Learn Chinese History
NOT including fantasy/wuxia/romance period dramas. This is purely for works that portray historical stories, albeit fictionalized somewhat.
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1. The Emperor and the Assassin
Chinese Movie - 1998
Qin Dynasty
About a famous assassination attempt on the first emperor
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2. The Great Conqueror's Concubine
Hong Kong Movie - 1994
Late Qin dynasty
About the main players in the Chu-Han contention that leads to the founding of the Han dynasty
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3. Han Wu Da Di
Chinese Drama - 2005, 58 episodes
Han Dynasty
Biographical drama about the Wu emperor
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4. Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chinese Drama - 1994, 84 episodes
Three Kingdoms era (late Han dynasty to founding of the Jin dynasty)
Based on a novel that fictionalizes the history of this era
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5. Red Cliff
Chinese Movie - 2008
Three Kingdoms era
Specifically about the burning of the ships at Red Cliff. The movie series tries to be a bit more historical than the novel/drama, but also has its own fictionalizations
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6. Red Cliff 2
Chinese Movie - 2009
Three Kingdoms era
Specifically about the burning of the ships at Red Cliff. The movie series tries to be a bit more historical than the novel/drama, but also has its own fictionalizations
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7. Empress Wu Cheh Tien
Chinese Drama - 1995, 30 episodes
Tang Dynasty
Biographical drama about the woman who declared herself Emperor, Wu Zetian.
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8. Genghis Khan
Chinese Drama - 2004, 30 episodes
Late Song Dynasty - Yuan Dynasty
Biographical drama about Genghis Khan
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9. Kang Xi Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2001, 50 episodes
Qing Dynasty
Biographical drama about Emperor Kangxi
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10. Yong Zheng Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 1999, 44 episodes
Qing Dynasty
Biographical drama about Emperor Yongzheng
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11. Fearless
Hong Kong Movie - 2006
Late Qing Dynasty
Fictionalized biography of martial artist Huo Yuanjia. Contains a lot of historical references to the issues of the era, including imperialism and political instability
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12. Towards the Republic
Chinese Drama - 2003, 60 episodes
Late Qing Dynasty - Republic era
Historical drama about the fall of the Qing dynasty, unequal treaties, and Sun Yat-sen's struggle to found a republic (and a little of the aftermath)
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13. Da Zhai Men
Chinese Drama - 2001, 40 episodes
Late Qing Dynasty - Republic era - New China
Fictionalized account of a large wealthy family in the medical field in Beijing (based on the real family that ran Tongrentang). Very historically informed, including late Qing era palace politics, the 8-army alliance, the changeover to a republic, the Japanese invasion, and the founding of New China.
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14. Founding of the Republic
Chinese Drama - 0000, 30 episodes