Manga like The Story of Saiunkoku

What is The Story of Saiunkoku about?

Status: Finished

The story, which takes place in the fictional medieval empire of Saiunkoku, follows the adventures of Shuurei Kou, a descendant of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.

Her father works as a librarian in the Imperial palace, a post which offers prestige and respect, but little compensation. Shuurei teaches in the temple school and works odd jobs to make ends meet, but her dream is to pass the imperial examinations and take a post in government, a path forbidden to women.

Shuurei's plans come to an abrupt halt when the Emperor's Grand Advisor makes a startling offer, which is joining the imperial household for six months as the young Emperor's consort, and teach the Emperor to be a responsible ruler. If she succeeds, the financial reward will be great.

The story details Shuurei's growing relationships with the Emperor and other members of the court, the intrigues that surround imperial politics, and her commitment to better herself and her country.

Note: This entry consists of 18 regular volumes, 4 volumes consisting of side stories, and a single volume consisting of short stories.

Tags: Urban , Kingdom Management , Ancient China , Unrequited Love , Philosophy , Mythology , Josei , Family Life , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Work , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Politics , Ghost , Royal Affairs , Travel , Gods , Found Family , War , Crime , Tragedy , Male Harem , Marriage , Time Skip , Bullying , Assassins , Pregnancy

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Here is a list of Manga similar to Saiunkoku Monogatari

Koukyuu no Karasu

Also known as Raven of the Inner Palace.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

Deep within the palace lives a mysterious woman known only as the Raven Consort. Some say she’s an old woman, others that she’s young and beautiful. But all are agreed on this: her dark arts have the power to exorcise spirits, lay fatal curses, and find what has been lost—for a price. When the young emperor, Koushou, seeks out the Raven Consort to make use of that magic, what follows will overturn the court…and perhaps even the country.

Tags: Foreign , Historical , Female Protagonist , Ghost , Necromancy , Mythology , Episodic , Magic , Shoujo , Royal Affairs , Ancient China

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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Mystery

In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That's her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao's façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor's favorite consort... so she can taste the lady's food for poison!

Tags: Female Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Detective , Royal Affairs , Medicine , Foreign , Adoption , Historical , Maids , Politics , Conspiracy , Seinen , Natural Disaster , Work , Primarily Female Cast , Episodic , Religion , Drugs , Agriculture , Go , Crossdressing , Heterosexual , Ancient China , Economics , LGBTQ+ Themes , Pregnancy , Meta , Tragedy , Shogi , Suicide , Age Gap

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J-Novel Club

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Akatsuki no Yona: Tsuki no Shita de

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Romance

The novel is divided into three segments: Jae-Ha’s Counseling Room – Part 1, Under the Same Moon – Parts 1-5, and Jae-Ha’s Counseling Room – Part 2.

When listening to a nostalgic voice in the crowd of people, Soo-Won looked back without thinking. However, it was not the girl of his memory...

Note: Chapter count includes the prologue chapter.

Tags: Shoujo , Found Family , Travel , Politics , Female Protagonist , Historical , Male Harem

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No reading links available

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Tsuki no Kage Kage no Umi

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Except for her red hair, Yoko Nakajima is a typical, obedient Japanese high-school student. Her life is fairly ordinary—that is, until Keiki, a unicorn in the guise of a young blond-haired boy, tells her that she is his master and must return to their kingdom. When the boy mysteriously vanishes, Yoko is left alone, confused, and wandering through a foreign land with nothing to help protect her save a magic sword and a magic stone. When Keiki suddenly appears at Yoko’s school, little does she realize that her life is about to change. Lost in a strange land--without a map—and demons on her trail, Yoko begins her quest for both survival and self-discovery.

Tags: Politics , Youkai , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing , Mythology , Historical , Isekai , Swordplay , Anthropomorphism , Magic , Ensemble Cast , School

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No reading links available

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Futsutsuka na Akujo de wa Gozaimasu ga: Suuguu Chouso Torikae Den

Also known as Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

In a kingdom inspired by historical China, five clans put forth their maidens as imperial consorts–but only one will be crowned empress. The frail and beautiful Kou Reirin, the so-called “butterfly” of the imperial court, is a shoo-in to marry the crown prince. But when “court rat” Shu Keigetsu lashes out at her during the glittering Lantern Festival, it’s Reirin who wakes up in the dungeons! Body-swapped by her assailant to steal her position at court, Reirin’s plight seems dire…to everyone else! Now that she’s got a robust new body, not even the looming threat of execution can stop her!

Tags: Josei , Body Swapping , Female Protagonist , Foreign , Conspiracy , Tsundere , Historical , Villainess , Revenge , Magic , Love Triangle , Mixed Gender Harem

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No reading links available

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Reimei no Arcana: Hajimari no Toki

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Based on the manga Reimei no Arcana, the novel follows Nakaba when she was still living in Senan.

Tags: Shoujo

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No reading links available

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Fushigi Yuugi Gaiden

Also known as The Legends of the Mysterious Play.

Status: Finished
Genres:

Over a series of five years, Megumi Nishizaki wrote thirteen Japanese, light novels based on Fushigi Yûgi. With illustrations by Yuu Watase, Fushigi Yûgi Gaiden primarily explores the lives the various Celestial Warriors before they are seen in the manga. The only two novels to be set after the manga, Eikō Den (Jōkan) and Eikō Den (Gekan), later became the basis for the third Fushigi Yûgi original video animation, Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden. Originally published by Shogakukan, none of the novels have been licensed for English release. (wiki)

Each book has around 10 chapters

Tags: Isekai , Shoujo

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No reading links available

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Kaze no Umi Meikyuu no Kishi

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Born in Japan and raised as a human, Taiki is overwhelmed when he's brought back to the kingdom of Tai, where he's told he's a kirin. With little knowledge or guidance, he must trust his latent instincts to choose a king for the Kingdom of Tai from among dozens of men and women who seek the position. Will the frustrated Taiki, who can't even figure out how to transform into animal form, make the right choice? And more important, will he discover the kirin that lives within?

Tags: Mythology , Anthropomorphism , Politics , Isekai , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Cultivation , Magic

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No reading links available

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Higashi no Watatsumi Minami no Soukai

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

When only an eggfruit, the kirin of the En Kingdom, Rokuta, was transported to Japan for his own protection. But he was abandoned soon after birth by his surrogate parents, left to fend for himself in the mountains. It just so happened that at the same time, a young boy in the En Kingdom named Koya was also abandoned by his own parents, after which he was raised by demon beasts. Their similar circumstances aren't the only thing to bind these two boys, though. Twenty years after their abandonment, their destinies intersect, with potentially disaster consequences for the En Kingdom.

Tags: Anthropomorphism , Mythology , Politics , Ensemble Cast , Isekai , Magic , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Cultivation

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No reading links available

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Kaze no Banri Reimei no Sora

Also known as The Twelve Kingdoms: Skies of Dawn .

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

After a year of depending on her ministers to govern the kingdom of Kei, Yoko follows Keiki's advice and descends the mountain to live among her people, eager to learn how to be a better leader from the village’s wise-man, Enho. However, when Enho is kidnapped, Yoko finds herself thrust into an all-out war between the kingdoms. Friendships and alliances are put to the test during the Battle of Wa Province. Can Yoko summon the strength to take up her responsibilities as king?

Tags: Crossdressing , Mythology , Tragedy , Isekai , Female Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Youkai , Politics , Swordplay , Magic

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No reading links available

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