Line #74 Main/ImperialChina


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Curse_of_the_Golden_Flower.jpg]]]]
2
3	Most [[UsefulNotes/TheWest Western]] audiences know this period of UsefulNotes/{{China}}'s history from [[UsefulNotes/TheFarEast East Asian]] pop culture sources such as {{Wuxia}} movies, or Japanese works such as the ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' series of games and ''[[Manga/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms1971 Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi]]'', though most of these are based on much older Chinese novels, folk-stories and other source material.
4
5	Life in Imperial China, according to this view, apparently involved lots of politics and betrayal around the Emperor's solid gold palace, punctuated by battles featuring big hulky brocade-wearing brutes mowing down peasant soldiers by the thousands with their flashy ''musou'' attacks. When you met a fair maiden, either she was [[WaifFu skilled enough with martial arts to kick your butt]], or she was [[ShapeshiftingLover a supernatural creature in disguise]].
6
7	See UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing for a history of this series of ages (it's often forgotten just how ''long'' that history is; "Imperial China" lasted for over 2,100 years,[[note]]From Qin unifying China in 221 BCE to the fall of the Qing in 1912[[/note]] while the pre-Imperial era easily lasted more than a millennium), and UsefulNotes/NoMoreEmperors for what happened when the last of the Chinese kingdoms and empires fell in February 1912.
8	----
9	!!Popular tropes from this time period are:
10	* ArrangedMarriage
11	* DecadentCourt
12	* TheEmperor
13	* EunuchsAreEvil
14	* EvilChancellor
15	* HonorBeforeReason
16	* ImplausibleFencingPowers
17	* ImprobableWeaponUser
18	* KnightErrant
19	* NamedWeapons
20	* OldMaster
21	* RedStringOfFate
22	* ReincarnationRomance
23	* ShapeshiftingLover
24	* StarCrossedLovers
25	* SupernaturalMartialArts
26	----
27	!!Depictions in media:
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* ''Manga/FushigiYuugi''
32	** ''Manga/FushigiYuugiGenbuKaiden''
33	** ''Manga/FushigiYuugiByakkoSenki''
34	* ''Manga/{{Kingdom}}'', set during the Warring States Period.
35	* ''[[Anime/KoutetsuSangokushi Kōtetsu Sangokushi]]''
36	* ''Manga/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms1971''
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
40	* ''Franchise/KungFuPanda''
41	* ''Anime/LikeTheCloudsLikeTheWind''
42	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', though it's based on a traditional Chinese folk-story.
43	-->'''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick:''' Sure, let's go ahead and use the word "honor" fifty times.
44	* ''The Tale of the White Serpent'' (白蛇伝)
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
48	* ''Film/The14Amazons''
49	* ''Film/The36thChamberofShaolin''
50	* ''Film/FiftyFiveDaysAtPeking'', set during the Qing Dynasty.
51	* ''Film/AshesOfTime''
52	* ''Film/TheAssassin''
53	* ''Film/TheAssassin1967''
54	* ''Film/AsterixAndObelixTheMiddleKingdom''
55	* ''Film/TheAvengingEagle''
56	* ''Film/ABattleOfWits'' based on the Qin Dynasty conquest and unity of China.
57	* ''Film/TheBellsOfDeath''
58	* ''Film/TheBlade1995''
59	* ''Film/BloodBrothers1973''
60	* ''Film/TheBrideWithWhiteHair''
61	* ''Film/BrothersFive''
62	* ''Film/TheBurningOfRedLotusTemple''
63	* ''Film/ButterflyAndSword''
64	* ''Film/ComeDrinkWithMe''
65	* ''Film/TheCrimsonCharm''
66	* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon''
67	* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragonSwordOfDestiny''
68	* ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower''
69	* ''Film/DeadfulMelody''
70	* ''Film/DeathDuel''
71	* ''Film/TheDeadlyDuo''
72	* ''Film/DelightfulForest''
73	* ''Film/DetectiveDee''
74	* ''''Film/TheDragonMissile''
75	* ''Film/DragonSwamp''
76	* ''Film/TheEightDiagramPoleFighter''
77	* ''Film/TheEmperorAndTheAssassin''
78	* ''Film/Fearless2006''
79	* ''Film/FireDragon''
80	* ''Film/FiveDeadlyVenoms''
81	* ''Film/FiveElementNinjas''
82	* ''Film/FiveShaolinMasters''
83	* ''Film/TheFlyingDagger''
84	* ''Film/FlyingGuillotine''
85	* ''Film/GoldenSwallow''
86	* ''Film/TheGoldenSword''
87	* ''Film/TheGreatWall''
88	* ''Film/GreenSnake''
89	* ''Film/HaveSwordWillTravel''
90	* ''Film/Hero2002''
91	* ''Film/TheHeroicOnes''
92	* ''Film/HouseOfFlyingDaggers''
93	* ''Film/TheInvincibleSword''
94	* ''Film/TheIronBodyguard''
95	* ''Film/TheJadeRaksha''
96	* ''Film/JudgementOfAnAssassin''
97	* ''Film/KillersFive''
98	* ''Film/KungPowEnterTheFist''.
99	* ''Film/TheLadyHermit''
100	* The early parts of Bertolucci's ''Film/TheLastEmperor''.
101	* ''Film/LegendOfTheBlackScorpion''
102	* ''Film/TheLongChase''
103	* ''Film/TheMagicBlade''
104	* ''Film/TheMagicCrane''
105	* ''Film/MarcoPolo''
106	* ''Film/MaskedAvengers''
107	* ''Film/MoonWarriors''
108	* ''Film/Mulan2020'', set in ancient China.
109	* ''Film/MulanRiseOfAWarrior'', set in ancient China.
110	* ''Film/NewDragonInn''
111	* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina''
112	* ''Film/OneArmedSwordsman''
113	* ''Film/ThePromise2005''
114	* ''Film/{{Pursuit}}''
115	* ''Film/{{Rampant}}'' is set during the Qing Dynasty's control of Joseon-era Korea. The Emperor of Qing is frequently mentioned but never seen, and the protagonist has just returned from living in China.
116	* ''Film/RawCourage''
117	* ''Film/RedCliff'': set in 208 AD in China, during the period of the end of Eastern Han Dynasty.
118	* ''Film/TheRescue1971''
119	* ''Film/ReturnOfTheDeadlyBlade''
120	* ''Film/TheSecretOfTheDirk''
121	* ''Film/TheSilentSwordsman''
122	* ''Film/TheSupremeSwordsman''
123	* ''Film/TheSwordOfSwords''
124	* ''Film/ShadowWhip''
125	* ''Film/ShanghaiNoon'' (the early parts).
126	* ''Film/ShaolinAndWuTang''
127	* ''Film/ShaolinMantis''
128	* ''Film/ShaolinTemple''
129	* ''Film/SoulOfTheSword''
130	* ''Film/{{Swordsman}}''
131	* ''Film/SwordswomenThree''
132	* ''Film/TaiChiMaster''
133	* ''Film/ATasteOfColdSteel''
134	* ''Film/TempleOfTheRedLotus''
135	* ''Film/ThatFieryGirl''
136	* ''Film/ThreeKingdomsResurrectionOfTheDragon''
137	* ''Film/TheThrillingSword''
138	* ''Film/TheThunderingSword''
139	* ''Film/ATouchOfZen''
140	* ''Film/TrailOfTheBrokenBlade''
141	* ''Film/TrueLegend2010''
142	* ''Film/VengefulBeauty''
143	* ''Film/TheWanderingSwordsman''
144	* ''Film/TheWarlords''
145	* ''Warriors of Heaven and Earth''
146	* ''Film/ATouchOfZen''
147	* ''Film/ZuWarriorsFromTheMagicMountain''
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Literature]]
151	* ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'' and its sequels appear in a version where AllMythsAreTrue.
152	* Pearl Buck:
153	** ''Literature/TheGoodEarth''
154	** ''Peony''
155	* ''Literature/ADeadlySecret''
156	* ''Literature/TheDeerAndTheCauldron''
157	* ''Literature/DemiGodsAndSemiDevils''
158	* ''Literature/DingHaiFuShengLu''
159	* ''Literature/DreamOfTheRedChamber''
160	* ''The Favorite'' by Inoue Yasushi is about Yang Guifei.
161	* The ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' gamebooks, ''Literature/BlackVeinProphecy'' and ''Literature/TheCrimsonTide'', are set in the FF-verse equivalent to Ming Dynasty China.
162	* ''Literature/HeavenSwordAndDragonSabre''
163	* ''L'Impératrice de la Soie'' trilogy by José Frèches.
164	* ''Literature/AnInstinctForWar'' (''A Sword is Drawn'')
165	* ''Literature/InterestingTimes'' is a parody of Imperial China (with bits of Japan thrown in) set in a Literature/{{Discworld}} context.
166	* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest''
167	* The ''Literature/JudgeDee'' novels and short stories, though the first is a translation of a Chinese story.
168	* Guy Gavriel Kay:
169	** ''Literature/UnderHeaven''
170	** ''River of Stars''
171	* ''Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of the South'' by Lawrence Yep, from ''Literature/TheRoyalDiaries'' series.
172	* ''Literature/TheLegendOfTheCondorHeroes''
173	* The first half of ''Literature/MomentInPeking''
174	* ''Literature/TheNightingale''
175	* ''Literature/ThePrincessWeiYang''
176	* ''Literature/QiangJinJiu''
177	* ''Literature/TheReturnOfTheCondorHeroes''
178	* ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''
179	* ''Literature/TheSmilingProudWanderer''
180	* ''Literature/SnowFlowerAndTheSecretFan''
181	* ''Literature/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku''
182	* ''Literature/TianBaoFuYaoLu''
183	* ''Literature/UnrulyPhoenixXiaoyao''
184	* ''Literature/WaterMargin''
185	* ''Literature/WillOfHeaven''
186	* ''Literature/TribulationsOfAChinamanInChina'' by Creator/JulesVerne.
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
190	* ''Series/TheAdvisorsAlliance''
191	* ''Series/AndTheWinnerIsLove''
192	* ''Series/CinderellaChef''
193	* ''Dae Jo-yeong''
194	* ''Series/TheDeerAndTheCauldron2014''
195	* ''Empress Cheonchu''
196	* ''Empress Ki''
197	* ''Series/TheEmpressOfChina''
198	* ''Series/TheEternalLove''
199	** ''Series/TheEternalLove2''
200	* ''Series/TheFour''
201	** ''Series/TheFour2015''
202	* ''Series/GeneralAndI''
203	* ''Series/TheGlamorousImperialConcubine''
204	* ''Series/GoodbyeMyPrincess''
205	* ''Series/GoPrincessGo''
206	* ''Series/TheGreatEmperorInSongDynasty''
207	* ''Series/HeavenlySwordAndDragonSlayingSabre'' and ''Series/TheHeavenSwordAndDragonSabre2009''
208	* ''Series/JoyofLife''
209	* ''Series/JusticeBao''
210	* ''Series/KingsWar''
211	* ''Series/TheKingsWoman''
212	* Some parts of the first ''Series/KungFu1972'' TV series.
213	* ''Series/TheLegendOfDugu''
214	* ''Series/TheLegendOfHaoLan''
215	* ''Series/TheLegendOfXiaoChuo''
216	* ''Series/TheLegendOfZhenHuan''
217	* ''Series/TheLongestDayInChangAn''
218	* ''Series/LostLoveInTimes''
219	* ''Series/MenWithSword''
220	* ''Series/{{Monkey}}''.
221	* ''Series/NirvanaInFire''
222	** ''Series/NirvanaInFire2''
223	* ''Series/OhMyEmperor''
224	* ''Series/{{Palace}}''
225	* ''Series/PrinceOfLanLing''
226	* ''Series/PrincessAgents''
227	* ''Series/PrincessReturningPearl''
228	* ''Series/PrincessSilver''
229	* ''Series/ThePrincessWeiYoung''
230	* ''Series/TheQinEmpire''
231	* ''Series/TheRiseOfPhoenixes''
232	* ''Series/TheRomanceOfTigerAndRose''
233	* ''Series/RoyalTramp''
234	* ''Series/RuyisRoyalLoveInThePalace''
235	* ''Series/ScarletHeart''
236	* ''Series/SingingAllAlong''
237	* ''Series/TheSongOfGlory''
238	* ''Series/TheStoryOfMinglan''
239	* ''Series/StoryOfYanxiPalace''
240	* ''Series/TheThreeHeroesAndFiveGallants''
241	* ''Series/ThreeKingdoms''
242	* ''Series/TwilightOfANation''
243	* Much of ''Series/TowardsTheRepublic''
244	* ''Series/TheVigilantesInMasks''
245	* ''Series/VirtuesOfHarmony''
246	* ''Series/TheWolf''
247	* ''Series/YoungSherlock''
248	[[/folder]]
249
250	[[folder:Manhua]]
251	* ''Manhua/RavagesOfTime''
252	* ''Manhua/{{Choukakou}}''
253	[[/folder]]
254
255	[[folder:Theater]]
256	* The stage play and later opera, ''Theatre/{{Turandot}}''.
257	[[/folder]]
258
259	[[folder:Toys]]
260	* Toys/FunkoPop has a Creator/DCComics line of figures called "Imperial Palace", which is made of superheroes from Franchise/TheDCU dressed in medieval Chinese armors.
261	[[/folder]]
262
263	[[folder:Video Games]]
264	* ''VideoGame/ConquerorsBlade'' divides its attention between medieval Europe and Imperial China. Fitting, since its developers, Booming Games, are based in China.
265	* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'': Loose adaptation of ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' novel, which in turn is HistoricalFictionLiterature depicting events during the end of Eastern Han Dynasty (189-220 AD) and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China (220-280 AD).
266	* ''VideoGame/EmperorRiseOfTheMiddleKingdom''
267	* ''VideoGame/HonorOfKings'': There are a few modern aspects, but the design of the world is still heavily ImperialChina-based. (Not to mention most heroes are figures from ImperialChina from varying time periods)
268	* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' is set in a role-playing-game FantasyCounterpartCulture.
269	* One of the seven main chapters of ''VideoGame/LiveALive'' is set during Imperial China, where an elderly martial arts master chooses young three disciples to teach them his techniques.
270	[[/folder]]
271
272	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
273	* ''VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou''
274	[[/folder]]
275
276	[[folder:Webcomics]]
277	* ''Webcomic/TheArtOfMonsters'' is set in a fantastical Tang dynasty - think ''Literature/{{Journey To The West}}'' but focusing on events on a single mountain.
278	[[/folder]]
279
280	[[folder:Web Videos]]
281	* Season 4 Episode 4 of ''WebVideo/EscapeTheNight'' depicts ancient China as its setting.
282	[[/folder]]
283
284	[[folder:Western Animation]]
285	* Two episodes of ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'' are centered around China. Oddly enough, the show's resident Chinese character, Cho-Cho, barely appears in either episode.
286	* ''WesternAnimation/SagwaTheChineseSiameseCat'', which is set during the Qing Dynasty.
287	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ImperialChina