Wu Zetian (1995 TV series)

*Wu Zetian*
Wu Zetian
	DVD cover art
Traditional Chinese	武則天
Simplified Chinese	武则天
Hanyu Pinyin	Wǔ Zétián
Genre	Historical drama
Written by	Zhang Tianmin; Ran Ping; Ke Zhanghe
Directed by	Chen Jialin
Starring	Liu Xiaoqing; Chen Baoguo
Country of origin	China
Original language	Mandarin
No. of episodes	30
Production
Producer	Liu Dayin
Production locations	Zhuozhou, Hebei, China
Running time	45 minutes per episode
Production companies	China Television Production Centre; China Huaqiao Film and TV; China Literature and Art Foundation; China Film Co-Production;
Original release
Network	CCTV

Wu Zetian is a Chinese television series based on the life of Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history to assume the title of Empress Regnant and became the de facto ruler of China in the late seventh century. Directed by Chen Jialin, the series starred Liu Xiaoqing as the title character. It was first broadcast on CCTV in China in 1995 and subsequently aired by television stations in other countries.

Plot

One night, Wu Meiniang was bestowed favor upon by Emperor Taizong for the first time since she entered the palace. The innocent girl turned into ruthless and cruel woman after experiencing the cruelty of court life and escaped death several times. She was even betrayed by Xu Hui, her confidante and another consort. After the death of Emperor Taizong, Wu Meiniang was thrown into Ganye Temple and forced to become a nun. She suffered constant humiliation but was saved by Emperor Gaozong. He took her back into the palace and changed her identity from a mad a Zhaoyi (1st rank imperial consort). To survive in the court, Wu Meiniang personally strangled her daughter to frame Empress Wang, defeated the prime minister Zhangsun Wuji, and finally became the Empress. She and Emperor Gaozong have a love-hate relationship, and after his death, she took the throne and changed the Tang dynasty to the Zhou Dynasty.

Cast

Liu Xiaoqing as Wu Zetian
Bao Guo'an as Emperor Taizong of Tang
Li Jianqun as Xu Hui
Liu Yubin as Zhangsun Wuji
Wang Pei as Fang Xuanling
Huang Fei as Wei Zheng
Zhang Guangzheng as Chu Suiliang
Lü Qi as Li Shiji
Hong Jiantao as Li Tai
Guo Li as Hegan Chengji
Ma Li as Princess Gaoyang
Zhang Duofu as Bianji
Lü Guobin as Fang Yi'ai
Yu Meng as Ling'er
Gao Bo as Yu'er
Chen Baoguo as Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Zheng Shuang as Empress Wang
Lü Zhong as Lady Liu
Yu Hui as Consort Xiao
Jin Shuyuan as Lady of Rong
Mu Ning as Lady of Han
Miao Yiyi as Lady of Wei
Wu Liping as Wang Fulai
Xiao Xiaohua as Xiaoshunzi
Qiu Yongli as Li Yifu
Li Ruping as Xu Jingzong
Liu Dagang as Han Yuan
Chen Weiguo as Liu Shi
Li Ming as Shangguan Yi
Gao Xi'an as Wu Yuanqing
Yu Yunhe as Wu Yuanshuang
Xu Xiaochuan as young Li Zhong
Yang Junyong as Li Sujie
- Li Ang as young Li Sujie
Jiang Junnan as Li Hong
- Ou Yang as young Li Hong
Liu Yanjun as Li Xian
Wang Zhihua as Yuan Gongyu
Pu Zhenghu as Wei Jifang
Wang Yue as Bi Zhengyi
Mi Li as Lady Chunyu
Han Zaifeng as Persian shopkeeper
Dantai Renhui as Old nun
Lei Yueqin as Nun
Zhou Shiyi as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Guo Shuping as Empress Wei
Liang Li as Princess Taiping
Ruping as Shangguan Wan'er
Hai Yan as Shangguan Wan'er's mother
Chen Zheng as Wu Chengsi
Zhang Qiuge as Huaiyi
Jiang Yang as Zhang Changzong
Liu Xudong as Zhang Yizhi
Han Qing as Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Gao Li as Consort Liu
Xia Song as Consort Dou
Tan Feiling as Pei Yan
Wang Bing as Di Renjie
Xu Zhengyun as Wei Yuanzhong
Shao Wanlin as Zhang Jianzhi
Chen Lihui as Li Jingye
Xue Yong as Luo Binwang
Tang Zhijiang as Qiu Shenji
Cao Lian as Lai Junchen
Wang Jun as Zhou Xing
Xue Wencheng as Yu Baojia
Deng Guangxun as Suo Yuanli
Yu Qian as Li Zhuan
Li Donghong as Gao Shun
Fan Jia

External links

Wu Zetian at IMDb
(in Chinese) Wu Zetian on Sina.com