Lady Wu: The First Empress

Lady Wu: The First Empress
Promotional poster
Also known as
  • The Great Empress
  • Empress Wu Meiniang
至尊红颜
GenreHistorical drama
Written byShan Zhe
Directed byHao Ran
Starring
Opening theme"Honourable Beauty" (至尊红颜) by Zhang Kefan
Ending theme"Forgotten" (遗忘) by Lin Chunru
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes44
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Yu Gang
  • Wang Yi
  • Song Zhenshan
  • Wu Hongliang
Production locationChina
Running time≈45 minutes per episode
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCTS
Release2003 (2003)

Lady Wu: The First Empress (至尊红颜), also known as The Great Empress and Empress Wu Meiniang (武媚娘传奇), is a 2003 Chinese historical television series romanticising the life of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Starring Alyssa Chia as the titular character with supporting cast members from mainland China and Taiwan, the series was first broadcast on CTS in Taiwan in 2003.

Synopsis

This series follows a romance between Wu Meiniang and Li Junxian, a fictional Tang dynasty general. The series begins with Wu Meiniang's early life as a commoner, and ends with her accession to the throne. It starts in the mid-seventh century during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, and follows significant historical events such as Wang Yingzhen's rebellion, the war between the Tang dynasty and the Göktürks, and the taming of the Yellow River.

Wu Meiniang is in love with Li Junxian, but she has become a concubine of Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong's son, Li Zhi (later Emperor Gaozong), is also madly in love with Wu Meiniang. After Emperor Taizong's death, Li Zhi rescues her from being a nun for the rest of her life. Wu Meiniang is brought to the palace, where she encounters Consort Xiao, Empress Wang, and Xu Yingying who try to harm her. She is saved countlessly by Li Junxian and Li Zhi, and she eventually becomes empress.

Throughout the series Wu Meiniang is portrayed as a simple, intelligent and kind woman who persists in love at all costs. Although she is framed by her enemies, she has never been afraid of them. Because of her fate, she has experienced various kinds of love and hatred and has been involved in intrigues in the inner palace ever since she stepped in there. After the death of her two husbands and lover, she finally takes on the responsibility of ruling an empire.

Cast

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