What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRaise the Red Lantern
Zhang Yimou · Film · 1991
If you loved Raise the Red Lantern, start with Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢) (Cao Xueqin, 1791) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Raise the Red Lantern across media.
If you were captivated by the claustrophobic power struggles of Raise the Red Lantern, you will find these narratives of trapped women deeply compelling.
Books on the same thread
Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢)
Cao Xueqin · Book · 1791
Explores: Decline of aristocracy, Love and fate, Buddhist philosophy.
Like the domestic hierarchies in Raise the Red Lantern, this classic novel explores the decline of a powerful household where intricate social dynamics and fate dictate every woman's existence.
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry · Book · 1995
Explores: Dreams Deferred, Racial Discrimination, Assimilation.
Fans of the stifling atmosphere in Raise the Red Lantern will recognize the similar weight of systemic oppression and the desperate struggle for dignity within a restrictive family environment.
Wild Swans
Jung Chang · Book · 1992
Explores: Cultural Revolution, Female Empowerment, Political Persecution.
The personal resilience found in this memoir mirrors the internal strength required to survive the oppressive, patriarchal structures depicted in the beautiful but haunting film Raise the Red Lantern.
The Joy Luck Club
Amy Tan · Book · 1990
Explores: Mother-Daughter Relationships, Cultural Identity, Intergenerational Trauma.
Much like the complex female relationships in Raise the Red Lantern, this story examines the intergenerational trauma and cultural expectations that shape the lives of women within Chinese history.
Series on the same thread
House of the Dragon
George R. R. Martin · Series · 2022
Explores: Succession, Power Struggles, Dynastic Conflict.
The high-stakes power dynamics and dynastic infighting in this series reflect the same volatile atmosphere of privilege and peril seen among the wives in Raise the Red Lantern.
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Raise the Red Lantern: Oppression.
Viewers moved by the concubinage and forced subjugation in Raise the Red Lantern will find this dystopian take on systemic gender oppression both chillingly familiar and deeply resonant.
Jewel in the Palace
Kim Young-hyun · Series · 2003
Shares a thread with Raise the Red Lantern: Historical Drama.
Those drawn to the historical intrigue of Raise the Red Lantern will appreciate this journey of a woman navigating a rigid, male-dominated hierarchy to secure her own agency.
Big Love
Will Scheffer · Series · 2006
Explores: Religious Fundamentalism, Modern Polygamy, Family Secrets.
This series explores the tensions and moral complexities of a polygamous household, echoing the intense rivalry and hidden secrets that define the domestic life in Raise the Red Lantern.
Podcasts on the same thread
Ceramah KH Zainudin MZ
Podcast
Explores: Islamic teachings, Morality, Spirituality.
If Raise the Red Lantern hit, Ceramah KH Zainudin MZ shares the thread.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If Raise the Red Lantern hit, The Archers shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Raise the Red Lantern set in modern times?
No, Raise the Red Lantern is set in 1920s China. The story follows a nineteen-year-old woman named Songlian who becomes a concubine for a powerful lord and must navigate the complex power dynamics and competition between the three existing wives within the household.
What is the premise of Raise the Red Lantern?
Raise the Red Lantern centers on nineteen-year-old Songlian, who becomes the fourth concubine of a powerful lord in 1920s China. She is forced to compete against the lord's three other wives to secure various privileges and maintain her standing within the household.
How many wives does the lord have in Raise the Red Lantern?
In Raise the Red Lantern, the powerful lord has three wives in addition to Songlian, who becomes his fourth concubine. Songlian must compete with these three women for the lord's favor and the specific privileges that come with his attention.
Who is the protagonist of Raise the Red Lantern?
The protagonist of Raise the Red Lantern is a nineteen-year-old woman named Songlian. Upon becoming a concubine to a powerful lord in 1920s China, she finds herself drawn into a competitive environment where she must vie with the lord's three other wives for status and privileges.