''Women of the Tang Dynasty'', also known as ''The World of Tang Women'', is a 2013 Chinese television series based on events in the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

starting from the late reign of

Wu Zetian Wu Zetian (624 – 16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, was List of rulers of China#Tang dynasty, Empress of China from 660 to 705, ruling first through others and later in her own right. She ruled as queen consort , empress consort th ...

to Emperor Xuanzong's accession to the throne. The series was produced by Lafeng Entertainment, directed by Chang Hsiao-cheng, and starred an ensemble cast from various regions. Filming for the series started in October 2011 in

Hengdian World Studios Hengdian World Studios () is a film studio located in Hengdian, a Chinese town in the city of Dongyang, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the largest film studios in the world. The movie studio is operated by the privately owned Hengdian Group f ...

. The series was first shown on

Hunan Satellite TV Hunan Television or Hunan TV () is a state-owned provincial satellite TV station launched on September 29, 1970. It is currently China's second-most-watched television channel, second to China Central Television's CCTV-1, although Hunan TV has oc ...

from 24 August to 23 September 2013.

Plot

This story is set during the

, under

's rule as the first female emperor of China. Eventually, Emperor Zhongzong takes the throne, but is poisoned by his wife, Empress Wei, and his daughter,

Princess Anle Princess Anle (; 684? – 21 July 710), personal name Li Guo'er (), was a Chinese princess of the Tang dynasty. She was the youngest daughter of Emperor Zhongzong and his wife Empress Wei. Popular history holds that she was doted upon heavily ...

. Empress Wei monopolizes the new emperor, and

Li Longji Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (; 8 September 685 – 3 May 762), personal name Li Longji, was an Emperor of China, emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 44 years was the longest during the Tang dynasty. Throu ...

and

Princess Taiping Princess Taiping (, lit. "Princess of Great Peace", personal name unknown, possibly Li Lingyue (李令月) (after 662 – 2 August 713) was a royal princess and prominent political figure of the Tang dynasty and her mother Wu Zetian's Zhou dyna ...

soon rebelled. Meng Fan and Meng Fu are two sisters who witnessed their father being executed. They enter the palace, and Meng Fan becomes the assistant of Wu Zetian, while Meng Fu is unhappy being a lowly servant. They witness the terrors and the fierce politics present in the imperial household. After Wu Zetian falls from power, Meng Fan falls in love with Li Longji, the grandson of Wu Zetian. She also tries to help Li Guo'er,

, the only daughter of Emperor Zhongzong and Empress Wei. Li Guo'er is spoiled, since her other siblings

Princess Yongtai Princess Yongtai (), born Li Xianhui (); 685 – October 9, 701Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), courtesy name Nonghui (穠輝), was a princess of the Tang dynasty. Biography Li was the seventh daughter of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang and the ...

and

Li Chongrun Li Chongrun (; 2 March 682 – October 8, 701), né Li Chongzhao (), formally Crown Prince Yide ( ), was an imperial prince of the Tang dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty. He was the only son of Emperor Zhongzong (Li Zhe/Li Xian) and Emperor Z ...

were killed by Wu Zetian. However, Li Guo'er finds out her lover has been killed and she blames this incident on Meng Fan. On the other hand, Meng Fu is loved by

Li Chongjun Li Chongjun (李重俊) (died 7 August 707( ��龙元年��，七月，辛丑，....太子以百骑走终南山，至鄠西，能属者才数人，憩于林下，为左右所杀。) ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol.208), formally Crown Prince Jiemin (節愍 ...

, the crown prince. He vows to marry her, but she is displeased when she overhears him taking her outside of the palace. Meng Fu tells Princess Anle and Empress Wei that he's planning to rebel, and he is killed. Meng Fu also kills their child with no regret. Meng Fu becomes the assistant of Princess Anle, and her relationship with Meng Fan deteriorates. After Princess Anle and Empress Wei poison Emperor Zhongzong, they place a child puppet on the throne. Empress Dowager Wei and Princess Anle bribe

Shangguan Wan'er Shangguan Wan'er (664 – 21 July 710) was a Chinese politician, poet, and imperial consort of the Wu Zhou and Tang dynasties. Described as a "female prime minister," Shangguan rose from modest origins as a palace servant to become secretary ...

with a lover so she can fake Emperor Zhongzong's signature. Empress Dowager Wei has intentions of being the second female emperor. The court is filled with corrupt officials. Li Longji is extremely displeased as the nephew of Emperor Zhongzong. Wu Zetian's daughter

is also secretly displeased. She teams up with Li Longji to overthrow Princess Anle and Empress Dowager Wei. They rebel, and Empress Wei is shot with an arrow. Princess Anle kills Meng Fu, but Meng Fu manages to stab Princess Anle before she dies. Meng Fan is disillusioned with the troubles of the imperial palace, and leaves despite loving Li Longji. After murdering Princess Taiping, Li Longji eventually ascends as

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (; 8 September 685 – 3 May 762), personal name Li Longji, was an Emperor of China, emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 44 years was the longest during the Tang dynasty. Throu ...

Cast

Main

* Liu Tingyu as Meng Fan (based on Empress Yuanxian) *

Annie Liu Annie Liu Sum-yau ( zh, 劉心悠; born 1 April 1981) is a Hong Kong–based Taiwanese actress. Background Liu was born in Taiwan but was sent to Vancouver, Canada to study at a young age by her parents. In 2004, Liu was selected to feature ...

as Meng Fu (based on Crown Princess Jiemin) * Nathan Lee as

He Saifei He Saifei (born 11 April 1963) is a Chinese actress of film and television, as well as a celebrated Yue opera performer of '' dan'' (female) roles. Internationally, she is best known for playing supporting roles in period films like '' Raise the ...

as Empress Wei *

Kara Hui Kara Wai Ying-hung BBS (; born 3 February 1960) is a Hong Kong actress best known internationally for her roles in wuxia films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s and 1980s. Wai has since portrayed a wide range of roles on screen ...

Kristy Yang Kristy Yang (born 7 January 1974), also known as Yang Gongru, is a Chinese-Canadian actress based in Hong Kong. Early life Yang was born in Shanghai, China, to a Chinese father and Jenny Liu, Chinese-American. Ms.Liu was invited to play the role ...

* Chen Wei-han as

Florence Tan Florence Tan Siew Lee (born 30 June 1977) is a Malaysian actress and host who is based in Singapore and Hong Kong. She was a full-time Mediacorp artist from 1997 to 2006, and she continues to take on filming projects. In 2006, she left Mediaco ...

* Hsieh Tsu-wu as

Emperor Zhongzong of Tang Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (26 November 656 – 3 July 710), personal name Li Xian, and at other times Li Zhe or Wu Xian, was the fourth and seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710. During ...

Supporting

* Kou Zhenhai as

Wu Sansi Wu Sansi (died August 7, 707), known posthumously as Prince Xuan of Liang (), was a Chinese prince and politician of the Tang and Wu Zhou dynasties. Wu Sansi served as a chancellor and imperial prince during the reign of his aunt, Empress Wu Zetia ...

* Liu Naping as

* Lu Yulin as Wu Chongxun * Ken Lok as

Emperor Ruizong of Tang Emperor Ruizong of Tang (22 June 662 – 13 July 716), personal name Li Dan, also known at times during his life as Li Xulun, Li Lun, Wu Lun, and Wu Dan, was the fifth and ninth emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was the eighth son of Emp ...

* Gong Yuan as Rong'er * Deng Jie as Fangsheng * Chen Nan as Danhua * Zhong Jiufu as Eunuch Ma * Yang Jianjun as Eunuch Zhou * Dong Qi as

Zhang Changzong Zhang Yizhi (張易之; died February 20, 705),Both volume 207 of ''Zizhi Tongjian'' and Wu Zetian's biography in volume 4 of ''New Book of Tang'' recorded that the Shenglong Coup took place on the ''guimao'' day of the 1st month of the 1st year of ...

* Li Xiaoning as

Zhang Yizhi Zhang Yizhi (張易之; died February 20, 705),Both volume 207 of ''Zizhi Tongjian'' and Wu Zetian's biography in volume 4 of ''New Book of Tang'' recorded that the Shenglong Coup took place on the ''guimao'' day of the 1st month of the 1st year of ...

* Gao Hai as Zhang Lingzhen * Wang Wenting as Xiaoyu * Li Ruixue as Mengli * Wang Li as Huining * Yang Xiaodan as Yuexiu * Cao Wei as Leichang

External links

*
''Women of the Tang Dynasty'' weibo
on Sina.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Women of the Tang Dynasty Television series set in the Tang dynasty Television series set in the Zhou dynasty (690–705) 2013 Chinese television series debuts 2013 Chinese television series endings Chinese historical television series Hunan Television dramas Television series set in the 7th century