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Last updated: 2017

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A few hundred hours is nothing compared to 5000 years, so instead of tripping over an electrical cord and getting your brain waves transported back to a particular dynasty (simultaneously becoming involved with the intrigues and associated dangers of various princes), pick your own experience and dynasty. This is much less time-consuming, not to mention safer. From the mythical three emperors to the last of the Qing dynasty, 5000 years of Chinese history as told by dramas and movies.
*Edit: Dramas and movies going through the Republican, early PRC, and modern-era have also been catalogued, provided that Cfensi posted on them.

Projects that Cfensi provided coverage on have been catalogued, back to our return to WordPress in 2012 (at which point, overwhelmed, I stopped).

This list of dramas is by no means comprehensive, nor are the large majority of them historically accurate (think of history as a guideline). Feel free to leave your own chronology of dramas in the comments!

Mythological
Ancient Legends 远古传奇 (2010)

Xia
N/A

Shang
N/A

Zhou
The Legend and the Hero 封神榜之凤鸣岐山 (2007, 2009) (Season 1) (Season 2)
Investiture of the Gods 封神英雄榜 (2013) (Youtube)

Spring Autumn/Warring states
The Legend of Mi Yue 芈月传 (2015) (Youtube)
For the Holy Guiguzi 谋圣鬼谷子 (2014)
Legend of the Tiger Tally 虎符传奇 (2011) (Youtube)
The Ultimate Master of War 兵圣 (2009) (Youtube)
Rebirth of a King 越王勾践 (2007) (Youtube)
The Great Revival 卧薪尝胆 (2007) (Youtube)
The Conquest 争霸传奇 (2007)
800 Years of the Chu Kingdom (documentary) 楚国上下八百年(Youtube)

Qin
Qin’s Moon/The Legend of Qin 秦时明月 (2007 – ongoing) (Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4 ,Season 5)
The Qin Empire 大秦帝国 (2008, 2012, 2017) (Youtube – 1) (Youtube – 2) (Youtube – 3)
The Great Qin Expressway 大秦直道
Assasin Jing Ke 荆轲传奇 (2004) (Youtube)
The Myth 神话 (2010) (Youtube)

Han

Legend of Chu and Han 楚汉传奇 (2012) (Youtube)
Warring Heroes of the Chu and Han 楚汉争雄 (2012) (Youtube)
Story of the Han Dynasty 楚汉风云 (2005) (Youtube)
Beauties of the Emperor 王的女人 (2013) (Youtube)
Schemes of a Beauty 美人心计 (2009) (Youtube)
The Great Emperor Wu of Han 汉武大帝 (2005) (Youtube)
The Prince of Han Dynasty 大汉天子 (2001, 2003, 2005) (Youtube)
The Virtuous Queen of Han 大汉皇后卫子夫 (2014)
Fairy Lake 仙女湖之墨仙 (2013) (Youtube)
Princess Jieyou 解忧公主 (2015)
Song in the Clouds  云中歌 (2014)
Wang Zhaojun 王昭君 (2007) (Youtube)
The Queens 母仪天下 (2008) (Youtube)
Realm of Love/Long Ballad 秀丽江山－长歌行 (2014)
Love Weaves Through A Millennium 相爱穿梭千年 (2015) (Youtube)
Legend of Banshu/Female Royal Tutor 班淑传奇 (2015)

The Last Supper 王的盛宴 (2013) (Youtube)
Painted Skin 画皮 （2008）（Youtube – or here)

Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三国演义 (1994, 2010) (Youtube -94) (Youtube -10)
New Goddess of Luo 新洛神 （2013）(Youtube)
Hua Tuo 半为苍生半为美人 （2015）
The Assassins 铜雀台 (2012) (Youtube)

 

 

Northern and Southern Dynasties
Legend of Moon and Stars (2014)
Female Prime Minister 女相 （2013）（Youtube)
The Prince of Orchid Hills  兰陵王(King of Lanling) (2014) (Youtube)
The Princess of Orchid Hills 兰陵王妃
Nirvana in Fire 琅琊榜 （2015）

Sui
Romance (Heroes) of the Sui and Tang 隋唐演义 (2013) (Youtube)
Heroes of the Sui and Tang 隋唐英雄 (three seasons: 2012, 2013, 2014) (Youtube)
Scar of Heaven: Sword of the Yellow Emperor 轩辕剑（2012）(Youtube)

Tang
The Making of a Beauty/Cosmetology High 美人制造
The Empress of China 少女武则天
Young Detective Dee 少年狄仁杰 (Youtube)
Legendary Di Renjie 通天狄仁杰
Flowers in the Mirror 镜花缘 (2016)
Romance of the West Chamber 西厢记 (2013, produced 2010) (Youtube)

Concubine Yang/Yang Guifei 杨贵妃
The Monkey King in 3D 大闹天宫 (2014) (Youtube)
Painted Skin II – The Resurrection 画皮II (2012) (Youtube)

Song
Su Dongpo 苏东坡 （2008）(Youtube)
Mermaid Legend 追鱼传奇 (2013) (Youtube)
Beauty Private Kitchens 美人私房菜 (2015)
Three Heroes and Five Gallants 五鼠闹东京 (2016)
The Four (2014) 四大名捕 （also versions from 1984, 1985, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008)
Mu Guiying 穆桂英挂帅 (Youtube)
The Patriot Yue Fei 精忠岳飞 (2013)
Legend of the Condor Heroes 射雕英雄转 (1976, 1983, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2008)
Return of the Condor Heroes (2014) 神雕侠侣 (2014, also versions from 1976, 1983, 1984, 1995,1998, 2001, 2006)

The Four 四大名捕 (Youtube)
The Four 2 四大名捕2(2014)
Saving General Yang 忠烈杨家将 (2013)
Just Another Margin 大话天仙 (Youtube)

Yuan
Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 倚天屠龙记

Ming
The Imperial Doctress 女医－明妃传 (2015) (Viki)
Incisive Great Teacher 犀利仁师(2014)
Unparalleled Happiness  欢乐无双
My Amazing Bride 极品新娘(2014)
Perfect Couple 金玉良缘 (2014) (Youtube)
Strange Hero Yizhimei 怪侠一枝梅 (2010) (Youtube)
New Dream of the Red Chamber 新红楼梦(2010)
The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom 白发魔女传 明月天国 (2014)
Brotherhood of Blades 绣春刀 (2015)
Brotherhood of Blades II 绣春刀II之修罗战场 (2017)
Liu Rushi 柳如是 (YouTube)

Qing
Secret History of Taizu 太祖秘史 (2005)(Youtube)
Secret History of Xiaozhuang 孝庄秘史 （2003）(Youtube)
Beauties Without Tears 美人无泪 (2012)(Youtube)
The Affectionate Country 多情江山 (2015)
Kangxi Dynasty 康熙王朝 (2001) (Youtube)
Duke of Mount Deer 鹿鼎记 (2014)
Chronicle of Life 寂寞空庭春欲晚 (2016) (Youtube)
Yongzheng Dynasty 雍正王朝 (1997) (Youtube)
Scarlet Heart/Startling With Each Step 步步惊心 (2011) (Youtube)
Golden Hairpins in the Palace 金叉蝶影(2014)
Legend of Zhen Huan 甄嬛传 (2011) (Youtube)
My Fair Princess/ Princess Returning Pearl 还珠格格 (Original: Youtube)
Palace III: Lian Cheng 宫锁连城(2014) （Youtube)
The Legend of the Last Emperor 末代皇帝
The Great Protector 镖门 (2014) (Youtube)
The House that Never Dies 京城81号 (2014)
The Palace 宫(2013) (Youtube)
The Guillotines 血滴子 (2013)
Tai-Chi 0 太极0 (2012)

Republican

Destined to Love You 偏偏爱上你
Love of Three Lifetimes 情定三生 (2014)
Home of a Lady 淑女之家 (2014) (Youtube)
Battle of Changsha 战长沙  (2014) (Youtube)
The Lady, The Liar 千金女贼 (2014)
Cage of Love 抓住彩虹的男人 (2014)
Butterfly Fragrance 活色生香／蝶香 (2015)
Cruel Romance 锦绣缘·华丽冒险 (2014)
Beauty at the Crossfires 烽火佳人 （2013）(Youtube)
Extremely Urgent 迫在眉睫 （2013）
Seeking My Own Future 明日已太远 (2013) (Youtube)
Spring Romance 爱在春天 (2013) (Youtube)
New Detective Squad/Judge Bao 新神探联盟 (2013) (Youtube)
Like Fireworks Like Butterfly 像烟花像蝴蝶 (2012) (Youtube)
Arrows on a Bowstring 箭在弦上 (2012) (Youtube)
The Blue Lotus 花样的年华

The Golden Era 黄金时代
All Quiet in Beijing 北平无战事 (2014)
Forever Young 无问西东
The Forty Nine Day Memorial 四十九日·祭 (2014)

Early PRC
Wolf Totem 狼图腾 （2014）
Return 归来（2013)

Modern Day

Kitten Father, Tiger Mother 猫爸虎妈 (2016)
Go! Goal! Fighting! 旋风十一人 (2016)
My Sunshine 何以笙簫默 (2015)
Secret of the Wife  妻子的秘密 (2014)
The Boss and Me 杉杉来吃 (2014) (Youtube)
Seven Friends 七个朋友 (2014)
Micro Times 微时代 (2014)
Journey to the Sing and War 唱战记 (2014)
Loving, Never Forgetting 恋恋不忘 (2014) (Youtube)
Paranormal Adonis 不一样的美男子(2014) (Youtube)
One and a Half Summer 一又二分之一的夏天 (2014) (Youtube)
Love’s Maternity Clinic 爱的妇产科 (2014) (Youtube)
Bu Bu Jing Qing 步步惊情 (2014) (Youtube)

Sunshine in Me 骄阳似我 （2014）(Youtube)
Let’s Get Married 我们结婚吧 (2013) (Youtube)
Return of the Heiress 千金归来 （2013）(Youtube)
Queen of SOP II 胜女的代价II （2013）(Youtube)
Shining Days 璀璨人生 (2013) (Youtube)
Summer Flowers Never Last 花开半夏 (2013) (Youtube)
Flowers in Fog 花非花雾非雾 (2013) (Youtube)
Weaning 断奶 (2013) (Youtube)
Genius vs. Muggles 天才碰麻瓜 (2013) (Youtube)
Bright Midsummer Day 盛夏晚晴天 (2013) (Youtube)
Our Love/Love’s Band-aid 爱的创口贴 (2013) (Youtube)
Luxuriant Gens 华丽一族 (2013) (Youtube)
Agent X X女特工 (2013) (Youtube)
Love Destiny 爱情自有天意 (2013) (Youtube)
Love Is Blind 失恋33天
Queen of SOP 1 胜女的代价 (2012)
Famous Princesses 我家有喜 (2012) (Youtube)
Spicy Soldiers 麻辣女兵 (2012) (Youtube)
Fall in Love 恋爱的那点事 (2012) (Youtube)
Fairytale In Half 二分之一童话 (2012) (Youtube)

One Road of Surprises 一路惊喜
Yi Guang Zhi Lian 逆光之恋
Love Evolutionism 爱情进化论 (2014)
Women Who Flirt Have the Best Lives 撒娇女人最好命 (2014)
Grave Robbers /The Lost Tomb 盗墓笔记
Five Minutes to Tomorrow深夜前的五分钟
But Always 一生一世 (2014)
Back in Time 匆匆那年 (2014
)Facelift Diary 整容日记 （2014 (QQ)
Break Up Guru 分手大师(2014)
Continent 后会无期 (2014)
Somewhere Only We Know 有一个地方只有我们知道 （2015）
Break-up Artist 分手达人 (2014)
My Ol’ Classmate 同桌的你 (2014) (Youtube)
Beijing Love 北京爱情故事 (2014)
Love Will Tear Us Apart 我想和你好好的 (2013) (Youtube)
One Night Surprise 一夜惊喜 (2013) （Tudou)
Day of Redemption 早见，晚爱 (2013) (Youtube)
Tiny Times 小时代
–     Tiny Times 1.0 (2013) (Tudou)
–     Tiny Times 2.0 (2013) (Tudou)
–     Tiny Times 3.0 (2014)
The Stolen Years 被偷走的那五年 (2013) (Youtube)
Crossing Borders  过界男女 （2014）
The Switch 天机 富春山居图 (2013)
My Lucky Star 非常幸运 (2013)
A Wedding Invitation 分手合约(2013)
So Young 致青春 (2013) (Tudou)
Finding Mr. Right 北京遇上西雅图 (2013)
Forever Love 201314 (2013) (Youtube)
Double Exposure 二次曝光 (2012) (Youtube) (Youtube)
Beautiful 2012: Courageous Love: After Doomsday 勇敢爱 (2012) – part of set of mini-movies
Search 搜素 (2012) (Youtube)

Future
Love Transplantation 爱情规划局 (2012, mini-movie)
Death Notify: The Darker 暗黑者 (2014)

Unknown

Border Town Prodigal 新边城浪子 (2016)
City of Hopeless Love / Hua Xu Yin 华胥引－绝爱之城 (2014)
Chinese Paladin 仙剑奇侠传 (2005, 2009, 2016) (Youtube – 1) (Youtube – 3) (Youtube – 5)
Ice Fantasy 幻城 (2016) (Youtube)
Noble Aspirations 青云志 (2016)
Snow Blossom 大寒桃花开 (produced 2004, 2014) (Youtube)
Swordsman 笑傲江湖 (2014)
The Foxes of Azure Hills 青丘狐传说 (2016)
The Journey of Flower / Hua Qian’gu 花千骨 (2014) (Youtube)
The Legend of Ancient Sword 古剑奇谭 (2014) (Youtube)
The Magic Brush 神笔马良 (2014)
The Outcast 绝命逃亡
The Shaw Eleven Lang 新萧十一郎 (2015) (Youtube)

Other
Where are We Going, Dad? 爸爸去哪儿
– Season 1 (2013)
– Season 2 (2014)
Yes, Boss! 报告老板！(2014)
Stars in Danger: The High Dive 星跳水立方 (2013)
Celebrity Splash 中国星跳跃 (2013)
A Bite of China  舌尖上的中国
–     Season 1 (Youtube)
–     Season 2 (2014) (Youtube)
New Silk Road 新丝绸之路 (Youtube)
Peony 牡丹 (2014) （Youtube)

Rounds-ups:
– 4/18/2013 (Most Popular C-dramas Online, from 2009 onwards)
– 12/5/2014
– 1/12/2014
– 1/19/2014
– 2/19/2014
– 2/28/2014
– 3/13/2014
– 4/07/2014
– 4/27/2014
– 5/07/2014
– 6/18/2014

Want to add to this list? Post in the comments! Please mention where in the chronology your dramas/movies would belong. Ex: “Before Wei Zifu, after Schemes of a Beauty”