''The Empress of the Dynasty'' is a Taiwanese television series based on the life of

Wu Zetian Wu Zetian (17 February 624 – 16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, was the ''de facto'' ruler of the Tang dynasty from 665 to 705, ruling first through others and then (from 690) in her own right. From 665 to 690, she was first empres ...

, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Directed by Li Yueh-fung and produced by Lin Hui-chun, the series starred

Angela Pan Angela Pan Yin-tze (born 5 June 1949), or Violet Pan Ying Zi, is a Hong Kong actress who starred in numerous films and soap operas in the 1970s–1980s. Life and career Pan started her career in Hong Kong in films and stage shows. She became ...

as Wu Zetian. It was first broadcast in Taiwan on CTV from 18 November 1985 to 10 January 1986.

Plot

Wu Shiyue Wǔ Shìyuē (; 559–635 CE) was the father of Wu Zetian, the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant. Posthumously honored with the title of King Zhongxiao, Wu was the son of Wu Hua and became a timber merchant. ...

was surprised when his wife Lady Yang gave birth to a daughter. His daughter was foretold to be important in the future. His daughter, Wu Meiniang entered the palace at the age of fourteen to serve as a concubine to

Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty ...

. He acknowledges these talents and favors her after the death of

Empress Zhangsun Empress Zhangsun (長孫皇后, personal name unknown, presumably Wugou (無垢) (15 March 601 – 28 July 636), formally Empress Wendeshunsheng (文德順聖皇后, literally "the civil, virtuous, serene, and holy empress") or, in short, Empre ...

. She instead develops feelings for his son

Li Zhi Li Zhi may refer to: *Emperor Gaozong of Tang (628–683), named Li Zhi, Emperor of China *Li Ye (mathematician) (1192–1279), Chinese mathematician and scholar, birth name Li Zhi *Li Zhi (philosopher) (1527–1602), Chinese philosopher from the M ...

. She helped him gain prominence over his brothers

Li Tai Li Tai (; 620 – 14 January 653), courtesy name Huibao (惠褒), nickname Qingque (青雀), formally Prince Gong of Pu (濮恭王), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Li Tai, who carried the title of Prince of Wei, was favored ...

and

Li Chengqian Li Chéngqián (李承乾) (618 – 5 January 645), courtesy name Gaoming (高明), formally Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王), was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was Emperor Taizong's oldest son and first crown prince, but was ...

. After the Crown Prince is deposed, Meiniang helped Li Zhi become the Crown Prince, and eventually emperor. He rescued her from a convent, and she is taken back to the palace after Emperor Taizong dies. She faces enemies such as Empress Wang and

Consort Xiao Consort Xiao may refer to: *Empress Xiao (Sui dynasty) (566–648), wife of Emperor Yang of Sui * Pure Consort Xiao (died 655), concubine of Emperor Gaozong of Tang * Empress Zhenxian (died 847), concubine of Emperor Muzong of Tang * Xiao Wen (died ...

, and several of Li Zhi's officials. After the downfall of Consort Xiao and Empress Wang, Meiniang ascends as Empress Wu. Her life isn't easy, because her sister the Lady of Han has an affair with Li Zhi and she is despised by

Zhangsun Wuji Zhangsun Wuji (; died 659), courtesy name Fuji (輔機), formally the Duke of Zhao, was a Chinese politician who served as a chancellor in the early Tang dynasty. He was Empress Zhangsun's brother, which made him a brother-in-law of Emperor Taiz ...

. Since Li Zhi is often ill, Meiniang is in charge of politics.

Cast

Princess Taiping Princess Taiping (, lit. "Princess of Great Peace", personal name unknown, possibly Li Lingyue (李令月)) (after 662 – 2 August 713) was a royal princess and prominent political figure of the Tang dynasty and her mother Wu Zetian's Zhou dynas ...

(young) * Liang Hsiu-shen as Emperor Taizong * Fan Jih-hsing as Emperor Gaozong * Ke Wei-chia as Li Xian * Hua Shao-chiang as Li Dan * Kao Pei-chun as

Li Hong Li Hong () (652 – 25 May 675), formally Emperor Xiaojing (孝敬皇帝, literally, "the filial and respectful emperor") with the temple name of Yizong (義宗), was a crown prince (not emperor, despite his formal title) of the Chinese dynasty ...

* Hou Kuan-chun as Li Xian * You Kuo-tung as

* Ting Hua-chung as

* Liu Lin as Li Yuanchang * Tsui Hao-jan as Ming Xuewen * Hsu Chia-jung as Cheng Nanying * Chen Pei-ling as Empress Wang * Liu Hsiao-ping as Lady of Han * Pan Chin-hao as Helan Minzhi * Kung Lien-hua as

* Sihung Lung as

* Lin Hsiu-chun as

* Chang Pi as Xiaoshunzi * Chou Chung-lien as

Shangguan Yi Shangguan Yi (; 608 – 4 January 665), courtesy name Youshao (), formally Duke of Chu (), was a Chinese poet and politician. He was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. ...

* Pei Hsin-yu as

Shangguan Wan'er Shangguan Wan'er (664–21 July 710) was a Chinese politician, poet, and imperial consort of the Wu Zhou and Tang dynasties. Described as a "female prime minister," Shangguan rose from modest origins as a palace servant to become secretary and ...

* Kuan Yi as Madam Liu * Li Yih-min as Zhikong ( Feng Xiaobao) *

Wang Jui Wang Hsi-jui (; 25 July 1930 – 1 June 2016), known by his stage name Wang Jui (), was a Taiwanese actor. He won the Golden Bell Award three times. Wang died in Taipei of heart and lung failure on 1 June 2016 at the age of 85. Selected filmo ...

Chu Suiliang Chu Suiliang (596–658), courtesy name Dengshan, formally the Duke of Henan, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, and politician who served as a chancellor during the reigns of the emperors Taizong and Gaozong in the Tang dynasty. He became i ...

* Tieh Meng-chiu as Wang Renyou * Kao Chen-peng as Yuan Tiangang * Nan Chun as

Li Chunfeng Li Chunfeng (; 602–670) was a Chinese mathematician, astronomer, historian, and politician who was born in today's Baoji, Shaanxi, during the Sui and Tang dynasties. He was first appointed to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau to help institute a ca ...

* Wu Fung as

Di Renjie Di Renjie (630 – November 11, 700), courtesy name Huaiying (懷英), formally Duke Wenhui of Liang (梁文惠公), was a Chinese politician of Tang and Wu Zhou dynasties, twice serving as chancellor during the reign of Wu Zetian. He was one of ...

* Yu Heng as Zhang Wenguan * Min Min as Dai Zhide * Chen You-hsin as

Pei Yan Pei Yan (裴炎) (died November 30, 684), courtesy name Zilong (子隆), was a Chinese politician during the Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong That dominated by Empress Wu, as well Later alone regency by his ...

* Chen Cheng as Dahulu * Fang Mian as

Wu Shihuo Wǔ Shìyuē (; 559–635 CE) was the father of Wu Zetian, the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant. Posthumously honored with the title of King Zhongxiao, Wu was the son of Wu Hua and became a timber merchant. ...

* Chang Chuan as Yao Lie * as Madam Zheng / Madam Yang * Hu Wen-tou as eunuch {{DEFAULTSORT:Empress of the Dynasty, The 1985 Taiwanese television series debuts 1986 Taiwanese television series endings Taiwanese television series Television series set in the Tang dynasty Television series set in the Zhou dynasty (690–705) 1980s Taiwanese television series Works about Wu Zetian Television series set in the 7th century Cultural depictions of Wu Zetian Cultural depictions of Di Renjie