I'm not really a fan of Joseon dramas but Dae Jang Geum (Jewel In The Palace) was supposed to be critically acclaimed with the high ratings in Korea.

How scary it is to be inside an all-female environment. All these ppl working in the Palace don't have off days one hor. Must work 7 day per week, cooking, preparing food for the Emperor & Royals & Officials. Haha....

There was this part which I find it very meaningful. Because the whole drama serial is set in the palace so there were many 'human conflicts/disagreements'... otherwise known as 'office politics' in the modern society.

So in this drama, the "Imperial Kitchen" is the main place because Chang Jin is training to be a 'food gourmet expert' to fulfill her late mother's wish.

Chang Jin has a mentor, 韩尚宫娘娘 who looked after her and taught her many things. She was like a mother to Chang Jin. There was this 最高尚宫娘娘 (person overlooking the WHOLE Imperial Kitchen) who is retiring (actually she has contracted terminal illness and would be dying) and needed to pass her position to someone.

However, there was this evil 崔尚宫娘娘 (one of the villian!) who gathered all the supports from other 尚宫娘娘 to vote for her to be the next 最高尚宫. But this position has to be passed down by 最高尚宫(Zheng). Needless to say, this position was passed down to 韩尚宫 cos well she's the good guy.

But as the whole Imperial Kitchen is on 崔尚宫(Cui) side. Nobody was willing to listen instructions from 韩尚宫(Han) unless she gives up her position. Han wanted to give up her position because without the help of other 尚宫, it was almost impossible to serve the food to the Emperor.

Zheng's demise was very sudden that Chang Jin & Han was unprepared. Before Zheng passed the position to Han, she told Han something which moved me...
"你当上了最高尚宫，请记得一定要体谅她们。
你要知道，宫廷里的生活是寂寞的。
因为寂寞，所以犯下私心，
因为寂寞，所以会有勾心斗角。
因为寂寞，所以想尽办法得到宠爱。
因为寂寞，所以不让其他人得到。
凛凛种种因为寂寞而产生的因素。
所以，请你一定要体谅，要同情她们。”

人，绝对不能寂寞。

不允许有任何寂寞的时刻。

一定要保持心情愉快！

要告诉自己是幸福的！

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大长今实在好看！

郑尚宫已当上了御膳厨房的最高尚宫。

我很喜欢郑尚宫这个叫色。。。

因为她在剧里教宫女们做人的道理很值得学习。

特别是现代人，一定要懂做人最基本的条件。