Ning Yi (Chen Kun) is a clever prince of Tiansheng, hides his true self while plotting revenge and secretly seeks justice for his brother. Feng Zhiwei (Ni Ni), 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 Ning Yi.[5]
The last princess of Dacheng, hidden as a Qiu niece, rises as scholar Wei Zhi to survive and protect her family—falling for Ning Yi despite a vow never to marry him.
The ruthless Crown Prince of Tiansheng is ambitious but lacks insight, relying on advisors and the Bloody Pagoda to crush rivals. Backed by the powerful Chang clan, he masterminded Ning Qiao’s death.
The late Crown Prince Zhuangyi, third son of Tiansheng, was framed for treason and executed. Once close to Ning Yi, his death sparked Ning Yi’s quest for justice.
Tong Shao
Ning Yan (宁研)
The foolish and greedy Prince of Zhao, fifth son of Tiansheng, blindly follows the Crown Prince—until deceived by Headmaster Xin into opposing Ning Chuan as the “true” heir.
The seventh prince, Ning Qi, returns after a decade at the border. Once candid and devoted to his mother, he grows ruthless and ambitious—viewing Ning Yi as his greatest rival and stopping at nothing to eliminate him.
Consort Yan, princess of the Sunset tribe and Ning Yi’s mother, was wrongly accused of witchcraft and imprisoned for twenty years—until Ning Yi uncovers the truth and secures her release.
Noble Consort Chang. Ning Sheng's birth mother and Ning Yi's step-mother. Member of the Chang clan, younger sister of the late empress (Ning Chuan's and Ning Shao’s mother).
Zhu Rui
Yueling (月泠)
Consort Qing, daughter of Sanhu and lover of Crown Prince Zhangsun Hong, poses as Ning Qi’s ally while secretly plotting the emperor’s downfall—sowing discord in court to fracture the dynasty.
Daughter of a family who fell victim to Chang Yuan, the Duke of Min. She allies with Ning Yi and Wei Zhi to bring Chang Yuan to justice and later becomes Zhiwei's best friend.
Duke of Min, head of the Chang family and powerful general, helped found Tiansheng Kingdom. As the emperor’s biggest threat, he wields vast court influence and is uncle to the Crown Prince and second prince.
Uncle of the Crown Prince and second prince, and the Duke of Min's younger brother. A loyal ally of the Crown Prince.
Lu Yong
Qiu Shangqi (秋尚奇)
Commander-in-chief of the infantry and leader of the Flying Shadow guards, he seems allied with the Crown Prince but is a cautious opportunist who prioritizes his own safety. He’s Feng Zhiwei’s maternal uncle.
Xin Ziyan's wife. A very jealous woman who also deeply loves her husband.
Xu Jian
Yan Huaishi (燕怀石)
Son of the influential Yan clan of Minhai, he enters Qingming Academy alongside Feng Zhiwei (disguised as Wei Zhi) and befriends her, aware of her true identity. He is betrothed to Hua Qiong.
Qiu Shangqi’s spoiled daughter, betrothed to Ning Yi by the Emperor. She tries to humiliate Feng Zhiwei and her brother but often ends up bullied by them.
Qiu Mingying’s biological son and decoy for Feng Zhiwei, the Dacheng Remnant. A cheeky manchild devoted to his mother and sister, he ultimately sacrifices himself to save them.
Heir of Jinshi, a northern nomadic kingdom, who seeks Zhiwei’s hand. Captivated by her strength, he’s willing to do anything to support her dreams—clashing with Ning Yi’s plans.
Li Jingjing
Liu Mudan (刘牡丹)
Grand Royal Consort. Helian Zheng's stepmother, who raised him after his mother's death.
Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan.
Dai Xu
Chang Zhongxin (常忠信)
The second son of Chang Yuan.
Lv Xia
Liu Meiduo (刘梅朵)
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 (徐启瑞)
Minister of Rites.
Sun Ning
Hu Shengshan (胡圣山)
Liu Jun
Wu Yuanming (吴渊铭)
Yang Haoyu
Zhou Xizhong (周希中)
Dang Haoyu
San Hu (三虎)
Liu Haibo
Zhangsun Hong (长孙弘)
Fourth prince of the Cheng Dynasty, Feng Zhiwei's older brother.
Zhang Ruoxing
Qian Yan (钱彦)
Wu You
Ni Wenyu (倪文昱)
Zheng Yu
Si Xian (司宪)
Luan Yuanhui
Chen Shao (陈绍)
Dai Wenwen
Si Yinle (司隐乐)
The younger sister of Si Yinlun.
Sui Yumeng
Yao Yangci (姚扬慈)
Secretary Yao's daughter. She is very talented and clever.
Zhang Xinying
Hua Gongmei (华宫眉)
He Miao
Hu Jingshui (胡静水)
Cai Yatong
Jiarong (佳荣)
Ning Yi's maternal cousin, and one of the few remaining members of the Sunset tribe.
Yue Xin
Siling (四翎)
Zhao Yanmin
Li Shiru (厉世和)
Chen Youwang
Elder Sizhi (四知长老)
Yan Zhiping
Liu Yuanzheng (刘院正)
Tang Xu
Royal Physician Lu (卢御医)
Dong Zhao
Royal Physician Zhang (张御医)
Zhang Shihong
Royal Physician (御医)
Wu Yuanfang
Zhang Maolin
Xu Shichang (许事昌)
Li Bin
Royal Astronomer (灵台丞)
Xu Shaoying
Guo Jun (郭俊)
A general and subordinate of Jin Siyu.
Chi Wen
Elder of Sunset Tribe (日落族族长)
Deng Mingjiang
Officer guarding the cliff (守崖官)
Qu Guoxiang
Old Horsekeeper (老马夫)
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 (小马夫)
Old Horsekeeper's son. A kind-hearted young man who saves Wei Zhi's life.
Chen Liwei
Porter (担夫)
Jiang Zhongwei
Physician of Pu Courtyard (浦园御医)
Wen Zheng
Officer of the Seal (奉印大臣)
Teng Yi
Sanhua (三花)
Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan.
Zhang Yuxiao
Sihua (四花)
Dahua's younger sister, sister-in-law of Xin Ziyan.
Cheng Guodong
Sir Hu (胡先生)
Zhang Ye
Changji (长吉)
A guard of Princess Shaoning.
Yang Kaicheng
Chang Zhongli (常忠礼)
Tang Xiawa
Chang Zhongli's wife (常忠礼夫人)
Jin Jing
Hushi (扈室)
Ma Weifu
Attendant Li (刘管事)
Cui Youbin
Chang Zhongyi (常忠义)
The first son of Chang Yuan.
Feng Jun
Nursemaid Chen (陈嬷嬷)
Zhang Yixin
Consort Chang's nursemaid (常贵妃嬷嬷)
Shi Min
Palace maid of Hua Gongmei (华宫眉宫女)
Xie Guohua
Consort Chang's attendant (常贵妃内侍)
Xu Li
Ziyin (梓音)
Lady Wang's maid.
Zhou Xin
Zhuxin (烛心)
Zhang Ziting
Duo'er (朵儿)
A maid of Noble Consort Chang.
Hu Yilin
Ying'er (莹儿)
Zhang Bo
Chen Ming (陈明)
Sun Yiyang
Xuanchen (宣辰)
Wu Bohang
Lu Ming (陆明)
Wang Jiasui
Qinyu (沁玉)
Zhang Luyao
Lianmeng (怜梦)
Wang Ailin
Bixia (碧霞)
Jiang Yunyun
Xixue (惜雪)
Wang Yijie
Xiwen (熙雯)
A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang.
Tian Shuang
Qianmo (千茉)
A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang.
Cao Lei
Prison Head (牢头)
Wang Hong
Sun Xiang (孙祥)
Li Zhenyu
Li Cai (李才)
A guard of Ning Qi.
Chang Wei
Huo Laosan (霍老三)
Once a prison officer who guarded and befriended Ning Yi during his years of captivity.
Ma Zhenrong
Song Laoer (宋老二)
Luo Siyu
Madam (老鸨)
Madam of the dance house.
Yunyun
A courtesan at the House of Lanxiang.
Zhang Bo
Chahu (茶壶)
Xu Zhifei
Guest (客人)
Wu Youxi
Physician 1 (郎中甲)
Song Dongxiao
Physician 2 (郎中乙)
Shen Yang
Xingyi (邢义)
Xing Xiaoyan
Song Jie (宋杰)
An Imperial Guard sent to Minhai.
Wang Chen
Yu Xiu (余休)
Zheng Xiaozhong
Lin Renqi (林任奇)
Investigatory Officer.
Xiang Yu
Commander of Ning Qi's troops (宁齐首领)
Wang Xi
Captain Wei (卫队长)
Li Zhenyu
Head Pirate (海盗头目)
Yao Weiping
Monk (禅师)
Cao Yonggang
Monk Wanjie (万劫禅师)
Brother of Minister Xu. Author of Overview of Dacheng.
Li Du
Coroner (仵作)
Fang Haowei
Maid of Qiu Manor (秋府丫鬟)
Zhang Ya'nan
Noble lady (贵女)
Jiang Dongmei
Royal consort (贵妃)
Wang Yanjun
Ning Sheng's subordinate (宁昇幕僚)
Lao Yuan
Qingming Academy's attendant (青溟书院门房)
Lu Chenyang
Dingsan (丁三)
A servant of Minister Yao.
Wang Quan
Shaoning's senior eunuch (韶宁大太监)
Gao Fengyang
Shaoning's junior eunuch (韶宁小太监)
Yao Zhuoran
Female commoner (民妇)
Zhang Zisheng
Commoner's husband (民妇丈夫)
Liu Muyu
Xin Ziyan's servant (辛子砚仆人)
Liu Hanyang
Tie Nan (铁男)
Li Honglei
Boss (店铺老板)
Zhao Shuai
Waiter (店小二)
Zhu Feng
Officer 1 (官兵甲)
Sun Letian
Officer 2 (官兵乙)
Shi Yafeng
Crippled man (瘸子)
Zhang Mengqiang
Store owner (摊主)
Ma Shuo
Jailer (狱卒甲)
Chang Li
Prisoner (犯人甲)
Yang Feng
Coroner 2 (仵作甲)
Yi Yajun
Private adviser (师爷)
Chang Li
Human trafficker (人牙子)
Song Qingchang
Elder (长老)
Wang Junheng
Medicine shop employee (药铺伙计)
Jiang Hongshi
Physician (御医)
Chong Yunpeng
Li Zhencheng
Officer (官员)
Gao Wei
Liu Guang (刘光)
Huang Junchao
Second in-command of White Head Cliff (白头崖副将)
Li Wenping
Chen Shao's father (陈绍父亲)
Yu Ganglong
Execution military officer (行邢武官)
Chen Zhuankai
Execution civil officer (行邢文官)
Cui Jun
Servant (仆役乙)
Shi Junxian
General (将军甲)
Liu Songbin
Cheng Dynasty elders (大成遗老)
Zhang Jianguo
Zhang Dunyou
Zhu Song
Chi Dan
Jinshi Ambassadors (金狮使臣)
Yin Xiaoming
Tao Ci
Jinshi Officials (金狮大臣)
Yang Minggang
Ding Hao
Yin Gang
Xu Zhengzhi
Han Meimei
Matrons of Honor (喜娘)
Liu Fang
Yang Huilin
Xu Li
Nanny (乳母)
The wet nurse of Helian Tu.
Guo Yinyu
Descendant of Chang (常氏子侄)
Jing Haifeng
Zhang Zhi
Lei Chao
Liu Bingchao
Production
Principal photography commenced on 27 May 2017,[23] and filming wrapped up on 12 December 2017.[24] It was revealed that the series also uses "real-time" voice recording during filming.[25]
On 20 October 2016, Chen Kun was announced as the male lead.[6] On 7 March 2017, Ni Ni was announced as the female lead; this also marks Ni Ni's first television series.[7] The extended cast was revealed on 27 April 2017.[27]
Location
The series is the first television drama to be filmed in Tang City Film Studios, Xiangyang, which was built specifically for Chen Kaige's fantasy film The Legend of the Cat Demon. Reportedly, the location was picked not only because it fits the time period of the story setting, but also because the location is not featured in dramas frequently, as most historical/ancient Chinese dramas are filmed at Hengdian World Studios.[29] The series was also filmed in other places including Wuxi and Duyun.[30]
Post-production
In September 2017, cast members Zhao Lixin and Zhang Xiaochen attended the Weibo Awards Ceremony, where The Rise of Phoenixes was awarded the "Most Anticipated Television Series" award.[25]
In May 2018, it was revealed that the Chinese name for the series was changed from "凰权•弈天下 (Huang Quan Yi Tian Xia)" to "天盛长歌 (Tiansheng Chang Ge)" and the episode count was officially confirmed to be 70 episodes.[31]
Due to its slow pacing and heavy plot, the series received low viewership ratings, and the original 70 episodes were cut down to 56 episodes on television.[32] However, Douban gave it a score of 8.3/10 with over 113,000 votes, making it the highest rated show out of all the dramas that aired over the summer holidays and one of the highest rated TV dramas of the year so far.[33]
