User reviews

Similar with "1587, a Year of No Significance" by Ray Huang, "Ming dynasty in 1566" has concentrate the process of decline in an Oriental autocracy. No matter what aspect, this TV series is worthy of the highest rated domestictcally produced drama in China. The struggle for power is the art of checks and balances, and the political factions will never have purely good or evil in original. Whether Jiajing emperor, Hai Rui, Yan Song, Xu Jie or Zhang Juzheng. Everyone in the centre of the tide could not preserve one's own purity and integrity and play no trick to others.

MING DYNASTY 1566 (2007) is a highly political drama of 46 episodes length. Unlike other dramas, this one focuses far less on inter personal relations, family affairs and characters and more so rather on the political stage of the time, the warring of court factions, and all the intricacies of the delicate balancing act of governance.

The story tells of a Ming Dynasty which is ruled by Emperor Jiajing and his court, over a Ming nation that now has an exploding economy and booming culture, but that golden age comes at a cost, and often times at a cost for the people of the country. It heavily focuses on how the Ming Dynasty courtiers and magistrates strive to produce more silk at behest of the Emperor (as well as tea and other high demand goods) for foreign nations, but must weigh the balance of domestic demands as well, navigating obstacles and disasters along the way. This drama might be incredibly slow to some, but is a very valuable work in terms of historical context, political understanding, and methods of governance. Very fascinating if you are into this sort of thing.

I highly recommend this series to those that value history, specifically Ming Dynasty era history, as well as those that have an intellectual interest in politics, court factions and methods of government. This was a series one must pay great attention in order to really grasp its story, but certainly an excellent one. Worth the watch.