Meiren Xinji
Encyclopedia
Meiren Xinji, also known by its literal English title Schemes of a Beauty, is a 2010 Chinese television series, adapted from Xiao Qiying's short story Turbulence in the Empress's Chamber (未央沉浮). Produced by Lin Guohua and directed by Wu Jinyuan, Liang Xinquan, and Chen Guohua, the series is a joint production between Heyday Television Culture Company, Zijun Brilliance, and Yu Zheng Workshop, also funded by Lafeng Entertainment.
Set in Chang'an
, China during the beginnings of the Han Dynasty
, Meiren Xinji tells a dramatized account of Empress Dou
and how her efforts and achievements in the royal court positively influenced the reign of her husband Emperor Wen
, which paved the way for the creation of the Rule of Wen and Jing
.
Due to its large and diverse cast as well as expensive set and costume production, the series attracted international attention during its production stages. The series were primary filmed in Wuxi
, Wuhan
, and Hengdian World Studios
, Meiren Xinji was produced with a budget of ¥
50 million (US$7.3 million).
There were some reports lately saying that Meiren Xinji based its plot from TVB
's Beyond the Realm of Conscience
. The director denied this, claimed the first draft of the script for the series was released when Beyond the Realm of Conscience was still in its script writing.
It was first broadcast on Shanghai TV Drama
on March 15, 2010. On May 11, 2010, it was aired on CTV
in Taiwan.
In order to rid the world of further sufferings under the regime, but at the same time earn the trust of Empress Dowager Lu, she suggested to her husband Liu Heng to start training his army under the guise of building his grand ceremonial tomb. People, believing that she was bringing downfall to the kingdom, pleaded for her to be put to death. But none the less, Liu Heng trusted her completely and subsequently made her his queen.
2011 YOUKU Entertainment Award
QQ Annual Entertainment Star Award
2011 Anhui TV drama Award
Set in Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, China during the beginnings of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, Meiren Xinji tells a dramatized account of Empress Dou
Empress Dou (Wen)
Empress Dou , formally Empress Xiaowen , was a Chinese empress during the Han Dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence of Taoist philosophy...
and how her efforts and achievements in the royal court positively influenced the reign of her husband Emperor Wen
Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
, which paved the way for the creation of the Rule of Wen and Jing
Rule of Wen and Jing
The Rule of Wen and Jing refers to the reigns of Emperor Wen of Han and his son Emperor Jing of Han, a period known for the benevolence and thriftiness of the emperors, reduction in tax and other burdens on the people, pacifism, and general stability...
.
Due to its large and diverse cast as well as expensive set and costume production, the series attracted international attention during its production stages. The series were primary filmed in Wuxi
Wuxi
Wuxi is an old city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Split in half by Lake Tai, Wuxi borders Changzhou to the west and Suzhou to the east. The northern half looks across to Taizhou across the Yangtze River, while the southern half also borders the province of Zhejiang to the south...
, Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, and Hengdian World Studios
Hengdian World Studios
Hengdian World Studios is the largest film studio in the world. It is located in Hengdian, a town in the city of Dongyang in Zhejiang Province. The movie studio is operated by the privately-owned Hengdian Group founded by a farmer turned millionaire Xu Wenrong. Sometimes called "Chinawood", Xu...
, Meiren Xinji was produced with a budget of ¥
¥
¥ is a currency sign used by the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan currencies. The symbol resembles a Latin letter Y with a double stroke. The base unit of both currencies shared the same Chinese character pronounced yuán in Mandarin Chinese and en in Standard Japanese...
50 million (US$7.3 million).
There were some reports lately saying that Meiren Xinji based its plot from TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
's Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Beyond the Realm of Conscience is a 2009 Hong Kong television series. Produced by Mui Siu-ching, the serial is one of the two grand TVB productions to celebrate along with the channel's 42nd anniversary, the other being Born Rich...
. The director denied this, claimed the first draft of the script for the series was released when Beyond the Realm of Conscience was still in its script writing.
It was first broadcast on Shanghai TV Drama
Shanghai Media Group
Shanghai Media Group , under the Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group , is a multimedia television and radio broadcasting, news and Internet company...
on March 15, 2010. On May 11, 2010, it was aired on CTV
China Television
China Television Company, Ltd. was established on September 3, 1968 by the then-ruling Nationalist Party of the Republic of China . The party owned the majority stake of the network...
in Taiwan.
Imperial family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Dai Chunrong | Lü Zhi Empress Lü Zhi Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan... 呂雉 |
Empress Dowager, Liu Ying's mother |
| Bai Shan | Bo Ji Empress Dowager Bo Empress Dowager Bo , known as Consort Bo when her husband was alive, and more formally as either Empress Dowager Xiaowen or Empress Gao was an imperial concubine for Emperor Gao of Han who would, unanticipated by her, become the mother of an emperor.-Early years:The future Empress Dowager... 薄姬 |
Liu Heng's mother |
| Luo Jin Luo Jin Luo Jin is a Chinese film and television actor.He graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 2006.-TV drama:-Films:-Stage Play:《Zun Yan》（尊严）《Ying Xiong》（英雄）《Ye Ban Ge Sheng》（夜半歌声）-Opera:*Tea-picking Opera（采茶戏）《Si Jiu Lu Shang》（四九路上）... |
Liu Ying Emperor Hui of Han Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape... / Dou Changjun 劉盈 / 竇長君 |
The previous emperor of Han Dynasty, Liu Heng's elder brother |
| Su Qing | Zhang Yan Empress Zhang Yan Zhang Yan , known formally as Empress Xiaohui was an empress during the Han Dynasty. She was the daughter of Princess Luyuan and her husband Zhang Ao , the Prince of Zhao and later Marquess of Xuanping.In 192 BC, at the insistence of then-Empress Dowager Lü, Lady Yan... 張嫣 |
|
| Sammul Chan Sammul Chan Sammul Chan Kin-fung is a Hong Kong actor, singer, and presenter.-Career:Chan debuted in 1997 as a DJ for Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited under his birth name, although most of the time he was simply referred to and credited as simply "Sammul". From 1997 to 1999, he has signed with three... |
Liu Heng Emperor Wen of Han Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager... 劉恆 |
Emperor of Han Dynasty |
| Ruby Lin Ruby Lin Ruby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting... |
Dou Yifang 竇漪房 |
Empress Dou Empress Dou (Wen) Empress Dou , formally Empress Xiaowen , was a Chinese empress during the Han Dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence of Taoist philosophy... |
| Wang Likun | Lie Shen'er 聶慎兒 |
Concubine of Liu Heng |
| Feng Shaofeng Feng Shaofeng Feng Wei , better known by his stage name Feng Shaofeng , is a Chinese actor. He is currently an artist under the management of Huayi Brothers.-Early life:... |
Liu Zhang Liu Zhang (Han prince) Liu Zhang , formally Prince Jing of Chengyang , sometimes known in later historical accounts and literature by his earlier title, Marquess of Zhuxu , was an important political figure in the anti-Lü clan conspiracy during the Lü Clan Disturbance in 180 BC.He was created the Marquess of Zhuxu in... 劉章 |
Liu Heng's nephew |
| Myolie Wu Myolie Wu Myolie Wu Hang-yee is a Hong Kong actress for the Hong Kong TVB television station and a singer under contracts with Neway Star-Career:... |
Lü Yu 呂魚 |
Liu Zhang's wife |
Other cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Yang Mi | Xueyuan | |
| Mickey He Mickey He Mickey He Shengming is a Chinese actor and singer. Born in Xiantao, Hubei, He moved to Guangzhou, Guangdong in the early 1990s to pursue a music career. Along with Peng Liang and Yang Guang, they formed the boy band China Power in 1996, with He as their main vocalist... |
Zhou Yafu Zhou Yafu Zhou Yafu was a renowned Han Dynasty general who put down the Rebellion of the Seven States, but whose honesty and integrity eventually cost him the favor of Emperor Jing and his life... |
|
| Sun Feifei Sun Feifei Sun Feifei is an actress from China.In 1993, she started her education at the Beijing Dance Academy as a middle school student and then subsequently joined the Department of Chinese classical dance at the academy. After graduating from the academy, she chose to commence a career as an actress. In... |
Qingning | |
| Timimi Chen | Li Meiren | |
| Frankie Lam Frankie Lam Frankie Lam Man Lung is a Hong Kong actor for TVB. He is married to TVB Actress Kenix Kwok. He started off his career with a singing contest which he won and subsequently, signed a contract with TVB.-TV series:-Films:... |
Jin Wangsun | |
| Du Junze | Lu Lu | |
| Gao Hao | Liu Qi Emperor Jing of Han Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights... |
|
| Yan Kuan | Liu Shaokang |
Synopsis
During the early Western Han Dynasty, the young Dou Yifang’s mother was drawn into a palace conflict which resulted in her entire family being executed. When she grew up, she unexpectedly entered the palace as a maid. She displayed extraordinary talents when she arranged for Consort Li’s child to be swapped under the care of the Empress. Her intellects impressed the Empress Dowager, and she was sent to Prince of Dai so she could spy on them.In order to rid the world of further sufferings under the regime, but at the same time earn the trust of Empress Dowager Lu, she suggested to her husband Liu Heng to start training his army under the guise of building his grand ceremonial tomb. People, believing that she was bringing downfall to the kingdom, pleaded for her to be put to death. But none the less, Liu Heng trusted her completely and subsequently made her his queen.
Reception
- More than 19 millions people watching thought ShangHai TV station. (first broadcast)
- 1st VOD premier in China, 270,000 concurrent user watching.
Awards and nominations
The 5th Seoul International Drama Award- Won: Most popular actress (Ruby LinRuby LinRuby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
) - Nominated : Most popular actor (Sammul Chen)
2011 YOUKU Entertainment Award
- Won : Best TV series of the year
- Won : Most popular TV drama actress (Ruby LinRuby LinRuby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
)
QQ Annual Entertainment Star Award
- Won : Most popular actress (Ruby LinRuby LinRuby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
)
2011 Anhui TV drama Award
- Won : Favorite actress (Ruby LinRuby LinRuby Lin is a Taiwanese actress and pop singer. Her English name is from her mother's love of the jewel.Lin made her acting debut in a TV commercial in Taiwan. When she received her first experience in front of the camera in 1995, for a minor role, she started to develop a passion for acting...
)