

Empresses in the Palace (后宫甄嬛传)





Podcast Episodes

Chasing Dramas
Karen and Cathy
Empresses in the Palace – Ep 9: Let the murder attempts begin
Chasing DramasWe discuss episode 9 of 后宫甄嬛传 Empresses in the Palace. Zhen Huan has received a...

Empresses in the Palace – Ep 8: Peppercorns, peanuts, and dumplings! Oh my!
Chasing DramasWe are discussing episode 8 of 后宫甄嬛传, Empresses in the Palace. The Emperor and Zhen...

Empresses in the Palace – Ep 6+7: Level 1 Opponent
Chasing DramasIn Episode 6 and 7, the Emperor is enjoying spending time with, what we're calling...

Empresses in the Palace – Ep 5: Party in the Plum Blossom Garden
Chasing DramasIt's winter time and the main character, Zhen Huan, is still "sick". This results in...

Empresses in the Palace – Ep 4: Please welcome the most important item in this drama
Chasing DramasIn this episode, Zhen Huan decides to feign illness to avoid attention from the Emperor...




Key Characters

Zhen Huan 甄嬛

Yong Zheng 雍正

The Empress 皇后

Hua Fei 华妃

Shen Mei Zhuang 沈眉庄

An Ling Rong 安陵容




Drama Setting – Intro History and Cultural Details
Qing Dynasty
The Imperial Harem
Titles in the Palace


Favorite Poems Referenced in the Drama

寒菊 – 郑思肖 – Winter Chrysanthemum – Zheng Si Xiao
花开不并百花丛,独立疏篱趣未穷。宁可枝头包香死,不曾吹落北风中
The chrysanthemum flower does not bloom with the rest,
She stands alone against the rest in her beauty;When the flower’s life ends, it would rather wilt on its stem,Than to blow into the north wind.
Episode 4 – Recited by Shen Mei Zhuang

金缕衣 – Golden Threaded Clothing – Unkown
劝君莫惜金缕衣, 劝君惜取少年时。花开堪折直须折,莫待无花空折枝
I urge you to not value the wealth and riches of the Golden Threaded Clothing,
I urge you instead to value your youth and capture that time,Just like flowers on a branch which require you to pick at the right moment,Do not wait until there are no flowers left on the tree and pick empty tree branches.
Episode 16 – Sung by An Ling Rong

洛神赋 – 曹植 Excerpts from The Goddess of the Luo – Cao Zhi
翩若惊鸿,婉若游龙,荣曜秋菊,华茂春松。仿佛兮若轻云之蔽月,飘飖兮若流风之回雪远而望之,皎若太阳升朝霞。迫而察之,灼若芙蕖出渌波
Her body soars lightly like a startled swan,
Gracefully, like a dragon in flight,
In splendor brighter than the autumn chrysanthemum,
In bloom more flourishing than the pine in spring;
Dim as the moon mantled in filmy clouds,
Restless as snow whirled by the driving wind.
Gaze far off from a distance;
She sparkles like the sun rising from morning mists;
Press closer to examine:
She flames like the lotus flower topping the green wave.
Episode 13 – An Ling Rong sings these verses as Zhen Huan dances this Jing Hong Wu