnant, and only days after she gives birth to a daughter she is transferred over to a nunnery.
While there she falls in love with the Emperor's younger brother, Yunli, Prince Guo of the First Rank. However, she eventually comes back to the Forbidden City as Consort Xi of the Niohuru clan, when she mistakenly believes that Yunli is dead. In the palace, she gives birth to twins, fathered by Yunli, but she convinces everybody that they are the Emperor's. She also adopts the fourth prince, who is looked down upon because he is the son of an ugly deceased palace maid.
Gradually she regains the love of the Emperor. She also erodes the power of the Empress and defeated An Lingrong. Finally, the Empress confesses her past crimes after Zhen Huan sets her up for inducing a miscarriage and admits that she was the one who killed the late Empress and caused several other miscarriages. However, she has been granted amnesty by the late Empress Dowager and is not discarded but imprisoned.
Towards the end, Yongzheng suspects Zhen Huan and Yunli of having an affair. He orders her to kill the prince to prove that she has no feelings towards him. Yunli sacrifices himself and although she does not intentionally kill him, he dies. Following this incident, the Emperor makes Zhen Huan the leader of the Imperial Harem, a post that carries supreme authority in the inner palace.
However, he grows suspicious regarding the paternity of his children with Zhen Huan. In order to save them, she plots against the Emperor with another concubine named Ye Lanyi, and eventually manages to kill him.
As the most senior widow, she plays a crucial role in the succession and installs her adopted son, the fourth prince, as the Qianlong Emperor, instead of her own biological son as she does not want him to be burdened by the role. She also makes her son the heir to Prince Guo, his biological father.
In the end, Niohuru Zhenhuan becomes the sad, wistful and lonely Empress Dowager.
Cast
Main
Played by | Role | Key Storyline |
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Sun Li | Zhen Huan (甄嬛), later Niohuru Zhenhuan (钮祜禄•甄嬛) | The titular protagonist who becomes the favoured concubine of the Emperor. She is a very clever, socially skilled and well-educated lady with a keen eye for strategy. Initially, an innocent girl desiring nothing else but love. After leaving the palace with a broken heart, she falls in love with Yunli, but chooses to return to the harem to exonerate her family from exile.
Ranks: Lady Zhen (甄氏) → First Attendant Wan (莞常在) → Noble Lady Wan (莞贵人) → Concubine Wan (莞嫔) → Nun (莫愁) → Consort Xi (熹妃) → Noble Consort Xi (熹贵妃) → Empress Dowager (圣母皇太后) / Empress Dowager Chongqing (崇慶皇太后) |
Chen Jianbin | Aisin-Gioro Yinzhen (愛新覺羅•胤禛), the Yongzheng Emperor (雍正帝) | The Emperor of the Qing dynasty who is still deeply in love with his first wife, the Empress Chunyuan. He reminisces her despite favouring various concubines throughout the series. He has a deep favour towards Zhen Huan in particular due to her appearance and personality resembling Chunyuan.
Ranks: 4th prince of the Kangxi Emperor (康熙四阿哥) → Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王) → Emperor (皇帝) / Yongzheng Emperor (雍正帝) |
Li Dongxue | Aisin-Gioro Yunli (愛新覺羅•允禮), Prince Guo of the First Rank (果親王) | Favoured younger half-brother of the Yongzheng Emperor and admirer of Zhen Huan. He became hopelessly in love with Zhen Huan and cares for her after she leaves the palace. Their romance will eventually dragging into an ill-fated one, where Yunli sacrificed himself for her life.
Ranks: 17th prince of the Kangxi Emperor (康熙十七阿哥) → Prince Guo of the Second Rank (果郡王) → Prince Guo of the First Rank (果亲王) → Prince Guoyi of the First Rank (果毅親王) (posthumously) |
Yongzheng's harem
Played by | Role | Key storyline |
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Ada Choi | Ula-Nara Yixiu (乌拉那拉•宜修) | Initially seems to rule the harem as a benevolent Empress, but slowly shows her true nature and removes anyone favoured by the Emperor. Younger half-sister of Yongzheng's beloved first wife, Empress Chunyuan (纯元皇后).
Ranks: Lady Ula-Nara (乌拉那拉氏) → Secondary Consort to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王侧福晋) → Step Primary Consort to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王继福晋) → Empress (皇后) → Lady of Jingren Palace (景仁宫娘娘) |
Jiang Xin | Nian Shilan (年世兰) | Yongzheng's favourite consort before Zhen Huan enters the palace and her main nemesis in the first half of the series.
Ranks: Lady Nian (年氏) → Secondary Consort to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王侧福晋) → Consort Hua (华妃) → Noble Consort Hua (华贵妃) → Consort Nian (年妃) → Consort Hua (华妃) → Second Attendant Nian (年答应) → Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu (敦肃皇贵妃) (posthumously) |
Lan Xi | Shen Meizhuang (沈眉庄) | Zhen Huan's childhood friend and ally in the palace.
Ranks: Lady Shen (沈氏) → Noble Lady Shen (沈贵人) → Noble Lady Hui (惠贵人) → Second Attendant Shen (沈答应) → Noble Lady Hui (惠贵人) → Concubine Hui (惠嫔) → Consort Hui (惠妃) → Noble Consort Hui (惠贵妃) (posthumously) |
Tao Xinran | An Lingrong (安陵容) | A friend turned foe to Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang.
Ranks: Lady An (安氏) → Second Attendant An (安答应) → First Attendant An (安常在) → Noble Lady An (安贵人) → Concubine An (安嫔) → Consort Li (鹂妃) |
Li Yijuan | Qi Yuebin (齐月宾) | A highly ranked concubine unfavoured by the Emperor. Befriends and helps Zhen Huan numerous times. Holds a grudge against Nian Shilan.
Ranks: Lady Qi (齐氏) → Secondary Consort to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王侧福晋) → Consort Duan (端妃) → Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃) → Dowager Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵太妃) |
Yang Fanghan | Feng Ruozhao (冯若昭) | A highly ranked concubine unfavoured by the Emperor. Sides with Zhen Huan numerous times and later adopts her first daughter, Longyue.
Ranks: Lady Feng (冯氏) → Mistress to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王庶福晋) → Concubine Jing (敬嫔) → Consort Jing (敬妃) → Noble Consort Jing (敬贵妃) → Dowager Noble Consort Jing (敬贵太妃) |
Zhang Yameng | Li Wanting (李婉婷) | A highly ranked concubine unfavoured by the Emperor. She sides with the Empress. Mother of the third prince, Hongshi.
Ranks: Lady Li (李氏) → Mistress to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王庶福晋) → Secondary Consort of Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王侧福晋) → Consort Qi (齐妃) |
Chen Sisi | Cao Qinmo (曹琴默) | An unscrupulous low-ranking concubine. Initially sides with Nian Shilan, but betrays her with Zhen Huan's support, leading to Lady Nian's downfall. Poisoned to death under the Emperor's orders.
Ranks: Lady Cao (曹氏) → Noble Lady Cao (曹贵人) → Concubine Xiang (襄嫔) |
Tan Songyun | Fang Chunyi (方淳意) | The youngest concubine to join the harem at the start of the series and is friendly with Zhen Huan.
Ranks: Lady Fang (方氏) → First Attendant Chun (淳常在) → Noble Lady Chun (淳贵人) (posthumously) |
Cui Manli | Yu Ying'er (余莺儿) | Initially a maid in Imperial Garden, she chances upon the first encounter between the Emperor and Zhen Huan. She later becomes a favoured maid by pretending to be Zhen Huan. With Nian Shilan's support, she attempts to poison Huan, but instead is sentenced to death for her schemes.
Ranks: Palace maid → Chosen maid Yu (余官女子) → Second Attendant Yu (余答应) → Commoner (庶人) |
Liu Yitong | Qiao Songzhi (乔颂芝) | Nian Shilan's loyal maid who joins the harem to consolidate Nian's failing power in the middle of the series.
Ranks: Maid to Consort Hua → Second Attendant Zhi (芝答应) |
Tang Yixin | Gūwalgiya Wenyuan (瓜尔佳•文鸳) | Enters the harem in the middle of the series. Initially friendly with Zhen Huan, she later sabotages the Zhen family under the Empress' orders. Ordered to be beaten to death after trying to incriminate Zhen Huan of having an affair with Wen Shichu.
Ranks: Lady Gūwalgiya (瓜尔佳氏) → Noble Lady Qi (祺贵人) → Concubine Qi (祺嫔) → Noble Lady Qi (祺贵人) → Commoner (庶人) |
Re Yizha | Ye Lanyi (叶澜依) | A horse trainer who enters the harem in the middle of the series. In love with Yunli, she initially intends to hurt Zhen Huan to avenge him, but protects her after realising Yunli still cares for Zhen Huan. Commits suicide after avenging Yunli's death.
Ranks: Lady Ye (叶氏) → Second Attendant Ye (叶答应) → Noble Lady Ning (宁贵人) → Concubine Ning (宁嫔) |
Wan Meixi | Lü Yingfeng (吕盈风) | Initially a concubine who stays away from the conflicts, she pledges her loyalty to Zhen Huan after her return to the harem. She helps to expose the corruption of An Lingrong's father.
Ranks: Lady Lü (吕氏) → Mistress to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王庶福晋) → First Attendant Xin (欣常在) → Noble Lady Xin (欣贵人) → Concubine Xin (欣嫔) → Dowager Concubine Xin (欣太嫔) |
Ying Er | Xia Dongchun (夏冬春) | An obnoxious concubine who picks on An Lingrong and offends Nian Shilan with her brazen ways. Paralyzed after being punished by Nian early in the series.
Ranks: Lady Xia (夏氏) → First Attendant Xia (夏常在) |
Zhao Qin | Fuca Yixin (富察•仪欣) | A concubine who is close to Li Wanting. After her miscarriage, she picks on An Lingrong and insults Zhen Huan during their loss in favour. Zhen Huan scares her to insanity after regaining favour with the Emperor.
Ranks: Lady Fuca (富察氏) → Noble Lady Fuca (富察贵人) |
Li Jiaxuan | Fei Yunyan (费云烟) | A straight-talking concubine who is frightened to insanity due to her fear of ghosts, and is thrown into the Cold Palace.
Ranks: Lady Fei (费氏) → Mistress to Prince Yong of the First Rank (雍亲王庶福晋) → Concubine Li (丽嫔) |
Mao Xiaotong | Caiping (采萍) | Initially a maid at Prince Guo's Manor, she is selected by Yuyin as a tribute to the Emperor due to her beauty. Unintentionally gains the affection of the third prince, Hongshi, and is sentenced to death by the Emperor.
Ranks: Maid at Prince Guo's Manor → Second Attendant Ying (瑛答应) → First Attendant Ying (瑛常在) → Noble Lady Ying (瑛贵人) |
He Yanan | A troublemaker who is close to Concubine Zhen.
Ranks: First Attendant Kang (康常在) | |
Guo Xuan | A troublemaker who is close to First Attendant Kang.
Ranks: Concubine Zhen (贞嫔) |
Imperial Family
Played by | Role | Key storyline |
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Leanne Liu | Uya Chengbi (乌雅•成壁) | Mother of Yongzheng, she protects the Empress throughout the series to maintain the power of her clan. It is also suggested that she favours her younger son over Yongzheng and had an affair with court minister, Longkodo.
Ranks: Lady Uya (乌雅氏) → Consort De (德妃) → Empress Dowager (圣母皇太后) / Empress Dowager Renshou (仁寿皇太后) → Empress Dowager Xiaogong (孝恭太后) (posthumously) → Empress Xiaogongren (孝恭仁皇后) (posthumously) |
Liu Yan | Yuan Yanran (阮嫣然) | Yunli's mother and the favourite concubine of the Kangxi Emperor who became a nun after his death.
Ranks: Lady Yuan (阮氏) → Consort Shu (舒妃) → Dowager Consort Shu (舒太妃) → Mother Chongjing (冲静元师) |
Lan Yingying | Huanbi (浣碧), later Niohuru Yuyin (钮钴禄•玉隐) | Zhen Huan's maid and illegitimate half-sister, who desires to become a concubine herself. She pledges her loyalty to Zhen Huan after being confronted with colluding with Cao Qinmo and Nian Shilan. She stays by Zhen Huan's side outside the palace and is later adopted into the Zhen/Niohuru clan before her marriage to Yunli.
Ranks: Personal maid to Lady Zhen → Maid of Consort Xi → Lady Niohuru (钮钴禄氏) → Secondary Consort to Prince Guo of the First Rank (果亲王侧福晋) → Primary Consort to Prince Guoyi of the First Rank (果毅親王嫡福晋) (posthumously) |
Yang Qi | Meng Jingxian (孟静娴) | Daughter of Duke Pei who is enamored with Yunli and only wishes to marry him. She gives birth to Yunli's only (legitimate) child, Yuanche, but dies soon after childbirth due to being poisoned.
Ranks: Lady Meng (孟氏) → Secondary Consort to Prince Guo of the First Rank (果郡王侧福晋) |
Duan Shaonan | Aisin-Gioro Yuanche (愛新覺羅•元澈) | Meng Jingxian and Yunli's son, later adopted by Yurao and Prince Shen.
Ranks: Eldest son of Prince Guo of the First Rank (世子) |
Wang Min | Aisin-Gioro Yunqi (愛新覺羅•允祺), Prince Heng of the First Rank (恒亲王) | Younger half-brother of the Yongzheng Emperor.
Ranks: 5th prince of the Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇五子) → Prince Heng of the First Rank (恒亲王) |
Tan Limin | Lady Tatara (他他拉氏) | Ranks: Primary Consort to Prince Heng of the First Rank (恒亲王嫡福晋) |
Tian Xiping | Aisin-Gioro Yun'e (愛新覺羅•允䄉), Prince Dun of the First Rank (敦亲王) | Younger half-brother of the Yongzheng Emperor.
Ranks: 10th prince of the Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇十子) → Prince Dun of the First Rank (敦亲王) |
Tian Pujun | Lady Borjigin (孛兒只斤氏) | Ranks: Primary Consort to Prince Dun of the First Rank (敦亲王嫡福晋) |
Kang Fuzhen | Aisin-Gioro Yunxi (愛新覺羅•允禧), Prince Shen of the Second Rank (慎郡王) | Younger half-brother of the Yongzheng Emperor. Zhen Huan's brother-in-law.
Ranks: 18th prince of the Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇十八子) → Prince Shen of the Third Rank (慎贝勒) → Prince Shen of the Second Rank (慎郡王) |
Xu Lu | Zhen Yurao (甄玉娆), later Niohuru Yurao (钮钴禄•玉娆) | Youngest sister of Zhen Huan and half-sister of Yuyin. Falls in love with Yunxi while staying in the palace, and eventually marries him despite the Emperor's interest in her.
Ranks: Lady Zhen (甄氏) → Lady Niohuru (钮钴禄氏) → Primary Consort to Prince Shen of the Second Rank (慎郡王嫡福晋) |
Imperial princes
- Wu Lipeng as Aisin-Gioro Hongshi
- 3rd prince of the Yongzheng Emperor
- Li Wanting's son, adopted by the Empress. Later adopted as the son of Yunsi, Prince Lian of the First Rank, Yongzheng's younger half-brother.
- Wang Wenjie as Aisin-Gioro Hongli
- 4th prince of the Yongzheng Emperor → Prince Bao of the First Rank → Emperor / the Qianlong Emperor
- Born to a palace maid. He is later adopted by Zhen Huan.
- Duan Shaonan as Aisin-Gioro Hongyan
- 6th Prince of the Yongzheng Emperor
- Zhen Huan's son with Yunli and Lingxi's twin brother. Later adopted into Yunli's/Prince Guo's lineage.
Imperial princesses
- Yao Wan'er as Princess Wenyi (文仪公主)
- Cao Qinmo's daughter, later adopted by Qi Yuebin.
- Yang Xinyi as Princess Longyue (龙月公主)
- Zhen Huan's daughter, adopted by Feng Ruozhao.
- Ding Xiaomei as Princess Lingxi (灵溪公主)
- Zhen Huan's daughter with Yunli and Hongyan's twin sister.
- Zhang Zhixiang as Princess Jinghe (静和公主)
- Shen Meizhuang's daughter with Wen Shichu, adopted by Zhen Huan.
Court officials
- Shen Baoping as Zhen Yuandao, later Niohuru Yuandao
- Father of Huan, Yuyin and Yurao
- Zhang Yi as Tunggiya Longkodo
- Ma Weifu as Gūwalgiya Emin
- Father of Gūwalgiya Wenyuan
- Sun Ning as Nian Gengyao
- Older brother of Nian Shilan
- Li Hongrui as Moge
- Wang Biao as Zhang Tingyu
Others
- Zhang Xiaolong as Wen Shichu (温实初)
- Imperial Physician and Zhen Huan's childhood friend
- Sun Qian as Cui Jinxi (崔槿汐)
- Maid to Zhen Huan
- Lee Tian-chu as Su Peisheng (苏培盛)
- Head Eunuch to the Yongzheng Emperor
- Zhan Jingyi as Liuzhu (流朱)
- Maid to Zhen Huan
- Li Dan as Yun Xinluo, Madame Zhen, later Madame Niohuru
- Mother of Huan and Yurao
- Luo Kang as Eunuch Yun (小允子)
- Head Eunuch to Zhen Huan
- Zhai Beibei as Pei'er (佩儿)
- Maid to Zhen Huan
- He Mengting as Huasui (花穗)
- Maid to Yu Ying'er, and later to Zhen Huan
- Cheng Nan as Feiwen (斐雯)
- Maid who betrays Zhen Huan
- Li Qun as Bin'er (玢儿)
- Maid at Zhen Manor, and later at Gūwalgiya Manor
- Du Xiang as Huang Guiquan (黄规全)
- Head Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department
- Zhang Zhiwei as Jiang Zhongmin (江忠敏)
- Second Head Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department
- Quan Baojun as Eunuch Gou
- Zhang Zhiwei as Liang Duorui (梁多瑞)
- Liang Yixin as Baojuan (宝鹃)
- Maid to An Lingrong
- Hu Xinhui as Baoque (宝鹊)
- Maid to An Lingrong
- Li Mengyang as Juqing (菊青)
- Maid to Zhen Huan, and later to An Lingrong
- Xu Lei as Eunuch Gui
- Liu Yin as Jixiang (吉祥)
- Maid to Qi Yuebin
- Tian Shumei as Sun Zhuxi (孙竹息)
- Maid to the Empress Dowager
- Yang Jingfang as Fang Ruo (芳若)
- Maid to the Yongzheng Emperor
- Yang Kaichun as Jianqiu (剪秋)
- Maid to the Empress
- Liu Yang as Jiang Fuhai (江福海)
- Eunuch to the Empress
- Sun Fei as Fuzi
- Wang Yiming as Zhou Ninghai (周宁海)
- Head Eunuch to Nian Shilan
- Wang Xiaoming as Suxi
- Eunuch to Nian Shilan
- Zhao Hailong as Kang Luhai (康禄海)
- Eunuch to Zhen Huan, and later to Fei Yunyan
- Guo Zihao as Eunuch Yin
- Liu Boting as Ajin (阿晋)
- Servant to Yunli
- Sun Boyang as Xia Yi
- Qin Yiming as Wei Lin
- Imperial Physician trusted by Zhen Huan and disciple of Wen Shichu
- Xing Hanqing as Ji Weisheng
- Du Xiaotao as Jiang Cheng
- Imperial Physician trusted by Nian Shilan
- Yang Xiaobo as Jiang Shen
- Imperial Physician trusted by Nian Shilan
- Guo Chen as Liu Ben
- Imperial Physician who betrays Shen Meizhuang
- Hai Yan as Jing'an
- Head Nun at Ganlu Temple
- Zhao Qianzi as Jingbai
- Nun at Ganlu Temple who makes life difficult for Zhen Huan
- Wang Lihan as Moyan
- Nun at Ganlu Temple who helps Zhen Huan
- Li Lubing as Eunuch Xia (小厦子)
- Eunuch to the Yongzheng Emperor and disciple of Su Peisheng
- Li Yingya as Huichun (绘春)
- Maid to the Empress
- Li Yang as Xu Jinliang
- Han Yuting as Cuiguo (翠果)
- Maid to Li Wanting
- Yuan Yi as Lady Fuca
- Primary Consort to the 4th prince → Primary Consort to Prince Bao of the First Rank → Empress → Empress Xiaoxianchun (posthumously)
- Zhang Yan as Ula-Nara Qingying
- Secondary Consort to Prince Bao of the First Rank → Consort Xian → Step Empress
Soundtrack
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Plight of a Beauty (红颜劫)" | Yao Beina | |
2. | "Bodhisattva (菩萨蛮)" (Male version sung by Liu Huan) | Yao Beina | |
3. | "Flying Phoenix (凤凰于飞)" | Liu Huan | |
4. | "Picking Lotus (采莲)" | Yao Beina | |
5. | "Golden Silk Blouse (金缕衣)" | Yao Beina | |
6. | "Jing Hong Dance (惊鸿舞)" | Yao Beina |
Backstage crew
·Publisher: Zheng Xiaolong, Zhong Yi, Dun Yong, Li Ruigang
·Producer: Cao Ping, Dun Qi, Xu Xiaoou
·Supervisor: Liu Zhiyuan, Wang Xiaodong, Zhang Suzhou, Chen Liang, Tang Rang, Zhang Ping, Li Junming, Zhang Ping, Zhao Hongmei, Chen Yaping
·Director: Zheng Xiaolong
·Deputy Director (Assistant): Dong Xiaoyun (Assistant Director), Liu Le (Assistant), Zheng Hanqing (Assistant)
·Script writter: Liu Lianzi, Wang Xiaoping
·Photographer: Li Zhiqiang, Li Qiang, Yu Fei, Zhang Yuanshou, Feng Yucheng, Wang Lindong, Zhao Hao, He Lichun, Chen Jianwei, Wei Liangliang, Li Meng, Yang Jinbo
·Music: Liu Huan, Meng Ke, Ding Ji, Zhao Liang, Song Lei, Wang Songyang, Wan Xiaoyuan, Li Wei, Sui Jing, Asian Philharmonic Orchestra, Huang Lijie
·Editor: Jin Ye, Jiang Jimei, cao translation
·Props: Wang Yue, Liu Yuanfei, Wang Guiqing, Wang Shili, Gao Guiyong, Liu Jiye, Zhang Yanlong, Fang Jie, LiBiao, Cao Yongli, Wang Yanhua, Su Huizhi, gao Yashi, Gao Xian, Young spring library, Lv Qiang, Zhang Fengjun
·Casting director: Li Yang
·Voice acting directors: Liao Jing and Zhang Wei
·Art designer: Chen Haozhong, Luan Hexin, Wang Yongkang, Yang Kun
·Modeling design: Chen Minzheng, Li Yuanyuan, Wang Yingkai, Kou Hainan, Yang Jia, Sun Yue, Guo Yang, Min Cong, Zhang Rongbin, Qin Yiping, Wen Lulu, Xing Lu
·Fashion designers: Chen Tongxun, Shi Dongling, Ji Doni, Zhu Yuxiang, Tang Biyun, Liu Xiaohu, Chen Guanglin, Guo Sheng, Shi Jianmin
·Visual effects: Beijing Huacai Shengtang Mathematics Technology Co., LTD
·Lighting: Li Tianlei, Zhang Xin 'an, Zhang Cun, Wang Zhonghai, Xu Wanfei, Zhang Feng, Lin Shucong, Wu Tianzhao, Zhang Yunling, Meng Xudong, Chen Guofu, Xu Bing, Zhang Jiayu
·Recording: An Wei, Liu Xinghe, Lin Xin
·Directors: Zhang Xiaonan, Zhang Xiaofeng, Wang Gaofeng, Wang Kuanxi, Guan Xiaoming, Wang Kuandong, Zhang Yongbo, Zhang Wei, Dai Zuyin, Dai Zuyuan, Li Shunyi, Li Weitan, Jia Xinquan, Liu Quanmin
·Script supervisor: Guo Guanhua, Yu Feng
·Issuing: Cheng Ting
Moments behind the secnes
- The role of Aisin-Gioro Yunli depends on the details, so it is difficult to act. At the beginning of the filming, Li Dongxue could not find the feeling of the characters in the play, but it gradually became better under the guidance of the director and Sun Li.[2]
- When Chen Sisi first joined the group, she was only set to play the role of a maid with a smaller role. It happened that the crew needed to interview another actor, so they wanted to find someone to interact with the actor and she went to help. The director saw her performance and changed her role to Cao Qinmo in the play.[3]
- In order to show the lively expression of the Gūwalgiya Wenyuan in the camera, Tang Yixin often practiced her facial expressions and movements in front of the dressing mirror in private. She was making strict demands on herself.[4]
- The crew prepared a total of 60 or 70 sets of clothes for Sun Li, and she tried all her costume from 10:00 am to midnight. The director and Sun Li bth tired on the night after the fitting.[5]
- Zhang Xiaolong, the actor of Wen Shichu in the play, is the etiquette instructor of the Central Academy of Drama. In addition to the shooting tasks, he is also responsible for the details of the etiquette, music, and dance choreography of the play.
- The bed in the palace is very hard because it is made of wood. There is a layer of quilt on the wood and very hard to sit on.[6]
Controversial Values
The drama elicits a controversial debate that divided two sides. People's Daily pointed out that in the series, it appears good characters cannot win against evil characters unless they stoop to their level of cunning. Furthermore, when evaluating the production of historical themes, the most significant critique standard should focus on the values standard instead of authenticity standard. Social media is able to shape people's mind in visible and invisible ways, and incorrect values would lead the audience to the survival of the incorrect ideas into real life. Lots of people said Empresses i the Palace is close to reality because life is only by learning bad to survive. Not to mention whether this understanding of life is too narrow and extreme, taking a step back, literary and artistic works should also be higher than reality rather than simply copying reality. When evaluating historical works, the most important criterion is not only the criterion of authenticity, but the criterion of values. Incorrect values can lead audiences to bring incorrect survival ideas into real lifel.[7]
Influence on Popular Culture
The impact of the TV show Empresses in the Palace after it was released in 2011 has been phenomenal: until 2022, eleven years later, people on the internet and social media platforms such as Douyin could still gain tons of attention just by analyzing the scenes, the plots, even just the conversations that are related to Empresses in the Palace.
Empresses in the Palace even affects how people talk nowadays. At first, people online started making memes out of the show, using the characters' lines and scenes; gradually, people started talking to each other using lines in this TV show in their daily life.
- File:翠嘴打烂她的果.jpg
- File:我已经精疲力尽.jpg
- File:姐姐带我们开开眼.jpg
- File:究竟是错付了.jpg
Some Most Common Used Phrases in Daily Life
Original Line | Character | English Meaning |
---|---|---|
“翠果,打烂她的嘴!” | Qi Yuebin | Cuiguo, slap her face! |
“这福气给你要不要啊?” | Ye Lanyi | You want this fortune or not? |
“终究是错付了!” | Zhen Huan | I gave my love to the wrong person! |
“菀菀类卿” | Yongzheng Empreror | Wanwan's like you |
“臣妾做不到啊!” | Yi Xiu | I can't do it! |
“有没有,一点点……” | Shen Meizhuang | Do you have, a little...... |
Influence on Later TV Shows
Before Empresses in the Palace, most historical TV shows, such as Palace(宫锁心玉), Scarlet Heart(步步惊心) focused solely on the love story between the main female character and the Emperor. However, Empresses in the Palace depicted a totally different version of a historical TV show: it concentrated on the growth of Zhen Huan, both physically and mentally. It presents us how Zhen Huan changed from an innocent girl who dreams of her Mr. Right to a sophisticated harem who struggles to survive and tear down others' schemes against her every day.
Empresses in the Palace has shown us a far more realistic story how how women survive in the Palace in the history, and it has inspired many other TV shows that came out later, such as, The Legend of Mi Yue(芈月传), The Story of Chu Qiao(楚乔传), and The Story of Minglan(知否,知否,应是绿肥红瘦), to focus on the growth and success of the main female character instead of her love story only.
Influence on Chinese Traditional Culture and Craft
While the audience are attracted to the plots of Empresses in the Palace, they are also impressed of the crafts and accessories created by Chinese traditional skills. The Filigree Inlaid Metal Art (花丝镶嵌) is one of the skills that benefited the most from Empresses in the Palace[8].
Filigree Inlaid Metal Art 花丝镶嵌
Filigree Inlaid Metal Art is an accessory craft skill that could be oriented back to the Spring and Autumn Period from 770-256 BC that uses gold, silver, and metal as the based; pearls, and gems on top. In the past, this skill was mainly used to serve accessories for the royals because of its preciousness of the materials used and its delicacy.

The Failing and Rebirth of Filigree Inlaid Metal Art
However, because of this skill's scarcity and rareness, it gradually becomes less-known in modern day China, which puts this skill at a very dangerous condition because there is a large chance that the skill would disappear if it is not passed on. Thanks to Empresses in the Palace and other TV shows that used this skill to decorate the characters, crafts and skills like the Filigree Inlaid Metal Art started coming back to people's sight.
Ratings
Air date | Episode # | CSM42 City Anhui TV ratings | CSM42 City Dragon TV ratings | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratings | Audience share | Rank | Ratings | Audience share | Rank | ||
2012.03.26 | 1-2 | 0.813 | 2.17 | 3 | 0.601 | 1.61 | 8 |
2012.03.27 | 3-4 | 0.959 | 2.57 | 3 | 0.677 | 1.82 | 5 |
2012.03.28 | 5-6 | 0.854 | 2.22 | 3 | 0.727 | 1.88 | 6 |
2012.03.29 | 7-8 | 1.058 | 2.75 | 3 | 0.844 | 2.19 | 5 |
2012.03.30 | 9-10 | 1.087 | 2.72 | 3 | 0.930 | 2.32 | 4 |
2012.03.31 | 11-12 | 1.005 | 2.67 | 3 | 0.894 | 2.37 | 4 |
2012.04.01 | 13-14 | 1.080 | 2.85 | 3 | 0.910 | 2.41 | 4 |
2012.04.02 | 15-16 | 1.097 | 2.98 | 2 | 1.018 | 2.77 | 4 |
2012.04.03 | 17-18 | 1.008 | 2.76 | 3 | 1.036 | 2.86 | 2 |
2012.04.04 | 19-20 | 1.110 | 2.91 | 2 | 1.050 | 2.75 | 3 |
2012.04.05 | 21-22 | 1.105 | 2.95 | 2 | 1.081 | 2.88 | 3 |
2012.04.06 | 23-24 | 1.090 | 2.83 | 2 | 1.009 | 2.63 | 3 |
2012.04.07 | 25-26 | 1.281 | 3.30 | 1 | 1.035 | 2.67 | 4 |
2012.04.08 | 27-28 | 1.147 | 2.90 | 3 | 1.233 | 3.12 | 2 |
2012.04.09 | 29-30 | 1.332 | 3.46 | 2 | 1.315 | 3.42 | 3 |
2012.04.10 | 31-32 | 1.309 | 3.49 | 1 | 1.174 | 3.12 | 2 |
2012.04.11 | 32-34 | 1.428 | 3.76 | 1 | 1.296 | 3.41 | 2 |
2012.04.12 | 35-36 | 1.407 | 3.68 | 1 | 1.272 | 3.32 | 2 |
2012.04.13 | 37-38 | 1.377 | 3.66 | 1 | 1.262 | 3.36 | 2 |
2012.04.14 | 39-40 | 1.411 | 3.73 | 1 | 1.189 | 3.18 | 2 |
2012.04.15 | 41-42 | 1.330 | 3.32 | 1 | 0.897 | 2.29 | 4 |
2012.04.16 | 43-44 | 1.422 | 3.80 | 1 | 1.294 | 3.45 | 2 |
2012.04.17 | 45-46 | 1.519 | 4.06 | 1 | 1.410 | 3.78 | 2 |
2012.04.18 | 47-48 | 1.571 | 4.02 | 1 | 1.416 | 3.76 | 2 |
2012.04.19 | 49-50 | 1.625 | 4.28 | 1 | 1.513 | 3.99 | 2 |
2012.04.20 | 51-52 | 1.567 | 4.03 | 1 | 1.552 | 4.00 | 2 |
2012.04.21 | 53-54 | 1.652 | 4.43 | 1 | 1.570 | 4.23 | 2 |
2012.04.22 | 55-56 | 1.562 | 4.16 | 1 | 1.512 | 4.00 | 2 |
2012.04.23 | 57-58 | 1.687 | 4.23 | 1 | 1.444 | 3.82 | 2 |
2012.04.24 | 59-60 | 1.760 | 4.54 | 1 | 1.618 | 4.18 | 2 |
2012.04.25 | 61-62 | 1.753 | 4.68 | 1 | 1.609 | 4.30 | 2 |
2012.04.26 | 63-64 | 1.954 | 5.37 | 1 | 1.570 | 4.37 | 2 |
2012.04.27 | 65-66 | 1.720 | 4.59 | 1 | 1.670 | 4.47 | 2 |
2012.04.28 | 67-68 | 1.806 | 4.79 | 1 | 1.684 | 4.48 | 2 |
2012.04.29 | 69-70 | 1.878 | 5.21 | 1 | 1.525 | 4.25 | 2 |
2012.04.30 | 71-72 | 1.853 | 5.15 | 1 | 1.696 | 4.75 | 2 |
2012.05.01 | 73-74 | 1.770 | 4.68 | 1 | 1.710 | 4.52 | 2 |
2012.05.02 | 75-76 | 2.11 | 5.75 | 1 | 2.063 | 5.60 | 2 |
Average ratings | 1.480 | 3.89 | 2012: 14th | 1.340 | 3.53 | 2012: 23rd |
- Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue.
Accolades
List of Accolades | |||
---|---|---|---|
Award / Festival | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
China TV Golden Eagle Award | Outstanding Television Series | Won | |
International Emmy Award[10] | Best Actress | Sun Li | Nominated |
Shanghai Television Festival[11] | Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong | Won |
Best Actress | Sun Li | Nominated | |
China TV Drama Awards | Best Television Series | Won | |
Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong | Won | |
Best Actress | Sun Li | Won | |
Best Supporting Actress[12] | Jiang Xin | Won | |
Best New Actor | Li Dongxue | Won | |
Most Popular Actress (Hong Kong / Taiwan) | Ada Choi | Won | |
Macau International Television Festival[13] | Best Drama | Won | |
Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong | Won | |
Best Actress | Sun Li | Won | |
Huading Awards[14] | Best TV Actor | Chen Jianbin | Won |
Chunyan Awards | Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong | Won |
China Hengdian Film and Television Festival | Best Television Series[15] | Won | |
Best Director | Zheng Xiaolong | Won | |
International broadcast
The drama was first aired in China in 2011 on Shaoxing News, a regional channel. As it gained popularity there it was picked up by national TV channels and first aired nationwide in 2012.
In April 2015, the series was added to US region of Netflix and has since been taken off and put on Amazon Prime Video. It was edited down to six episodes, each with a ninety-minute duration. The original audio was kept intact with the addition of closed captions in English.[16]
In Thailand, the series was first aired in 2016 on Channel 7[17] and in 2018 on One31 and LINE TV.
The series was uploaded on YouTube by LeTV in 2018.
References
- "甄嬛传01 - 在线观看 - 电视剧 - 乐视视频". www.le.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- 网易 (2012-03-15). "《甄嬛传》即将上星 李东学演痴情王爷备受瞩目". www.163.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "陈思斯《甄嬛传》阴差阳错演贵人-搜狐娱乐". yule.sohu.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "《后宫甄嬛传》上星 唐艺昕演技出众受肯定_娱乐_腾讯网". ent.qq.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "探秘《甄嬛传》服饰篇 孙俪:我试衣服试吐了_娱乐_腾讯网". ent.qq.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "《甄嬛传》华妃蒋欣:拍戏躺的床特别硬(图)_影音娱乐_新浪网". ent.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "人民日报批甄嬛传:以恶抗恶腐蚀社会道德-搜狐新闻". news.sohu.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- "How TV shows saved the Chinese traditional Filigree Inlaid Metal Art".
- "电视剧收视率排行榜 | 收视率排行" (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- "International Emmy Awards Nominees". iemmys.tv. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- "Winners of 18th STVF Magnolia Award". stvf.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- "Actress Jiang Xin Covers Fashion Magazine". Women of China. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- "葛优闲来无事亲自领奖 孙俪大S齐封后". ent.cntv. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
- "2012华鼎奖名人满意度调查获奖名单". Sina.
- "1st Hengdian film,TV festival gives out awards". China.org.cn. September 19, 2012.
- "Empresses in the Palace coming to Netflix". Netflix Life.
- ""ภ.จีน ชุด "เจินหวน จอมนางคู่แผ่นดิน" (THE LEGEND OF ZHEN HUAN)"". Channel 7 (in Thai). Retrieved 26 May 2016.