Sigh of His Highness
Encyclopedia
Sigh of His Highness is a Chinese television series based on the life story of Prince Gong, a Manchu noble who lived during the late Qing Dynasty
in China. The series was first broadcast on Sichuan TV in China in 2006.
. Prince Gong is the younger brother of the Xianfeng Emperor
, but their relationship is not strong because they were once contending rivals for succession to the throne. In 1860, during the Second Opium War
, as the allied armies of Britain and France closed in on Beijing
, the Xianfeng Emperor flees and orders Prince Gong to stay behind for the peace negotiations. Prince Gong concludes the Convention of Peking
with the Western Powers after enduring much humiliation, and obtains an influential position in politics for his achievement and control over the military forces of Beijing.
The Xianfeng Emperor dies in the following year and is succeeded by the young Tongzhi Emperor
, who is assisted by senior official Sushun
and seven other regents. In November 1861, Prince Gong masterminds the Xinyou Coup and succeeds in removing Sushun and the regents from power. Prince Gong reaches the pinnacle of his career in the next four years as he is appointed Prince-Regent and put in charge of important state and military affairs. Besides, he also has a strong relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi
and has an opportunity to take the throne, but he does not. Prince Gong spearheads the Self-Strengthening Movement
and introduces a series of measures in an attempt to modernize China and maintain strong ties with the Western Powers.
Over the years, Prince Gong's relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi gradually deteriorates as he becomes more romantically involved with the foster daughter of Sushun. As a consequence, Cixi no longer trusts him and eventually she removes him from power as her position in politics becomes increasingly prominent. Subsequently, during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor
, Prince Gong is appointed to lead the Qing armies in the Sino-French War
but his defeat causes him to fall from grace and he is eventually relieved from his duties and ordered to retire by Cixi. Prince Gong returns to politics for the last time following the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War
in 1894, but fails to make any great achievements, and eventually dies of illness four years later.
's TVB Jade
first aired the series on weekday nights from April 26, 2007. Starting on May 12, the series was broadcast on weekend afternoons instead. On June 24, TVB stopped airing the series and the remaining episodes were broadcast from September 1 to October 16 in 2008 on weekday nights.
Sigh of His Highness on xinhuanet.com Sigh of His Highness official TVB website
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in China. The series was first broadcast on Sichuan TV in China in 2006.
Plot
The series is set in the late Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Prince Gong is the younger brother of the Xianfeng Emperor
Xianfeng Emperor
The Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...
, but their relationship is not strong because they were once contending rivals for succession to the throne. In 1860, during the Second Opium War
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
, as the allied armies of Britain and France closed in on Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, the Xianfeng Emperor flees and orders Prince Gong to stay behind for the peace negotiations. Prince Gong concludes the Convention of Peking
Convention of Peking
The Convention of Peking or the First Convention of Peking is the name used for three different unequal treaties, which were concluded between Qing China and the United Kingdom, France, and Russia.-Background:...
with the Western Powers after enduring much humiliation, and obtains an influential position in politics for his achievement and control over the military forces of Beijing.
The Xianfeng Emperor dies in the following year and is succeeded by the young Tongzhi Emperor
Tongzhi Emperor
The Tongzhi Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro Dzai Šun, was the tenth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1861 to 1875. His reign, which effectively lasted through his adolescence, was largely overshadowed by the rule of his mother, the Empress...
, who is assisted by senior official Sushun
Sushun
Sushun ; Styled: Yuting was born in the Manchu Aisin-Gioro Clan as the sixth son of Ulgungga , the Prince Zheng....
and seven other regents. In November 1861, Prince Gong masterminds the Xinyou Coup and succeeds in removing Sushun and the regents from power. Prince Gong reaches the pinnacle of his career in the next four years as he is appointed Prince-Regent and put in charge of important state and military affairs. Besides, he also has a strong relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
and has an opportunity to take the throne, but he does not. Prince Gong spearheads the Self-Strengthening Movement
Self-Strengthening Movement
The Self-Strengthening Movement , c 1861–1895, was a period of institutional reforms initiated during the late Qing Dynasty following a series of military defeats and concessions to foreign powers....
and introduces a series of measures in an attempt to modernize China and maintain strong ties with the Western Powers.
Over the years, Prince Gong's relationship with Empress Dowager Cixi gradually deteriorates as he becomes more romantically involved with the foster daughter of Sushun. As a consequence, Cixi no longer trusts him and eventually she removes him from power as her position in politics becomes increasingly prominent. Subsequently, during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
, Prince Gong is appointed to lead the Qing armies in the Sino-French War
Sino-French War
The Sino–French War was a limited conflict fought between August 1884 and April 1885 to decide whether France should replace China in control of Tonkin . As the French achieved their war aims, they are usually considered to have won the war...
but his defeat causes him to fall from grace and he is eventually relieved from his duties and ordered to retire by Cixi. Prince Gong returns to politics for the last time following the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
in 1894, but fails to make any great achievements, and eventually dies of illness four years later.
Cast
- Chen BaoguoChen BaoguoChen Baoguo is an award winning Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1977 and has since acted in many films and television series, including Han Wu Dadi, Da Zhai Men and Rob-B-Hood. He is married to actress Zhao Kui'e .-Filmography:-Awards and nominations:-References:...
as Prince Gong - Yuan Li as Empress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
- Wang Yan as Jiajia
- Wang GangWang Gang (actor)Wang Gang is a Chinese performing artist, TV host and actor. He came to prominence hosting the CCTV New Year's Gala in 1986 and later playing the role of He Shen in various films and television series, appearing in 168 episodes as the character. He has also hosted the CCTV program Friends since...
as Sengge RinchenSengge RinchenSengge Rinchen was a Mongol nobleman and general during the Qing dynasty, who is mainly known for his role during the Second Opium War and the suppression of the Taiping and Nian rebellions.-Background:... - Qin Yan as SushunSushunSushun ; Styled: Yuting was born in the Manchu Aisin-Gioro Clan as the sixth son of Ulgungga , the Prince Zheng....
- Song Jia as Empress Dowager Ci'anEmpress Dowager Ci'anEmpress Dowager Ci'an , popularly known in China as the East Empress Dowager , and officially known posthumously as the Empress Xiao Zhen Xian , was the second Empress Consort of the Xianfeng Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China, and then Empress Dowager after 1861...
- Luo Xiangjin as Suyi
- Mi Yang as Jiashun Empress
- Wang Hui as Xianfeng EmperorXianfeng EmperorThe Xianfeng Emperor , born Aisin-Gioro I Ju, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the seventh Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1850 to 1861.-Family and his early years:...
- Tu Liman as Princess Rongshou
- Feng ShaofengFeng ShaofengFeng 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:...
as RongluRongluRonglu was a Manchu statesman and general during the late Qing dynasty. Born into the powerful Guwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he was cousin to Yehenara Lan, who later became Empress Dowager Cixi... - Wang Huichun as Zuo ZongtangZuo ZongtangZuo Zongtang , spelled Tso Tsung-t'ang in Wade-Giles and known simply as General Tso in the West, was a Chinese statesman and military leader in the late Qing Dynasty....
- Bai Qinglin as Consort Li
Broadcasts in other regions
Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
first aired the series on weekday nights from April 26, 2007. Starting on May 12, the series was broadcast on weekend afternoons instead. On June 24, TVB stopped airing the series and the remaining episodes were broadcast from September 1 to October 16 in 2008 on weekday nights.
External links
Sigh of His Highness on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....
Sigh of His Highness on xinhuanet.com Sigh of His Highness official TVB website