Synopsis
A young woman is sold as a wealthy man's fourth wife and pulled into a court-like rivalry inside his estate.
What makes Raise the Red Lantern worth watching
Zhang Yimou's breakthrough.
Raise the Red Lantern represents a strong example of china drama from the 1991 production cycle. Chinese studios have spent the past decade refining the kind of long-form storytelling on display here — careful character work, restrained pacing in the early episodes, and a willingness to let emotional beats land without overstatement. The blend of Drama and Historical elements gives the show its tonal signature, sitting somewhere between mainstream comfort viewing and prestige drama.
The cast is led by Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, He Caifei, with strong supporting work from Cao Cuifen. It originally aired on Orion Classics, and has since travelled internationally through the streaming partnerships listed above.
Where to watch Raise the Red Lantern online
You can currently stream Raise the Red Lantern on the following platforms (regional availability varies):
- MUBI — see all MUBI Asian drama listings on DramaSeek.
- Prime Video — see all Prime Video Asian drama listings on DramaSeek.
Streaming rights for Asian dramas shift constantly. We update each title page when a new platform picks up a series or a contract expires. If a service is geo-locked in your region, see our guide to legitimate options for international drama viewers.
If you liked Raise the Red Lantern
Viewers who enjoy Raise the Red Lantern typically also enjoy other china drama. Below are six closely related titles drawn from our catalogue, ranked by genre and country overlap.
