Virtues of Harmony

Set in a prosperous stretch of the Ming Dynasty, Virtues of Harmony follows the Kam household, a well off family whose daily life mixes domestic squabbles, matchmaking, business dealings, and slapstick mishaps. The series centers on matriarch Yau Nim Chi and her extended family as they juggle status, romance, and comic misunderstandings while keeping household honor intact. Shot as a weekday sitcom, it kept a light tone with occasional emotional beats, turning ordinary domestic scenes into serialized hooks. The show ran a surprisingly long time, growing from an intended short run into a 322 episode phenomenon that stayed on air through late 2002.

The series was produced by Tsui Yu On for TVB, created by Au Yiu-Hing, 朱禮和, and Kwan Shu-ming, and aired from September 17, 2001 to December 28, 2002, with episodes broadcast five days a week.

Virtues of Harmony became a recognizable part of early 2000s Hong Kong television, its popularity spawning a 2003 sequel, a stage musical, and repeated reruns. The show kept much of its original cast for follow ups, which helped cement its presence in local pop culture and family viewing habits.

Critical and audience reactions leaned positive, reflected in a modest online vote average. Viewers praised the mix of broad humor and family drama, while the period setting added a layer of social comedy about rank, marriage, and reputation. The show emphasizes family loyalty, generational conflict, and everyday resilience, with performances that favor warmth and steady comic timing.

There are no widely reported major international awards tied to the series, yet its impact came through ratings, longevity, and the creation of spin offs rather than trophy recognition. Its success is better measured by audience attachment and continued visibility in Hong Kong media than by prize lists.