Empresses in the Palace (后宫甄嬛传)
Podcast Episodes
Chasing Dramas
Karen and CathyIn The Know – Chinese Pop Culture News: An Empresses in the Palace Reunion!
Chasing DramasA new variety show - Travel with the Royal Family has been a hilarious Empresses...
Empresses In The Palace – Final Thoughts
Chasing DramasWe conclude our discussion of Empresses In The Palace with our final thoughts. We discuss...
Empresses In The Palace – Ep 75 + 76: Revenge is Bittersweet
Chasing DramasZhen Huan is filled with hatred towards the Emperor after the death of the 17th...
Empresses In The Palace – Ep 73+74: The Last Goodbye
Chasing DramasThe Emperor has finally caught on to the 17th prince's feelings towards Zhen Huan and...
Empresses in the Palace – Ep 72: I cannot do it
Chasing DramasThe Empress and Emperor meet for one final showdown. The Empress finally confesses to her...
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