The 76-episode drama series "Legend of Zhen Huan" has had sweeping popularity in the Chinese mainland over the past months, that "a whole town tunes in to watch when it airs on TV," Sina.com reported.

The series is adapted from a novel of the same name by Liu Lianzi, and the story centers on the schemes between Emperor Yongzheng's concubines in the imperial palace during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The pure and innocent 17-year-old Zhen Huan is chosen for the emperor's harem, and after entering the palace, she finds herself caught in the fierce infighting between the empress and the concubines. Realizing that the palace is actually a cruel and harsh place, Zhen has to learn to survive on her own, sometimes by unscrupulous methods.

With her wits and talents, Zhen fights her way through and wins the emperor's affection, ultimately becoming the most powerful concubine in the imperial palace and ascending to unparalleled glory and wealth. However, she also becomes a woman with few true friends at her side, even after she is rid of all her enemies.

Directed by Zheng Xiaolong and starring Sun Li and Chen Jianbin, "Legend of Zhen Huan" has been praised as one of the best historical dramas in the Chinese mainland in recent years. Through the thrilling story, audiences can also learn about ancient Chinese poetry, wardrobes, court etiquettes, and herbal medicine. The show also features many refined dialogues that become trending quotes among its followers on the internet.

Some viewers have also begun using the story to allude to the present and describe the schemes and trickery between rivals in the palace as "a treasured book for survival in today's professional world." Psychological experts disagreed, saying that violent infighting is not a characteristic in modern workplaces.

(China.org.cn May 4, 2012)

据新浪网报道，76集电视连续剧《甄嬛传》在过去的几个月里风靡整个中国大陆，其火爆程度可用“热播期间万人空巷争睹”来形容。

该剧改编自流潋紫所著的同名小说，是一部清朝雍正年间的宫廷情感大戏，主要讲述后宫嫔妃之间的勾心斗角。

剧中女主角甄嬛从一个不谙世事的17岁纯真少女被选秀入宫，不久便发现自己置身于皇后和嫔妃间的激烈争斗之中。她意识到后宫实际上是一个残酷恶劣的地方，必须学会依靠自已生存，有时甚至要不择手段。

凭借天资聪慧，甄嬛想方设法赢得了皇帝的宠爱，最终成为宫中最有权势的妃子，得到了无与伦比的荣华富贵。然而，此时她却已成了孤家寡人，虽然铲除了所有的敌人，但身边也不复存在真正的朋友。

《甄嬛传》由郑晓龙导演，孙俪、陈建斌等主演，播出之后被誉为近年来中国大陆最好的古装剧之一。不但剧情扣人心弦，剧中有关诗词歌赋、服装礼仪、中医用药等内容也让观众们大开眼界。剧中不乏经典台词，被网上诸多粉丝津津乐道。

此外，还有不少职场中人借此剧讽古喻今，把后宫争宠之计当作职场生存宝典。但心理专家认为，血雨腥风并非现代职场本色。