The Historical C-Drama Challenge

Hi dear fellow historical C-drama lovers!

Do you also like to know more about Chinese history, do you like to compare historical dramas to what is written about the historical events, or do you just like the vibe of historical C-dramas? Then you might like this challenge 😊

This drama challenge is a way for you to learn a bit about all parts of Chinese history. I got inspiration for this challenge because of ciliolindemberg’s Historical C-Drama Chronology sorted by Historical Periods List. It not only has an overview of the Chinese historical periods but also a description of every drama, stating the historical period in which the drama is set. Feel free to use this list to find dramas for this challenge!

Another way to find historical c-dramas is to go to Explore and use the Advanced Search function: just add the specific dynasty to the Themes/Tags.

(This is my first time making a challenge, so please give suggestions if something needs to be changed)

Rules:

This challenge is ordered in categories of historical periods. It’s up to you whether you want to follow the order to progress further into history or to watch the dramas in a random order.

As you can see in the challenge below, there are now two versions of the challenge:

- The first version has sub-categories, (e.g. during the Warring States period there were multiple kingdoms). You could choose to broaden the challenge by watching a drama for every kingdom. I have made sub-categories in red, so you can choose to delete them or add them as additional challenges. [My later thoughts: I recommend you not to use them, some hardly have any drama, and it will become too much lol]

- The updated version is based on ciliolindemberg's updated version of the chronological history, it does not have these sub-categories. For a more organized view, I recommend you to use that one! (I'm keeping the earlier version in as some of you told me the sub-categories help with finding dramas.)

If you cannot find a (good) drama for a certain period/dynasty (especially sub-categories), either ask others/me, look at what others watched, or skip that challenge (for now).

Some dramas take place during multiple dynasties, e.g. when a drama starts in one dynasty and it changes to the next dynasty. Also some dynasties overlap with others. Feel free to choose to which dynasty you add a drama. Try to not add a drama to multiple challenges.

To make it more difficult, don’t add dramas you already watched, but if you really want to add a specific drama you already watched, you can just mention that.
(e.g. I’ll add Story of Yanxi Palace/Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace to the Qing dynasty as both are extremely long dramas and both are really great)

To make it easier, you could choose to allow historical movies too.  Or to make it more difficult, you could choose to do a separate list with only movies. This is a list of movies in chronological order. (You can then also add the Yu dynasty!)

Feel free to play around and make some changes to the challenge :)

Badges:

You can find the badges made by Rien on this page: Historical C-Drama Challenge Badges! More may be added later. Some of you already made your own badge, they look great, feel free to make and use your own badge :)

!!! Early Version - Updated Version done below !!!

The Historical C-Drama Challenge:

Started: xx/xx/xxxx | Completed: xx/xx/xxxx
Finished categories: 0/5
Total finished dramas: 0/26

Category 1: Ancient China

Xia【夏朝】: (note: There is hardly anthing from the Xia Dynasty, feel free to skip)
Shang【商朝】:
Zhou【周朝】[Western Zhou, Gonghe, Eastern Zhou] :
Spring and Autumn【春秋时代】[5 Hegemons]:
Warring States【战国时代】[Qin, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Qi, Han, Chu]:

Finished: 0/5

Category 2: Early Imperial China

Qin【秦朝】[18 Kingdoms, Chu-Han Contention]:
Han【汉朝】[Western Han, Xin, Eastern Han]:
Three Kingdoms【三国】[Cao Wei, Shu Han, Eastern Wu, Yan]:
Jin【晋朝】[2 Jins (Western, Eastern)]:
Sixteen Kingdoms【十六国】[5 Liangs (Former, Later, Northern, Southern, Western), 4 Yans (Former, Later, Northern, Southern), 3 Qins (Former, Later, Western), 2 Zhaos (Former, Later), Cheng Han , Xia, Zhai Wei]:
Northern and Southern Dynasties【南北朝】[3 Northerns (Wei, Zhou, Qi), 2 Weis (Eastern, Western)/Liu Song, 3 Southerns (Qi, Liang, Chen), Western Liang]:

Finished: 0/6

Challenge 3: Middle Imperial China

Sui【隋朝】:
Tang【唐朝】[Wu Zhou]:
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms【五代十国】[5 Laters (Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, Zhou)/Yang Wu, Wuyue, Min, Ma Chu, 2 Shus (Former, Later), Jingnan, Southern Tang, 2 Hans (Southern, Northern)]:
Liao【辽朝】[Later Liao]:
Song【宋朝】[2 Songs (Northern, Southern)]:
Jin【金朝】:
Western Xia【西夏】:
(Western Liao【西辽】:)

Finished: 0/8

Challenge 4: Late Imperial China

Yuan【元朝】[Chen Han, Northern Yuan]:
Ming【明朝】[Southern Ming, Shun, Later Jin]:
Qing【清朝】:

Finished: 0/3

Category 5: Modern China

Republic of China【中华民国】:
Second Sino-Japanese War【 抗日战争】:
Chinese Civil War 【 国共内战】:
People's Republic of China (PRC)【中华人民共和国】:

Finished: 0/4

!!! UPDATED VERSION !!!
(mostly based on ciliolindemberg's updated list)

The Historical C-Drama Challenge:

Started: xx/xx/xxxx | Completed: xx/xx/xxxx
Finished categories: 0/5
Total finished dramas: 0/25

Category 1: Ancient China

• Xia【夏朝】(c.  2070-1600 BC) (note: There is hardly anthing from the Xia Dynasty, feel free to skip: Check out this post)
• Shang【商朝】(c. 1600-1046 BC)
• Zhou【周朝】(c. 1046-256 BC)
• Spring and Autumn【春秋时代】(770-476 BC)
• Warring States【战国时代】(476-221 BC)

Finished: 0/5

Category 2: Early Imperial China

• Qin【秦朝】(221-207 BC)
• Han【汉朝】(202 BC-220 AD)
• Three Kingdoms【三国】(220-280)
• Jin【晋朝】(266-420)
• Sixteen Kingdoms【十六国】(304-439)
• Northern and Southern Dynasties【南北朝】(386-589)

Finished: 0/6

Category 3: Middle Imperial China

• Sui【隋朝】(581-619)
• Tang【唐朝】(618-907)
• Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms【五代十国】(902-979)
• Liao【辽朝】(916-1125)
• Song【宋朝】(960-1279)
• Western Xia【西夏】(1038-1227)
• Jin【金朝】(1115-1234)

Finished: 0/7

Category 4: Late Imperial China

• Yuan【元朝】(1271-1368)
• Ming【明朝】(1368-1644)
• Qing【清朝】(1644-1912)

Finished: 0/3

Category 5: Modern China

• Republic of China【中华民国】(1912-1949)
• Second Sino-Japanese War【 抗日战争】(1937-1945)
• Chinese Civil War 【 国共内战】(1927-1936; 1945-1949)
• People's Republic of China (PRC)【中华人民共和国】(1949-)

Finished: 0/4

The Historical C-Drama Challenge Username: Anusaya Start Date: 2024.12.20 End Date: 2025.12.07 Mixed: Movies/Dramas Finished categories: 0/5 Total finished movies/dramas: 0/26 Progress: ☐ PTW ☐ Currently Watching ☑ Completed

Challenge:

Category 1: Ancient China
  ☑ Xia [夏朝]: The Princess Royal Special (2024).
  ☑ Shang [商朝]: Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms (2023).
  ☑ Zhou [周朝](sub-categories; Western Zhou, Gonghe, Eastern Zhou): Yu Jun Chang Ge (2025).
  ☑ Spring and Autumn [春秋时代] (sub-categories; 5 Hegemon): Escape Route (2016).
  ☑ Warring States [战国时代] (sub-categories; Qin, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Qi, Han, Chu): The Warring States Period (2019).
Finished: 5/5

Category 2: Early Imperial China
  ☑ Qin [秦朝] (sub-categories; 18 Kingdoms, Chu-Han Contention): The Last Supper (2012).
  ☑ Han [汉朝] (sub-categories; Western Han, Xin, Eastern Han): The Thirteen Generals of Han: The Battle of Shu Lei (2019).
  ☑ Three Kingdoms [三国] (sub-categories; Cao Wei, Shu Han, Eastern Wu, Yan): Red Cliff  (2008).
  ☑ Jin [晋朝] (sub-categories; 2 Jin (Western, Eastern): Shadow Love (2025).
  ☑ Sixteen Kingdoms [十六国] (sub-categories; 5 Liang (Former, Later, Northern, Southern, Western); 4 Yans (Former, Later, Northern, Southern); 3 Qin (Former, Later, Western); 2 Zhao (Former, Later), Cheng Han, Xia, Zhai Wei): Ru Guo Qin Jian Hui Shuo Hua (2025).
 ☑ Northern and Southern Dynasties [南北朝] (sub-categories; 3 Northern (Wei, Zhou, Qi), 2 Wei (Eastern, Western/Liu Song); 3 Southern (Qi, Liang, Chen), Western Liang): Feng Yue Bu Zhi Qiu (2020).
Finished: 6/6

Challenge 3: Middle Imperial China
  ☑ Sui [隋朝]: Qiao Guo Fu Ren (2024).
  ☑ Tang [唐朝] (sub-categories; Wu Zhou]: The Longest Day in Chang'an (2019).
  ☑ Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms [五代十国] (sub-categories; 5 Later (Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, Zhou), Yang Wu, Wuyue, Min, Ma Chu, 2 Shus (Former, Later), Jingnan, Southern Tang, 2 Han (Southern, Northern)): How Much Sorrow Do You Have (2007).
  ☑ Liao [辽朝] (sub-categories; Later Liao]:  Battle Between Song and Liao Dynasties (2019).
  ☑ Song [宋朝] (sub-categories; 2 Song (Northern, Southern)): Towards the Truth (2025).
  ☑ Jin [金朝]: The Grand Passion (1970).
  ☑ Western Xia [西夏]: The Iron Coffin of Western Xia (2022).
  ☑ Western Liao [西辽]: Da Liao Tai Hou (1995).
Finished: 8/8

Challenge 4: Late Imperial China
 ☑ Yuan [元朝] (sub-categories; Chen Han, Northern Yuan]: The Legend of Kublai Khan (2013).
 ☑ Ming [明朝] (sub-categories; Southern Ming, Shun, Later Jin]: Ripe Town (2023).
 ☑ Qing [清朝]: The Long River (2022).
Finished: 3/3

Category 5: Modern China
  ☑ Republic of China [中华民国]: Case 1922 (2022).
  ☑ Second Sino-Japanese War [抗日战争]: The Flowers of War (2011).
  ☑ Chinese Civil War [国共内战]: Crows and Sparrows (1949).
  ☑ People's Republic of China (PRC) [中华人民共和国]: The White Olive Tree (2025).
Finished: 4/4

Rules; Criteria; OP; https://kisskh.at/discussions/chinese-drama-movies/133504-the-historical-c-drama-challenge

This may take a few years ... but I'm willing to give it a try.  lol

The Historical C-Drama & Movie Challenge

(No subcategories but I am watching more than one title for some time periods)

Started: January 4th, 2024 | Completed: ?
Finished categories: 0/5
Total finished dramas: 1/40

✅ Watched    ⏳ Currently watching    📝Plan to watch 

Category 2: Early Imperial China		1/10
Qin 【秦朝】 (221-207 BC)	The Legend of Qin The Myth Legend of Chu and Han (King's War)	📝 Wiki
Han 【汉朝】 (202 BC-220 AD)	The Prisoner of Beauty	✅ 2025, Jul 29      ⭐ 9 "Imaginary story, imitating the background of the warlords' melee in the late Eastern Han Dynasty"
	Secret of Three Kingdoms	📝
Three Kingdoms 【三国】 (220-280)	The Wind Blows from Longxi	📝
Jin 【晋朝】 (266-420)	General and I	📝
	Shadow Love	📝
Sixteen Kingdoms 【十六国】 (304-439)	The Princess Royal	📝 From ciliolindemberg's list: "IMPERIAL - possibly (Hu) Xia kingdom* (from the Sixteen Kingdoms period)"
Northern and Southern Dynasties 【南北朝】 (386-589)	Legend of the Female General	⏳ 2025, Aug       ⭐
	Joy of Life
	Nirvana In Fire	📝 Wiki

Category 4: Late Imperial China		1/6
Yuan 【元朝】 (1271-1368)	A Weaver on the Horizon	📝 Wiki
Ming 【明朝】 (1368-1644)	Blossom	✅ 2025, Jan 17      ⭐ 9.5
Qing 【清朝】 (1644-1912)	Story of Yanxi Palace The Long River	📝 Wiki
	Legend of the Magnate

The Historical C-Drama Challenge:

P.S : I will put some  c-dramas that i've  already completed, but since i only started watching chinese dramas this year, i haven't seen a lot from different periods. I will also put the ones that i saw while procastinating to start this challenge hehe.

AC: already completed

Started: 2/10/2025 | Completed: xx/xx/xxxx
Finished categories: 0/5
Total finished dramas: 0/25

Category 1: Ancient China

Shang【商朝】(c. 1600-1046 BC)
Zhou【周朝】(c. 1046-256 BC)		While this is a Wuxia drama,  it draws heavily from traditional Chinese philosophies, martial arts and cultivation practices  of the Zhou Dynasty.  AC
Spring and Autumn【春秋时代】(770-476 BC)
Spring and Autumn【春秋时代】(770-476 BC)

Finished: 1/5

Category 2: Early Imperial China

Qin【秦朝】(221-207 BC)
Han【汉朝】(202 BC-220 AD)		The Prisoner of Beauty, is set in a fictionalized version of the Han Dynasty. AC
Three Kingdoms【三国】(220-280)
Jin【晋朝】(266-420)
Sixteen Kingdoms【十六国】(304-439)
Northern and Southern Dynasties【南北朝】(386-589)		Bright Eyes, is set during the Southern Liang Dynasty. AC

Finished: 2/6

Category 3: Middle Imperial China

Sui【隋朝】(581-619)
Tang【唐朝】(618-907)		Moonlit Reunion, is set in the Tang Dynasty. AC
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms【五代十国】(902-979)
Liao【辽朝】(916-1125)
Song【宋朝】(960-1279)		Perfect Match is set in the Song Dynasty. AC
Western Xia【西夏】(1038-1227)
Jin【金朝】(1115-1234)

Finished: 2/7

Category 4: Late Imperial China

Yuan【元朝】(1271-1368)
Ming【明朝】(1368-1644)		The Glory, thought fictional, is set in the Ming Dynasty Period. AC
Qing【清朝】(1644-1912)

Finished: 1/3

Category 5: Modern China

Finished: 0/4