The recently broadcasted drama "Story of Kunning Palace" has surpassed the popularity threshold of 9500 on iQiyi, with only 6 episodes. It is just a step away from reaching ten thousand. This is quite remarkable for a parachuted production. The story revolves around former empress Jiang Xuening (played by Bai Lu), who was forced to rebel by the imperial tutor Xie Wei (played by Zhang Linghe). As a result, the emperor died, and the loyal official Zhang Zhe (played by Wang Xingyue) was imprisoned because of her. Fortunately, Jiang Xuening is given a chance to start anew and is determined to make amends for her past regrets. On various social media platforms dedicated to period dramas, discussions about "Story of Kunning Palace" are endless. Besides positive searches related to the plot and actors, there are occasional criticisms regarding camera angles and flashbacks. The overwhelmingly positive reviews are abnormal, but they indicate that a large number of viewers are truly engrossed in the drama. With a recent market share of over 20%, how did "Story of Kunning Palace" achieve such popularity?   01 Not relying solely on quality, but embracing diversity The success and popularity of any work cannot be solely…

Directed by Wendeguang, adapted from the novel "Ceng Feng Liu," starring Jing Tian and Feng Shaofeng, with Wang Likun, Zhou Yiran, Xu Haiqiao, and others in leading roles, the historical inspirational & romance drama "The Legend of Zhuohua" is currently airing. The story revolves around Mu Zhuohua, an ambitious female aspiring for success and fame. She crosses paths with Liu Yan, a warrior determined to seek justice on the battlefield and protect their comrades-in-arms. Their journey intertwines redemption and love as they unite to defend their homeland. The show has received relatively positive feedback for several reasons. Firstly, the popularity of Feng Shaofeng and Jing Tian as lead actors generated considerable anticipation among viewers when they were cast as a couple in this production. Secondly, the drama centers around female inspirational topics which have always resonated well with female audiences. Particularly noteworthy is Jing Tian's portrayal of Mu Zhuohua's character that has gained a loyal following due to her memorable lines and strong personality traits. Although set against a historical backdrop, these characters express contemporary women's aspirations. Women's empowerment dramas have always been an essential genre in Chinese drama productions - whether featuring strong female leads or ensemble casts centered…

Recently, the Hunan Museum unveiled a 3D digital avatar of Lady Xin Zhui, captivating enthusiasts of traditional Chinese attire. This legendary figure has always sparked endless discussions. Currently on display at the Hunan Museum’s “Women of the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire” exhibition is a 48-gram Quju robe that has never been exhibited before, adding a touch of legendary charm. Let’s journey back to the summer of 1972. Lady Xin Zhui, the wife of Li Cang, the first Marquis of Changsha from the early Western Han Dynasty, was unearthed from the Mawangdui Han tombs in Changsha, Hunan. Upon excavation, Xin Zhui’s face was well-preserved, and she was dressed in intricately decorated silk garments, exuding an aura of grace and nobility. However, due to prolonged submersion in the waterlogged tomb, the silk fabrics wrapping her body had fused together. After much discussion, the archaeological team decided to follow the advice of Hunan Provincial Museum’s then-deputy director Hou Liang. They inserted a large wooden board into the side of the wooden coffin, then slowly tilted the coffin towards the board until it was completely flat, allowing them to transfer Xin Zhui onto the board. This method enabled the safe extraction of…

The ancient women left their stunning figures in the ancient poets, and their bejeweled were equally eye-catching. That brilliant hanfu jewelry like a river of stars, will set them off quiet, elegant, highlighting the unique charm. In this article, let's go into the history of gorgeous Chinese traditional necklace and choker and see how the ancient people carried forward the beauty of neckwear.   The Ancient Times When our ancestors were still living in cold, dark caves, the sense of beauty was already awakened. They searched for anything that resembled "beads", drilled holes in them, strung them on chains, and wore them around their necks. Some of them were also painted red with hematite powder. Seabed mollusk shells excavated from the Jingtoushan site in Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang At the Zhoukoudian Peking Man site, which is about 30,000 years old, a large number of neck ornaments have been unearthed. These neck ornaments are made of different materials, including gravel, animal teeth, fish spine bones, and bird bones, all of which have been carefully selected and polished. Drilled animal tooth ornaments excavated from the Zhoukoudian Peking Man site Among them, there is a string of rabbit bone chains, consisting of 12 pieces…

The new term begins and we can finally bring our favorite Chinese costumes to school! But before that, you need to think about it: can you really fit that many Chinese costumes in your dorm wardrobe? Most student Chinese costume enthusiasts should have very limited wardrobe space in their dorm, so instead of bringing more than a few pieces, it's better to bring only the best ones to wear. With the right mix and match, you can wear something different every day! Today, we're going to unlock with you the super simple, guaranteed never-fail rule of wearing Chinese costumes! Beizi, Shanzi = Perfect Early Fall Chinese Costume Jacket Beizi and Shanzi are perfect for early autumn Hanfu jackets: Beizi' is just the right length to cover the lower half of the body and perfectly flatters the figure; long Shanzi can be used as a sun-protective shirt or air conditioner shirt, making it a great choice for early autumn; short Shanzi can be used as a playful jacket and can be knotted at the hem like a shirt, showing off the waistline! Tips: Beizi, which has a fancy edge, and Shanzi, which has a lot of embroideries, should be paired with…

Once again, the annual summer season has arrived, and multiple top-tier S+ drama projects are being released. The competition among these prominent historical costume dramas is intense, as they strive to break viewership records. On one hand, there's the attention-grabbing cast of "Destined" that has sparked discussions; on the other hand, "The Longest Promise" makes a sudden appearance in an attempt to capture audience interest and attention. Amidst this fierce battle between major productions, a low-budget self-produced drama called "An Ancient Love Song" manages to carve out its own space in the realm of public discourse. Upon exploring the series synopsis, it becomes clear that it neither relies on conventional online literature adaptations nor boasts renowned actors; however, it surprisingly gains audience traction during this highly competitive summer season. Distinct from grandiose productions vying for attention through lavish displays, "An Ancient Love Song" primarily relies on passionate recommendations from its audience.   A Nonconventional Time-Travel Drama In terms of genre,"An Ancient Love Song" falls into the category of time-travel dramas wherein a modern-day male protagonist encounters an ancient "demonic queen," leading to a captivating love story. Notably innovative within this time-travel framework is its utilization of dual reverse chronological travel.…

In the realm of captivating television dramas, "Longing Heart Season 2" emerges as a beacon of storytelling prowess and artistic depth. Recently announced to premiere exclusively on Jiangsu TV's Happiness Theater platform starting July 8th, the series is poised to continue its spellbinding narrative journey that began with its acclaimed first season. Adapted from Tong Hua's novel of the same name, "Longing Heart" transports viewers to a period of tripartite rivalry among the kingdoms of Xi Yan, Hao Ling, and Chen Rong. At its heart is the protagonist Wang Ji, also known as "Xiao Yao," who endures a century of tumultuous trials only to find solace in the tranquil town of Qingshui, where she becomes known as Wen Xiaoliu. Xiao Yao's cousin, Wang Sunjuan, traverses the vast wilderness in search of her, while Xiaoliu unwittingly saves the life of Tu Shanjing, a noble scion of Qing Qiu, forging a bond that blossoms into romance amid their daily interactions. Later, Xiaoliu becomes acquainted with Xiang Liu through a series of serendipitous encounters, eventually forming a deep bond of camaraderie. The path to reunion with Sunjuan proves fraught with challenges and twists before their eventual recognition. When "Longing Heart Season 1" aired…

"Joy of Life" stands as a representative work in the adaptation of online novel works, and with its performance over two seasons, it is poised to become the most successful TV series adapted from an online novel, provided the third season maintains its quality. The second season builds on and diverges from the first, with the latter emphasizing entertainment and playfulness, while the former embeds a stronger sense of serious drama and critical commentary. This season continues with episodic storytelling, resembling a transformed road movie with its myriad plot threads and diverse characters. To simplify the discussion, let's focus on the characters and their roles in the series.   Scrutinizing Imperial Power One memorable character is Lai Mingcheng (played by Bi Yanjun), the Censorate official whose brief appearance leaves a lasting impact. As a Censorate official, he has the authority to report on any official misconduct and to supervise all officials. Throughout history, Censorate officials have been known for their fearless criticisms of powerful ministers and even the emperor. They enjoy greater freedom of speech and immunity than other officials, and wise emperors are wary of being accused of silencing critics. Some Censorate officials treat their position as a regular…

If we were to identify some highlights in the 2023 Chinese film market, undoubtedly, the summer release of "Chang An" shone brightly among them. Following the success of the blockbuster "Chang An," the next eagerly anticipated work from Light Chaser Animation Studios is the third installment of the Bai She (White Snake) series, titled "Bai She 3: Fusheng." The film has already locked in the Qixi Festival (August 10, 2024) slot six months in advance. When it comes to the realm of adult-oriented animated films, Light Chaser stands alone as the only series to persist into its third installment, there is no doubt that "Bai She 3: Fusheng" is highly anticipated. Meticulously considered release date After undergoing the trials of the first two installments, the White Snake series from Light Chaser Animation Studios has firmly established its presence. Not only has it achieved excellent market performance, but it has also become a representative work of contemporary Eastern aesthetics. After a three-year hiatus, the third installment of the series has finally surfaced and become the first film this year to secure the coveted summer and Qixi Festival slots. The audacity to seize the prime time slot six months in advance speaks…

Youku's pending fantasy drama "Till The End of The Moon" returns to the online game style and moves towards a new design direction. Not wanting the confusion of costume shapes in period-specific costume dramas, these dramas that pursue traditional Chinese costume forms such as "The Longest Day In Chang'an" and "Royal Feast" were also well received by the audience. In the newly launched drama projects, even the emotional-based ancient costume idol dramas, have begun to try their best to choose a style in line with today's hanfu culture in the design of clothing. Till The End of The Moon Looking back on Chinese ancient costume dramas, in addition to the antique classic stylings in the audience's impression, such as "Journey to the West" and "Dream of the Red Chamber", there are also some pioneering, trendy, and bold ancient costume styles time. The stylings design of ancient costume dramas has great styles and aesthetic differences due to different themes and story backgrounds. This article will review the styling history of Chinese costume dramas from the two types of fairy chivalrous and realistic retro, combined with hairstyle, hair accessories, and clothing. Till The End of The Moon   01 Evolution of Xianxia hairstyle…

Have you ever heard of that trivia tidbit where it's like "the Chinese were so impressed by Kung Fu Panda that they held meetings to figure out why they couldn't produce something as good as it with their own culture"? Well, it's true. That did happen. And the answer is probably a combination of a lack of financial and cultural support for artists, government censorship of storytelling, and animation not being taken seriously as an artform. But what did Kung Fu Panda do that was so right? What influences did it take from Chinese culture? I'm gonna try and figure that out. I'll talk about my opinion on whether it matters that this movie was made by white people when Chinese audiences liked it so much. So let's start! Wuxia Jianghu Dream To begin with, these mountains in the opening immediately reminded me of Huangshan, or the Yellow Mountains. It's a pretty famous mountain range in China with a lot of these jagged stony peaks and clouds surrounding them. The Kung Fu Panda artbook confirms that the Valley of Peace is inspired by the Yellow Mountains and the Li River Valley, another place famous for being really, really pretty. And…

One of the questions or requests that I get most often lately is to write a video about why The Untamed cast is so popular. The Untamed is a 2019 fantasy Chinese costume drama starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo. It is based on the famous BL novel or Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. The drama ran from June 27th to August 20th and I believe it's safe to say that it's one of the biggest if not the biggest hit of the year. So I will start by getting into some of the cast and characters and then I'll talk about the synopsis and then why it's so popular. 1. The Untamed Characters Xiao Zhan plays Wei Wuxian, a disciple of the Jiang sect. He wields the Suibian sword and Chenqing flute, and his specialty is demonic cultivation and the invention of new spiritual techniques. Wang Yibo plays Lan Wangji of the Gusu Lan sect. He wields the Bichen sword and the Wangji zither. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji regard each other as soul mates. Zoey Meng plays Wen Qing, a doctor who belongs to the healing branch of the Wen sect. She is aloof but kind and is protective…

Romance Xianxia drama "Back From the Brink" will officially launch on May 10th as the follow-up drama to "Till The End Of The Moon". With the overall quality and strength of "Back From the Brink", it may become another dark horse in the May period drama lineup with obvious potential for success. The drama "Back From the Brink" is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. The main plot is as follows: twenty years ago, Tianyao (played by Hou Minghao) was stripped of his bones and sealed in the four directions with the power of the five elements by his beloved Su Ying (played by Yang Rong), the master of Guanghan Sects. Ten years ago, Tianyao's soul escaped from the seal by chance and he sensed that his dragon bones were sealed in a mountain village lake. He attached his soul to the body of a dead boy and waited for the opportunity to retrieve his dragon bones. The appearance of Yanhui (played by Zhou Ye) gave Tianyao hope. Originally, she had dragon blood in her heart, which could help him break the seal. So Tianyao began to use Yanhui to help him find…