{ "id": "epp4ym921h", "slug": "queen-dugu", "title": "Queen Dugu (独孤皇后)", "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-my-to-so", "label": "Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020: Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001", "label": "China · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.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.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "label": "Titles My to So", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Queen Dugu (独孤皇后, also 凤凰于飞) is a 2019 Chinese historical romance drama starring Joe Chen and Chen Xiao as Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, founders of the Sui dynasty; 50 episodes, premiered 11 February 2019.", "snippet": "Queen Dugu (独孤皇后, also 凤凰于飞) is a 2019 Chinese historical romance drama starring Joe Chen and Chen Xiao as Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, founders of the Sui dynasty; 50 episodes, premiered 11 February 2019.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "markdown": "# Queen Dugu (独孤皇后)\n\n**Queen Dugu** (*Dugu Huanghou*, 独孤皇后; also released under the title *Fenghuang Yu Fei*, 凤凰于飞) is a 2019 Chinese historical romance television drama that dramatizes the life of Dugu Jialuo (独孤伽罗), the wife of Yang Jian (杨坚), founder of the [Sui dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/sui-dynasty). Produced by Zhejiang Huace Film & TV with Shanghai Yanyu Film, directed by Zhang Xiaozheng (张孝正) and written by Yang Ji (杨基), it stars [Joe Chen](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-chen) (陈乔恩) as Dugu Jialuo and [Chen Xiao](https://www.edgepedia.org/chen-xiao) (陈晓) as Yang Jian, with Qi Ji (戚迹), Hai Lu (海陆), Ying Zi (瑛子), and Song Yixing (宋奕星) in supporting roles.[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) • [2](https://baike.sogou.com/m/fullLemma?lid=147159381)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 独孤皇后 (*Dugu Huanghou*), English title Queen Dugu, alternate title 凤凰于飞[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) |\n| Premiere | 11 February 2019 on iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Youku[3](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html) |\n| Format | 50 episodes of about 45 minutes each[3](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html) |\n| Lead cast | Joe Chen as Dugu Jialuo, Chen Xiao as Yang Jian, Qi Ji as Yuwen Yong, Hai Lu as Ashina Song[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) • [4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/queen-dugu/umc.cmc.q19ogjp9iknb1ammm0pp1c9h) |\n| Production | Huace Media; director Zhang Xiaozheng, screenwriter Yang Ji, producer Zhao Yifang[5](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Queen_Dugu) |\n| Filming | Began March 2017 and wrapped July 2017 at Hengdian World Studios[5](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Queen_Dugu) |\n| Award | Qi Ji won Best Supporting Actor at the first Duyun Film and TV Festival, 17 September 2019, for playing Yuwen Yong[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story\n\nThe drama is set in the final years of the [Northern and Southern dynasties](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-and-southern-dynasties) period and the founding of the Sui dynasty. In its opening, the powerful Northern Zhou regent [Yuwen Hu](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuwen-hu) (played by Jiang Kai) dominates the court, installs his cousin Yuwen Yu as a puppet emperor, and purges rivals. At a Buddha-bathing festival, Yang Jian, eldest son of the Duke of Sui, meets Dugu Jialuo, seventh daughter of the Duke of Wei, who is distributing rice in disguise; the two agree to a marriage in which each will have only the other, and Dugu Jialuo states plainly that she will not share a husband.[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960)\n\nThe Dugu family is then framed as traitors and persecuted by Yuwen Hu; Dugu Jialuo's parents die during an ambush while the family is in exile, and she is rescued by Yuwen Yong, who harbors feelings for her.[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) From this persecution, Dugu Jialuo resolves from youth to be independent and strong.[3](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html)\n\nThe story then follows the couple through the dynastic transition: Yang Jian, a capable warrior, rises through the ranks, wins battles, ascends the throne, founds the Sui dynasty, and unifies China, with Dugu Jialuo beside him. The series presents the pair as practicing monogamy, a precedent it attributes to them among imperial couples, and as creating the celebrated \"Kaihuang governance\" (开皇之治) of the Sui's founding era.[2](https://baike.sogou.com/m/fullLemma?lid=147159381) • [6](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0303/c40606-30954001.html) As empress, Dugu Jialuo urges Yang Jian to govern diligently and thriftily for the people's benefit, and the couple maintains a frugal household style throughout their changing fortunes.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv5128zfxwQ)\n\n## Production\n\n[Huace Film & TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/huace-film-and-tv) settled on the project in 2014 as the second work in its \"Chinese Queen series\" following *The Virtuous Queen of Han* (《卫子夫》). Screenwriting began the same year and took about three years, with the script passing evaluation in early 2017 after repeated revisions; producer Yu Min (于敏) described the central difficulty as making the story engaging while remaining grounded in the historical record.[1](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960) • [8](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-tashuo-feed&id=a1817d0f73966e671e88351f)\n\nFilming began at [Hengdian World Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/hengdian-world-studios) in March 2017 and wrapped in July 2017.[5](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Queen_Dugu) Yu Min recalled the shoot as the hardest phase of production because so many costume dramas were filming at Hengdian at once; crews had to queue for sets and work around actors' schedules.[8](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-tashuo-feed&id=a1817d0f73966e671e88351f) Although production finished in late 2017, the series did not air until February 2019.[8](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-tashuo-feed&id=a1817d0f73966e671e88351f)\n\nAccording to Yu Min, the drama emphasizes the growth of the two historical figures and stays relatively close to historical records before extending them creatively. She framed their story around two \"legends\": the couple's joint role in ending the chaotic era and founding the Kaihuang governance, and their monogamous marriage, which she described as an equal and mutually supportive relationship rather than one of constant melodrama.[6](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0303/c40606-30954001.html)\n\n## Reception and comparison with The Legend of Dugu\n\nThe series premiered on 11 February 2019 on the three major Chinese streaming platforms, iQiyi, [Tencent Video](https://www.edgepedia.org/tencent-video), and Youku.[3](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html) It entered the top ten of iQiyi's February 2019 web drama rankings alongside *Legend of Hao Lan* and *Golden Eyes*.[9](https://files.bocomgroup.com/download/Internet_Sector-190313s.pdf) In a 2019 industry index of the top 50 dramas for the first half of 2017 through 2019, it ranked tenth with a score of 23.7.[10](https://www.cmmrmedia.com/UpLoadFile/Files/2019/6/28/21459823bf1784e7-d.pdf) On the international streaming aggregator [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) it holds a viewer rating of 6.5 from 41 ratings.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/queen-dugu)\n\n**Critical response was mixed.** Viewers and commentators criticized the acting, plot, and production values, and the *Beijing News* reported complaints that the leads seemed too old for their young characters and that the plot followed formulaic \"Mary Sue\" patterns; the white wedding costume worn by Joe Chen also drew questions, which the producers answered by citing historical precedent.[6](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0303/c40606-30954001.html) Reviewers noted that the drama had wrapped in 2017 and its \"big female lead\" formula felt dated by the time of broadcast.[12](https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/wenti/content/2019-02/17/content_7147760.htm)\n\nA recurring point of comparison was *The Legend of Dugu* (《独孤天下》), a drama on the same subject broadcast the previous year. Commentators described *Queen Dugu* as focused on the pure love story of Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, while *The Legend of Dugu* gave fuller treatment to power struggles and to the three Dugu sisters, giving it a richer ensemble cast; some attributed *Queen Dugu*'s modest ratings to viewers' prior attachment to the earlier series.[13](https://www.tvmao.com/shuoju/ZCotHy0%3D.html) • [14](https://k.sina.cn/article_5410945006_1428477ee00100l80n.html?from=ent&subch=tv) In *Queen Dugu*, supporting characters such as Dugu Banruo receive less development than in the earlier drama.[15](https://kknews.cc/zh-sg/entertainment/zb2488q.html)\n\n## Distribution\n\nThe series is available internationally on streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, where it can be streamed or purchased, and has also appeared on Plex, Tubi, and Apple TV.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/queen-dugu) • [16](https://www.roku.com/whats-on/tv-shows/queen-dugu?id=0976f4ed0b8d57fdb80cfe8c9c1755fa) • [4](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/queen-dugu/umc.cmc.q19ogjp9iknb1ammm0pp1c9h) Episode counts differ across platforms: Chinese and most listings give 50 episodes,[3](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html) while JustWatch lists 60.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/queen-dugu)\n\n## References\n\n1. [独孤皇后 - 快懂百科](https://www.baike.com/wikiid/3500762067995620960)\n2. [独孤皇后 - 搜狗百科](https://baike.sogou.com/m/fullLemma?lid=147159381)\n3. [独孤皇后 (2019年陈乔恩、陈晓主演电视剧) - 360百科](https://baike.so.com/doc/6051238-24742806.html)\n4. [Queen Dugu - Apple TV (US)](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/queen-dugu/umc.cmc.q19ogjp9iknb1ammm0pp1c9h)\n5. [Queen Dugu - DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Queen_Dugu)\n6. [《独孤皇后》遭质疑 演员装嫩情节玛丽苏题材雷同 - 人民网（转自新京报）](https://media.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0303/c40606-30954001.html)\n7. [【独孤皇后】纪录片之幕后故事篇 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv5128zfxwQ)\n8. [《独孤皇后》\"孤独\"的五年丨专访总制片人於敏 - 百百科TA说](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?fromModule=tashuo-article_bottom-tashuo-feed&id=a1817d0f73966e671e88351f)\n9. [China Internet Sector report, BOCOM International, 13 March 2019](https://files.bocomgroup.com/download/Internet_Sector-190313s.pdf)\n10. [2017-2019上半年全国电视剧综合指数TOP50报告, CMMR Media](https://www.cmmrmedia.com/UpLoadFile/Files/2019/6/28/21459823bf1784e7-d.pdf)\n11. [Queen Dugu - JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/queen-dugu)\n12. [陈乔恩、陈晓……可能都输给了这部低调的网剧 - 杭州网](https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/wenti/content/2019-02/17/content_7147760.htm)\n13. [同为\"独孤\"系列《独孤皇后》和《独孤天下》对比之下究竟如何 - 电视猫](https://www.tvmao.com/shuoju/ZCotHy0%3D.html)\n14. [同样是讲独孤伽罗的故事，《独孤天下》和《独孤皇后》哪部更好？ - 新浪娱乐](https://k.sina.cn/article_5410945006_1428477ee00100l80n.html?from=ent&subch=tv)\n15. [《独孤皇后》强势开播却反响平平？ - 每日头条](https://kknews.cc/zh-sg/entertainment/zb2488q.html)\n16. [How to watch and stream Queen Dugu - Roku](https://www.roku.com/whats-on/tv-shows/queen-dugu?id=0976f4ed0b8d57fdb80cfe8c9c1755fa)\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 My to So*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 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/queen-dugu", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu.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": "\"Queen Dugu (独孤皇后)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Queen Dugu (独孤皇后)](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Queen Dugu (独孤皇后)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-dugu. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Queen Dugu is a 2019 Chinese historical romance drama starring Joe Chen and Chen Xiao as Dugu Jialuo and Yang Jian, founders of the Sui dynasty; 50 episodes, premiered 11 February 2019." }