The Rise of Phoenixes
The Rise of Phoenixes is a 2018 Chinese television drama based on the novel Huang Quan by Tianxia Guiyuan, taking place in the fictional kingdom of Tiansheng, starring Chen Kun and Ni Ni in the main roles. On 14 August 2018, it premiered on Hunan Television, and Netflix on 14 September 2018. It became one of the top rated shows, was nominated for 'Best Drama Series' at the Asian Television Awards, and won 'Best Cinematography' at the 25th Shanghai Television Festival.
Synopsis
Ning Yi is a clever prince of Tiansheng, hides his true self while plotting revenge and secretly seeks justice for his brother. Feng Zhiwei, wrongly accused and banished, disguises herself as a man, joins Qingming Academy, and rises to become a court official through her talent and knowledge.Feng Zhiwei, as Wei Zhi, earns the emperor’s trust during the succession struggle but must reveal her identity when he proposes marriage to his daughter. After a near-execution, she’s pardoned and sent on a mission with the Prince of Chu, where her mutual feelings with Ning Yi surface. Following his illness and recovery, they confess their love and plan to seek the emperor’s approval to marry. She discovers she is surviving royalty from the previous empire and, believing Tiansheng was built on her loved ones’ deaths, seeks revenge, including on Ning Yi.
Cast
Supporting
Kingdom of Yue
| Actor | Character | Description |
| Chi Feng | Aunt Ziying | |
| Chen Sisi | Erhua | Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan. |
| Dai Xu | Chang Zhongxin | The second son of Chang Yuan. |
| Lv Xia | Liu Meiduo | The younger sister of Liu Mudan. She is the former fiancé of Si Yinlun and the former lover of Helian Zheng. |
| Zhang Zhizhong | Xu Qirui | Minister of Rites. |
| Sun Ning | Hu Shengshan | |
| Liu Jun | Wu Yuanming | |
| Yang Haoyu | Zhou Xizhong | |
| Dang Haoyu | San Hu | |
| Liu Haibo | Zhangsun Hong | Fourth prince of the Cheng Dynasty, Feng Zhiwei's older brother. |
| Zhang Ruoxing | Qian Yan | |
| Wu You | Ni Wenyu | |
| Zheng Yu | Si Xian | |
| Luan Yuanhui | Chen Shao | |
| Dai Wenwen | Si Yinle | The younger sister of Si Yinlun. |
| Sui Yumeng | Yao Yangci | Secretary Yao's daughter. She is very talented and clever. |
| Zhang Xinying | Hua Gongmei | |
| He Miao | Hu Jingshui | |
| Cai Yatong | Jiarong | Ning Yi's maternal cousin, and one of the few remaining members of the Sunset tribe. |
| Yue Xin | Siling | |
| Zhao Yanmin | Li Shiru | |
| Chen Youwang | Elder Sizhi | |
| Yan Zhiping | Liu Yuanzheng | |
| Tang Xu | Royal Physician Lu | |
| Dong Zhao | Royal Physician Zhang | |
| Zhang Shihong | Royal Physician | |
| Wu Yuanfang | Royal Physician | |
| Zhang Maolin | Xu Shichang | |
| Li Bin | Royal Astronomer | |
| Xu Shaoying | Guo Jun | A general and subordinate of Jin Siyu. |
| Chi Wen | Elder of Sunset Tribe | |
| Deng Mingjiang | Officer guarding the cliff | |
| Qu Guoxiang | Old Horsekeeper | An assassin of the Bloody Pagoda who was taken in by the Crown Prince after the fall of the Cheng Dynasty. |
| Kang Fuzhen | Young Horsekeeper | Old Horsekeeper's son. A kind-hearted young man who saves Wei Zhi's life. |
| Chen Liwei | Porter | |
| Jiang Zhongwei | Physician of Pu Courtyard | |
| Wen Zheng | Officer of the Seal | |
| Teng Yi | Sanhua | Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan. |
| Zhang Yuxiao | Sihua | Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan. |
| Cheng Guodong | Sir Hu | |
| Zhang Ye | Changji | A guard of Princess Shaoning. |
| Yang Kaicheng | Chang Zhongli | |
| Tang Xiawa | Chang Zhongli's wife | |
| Jin Jing | Hushi | |
| Ma Weifu | Attendant Li | |
| Cui Youbin | Chang Zhongyi | The first son of Chang Yuan. |
| Feng Jun | Nursemaid Chen | |
| Zhang Yixin | Consort Chang's nursemaid | |
| Shi Min | Palace maid of Hua Gongmei | |
| Xie Guohua | Consort Chang's attendant | |
| Xu Li | Ziyin | Lady Wang's maid. |
| Zhou Xin | Zhuxin | |
| Zhang Ziting | Duo'er | A maid of Noble Consort Chang. |
| Hu Yilin | Ying'er | |
| Zhang Bo | Chen Ming | |
| Sun Yiyang | Xuanchen | |
| Wu Bohang | Lu Ming | |
| Wang Jiasui | Qinyu | |
| Zhang Luyao | Lianmeng | |
| Wang Ailin | Bixia | |
| Jiang Yunyun | Xixue | |
| Wang Yijie | Xiwen | A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang. |
| Tian Shuang | Qianmo | A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang. |
| Cao Lei | Prison Head | |
| Wang Hong | Sun Xiang | |
| Li Zhenyu | Li Cai | A guard of Ning Qi. |
| Chang Wei | Huo Laosan | Once a prison officer who guarded and befriended Ning Yi during his years of captivity. |
| Ma Zhenrong | Song Laoer | |
| Luo Siyu | Madam | Madam of the dance house. |
| Yunyun | A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang. | |
| Zhang Bo | Chahu | |
| Xu Zhifei | Guest | |
| Wu Youxi | Physician 1 | |
| Song Dongxiao | Physician 2 | |
| Shen Yang | Xingyi | |
| Xing Xiaoyan | Song Jie | An Imperial Guard sent to Minhai. |
| Wang Chen | Yu Xiu | |
| Zheng Xiaozhong | Lin Renqi | Investigatory Officer. |
| Xiang Yu | Commander of Ning Qi's troops | |
| Wang Xi | Captain Wei | |
| Li Zhenyu | Head Pirate | |
| Yao Weiping | Monk | |
| Cao Yonggang | Monk Wanjie | Brother of Minister Xu. Author of Overview of Dacheng. |
| Li Du | Coroner | |
| Fang Haowei | Maid of Qiu Manor | |
| Zhang Ya'nan | Noble lady | |
| Jiang Dongmei | Royal consort | |
| Wang Yanjun | Ning Sheng's subordinate | |
| Lao Yuan | Qingming Academy's attendant | |
| Lu Chenyang | Dingsan | A servant of Minister Yao. |
| Wang Quan | Shaoning's senior eunuch | |
| Gao Fengyang | Shaoning's junior eunuch | |
| Yao Zhuoran | Female commoner | |
| Zhang Zisheng | Commoner's husband | |
| Liu Muyu | Xin Ziyan's servant | |
| Liu Hanyang | Tie Nan | |
| Li Honglei | Boss | |
| Zhao Shuai | Waiter | |
| Zhu Feng | Officer 1 | |
| Sun Letian | Officer 2 | |
| Shi Yafeng | Crippled man | |
| Zhang Mengqiang | Store owner | |
| Ma Shuo | Jailer | |
| Chang Li | Prisoner | |
| Yang Feng | Coroner 2 | |
| Yi Yajun | Private adviser | |
| Chang Li | Human trafficker | |
| Song Qingchang | Elder | |
| Wang Junheng | Medicine shop employee | |
| Jiang Hongshi | Physician | |
| Chong Yunpeng | Physician | |
| Li Zhencheng | Officer | |
| Gao Wei | Liu Guang | |
| Huang Junchao | Second in-command of White Head Cliff | |
| Li Wenping | Chen Shao's father | |
| Yu Ganglong | Execution military officer | |
| Chen Zhuankai | Execution civil officer | |
| Cui Jun | Servant | |
| Shi Junxian | General | |
| Liu Songbin | Cheng Dynasty elders | |
| Zhang Jianguo | Cheng Dynasty elders | |
| Zhang Dunyou | Cheng Dynasty elders | |
| Zhu Song | Cheng Dynasty elders | |
| Chi Dan | Jinshi Ambassadors | |
| Yin Xiaoming | Jinshi Ambassadors | |
| Tao Ci | Jinshi Officials | |
| Yang Minggang | Jinshi Officials | |
| Ding Hao | Jinshi Officials | |
| Yin Gang | Jinshi Officials | |
| Xu Zhengzhi | Jinshi Officials | |
| Han Meimei | Matrons of Honor | |
| Liu Fang | Matrons of Honor | |
| Yang Huilin | Matrons of Honor | |
| Xu Li | Nanny | The wet nurse of Helian Tu. |
| Guo Yinyu | Descendant of Chang | |
| Jing Haifeng | Descendant of Chang | |
| Zhang Zhi | Descendant of Chang | |
| Lei Chao | Descendant of Chang | |
| Liu Bingchao | Descendant of Chang |
Production
On 27 27 April 2017, the extended cast was revealed; Principal photography began on 27 May 2017, and concluded on 12 December 2017. The series was also noted for using "real-time" voice recording during filming. It was the first television drama filmed at Tang City Film Studios, Xiangyang; the location was chosen for its historical authenticity and uniqueness. Additional filming took place in Wuxi and Duyun. It received distribution licence to broadcast 70 episodes.Crew
- Directors: Shen Yan and Liu Haibo
- Writers: Lu Jing - original author, Lu Yi, Zou Yue, Wang Pei, and Qiu Yongyi
- Costume Designer & Artistic Director: William Chang
- Additional Costume Designers: Lu Fengshan and Fang Sizhe
- Stunt Choreographer: Yuan Bin
- Stills Photographer: Bao Xiangyu
- Composer: Dong Yingda
- Cinematographer: Li Xi
- Artistic Director: Kun Xiaotong
- Editor: Zhang Jia
- Etiquette Consultant: Li Bin