天盛长歌 The Rise of Phoenixes

Synopsis

A grand historical costume drama set in a fictional world, depicting the mutual support and growth between Ning Yi, the sixth prince of the Tiansheng Dynasty, and Feng Zhiwei, the orphaned descendant of the previous imperial family, amidst power struggles and entangled destinies.

Overview

The Rise of Phoenixes is a 2018 Chinese historical costume drama set in a fictional dynasty. Co-directed by Shen Yan and Liu Haibo, with screenwriting by Lu Yi and Zou Yue, the series is adapted from the novel Huang Quan by Tian Xia Gui Yuan. It premiered on Hunan Satellite TV on August 14, 2018, and was simultaneously broadcast on iQiyi and Mango TV.

The series stars Chen Kun and Ni Ni in leading roles, with a supporting cast including Zhao Lixin, Ni Dahong, Yuan Hong, Wang Ou, and Bai Jingting. The complete series consists of 70 episodes (a 56-episode TV edited version exists). It is considered one of the most meticulously produced historical political intrigue dramas in recent years. Notable for its use of live sound recording and cinematic visual quality, it has been hailed as a representative work of China's television industry industrialization.

Plot

Ning Yi (played by Chen Kun), the sixth prince of the Tian Sheng dynasty, appears dissolute and indifferent to worldly affairs on the surface. In reality, he carries a painful past—his mother was wrongfully executed due to a palace conspiracy, and he has endured years of humiliation to clear her name. He treats the world as his chessboard, secretly maneuvering against corrupt forces within the court.

Feng Zhiwei (played by Ni Ni), an orphan from the previous dynasty's royal family, disguises herself as a man and serves as an official in the Tian Sheng dynasty under the name Wei Zhi. Despite her exceptional talent, she constantly faces the danger of her true identity being exposed. The two meet in the court, progressing from mutual suspicion to trust, and join forces to unravel one political conspiracy after another.

As the plot unfolds, the relationship between Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei wavers between power and ideals. After Feng Zhiwei's true identity is revealed, they stand at a crossroads of fate—will they choose love or the greater good of family and country?

Cast

Production & Reception

The series was produced by Huace Film & TV and filmed at the Tangcheng Film and Television Base in Xiangyang, Hubei. The production team invested heavily in costumes, makeup, props, and set construction, striving to recreate the grandeur of a fictional dynasty. Notably, the entire series used live sound recording, which placed extremely high demands on the actors' line delivery skills. The professional abilities of actors like Chen Kun, Ni Ni, and Zhao Lixin received unanimous recognition from the industry.

The Rise of Phoenixes has a rating of 8.1/10 on Douban (with over 150,000 ratings). Although its viewership ratings during the broadcast period were not ideal, its production quality is widely regarded as a benchmark for historical dramas in recent years. The series was acquired by Netflix for overseas distribution, becoming the first Chinese historical drama to be globally broadcast simultaneously in its original language.

Cultural Impact

Although The Rise of Phoenixes had average domestic viewership, its high production standards gained widespread international recognition. Netflix's acquisition of its overseas distribution rights marked a significant step for Chinese historical dramas entering the global mainstream market. Chen Kun and Ni Ni's performances in the series were praised as "god-tier acting," and Zhao Lixin's portrayal of Xin Ziyan also garnered a massive fan following. The series' political intrigue narrative and cinematic quality have had a profound influence on the production of subsequent historical dramas.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/26761328/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/天盛长歌/22566625
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/天盛长歌
4. iQiyi: https://www.iqiyi.com/lib/m_218390214.html