“Empresses in the Palace” (Chinese: Zhen Huan Zhuan) is a Chinese historical drama series adapted from the novel of the same name by the author Liu Lianzi. Premiering in 2011, the show has gained widespread reputation for its fantastic production, profound storyline, and complex character relationships. Recently, once I opened the Chinese social media, I found it surprising that this drama still enjoy heat dispute online.
What’s about this drama?
It is not merely a drama about plotting, but also a profound exploration of human nature and power dynamics. I suppose people love this show till today is because its cast and the meaning behind the story. First, the drama’s costumes, makeup, and background settings are extraordinarily wonderful, allowing people to feel as if they have been transported back to the Qing Dynasty’s imperial court. I guess that’s also a gift from digital era since we can recover everything from the past with a capture of camera. Nowadays, you are still able to find many video clips from different uploaders online, which only contains how beautiful their costume and makeup are.
Second, Empresses in the Palace is not just about love. It is actually a tragedy under the feudalism. In the feudal system, the emperor and his wife also had a ruler-subject relationship. The feudal system made it so that the wife was no longer purely a wife, and the husband was no longer purely a husband. They were a married couple, but they were also ruler and subject. China ended its feudalism at early 20th, which means feudal thinking can somehow still linger around the society. Women started to see the disadvantage of patriachy and feudalism from this show, especially when the main character, Zhen huan, lost almost all her friend, lover and even sister in the end. It’s not that romantic with the emperor as we thought in the past – after all, how can the ruler-subject relationship turns out to be a happy ending in the end?
I wanna go further with these points that “Empresses in the Palace” has also sparked discussions about the resilience and intelligence of women. Zhen Huan’s journey from a naive girl to a powerful and strategic woman resonates with many viewers, highlighting the strength and complexity of women in a male-dominated society. This portrayal encourages contemporary audiences to reflect on gender roles and the historical oppression of women, making the drama relevant even in modern times.
Furthermore, the show’s plotting depiction of court politics and the pursuit of power offers a timeless commentary on the nature of ambition and morality. The characters’ various strategies and manipulations provide a lens through which viewers can examine the ethical dilemmas and sacrifices involved in the quest for power. This aspect of the series appeals to those interested in political intrigue and the darker aspects of human nature.
What’s the next successful drama?
With the development of Internet, People talk more and more about “Zhen Huan Zhuan” in different social media. Which drama will become the next “Zhen Huan Zhuan”? We are still not sure about the accurate answer, but one thing we do know in our mind – it has to explore something deeper in the past or now. It can not just involve something simple, but contain something more meaningful instead (espeacially for the weak group, women and childre). That’s also why Empresses in the Palace is still so popular online even after 13 years.
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