Princess Der Ling (TV series)

Princess Der Ling
Der Ling (left in red), portrayed by Zhang Jingjing, and her sister Roung Ling, portrayed by Sun Yifei.
Also known asSecret Files of the Qing Imperial Palace: Princess Der Ling
GenreHistorical drama
Based onPrincess Der Ling
by Xu Xiaobin
Written byXu Xiaobin
Li Xuebing
Directed byHan Gang
Starring
Country of originChina
Original languagesChinese
English
(occasionally French, Japanese, Russian and Spanish)
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes29[1]
Production
Executive producersWang Guohui
Yuan Mei
ProducersZhu Tong
Xue Guizhi
Wang Wei
CinematographyWu Fei
EditorWang Yue
Running time43 minutes
Production companiesBeijing Qixinran Film and Television Culture
BudgetCN¥16,000,000[2]
Original release
NetworkCCTV-8
Release30 August 2006 (2006-08-30)

Princess Der Ling (traditional Chinese: 德齡公主; simplified Chinese: 德龄公主; pinyin: Délíng Gōngzhǔ), also known as Secret Files of the Qing Imperial Palace: Princess Der Ling (清宮秘檔之德齡公主; 清宫秘档之德龄公主; Qīnggōng Mìdàng zhī Délíng Gōngzhǔ), is a Chinese period drama television series based on the historical novel of the same name written by Xu Xiaobin. The series premiered on CCTV-8 on 30 August 2006,[3] and had been broadcast on Top TV [zh] in Taiwan since 2009, with Taiwanese Hokkien dubbing.[4] It is the first and only television dramatisation of Der Ling's life.[5]

Synopsis

Upon their return to China from France, Der Ling (Zhang Jingjing) and Roung Ling (Sun Yifei), daughters of the Qing-dynasty diplomat Yu Keng [fr] (Liu Wenzhi), are installed as court ladies to the Empress Dowager Cixi (Lü Zhong). The Yu sisters, with the feeling of reforming an ancient empire, eventually realise its impossibility of change, and witness the dynasty's gradual demise. Der Ling's relationship with Kevin White (Jonathan Kos-Read; based on her real-life husband Thaddeus Cohu White) was highly romanticised in the series.

According to the Peking University professor Chen Xiaoming, in Xu Xiaobin's novel, as well in the series adaptation, "Der Ling and Roung Ling are symbols of Western civilisation". Despite being born in the Qing Empire, "they are the messengers of modern Western civilisation rather than daughters of ancient Eastern civilisation. They enter the ancient palace carrying within themselves a modern concept, a modern lifestyle and a modern aesthetic, bringing a free spirit to a society of rigid stratification, which is fresh and more humane."[6]

Cast and characters

DVD release

The series was released in a DVD boxset on 7 September 2006. The set includes ten discs containing all the episodes.[7]

References

  1. ^ Tsai, Shan-ling (25 December 2021). "慈禧身邊大紅人 德齡公主傳奇" [The legend of Princess Der Ling, Cixi's favourite]. tw.news.yahoo.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "电视连续剧《德龄公主》将开机 大腕托红花" [The Production of Princess Der Ling Will Start Soon]. cn.ent.yahoo.com (in Simplified Chinese). 14 March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ Fu, Wenjia, ed. (30 August 2006). "特殊视角看清宫电视剧《德龄公主》开播" [Princess Der Ling, the TV series set in the Manchu imperial palace will launch tonight]. chinadaily.com.cn (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ "德齡公主" [Princess Der Ling]. top.tv (in Traditional Chinese). 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ^ Zhao, Nannan (8 March 2004). "《德龄公主》在京开机 中西合璧女人讲清宫故事" [The production of Princess Der Ling started in Beijing, 'Eurasian woman' telling the story of the Qing imperial palace]. ent.tom.com (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 31 December 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ Chen, Xiaoming (28 May 2007). "评徐小斌的《德龄公主》" [Comments on Xu Xiaobin's Princess Der Ling]. chinawriter.com.cn (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Qing Gong Mi Dang Zhi De Ling Gong Zhu (Ep.1-29) (End) (China Version) DVD Region All". yesasia.com. 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2022.