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| Genre: | Historical fiction Shenmo | ||||||||
| Director: | Li Dachao Liu Zhenming Ren Haiyao Zhu Lihe | ||||||||
| Starring: | Zhang Zhehan Wu Jinyan Bao Jianfeng Gillian Chung Merxat Wu Jiayi Bai Lu He Fengtian | ||||||||
| Country: | China | ||||||||
| Language: | Mandarin | ||||||||
| Num Episodes: | 50 | ||||||||
| Executive Producer: | Yu Zheng | ||||||||
| Location: | Hengdian World Studios, Xinjiang, Kyoto | ||||||||
| Company: | Huanyu Film Cathay Media Mango TV Media Asia Film | ||||||||
| Channel: | iQiyi |
Zhaoge is an upcoming Chinese television series written and produced by Yu Zheng; starring Zhang Zhehan and Wu Jinyan. The series is set in the later years of Shang dynasty, and revolves around Ji Fa's life as a hostage in Zhaoge and his journey to become a legendary ruler. It involves fantasy elements originating from the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods.
During the Shang dynasty, the capital of China was moved to Zhaoge in the hopes that the city would grow prosperous. However, by the reign of King Zhou of Shang, the livelihood of the people was driven into a desperate state due to warfare. Thankfully, the son of King Zhou of Shang, also had the son of King Wen of Zhou, Ji Kao, in his hands. Ji Kao was on good terms with the son of King Zhou, Yin Jiao, who wished to save the people from their plight. Ji Kao eventually set up and degraded to the status of a slave but was saved by Yin Jiao. While fleeing, Ji Kao met Jiang Ziya, Nezha, and Yang Jian who assisted him.
Years later, Ji Kao had changed names to Ji Fa and led eight hundred feudal princes to suppress King Zhou, leading to the destruction of the Shang dynasty. Yin Jiao turned on Ji Fa, who he accused of leading his mother to her death. This eventually led to Yin Jiao’s suicide. Ji Fa eventually ascended and became King Wu of Zhou, remembering to keep in mind his shared dream with Yin Jiao to lift the people towards a better future.
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Zhang Zhehan[1] | Ji Fa | Prince of Xiqi State. Second son of King Wen of Zhou and Tai Si. Later the King Wu of Zhou. He was held as a hostage in Zhaoge. Possessing great magnanimity and lofty ambitions, he later becomes a great ruler. Daji is his one true love. |
| Wu Jinyan[2] | Daji / Yue Hao / Youji | Daughter of Su Hu. Reincarnation of a fox demon. A woman who possesses great beauty, innocence and kindness. Her first and one true love is Ji Fa. However after she becomes possessed by her previous reincarnation, her temperament undergoes a huge change and she became cunning and manipulative. She enters the palace and quickly ascends to power as the favorite consort of Di Xin. |
| Bao Jianfeng[3] | Di Xin | Last Emperor of the Shang dynasty. A well-versed man with outstanding abilities, he played a huge part in expanding the territory of Shang. However, he later falls prey to seduction, and becomes an incapable ruler. Daji is his favorite consort and he would do anything for her. |
| Gillian Chung[4] | He Sang | Queen of Yu tribe. She values both power and love equally. She loves Wu Geng deeply. |
| Merxat[5] | Wu Geng | Son of Di Xin. A talented young prince who is trapped with between his political opponents and the suspicions of his father. He wants to become the Emperor not for power, but to protect his one true love, Yi Jiang. Later being unable to stand the oppression, he begins taking revenge on the people who wronged him. |
| Wu Jiayi | Yi Jiang | Daughter of Jiang Ziya, later the Empress of Zhou (Ji Fa's wife). In order to become a skilled physician, she sneaks into the palace to seek education. There, she befriends both Ji Fa and Wu Geng, and falls in love with Ji Fa. |
| Bai Lu | Deng Chanyu | A noble lady of birth. Tu Xingsun's wife. |
| He Fengtian[6] | Shen Gongbao | Advisor of Shang Dynasty. Jiang Ziya's junior fellow apprentice. Despite appearing on good terms with Jiang Ziya, he secretly harbors a grudge toward him due to frequent comparisons between the two. Later, due to Daji's incitement, he turned against Jiang Ziya and Ji Fa. |
| Lian Lian | Consort Chen | Consort of Di Xin. Huang Feihu's younger sister. She loves her husband deeply, and becomes immensely jealous of Daji. |
| Lin Youwei | A noble man who helped Ji Fa overthrow the Shang dynasty and build a new dynasty. | |
| Chen Shu[7] | A goddess in ancient Chinese mythology, who punishes Di Xin for his wrongdoings. | |
| Liu Min[8] | Chao Xi | Queen Zhou of Shang. Di Xin's wife. |
| Hu Xian'er | Previous reincarnation of Daji. A fox spirit from the Xuanyuan graves. | |
| Ling'er | ||
| Yan Jiu | ||
| Hai Lu | Yun Jin | |
| Zheng Guolin | Ji Fa's father. | |
| Shiyue Anxi | Son of Li Jing. A protector deity. | |
| Wang Maolei | Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li. Father of Nezha. | |
| Professor Li | ||
| Sun Shaolong[9] | Tu Xingsun | |
| Xu Kai[10] | Yang Jian | Jiang Ziya's capable right-hand-man. The strongest general of Xiqi State. |
| Nan Fulong | A general of Shang Dynasty. | |
| Hong Yao | Yun Teng | |
| Wang Yizhe | Godson of Ji Chang. | |
| Deng Sha | Ma Yingshuang | |
| Wen Zhengrong | Madame Si | |
| Chen Xiuli | Pianpian | |
| Gao Yu'er | Heyin | |
| Zhang Nan | Dragon Lady | |
| Dragon Prince | ||
| Liu Zhiyang | Leader of Jie Taoism sect. | |
| Qimeng | ||
| Host | ||
| Liu Enshang | A'bao | |
| Yang Caiying | Aunt | |
| Liu Qiwei | Wizard | |
| Yang Yulan | Yan Jiu's grandmother | |
Shooting began on September 13, 2016 in Kanas Lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.[11] [12] The series wrapped up filming on February 7, 2017 at Hengdian.[13] The series reportedly took 300 million yen to produce, with six months of filming and eight months of pre-production.[14]
The series is written and produced by Yu Zheng, who also works as the art director. Directors Liu Zhenming and Ren Haiyao previously worked with Yu in the web series Demon Girl. Lun Pengbo who worked on acts as the visual effects director, and He Jian of The Glory of Tang Dynasty was appointed the costumes designer.[15] Yu Zheng also engaged history professors, host of Lecture Room and archaeology professors to ensure that the television series is as accurate to real-life history as possible.[16]