Flourished Peony, a popular costume drama re-creating ancient China over 1,000 years ago, follows He Weifang (played by actress Yang Zi), the daughter of a merchant, striving to establish her own business with the help of Jiang Changyang (portrayed by actor Li Xian), an official appointed by the emperor to seek treasures and rare flowers. [Photo provided to China Daily]
"Xishi is unparalleled among the beauties, the peony is the most fragrant of the flowers." Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Bai Juyi wrote these lines in praise of the most cherished flower grown in the gardens of emperors and aristocrats.
Although it is one of his lesser-known verses, it inspired the name of the protagonist in Flourished Peony, a popular costume drama that has amassed a staggering 4 billion views since its debut on Hunan Television and on streaming platforms Mango TV and Migu in early January.
The character's name, He Weifang, is derived from two words in Bai's poem, and she is also nicknamed Mudan (peony).
By the Spring Festival holiday, the 32-episode drama had topped the country's daily viewership charts for 20 days, according to industry tracker Beacon.
