China | marriage tropes

Arranged marriage

Eldest daughter Ye Li marries the crippled Prince Mo Xiu Yao, while her sister Ye Ying weds Prince Mo Jing Li the same day.

Arranged marriage

Ah Chou was originally a lowly young girl who could be trampled and bullied by anyone. Yet, because her face resembled that of the wealthy Wei Rao of the Hou Mansion, she unexpectedly became the bride of Prince Lu Zuo of the National Public Mansion.

Arranged marriage

Princess Ti Lan of Xiangnan, bright and free-spirited, loses her peaceful royal life overnight due to a coup and awakens the ability to foresee the future as a "Blind Songstress". She crosses paths with General Tang Qian Zhi, and through a twist of fate, they become betrothed, forming a deep bond.

Arranged marriage

During the rebellion of the powerful feudal lord of Dayou, the realm descends into chaos, and warlords rise across the land. Xiao Wu Yi, the cold and ruthless commander general of the Northern Army, sets up a scheme for the hand of Xie Jia Yu, the money-driven, crafty only daughter of the Grand Tutor Xie Huai Gui, in order to quell the rebellion of the Duke of Changsha.

Marriage of convenience

It follows Fan Chang Yu, a butcher’s daughter, and Xie Zheng, a fallen noble seeking revenge. Their fake marriage turns into true love, but war tears them apart.

Marriage alliance

Xiao Qiao, a clever girl from the Qiao family, marries Wei Shao, the sharp and kind master of the Wei family, as part of a family alliance.

Arranged marriage

Cui Shi Yi, betrothed to the Crown Prince since birth, loses her voice and sees her former fiancé become a child Emperor.

Arranged marriage

Set during the Ming Dynasty, the story follows the romance between General Xu Ling Yi and Shi Yi Niang, the concubine's daughter, who is chosen to marry him to save her declining family.

Arranged marriage 

Liu Yu Ru is the only legitimate daughter of a former cloth merchant living a stoic life with her mother in a household where they're mistreated despite their status. Due to a misunderstanding, she is married off to Gu Jiu Si, the notorious son of Yangzhou's wealthiest family, infamous for his idle lifestyle and indolent ways.

Forced marriage

Hua Rong is about to set sail on a heroic adventure she’s often dreamt about, only to be kidnapped by the notorious pirate, Qin Shang Cheng, who is set on making her his bride, willing or not.

Marriage of convenience

Abandoned as a child, Zhuang Han Yan grows up in the southern countryside before returning to her family in the capital. She catches the eye of Fu Yun Xi, a deputy minister with a mysterious illness, who sees her as an ideal wife.

Marriage of convenience (season 2 of Flourished Peony)

Together with Jiang Chang Yang, He Wei Fang aids the emperor during a time of political unrest and helps suppress Prince Ning’s rebellion, all while nurturing a powerful love that withstands hardship.

Marriage alliance

Desperate to bring peace to his crumbling nation, the young emperor, Liu Yi Kang, son of Emperor Wu of Liu Song, the founder of the Liu Song Dynasty, is willing to do whatever it takes to save his people. Yi Kang agrees to an alliance through marriage with the powerful Shen family.

Arranged/forced marriage

Han Yun Xi, a skilled doctor and poison expert, is forced to marry into the royal family during a time of political turmoil among three kingdoms: Tian Ning, Western Zhou, and Northern Li.

Arranged marriage

A notorious general and an aristocrat's daughter hold each other's hands to spend a lifetime together while protecting what's precious to them.

Arranged marriage

Ninth Princess Chu Yue has experienced long-term insomnia stemming from a childhood accident. She and her younger brother have depended upon each other all of their lives. Under the wrong circumstance, Yue weds the famous general Xue Yao.

Marriage alliance

A love story unfolds as the 9th Princess of Western Liang, Xiao Feng, is sent to the Central Plains to fulfill a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince.

Arranged marriage

Mo Lian Cheng, the 8th prince of Dongyue, is forced to marry Qu Tan Er, who loves his elder brother, Mo Yi Huai. Before the wedding, Qu Tan Er attempts suicide but wakes up with the soul of modern-day real estate agent Xiao Tan in her body.  

Arranged marriage

During the Song Dynasty, Ye Zhao dressed to become a general of outstanding ability, receiving the top rank of general. The Empress Dowager constantly worries about Ye Zhao holding too much power and takes the opportunity to betroth Ye Zhao to one of the Emperor's nephews, the no-good Prince of Nanping, Zhao Yujin, who possesses remarkable beauty but is pampered, lazy and spends his time on "useless" artistic pursuits.  

Arranged marriage

Because of a marriage selection, girls from all over the world gather in Xin Chuan. Yin Zheng, one of the six young masters of Xin Chuan, who keeps a low profile, and Li Wei, who just wants to work hard and not get selected, live comfortably in this hometown.

Arranged marriage

The story follows two couples who unexpectedly end up in marriages they never anticipated, gradually growing in love and trust.

Contract marriage

Don’t all mountain bandits love money? For a chest full of gold, Chang Le agrees to marry a duplicitous prince, marking the start of a beautiful romance. Chang Le is no longer free and untamable, having become the fake bride of Crown Prince Li Che. 

Arranged marriage

When Zhao Zhen discovers his biological mother is not the Empress Dowager Liu E, but her maid Li Lanhui, he arranges a marriage between his beloved daughter Princess Fukang and the Li family’s son Li Wei as compensation for his lack of filial piety.

Arranged marriage

Shen Yi Yi lives in the city and has excellent cooking skills. When she was young, she was friends with Shen Die Yi. Die Yi abruptly dies of a cough and her life remains a mystery. In order to repay her friendship with Die Yi, Yi Yi poses as Die Yi and heads to Chang’an Lu Xing to fulfill the marriage contract.

Marriage alliance

Princess Li Ming Yue of Xiyue is sent to marry Prince Li Qian of Beixuan in a diplomatic arrangement.

Marriage alliance

Crown Princess Rong Le of Western Qi awakens with amnesia and doubts about her identity. To secure a political alliance, she is ordered to marry Prince Wu You, but he rejects her. Disguising herself as the tea house owner, Man Yao, she secretly searches for priceless books that could change the fate of a nation. Her journey leads her back to Wu You, who falls for her, unaware she is the princess he turned away. But with new marriage orders from General Fu Chou of Northern Lin, it might be too late for him to realize the truth.

Arranged marriage

Xie Xiao Man unintentionally offended Zhao Xiao Qian, the famous Julu Prince of the Wu Jiang manor. Because of a set-up, the two enter into a contract marriage, leaving Xiao Man no choice but to marry into the royal family.

Forced marriage

The domineering female bandit Bai Yun Feng led Chen Da Wan and her brothers in a vain attempt to hijack the birthday gift given by General Hu Shou to Shang Shu Hu Bu. However, they fumbled and were caught by General Huang Fu who gave her two options. Be executed or get married to his second son, Huang Fu Yao, under the pseudonym Lu Wan'er.  

Arranged marriage

A modern businessman travels back to ancient times; he lands in the body of a man about to be married as a matrilocal husband into a family of cloth merchants

Contract marriage

Meanwhile, a married man is pressuring Ju Mu Er into a marriage she clearly rejects. In order to keep her unwanted suitor at bay, she proposes a contract marriage to Long Yue, to which he surprisingly agrees!

Arranged marriage

Wang Xuan and Xiao Qi marry for power but soon fall in love as they fight to protect their homeland.