{ "id": "ep1p1t4bz4", "slug": "ancient-love-poetry", "title": "Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia", "label": "East Asian drama series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "label": "East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co", "label": "Titles symbols to Co", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co", "label": "China · 2021 and later: Titles symbols to Co", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021", "label": "China · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "label": "East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co", "label": "Titles symbols to Co", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘, Qian Gu Jue Chen) is a 2021 Chinese xianxia romance television series starring Zhou Dongyu and Xu Kai, adapted from the novel Shang Gu.", "snippet": "Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘, Qian Gu Jue Chen) is a 2021 Chinese xianxia romance television series starring Zhou Dongyu and Xu Kai, adapted from the novel Shang Gu.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-symbols-to-co", "markdown": "# Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)\n\n**Ancient Love Poetry** (千古玦尘; also romanized Qian Gu Jue Chen) is a 2021 Chinese xianxia romance television series starring [Zhou Dongyu](https://www.edgepedia.org/zhou-dongyu) and [Xu Kai](https://www.edgepedia.org/xu-kai), adapted from the online novel *Shang Gu* by Xing Ling (Ling Xing). It was produced by Yang Xiaopei, co-directed by Yin Tao and Li Cai, and streamed on [Tencent Video](https://www.edgepedia.org/tencent-video) from June 17, 2021, in 49 episodes of about 45 minutes each.[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) • [2](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ancient_Love_Poetry)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Chinese title | 千古玦尘 (Qian Gu Jue Chen)[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) |\n| Source material | The novel *Shang Gu* (上古) by Xing Ling, who also served as one of the screenwriters[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) |\n| Broadcast | Tencent Video, June 17 to July 23, 2021; 49 episodes, about 45 minutes each[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) • [3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) |\n| Leads | Zhou Dongyu as Shang Gu / Hou Chi; Xu Kai as Bai Jue / Qing Mu / Bo Xuan[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) |\n| Production | Tencent Penguin Pictures and Linmon Pictures; chief producer Yang Xiaopei; 136-day shoot from May 23 to October 5, 2020[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) • [4](https://artikeldigital.com/zh/%E5%8D%83%E5%8F%A4%E7%8E%A6%E5%B0%98) • [3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) |\n| Genre | Xianxia, romance, fantasy, historical[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) |\n| Reception | Douban score opened at 4.8 and rose to 5.1; cumulative Tencent Video views passed 2.7 billion by the finale[5](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13478164) • [3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe story is set in an ancient divine world and follows Shang Gu, the first of the four true gods of the ancient realm, known as Hou Chi Shang Shen, who holds a supreme position. Sixty thousand years before the main story, she saves the world but falls into a deep sleep after sacrificing herself. Bai Jue, one of the four ancient gods, loves her deeply and spends tens of thousands of years waiting for and protecting her without ever telling her of his feelings. When Shang Gu returns with a new identity as the High Immortal of Qingchi Palace, her powers are weak and her memories are gone; Bai Jue, who willingly sacrificed his reincarnation for her eternal life, had waited for her throughout. When his soul dissipates, she vows to wait for him in turn.[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/) • [2](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ancient_Love_Poetry)\n\nThe Chinese-language synopsis describes the series as following Shang Gu's growth from a low-spiritual-power novice into the chief god who carries the weight of all living beings, unable to escape the shackles of fate, and frames the romance as one that transcends three lifetimes.[6](https://wetv.vip/zh-cn/play/2bpkxhhgujnpsfi?appid=coop_direct_msite_WSA2022Y)\n\n## Cast\n\nZhou Dongyu plays the dual roles of Shang Gu and Hou Chi, and Xu Kai plays Bai Jue, Qing Mu, and Bo Xuan. The supporting cast includes Zhang Jiani as Wu Huan, Liu Xueyi as Tian Qi / Jing Yuan, Li Zefeng as Zhi Yang, Lai Yi as [Gu Jun](https://www.edgepedia.org/gu-jun), Luo Qiuyun as Yue Mi, Zhang Yaqin as Feng Ran, Fu Xinbo as Mu Guang, and Huang Jue as Sen Jian.[1](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/)\n\nCasting Zhou Dongyu was itself a deliberate break with [genre convention](https://www.edgepedia.org/genre-convention). Yang Xiaopei, the chief producer, said the team wanted a female lead who was neither the naive \"silly-sweet\" type nor a revenge-driven darkened heroine, and that Shang Gu is lively and playful early on while her later emotional scenes demand layered, forceful acting. She praised Zhou's crying scenes as conveying a tragic quality rather than formulaic wailing, describing the actress as bringing a film-style performance system to television.[3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336)\n\n## Production\n\nThe drama was the first project of Xixi Pictures (西嘻影业), the company Yang Xiaopei founded in 2020 after credits including *The King's Avatar*; an exchange filing notes that Tencent Video commissioned the company to produce *The King's Avatar* in 2019 and *Ancient Love Poetry* in 2021 on the strength of its track record.[3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) • [7](https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2022/0810/10377913/sehk22040801523.pdf) Filming ran 136 days, from May 23 to October 5, 2020, with Yang Xiaopei on set throughout, overseeing casting, adaptation, special effects, and editing.[4](https://artikeldigital.com/zh/%E5%8D%83%E5%8F%A4%E7%8E%A6%E5%B0%98) • [3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336)\n\n**Design and scale.** The crew traveled more than 2,000 kilometers from Hengdian in Zhejiang province to Dunhuang in Gansu province, drawing aesthetic inspiration from the flying apsaras, celestial dancers in the mural paintings of historic sites such as the Mogao Grottoes. The prop and setting departments built soundstages and outdoor facilities covering a total area of 90,000 square meters.[8](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202106/21/WS60d02709a31024ad0baca673.html) Yang Xiaopei also cited the series' \"mural-style\" title sequence as part of its visual approach.[9](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13759037)\n\n**Adaptation choices.** The screenwriting team, which included the original novelist Xing Ling as a lead writer, deliberately weakened the \"reincarnation\" feel common to the genre and pushed the story forward through the characters' awakening instead, while expanding the content of the first life. Yang Xiaopei acknowledged that the novel's framework still could not escape the several-lifetimes structure entirely.[9](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13759037) • [10](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13640325)\n\n## Reception\n\n**Initial criticism.** Reviews at the June 2021 premiere were negative. Viewers criticized the dubbing as poor enough to suggest a low-budget production, and commented that Xu Kai's acting was expressionless with a limited range, while Zhou Dongyu, praised for emotional roles in her films, was seen as awkward in the ethereal goddess role of Shang Gu. Early episodes were also faulted for weak visual effects.[11](https://dramapanda.com/2021/06/ancient-love-poetry-premieres-to-not-so-stellar-reviews.html) • [12](https://www.jaynestars.com/news/xu-kais-acting-in-ancient-love-poetry-criticized/) Chinese social media commentary targeted Zhou Dongyu in particular, mocking her period styling and performance.[5](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13478164)\n\n**Numbers.** The Douban rating opened at 4.8 and rose to 5.1, below the average for comparable dramas. According to Maoyan data cited in a July 2021 report, the series took the daily streaming championship 14 times, but its first 30 episodes drew under 1.5 billion views, an average of under 50 million per episode, well below the 126 million per episode of the previous year's xianxia drama *[Eternal Love of Dream](https://www.edgepedia.org/eternal-love-of-dream)* (*Three Lives Three Worlds: The Pillow Book*), despite the show's S-plus tier platform support.[5](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13478164)\n\n**Reversal.** By the finale on July 23, 2021, the series had completed what Chinese trade press called a \"low open, high finish\" reversal: cumulative Tencent Video views exceeded 2.7 billion, and the show topped Tencent Video's domestic drama chart, the Maoyan all-network heat chart, the Guduo heat index, and the Datawin television prosperity index. Overseas, it earned 8.8 out of 10 on MyDramaList.[3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) • [8](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202106/21/WS60d02709a31024ad0baca673.html) Hashtags for the series accumulated 650 million clicks on Sina Weibo.[8](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202106/21/WS60d02709a31024ad0baca673.html)\n\nAn English-language review site rated the drama 8 out of 10, judging it a high-budget production with realistic CGI and beautiful costumes, while noting that the chemistry between the leads could be better and the ending predictable, and advising readers to weigh the high international ratings and low Chinese ratings against each other.[13](https://dramaslot.com/ancient-love-poetry-review/)\n\n## Place in the xianxia genre\n\nXianxia, the genre of immortal-hero fantasy drama, had by 2021 settled into a recognizable formula of reincarnated lovers and torment-filled romance, exemplified by hits such as *The Journey of Flower*, *Eternal Love*, and *Ashes of Love*. A 2024 academic analysis of Chinese fantasy period dramas describes the genre as falling into stereotyping, with high similarity in plot, character, and styling leading to viewer aesthetic fatigue.[14](https://www.clausiuspress.com/assets/default/article/2024/06/26/article_1719394478.pdf) *Ancient Love Poetry* was positioned by its producers as a \"new xianxia\" attempt to differentiate from that formula, and the Singapore newspaper *Lianhe Zaobao* noted that viewers compared its premise to *Eternal Love* (*Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms*).[3](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336) • [15](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210629-1162243)\n\nThe drama is connected to later series in the same fictional universe: *[The Last Immortal](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-last-immortal)*, *[Moonlight Mystique](https://www.edgepedia.org/moonlight-mystique)*, and *Ning Yuan*.[2](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ancient_Love_Poetry)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Ancient Love Poetry – Chinese Drama 2021, CPOP HOME](https://www.cpophome.com/ancient-love-poetry-zhou-dongyu-xu-kai/)\n2. [Ancient Love Poetry, DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ancient_Love_Poetry)\n3. [打破仙侠剧的统一公式，从选周冬雨开始：对话《千古玦尘》总制片人杨晓培, The Paper (深响), July 26, 2021](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13735336)\n4. [千古玦尘, Artikel Digital](https://artikeldigital.com/zh/%E5%8D%83%E5%8F%A4%E7%8E%A6%E5%B0%98)\n5. [周冬雨被骂惨，仙侠剧还有救吗？, The Paper (深燃), July 7, 2021](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13478164)\n6. [千古玦尘, WeTV](https://wetv.vip/zh-cn/play/2bpkxhhgujnpsfi?appid=coop_direct_msite_WSA2022Y)\n7. [HKEX listing document, August 10, 2022](https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2022/0810/10377913/sehk22040801523.pdf)\n8. [Celestial beings attract humans to Ancient Love Poetry, China Daily / chinaculture.org, June 21, 2021](https://en.chinaculture.org/a/202106/21/WS60d02709a31024ad0baca673.html)\n9. [重新理解千古玦尘：对话杨晓培, The Paper, 2021](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13759037)\n10. [\"养成系\"神仙女主\"养成\"新派仙侠：专访《千古玦尘》编剧, The Paper, 2021](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_13640325)\n11. [\"Ancient Love Poetry\" Premieres to Not So Stellar Reviews, DramaPanda, June 18, 2021](https://dramapanda.com/2021/06/ancient-love-poetry-premieres-to-not-so-stellar-reviews.html)\n12. [Xu Kai's Acting in \"Ancient Love Poetry\" Criticized for Being Expressionless, JayneStars, June 20, 2021](https://www.jaynestars.com/news/xu-kais-acting-in-ancient-love-poetry-criticized/)\n13. [Ancient Love Poetry Review – A Xianxia Romance Drama, DramaSlot, August 7, 2021](https://dramaslot.com/ancient-love-poetry-review/)\n14. [Wang Chenrui (2024). Research and Analysis on the Stereotyping of Chinese Fantasy Period Dramas. Art and Performance Letters.](https://www.clausiuspress.com/assets/default/article/2024/06/26/article_1719394478.pdf)\n15. [许凯周冬雨诠释三世虐恋, Lianhe Zaobao, June 29, 2021](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/entertainment/story20210629-1162243)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles symbols to Co*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)](https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry](https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ancient-love-poetry. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Ancient Love Poetry is a 2021 Chinese xianxia romance television series starring Zhou Dongyu and Xu Kai, adapted from the novel Shang Gu." }