The Story of Saiunkoku

Plot

The story takes place in the fictional empire of Saiunkoku and follows Shurei Hong, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen into poverty. She teaches at a temple school and works odd jobs while dreaming of passing the imperial examinations to become a government official, a path forbidden to women. The Emperor, Ryuki Shi, is known for his disinterest in court affairs and his preference for men. The Emperor's Grand Adviser offers Shurei a position as the young Emperor's consort for six months, with a reward of 500 gold coins if she can teach him to be a responsible ruler. She accepts, and the adopted young man Seiran accompanies her as Ryuki's bodyguard. The series explores Shurei's efforts to create change as a woman, her growing relationship with the Emperor, and the intrigues of imperial politics.

Characters

Shurei Hong is the sixteen-year-old daughter of Shoka Hong and a descendant of the direct line, holding the title hime or Lady. Despite her family's high social status, she grew up in relative poverty. She becomes the first woman in Saiunkoku's history to pass the Imperial Exams, achieving the third-highest score, and later accepts a position as an official in the Censorate. Seiran Si is a young man in his early twenties who was taken in by Shoka Hong thirteen years ago and serves as the sole remaining retainer in the household.

He is later revealed to be Seien Shi, Ryuki's second-eldest brother, and is actually 26 years old at the start of the series. Shoka Hong is Shurei's father and Seiran's adoptive father, the eldest son of the Hong clan, and a semi-retired deadly assassin known as The Black Wolf. Shokun Hyo was Shurei's mother and Seiran's adoptive mother, revealed as the Rose Princess of the Hyo family and the Red Immortal, one of the Eight Sages who served the first emperor.

Her spell sealed her spirit within Shurei to make her healthier. Koyu Ri holds the rank of Vice-Secretary of the Department of Civil Administration, serving under Reishin Hong, his foster father. He is notorious for his poor sense of direction and loses his temper easily. Reishin Hong is in charge of the Department of Civil Administration and is a good friend of Kijin Ko, described as crafty and coldhearted but usually appearing cheerful and childish.

Media

The light novel series The Story of Saiunkoku, written by Sai Yukino and illustrated by Kairi Yura, began serialization in The Beans in 2003. Kadokawa Shoten published the first volume on October 31, 2003, and released eighteen volumes by July 2011. Side story anthologies were also published, with the first volume released in April 2005 and the fifth in March 2012. A manga adaptation, also by Sai Yukino and Kairi Yura, began serialization in Beans Ace in 2005 and later moved to Monthly Asuka after Beans Ace ended in 2009, continuing until 2012.

Nine tankōbon volumes were released by Kadokawa Shoten, with the first in June 2006. Viz Media licensed the manga for English release in North America under its Shojo Beat imprint, beginning in November 2010. The anime adaptation, produced by Madhouse and directed by Jun Shishido, aired on NHK. The first season of 39 episodes ran from April 8, 2006, to February 24, 2007; the second season, Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series, aired from April 7, 2007, to March 8, 2008, also 39 episodes.

Geneon Entertainment licensed the anime for North America in May 2007 but ceased operations after two volumes; Funimation later distributed the series until its license expired in 2011. In February 2022, RetroCrush added the English dub of the first season. The opening theme for both seasons was performed by Ayaka Hirahara; the ending theme for the first season was by Sachi Tainaka, and for the second season by Teruya Miho.