I’ve made fun before of tropes in kdramas. Now, it’s cdramas’ turn, in particular, historical cdramas.

This is a work in progress. Feel free to contribute.

1. The princess carry

I dare you to name a cdrama where the hero did NOT princess-carry the girl at least once.

source: heymeowmao’s tumblr

This scene from “Prisoner of Beauty” is a headscratcher for me. Man Man’s nanny told Wei Shao that she was running a high fever but he still picked her up and carried her in the rain back to his residence. Good thing she didn’t catch pneumonia after that.

2. Presence of rain when a couple separates, breaks up, dies, etc.

Thank goodness there’s no yellow umbrella like in kdramas.

3. Bathtub brooding

I made fun of shower scenes in kdramas but cdramas are just as bad. Instead of showers, the male lead soaks in a tub filled with rose petals. (I get that the petals are a convenient way to hide his private parts, but come on now, no guy wants to smell of roses after a bath.)

At least, Wei Shao had ice floating in his tub.

source: smittenskitten’s tumblr

Of course, with the bathtub brooding trope, there’s an obligatory camera shot of the abdominal muscles.

4. Concubine issues

But this is historically accurate, though.

Google AI says there was only ONE Chinese emperor who didn’t take a concubine and insisted on being monogamous: Emperor Hongzhi aka Zhu Youcheng of the Ming Dynasty. He apparently loved his wife so he refused to marry a concubine. In cdramas, the male lead – if he’s in a leadership position – is always forced to take a concubine.

5. Loyal maid

If the heroine is royalty, there she has a resourceful and loyal maid to do everything for her, even whipped up a full course meal late at night.

The maid should have a story of her own.

6. Pretty floral snacks

In kdramas, there’s always a ramen scene. In historical cdramas, there’s always a floral cookie or two served.

7. A brother (or cousin) in love with the same girl

Historical cdramas often feature sibling rivalry.

Could this perhaps be the government way of touting the benefit of their one-child policy, that is, the only child has no pesky sibling to compete with him for the girl?

8. Dramatic death or near-death scene

The primary source of conflict in historical cdramas is the palace/political intrigue. There’s always somebody plotting to assassinate either the male or female lead.

With cdramas, the happy ending is never guaranteed. There’s a 50/50 chance that the hero (or heroine) dies in the final episode.

9. Poison and blood vomit

It’s come to point that whenever there’s ominous background music and the female/lead lead is about to drink from a cup, I expect her/him to writhe in pain or keel over in the next scene.

Naturally, after the poison comes the blood vomit. I do wonder what the budget is for red dye for these historical cdramas.

10. The moon as silent witness to the couple’s lovey-dovey moment

Just like rain is ubiquitous during heartbreak scenes, the sky is always moonlit when the couple is about to engage in physical intimacy.

First, the camera focuses on the kissing couple, then instead of simply fading to black, it pans to the moon in the sky. I’m sure the darkness enhances the romantic ambiance. But I think the other message is what happens in the dark, stays in the dark…because the moon can’t talk.

11. Fireworks

As the Chinese can claim bragging rights to the invention of fireworks, I understand the use of fireworks in romantic moments.

12. Jade

I don’t know if jade is a curse or gift, but there’s always something bad involving a jade object that the hero/heroine must deal with. You can’t make me buy a jade bracelet.

13. Running on tiled roofs

Anybody can be a ninja in cdramas because of the wireworks. But this rooftop running trope attests to the superiority of the hero’s martial skills that he appears to be flying like a god in the skies, unrestricted by gravity.

14. Calligraphy

Calligraphy is an indicator of refinement and moral character so at least one of the leads must demonstrate elegant calligraphy. I love the scene in “Are You the One” when the hero teaches the girl calligraphy after her wrist tendons were cut. Lol. It reminded me of that iconic pottery scene in “Ghost” but a whole lot less steamy.

15. Kneeling as punishment/atonement/petition

It’s more dramatic when done in the rain.

16. Face-slapping

I think this trope is more common in cdramas than in kdramas. In kdramas, it has been parodied and mocked so often (remember that kimchi slap?) that it lost its significance. In cdramas, however, face-slapping is still considered an acceptable way of retaliating an injustice or grudge.

17. Dreaming as an alternative to reincarnation

Since China censors rebirth as a plot device, the screenwriters must come up with novel ways, like dreaming to explain time-travel, transmigration, or reincarnation in the story.

Another similar trope is waking up to find oneself in a comic book or ancient text.

18. Over-the-top hairpieces

source: yilinglaozu’s tumblr

Will add more later.