Plot summary

Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty was 12 months pregnant and unable to give birth. The good news of the Tang Dynasty's victory over the Turks came that the princess was actually born in the court hall. Tang Gaozong Li Zhi believed that the birth of his daughter would bring good luck to the world, so he named her Princess Taiping on the spot. Wu Zetian was also convinced that her daughter, whom she had strangled in infancy due to a power struggle many years ago, was back, so she devoted special care and love to Princess Taiping. While her brothers lived tremblingly in the shadow of power and the majesty of their mother, Princess Taiping experienced all the honor, beauty and pride that the royal family could give a woman. Stills

However, the tragedy of her life also laid deep roots in this happy childhood. After experiencing two failed marriages and decades of grudges and power struggles between his mother Wu Zetian, his sister-in-law Wei Shi, Zhongzong Emperor Xian and his nephew Li Longji, he "accepted" a foot of white silk given by Li Longji and committed suicide by hanging from a beam. He died alone deep in the Daming Palace. Cast and Credits Cast List Character Actor Voiceover Wu Zetian Returns to Yalei Generation Empress Adult Taiping Princess Chen Hong ---- Xue Shao Zhao Wenxuan Princess Taiping's First Husband Zhang Yizhi Zhao Wenxuan ---- Young Princess Taiping Zhou Xun ---- Wu Sansi Shen Junyi Uncle of Princess Taiping/Wu Zetian’s brother Wei Empress Jani----Li Hong Liu Dong Tang Gaozong’s eldest son Li Xian Guo Donglin Tang Zhongzong/Wu Zetian’s son Wei Guo’s wife Helan’s He Lin Wu Zetian’s niece Zhang Changzong Gao Dongping Wu Zetian’s male favorite Cui Ti Li Aijun---- Nanny Chun Linxin---- Xue's father Lei Ming---- Li Zhi Li Zhiyu Tang Gaozong Wu You heir Fu Biao Princess Taiping's second husband Wu Youyu Ye Jing---- Young Webster Hu Jing---- Li Xian Sun Bin Tang Gaozongci Son Li Dan Wang Tao Tang Ruizong Anle Princess Li Bingbing Tang Zhongzong Li Xian Girl Childhood Li Longji Yang Haofei ---- Young Li Longji Xie Miao ---- Adult Li Longji Wu Jun ---- Hehuan Liu Chang ---- Xue Huaiyi Zhao Yi --- - Wu Chengsi, Fu Heng---- Jin Niang Yang Yuting---- Shangguan Wan'er Bai Xue Shangguan Yi's granddaughter Lai Junchen Wang Jun---- Wang Yushan Sun Jiayi---- Staff list Producer Baiyun Producer Li Xiaowan Screenwriter Zheng Zheng, Photography by Wang Yao, Gui Yuqing Cinematography by Zeng Nianping, Yuan Xiaoman, Di Jinsheng Music by Lin Hai Art design by Shao Ruigang Costume design by Ye Jintian Sound recording by Qu Weijun

Cast and credits Source Character introduction

Gui Yalei as Wu Zetian

Originally the Empress of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, she later became a generation of empresses with supreme power. She doted on Princess Taiping, but she also had conflicts in the face of growing up and having her own opinions.

Chen Hong plays Princess Taiping (adult)

The youngest daughter of Tang Gaozong Li Zhi and Wu Zetian, she was extremely loved by her parents and brothers, especially her mother Wu Zetian. , she inherited many of her mother’s advantages, including a rough life and shrewdness.

Zhou Xun plays Princess Taiping (younger)

She is the youngest daughter of Tang Gaozong Li Zhi and Wu Zetian. She was extremely favored by her parents and brothers, especially her mother Wu Zetian, and she was extremely powerful.

Zhao Wenxuan plays Xue Shao

Princess Taiping’s first husband has quite complicated feelings for Taiping. In the end, he was overwhelmed and committed suicide for his first wife. Music original song title, lyrics, composition and singing notes "Taiping" Jin Fang, Zheng Zheng, Yan Zhenxiang and Li Yan's theme song "Longside" Behind-the-scenes at the end of the film by Jin Fang, Zheng Zheng, Lin Hai and Wang Lan

1. Taiping from boyhood to old age Princess is the first time Chen Hong has played a role with such a wide age range. Stills

2. This drama is Chen Hong’s first TV drama after she got married and had children.

3. Zhao Wenxuan said that the role of an amoral male favorite is very difficult and the performance is also very crazy.

4. The painters Ren Gui'an and Fu Jiying provided free creations and provided lotus flowers, peony screens, mother-child heart-to-heart pictures, and life-size portraits of the five emperors of the Tang Dynasty to the crew to enhance the effect of art and scenery. .

5. This is a costume drama with a peculiar style, and it is also a "bloody literary romance film". There were 58 main characters in the play, and in the end, 57 of them died in the battle for power and emotion.

6. The specialness of "Ci of Daming Palace" is also reflected in the costumes and visual experience of the characters in the play. It is reported that in order to better integrate the main style, lines and costumes of the whole play, director Li Shaohong specially invited experienced costume designer Ye Jin from Taiwan to join him. Tim Yip's most widely known work is the award-winning film "The Seduction of the Monk" directed by Chen Chong. Behind-the-scenes production and creative background

Director Li Shaohong said that he did not want to be too rigid about history. The script he originally selected was the novel "Princess Taiping", which was about Princess Taiping alone. Later, it was changed into a play about two women. The focus is on the contradiction between women's feelings and power. Wu Zetian and Princess Taiping are a mother and daughter. They are women, have a strong desire for affection, and are the center of power. "Taiping is the main narrative angle of this play. We designed her to be a person who lives for emotion, while Wu Zetian sacrifices emotion for power. They form a strong conflict; Wu Zetian wholeheartedly wanted to cultivate her daughter into a pure woman, but she did not expect Princess Taiping. Their personalities are exactly the same as mine, and they end up being their most difficult enemies in terms of power and emotions. The other derived characters are the men around them, and Zhang Yizhi is a man with boundless desires. I think the definition of desire in this play is very accurate. and emotional desires. " Stills Role Selection

The play defines Wu Zetian as first and foremost a woman, a wife and a mother; for this image, the producer believes that Gui Yalei is very suitable.

Before filming started, director Li Shaohong sent the script to his friend Chen Kaige and others for comments. After reading it, Chen Kaige recommended his wife Chen Hong to play the heroine Taiping. Li Shaohong was originally thinking a lot about choosing the female lead, but considering Chen Hong's beautiful appearance and popularity with overseas audiences, he accepted Chen Kaige's suggestion and cast Chen Hong as Taiping.

The role of Taiping was originally played by Chen Hong and Song Dandan, respectively, as the young and old Princess Taiping. Later, the producers took into account the viewing habits of TV audiences and felt that the actors were changed too much and the impression was scattered; furthermore, because There is still a big image difference between Song Dandan and Chen Hong, and because Song Dandan had never acted in a historical drama, it was very difficult to act in this drama. Later, she offered to give up the role. In the end, Chen Hong played the young and old Princess Taiping alone. Due to the change of roles, the elderly drama was shortened from 14 episodes to 5 episodes. Style Design

The producers wanted to show a unique visual experience that was very different from other dramas. For this reason, Li Shaohong invited costume designer Ye Jintian to be the character style designer. As a traditional costume, makeup, and props A new line of work was added on the basis of leadership of various departments. Filming process

The filming of the drama was mainly completed in Beijing, Zhuozhou and Wuxi. Basically, the filming was done on location in Wuxi and Zhuozhou, while the interior filming was completed in Beijing. The crew built a spectacular scene in the largest studio in Asia at the Beijing Film Studio. Post-production

During the review by CCTV, due to problems with violence and exposure in some places, and some plots being too delayed, the play was deleted and re-edited, and the original 40-episode version was "Daming Palace Ci" has been deleted to 37 episodes, making the entire plot more compact and clear. Broadcast Information Broadcast Platform Broadcast Date Broadcast Platform March 30, 2000 CCTV TV Drama Channel Series Reviews Positive reviews

The details of the play, the background music, and even some small props and accessories The decorations all show the sophistication and care in the production of this play. Especially the design of the actors' dialogues is refreshing. The long poetic sentences, the semi-literary and semi-white style, and the surging lines similar to stage performances appeared for the first time in a TV series.

The fluency, musicality and tension of the language are fully demonstrated. The picture is clear and beautiful. The morning breeze passes by, the silk is fluttering, and the skirts are flying. It is like a fairy walking through the painting with her belt caught in the wind. To achieve this effect, clothing design also plays an important role. The extensive use of soft colored tulle brings the special effects of wind to full play. (Boutique Shopping Guide review) Negative comments on the stills

The story of the play is jumping. The director seems to use the characters to "lead" the story to promote the plot. Unfortunately, several story clues are not only It's not clear, and because the background of some characters is unclear, the story always fails to continue like a dragonfly with its tail cut off. On the other hand, there are many emotional scenes, but the writing style is too lyrical and romantic. The emotional scene between Zhang Yizhi and Princess Taiping in the Daming Palace and the long lines of ethereal and unreal lines became the best test of the audience's endurance limit. (Boutique Shopping Guide Review)