China Focus: Hit epic drama sparks interest in lesser-studied chapter of ancient Chinese history

This photo taken on Dec. 31, 2025 shows an exhibition featuring the historical epic TV series "Swords into Plowshares" in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Huace Group/Handout via Xinhua)

By Xinhua writers Tian Ying, Duan Jingjing

HANGZHOU, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Emperors topple, heads roll, and cities burn: China's latest historical epic TV series, "Swords into Plowshares," brings to life one of ancient Chinese history's most chaotic eras.

Yet, the series' counterintuitive Chinese title, "Peaceful Years," hints at the drama's deeper ambition to be more than a spectacle of war and political intrigues, but an "oriental epic" that portrays a nation's profound longing for peace.

The series has proved a hit. Since its global premiere on Jan. 23, it has dominated viewership charts, achieving a CVB (China video and audio big data) rating of 2.938 percent and accumulating over 647 million valid online playbacks. Related hashtags across social media platforms, such as Weibo, Douyin and Rednote, have exceeded 3.6 billion views.

Some have called it "China's Game of Thrones," though fans argue it holds deeper resonance than the HBO fantasy epic by being rooted entirely in history.

Notably, it has ignited a desire to delve into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-979) period of ancient Chinese history -- a tumultuous era that history textbooks tend to rush through.

During this lesser-studied period, the once-glorious Tang Dynasty (618-907) had crumbled, five short-lived dynasties then succeeded one another on China's Central Plain -- or the imperial heartland -- and 10 major almost-concurrent kingdoms held power mainly across southern China, with or without submitting to emperors of the Central Plain.

Through a sprawling ensemble cast, viewers follow the lives of the historical heavyweights of the age -- framed as one generation passing the baton to the next in the search for a glimmer of peace amid turmoil, according to Yang Lei, the drama's chief director.

Central to the plot is King of Wuyue Qian Hongchu, whose realm, primarily in present-day Zhejiang Province and part of Fujian Province in east China, became a rare haven of peace and prosperity. The series traces his transformation from a carefree prince to a ruler steering a southern kingdom through turbulence. Along the way, he witnessed the depths of human suffering in an era so brutal that it descended at times into cannibalism.

His legacy culminated in the bloodless surrender of Wuyue territory to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) -- a pivotal act that helped reunify China. By choosing to end the conflict rather than prolong it, he brought lasting peace to his realm, embodying the drama's central metaphor: turning swords into plowshares.

As the epic series presents history authentically with refined, archaic dialogue and immaculate attention to detail, many viewers have taken to reading, with young people in particular turning to social media platforms and AI chatbots to learn about their history and deepen their understanding of 10th-century China.

Reading lists with titles like "10 books to accompany 'Swords into Plowshares'" have proliferated online, and sales of related history books have surged. On JD.com, more than 68,000 copies of seven relevant titles have been purchased, and an eight-volume history book of the era has trended on WeChat's reading platform.

Vloggers like 29-year-old Liu Zhanyuan are riding this wave of interest by posting detailed historical accounts related to the series. Just two of the explanatory videos he has posted helped him gain over 30,000 new Rednote followers in two weeks. "I was concerned viewers might abandon a brilliant drama simply for lack of context," he said of his motivation.

The history aficionado said he admires the series for several reasons, including its rare focus on a neglected historical era, its nuanced and non-judgmental portrayal of complex characters.

Ancient Chinese history is often framed through a binary lens of order versus chaos or unity versus division. The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period is not an era that later generations look back on with pride.

Yet, as Liu observed, "The series illuminates the transition between the two powerful dynasties, Tang and Song, providing the missing link in understanding the history's continuity."

On the newfound enthusiasm, Liu said that while history has often been regarded by many young people as a dry, academic subject, this series is igniting their interest, driving them to explore the enduring strengths.

As depicted in the drama, the Kingdom of Wuyue emerged as an oasis of peace and prosperity while war and devastation swept much of China amid dynastic upheaval, regional conquests, and conflicts with the nomadic Khitan people from beyond the Great Wall.

The story of the Wuyue Kingdom has also brought to life obscure historical sites, such as a temple commemorating the kings of the Qian family, located near the famed West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital. Visits to the temple have surged by 30 to 40 percent year-on-year on the weekends following the series premiere, according to official statistics.

On Jan. 28, the newly opened Yijin City archaeological site museum in Hangzhou drew large crowds. Visiting the ruins of Wuyue Kingdom, local visitor Guo Shengxia, 36, said, "I've lived within the old city walls all my life, but only now do I feel a deeper connection to this land. Every inch of land beneath my feet is rooted in the history of Wuyue."

The series' lead actor, Bai Yu, who plays Qian Hongchu, reflected, "Having gone through this creative journey, what stays with me most is a deeper appreciation for the peace we enjoy today." ■

This undated photo shows a still of the historical epic TV series "Swords into Plowshares". (Huace Group/Handout via Xinhua)