A Weaver on the Horizon
Encyclopedia
A Weaver on the Horizon is a Chinese television series based on the life story of Huang Daopo, one of the most inspirational figures in the history of China
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

 who revolutionized textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....

 during the Mongol conquest of the Song Dynasty
Mongol conquest of the Song Dynasty
The conquest of South China's Song Dynasty under Kublai Khan was the final step for the Mongols to rule the whole of China. It is also considered the Mongol Empire's last great military achievement.- Background :...

 and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...

. However, the story is considered historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...

, as the plot deviates from actual accounts and contains elements of wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...

 and romance. A feminist central theme is present, as more focus is placed on the female protagonists than their male counterparts.

Plot

Born in a poverty-stricken family, Huang Qiao'er lost her parents at an early age. She was raised by her aunt, who taught her textile arts
Textile arts
Textile arts are those arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects.Textiles have been a fundamental part of human life since the beginning of civilization, and the methods and materials used to make them have expanded enormously, while...

. While growing up in a weaving mill, Huang develops a close bond with the neighboring dyehouse owner's son, Fang Ning, who is in love with her. The outstanding results produced by Splendid Mill's weavers earn them an opportunity to work in the palace. Through her friendship with the emperor's niece, Zhao Jiayi, Huang is able to gain access the palace's study, thus gaining more knowledge of her craft from its collection. However, the Splendid Mill's weavers also become embroiled in a power struggle among the emperor's concubines, besides their rivalry with the Iridescent Cloud Mill's weavers, who are also working there.

While in the palace, Huang falls in love with a young general, Lin Mufei, at the expense of sacrificing her friendship with the princess. Lin also rejects the princess's affections, due to his prejudice against the imperial family members because of their corruption, despite his vows to protect the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...

. However, Fang Ning has his legs crippled while saving Huang from the corrupt members of the imperial court during Lin's absence. Feeling guilty for Fang's plight and hearing rumors that Lin had been killed in battle at the city of Chuzhou (present day Huai'an
Huai'an
Huai'an , known as Huaiyin before 2001, is a prefecture-level city in northern Jiangsu province of Eastern China. It borders Suqian to the northwest, Lianyungang to the north, Yancheng to the east, Yangzhou to the southeast, and the province of Anhui to the southwest.The municipality has 4,799,889...

), Huang decides to marry Fang out of pity for him. However, Lin has actually survived and he becomes heartbroken when he sees Huang marrying Fang. This complicates the love conflicts with Lin, Huang, and Zhao Jiayi.

Despite Huang Qiao'er's awareness that she cannot be with the man she is still in love with due to her marriage with another, but being Fang Ning's wife also has its own benefits, as Huang's mother-in-law imparts the family's secrets of dyeing, which helps hone her textile skills. However, Fang is aware that his wife still has some feelings towards Lin Mufei. This prompts Fang to succumb to alcoholism, causing him to repeatedly to abuse his wife after drinking. Elsewhere, Zhao Jiayi remains devoted to her affection towards Lin, and eventually sneaks away from the palace in search for him after learning that Lin is not dead. With the help of Lin's mother, Zhao locates Lin in the city of Changzhou
Changzhou
Changzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling, Jinling, and Wujin. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Zhenjiang to the...

. Zhao claims that she only wishes to be with Lin Mufei in battles, regardless of whether he would ultimately love her or not.

Not long later, the Song Dynasty is conquered by the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...

, who establish the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...

 under the leadership of Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...

. Lin is traumatized after experiencing a series of personal misfortunes and tragedies, and he decides to focus on protecting Zhao Jiayi and her surviving family members
House of Zhao
House of Zhao, also known as House of Chao , was the imperial family of Song Empire.-The Origin:...

 as well as liberating China from the Mongols' tyranny. For four years, while battling their enemies, Lin and Zhao begin to develop a close bond and mutual understandings while taking care of one another. In addition, as Zhao helps Lin nurse his emotional wound resulting from Huang's marriage to Fang Ning and later his mother's execution by one of their adversaries, Lin starts to develops an affection towards the princess when he realizes that there is something more than just her unruly and wayward behavior. While fleeing from the Mongols' conquest, Huang by chance encounters an extraordinary instructor Feng Jiujin and becomes his apprentice in woodwork. She ultimately wanders to Yazhou (present day Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...

), where she learns the arts of cotton tillage and weaving as well as helping the natives
Li people
The Li or Hlai are a minority ethnic group, the vast majority of whom live off the southern coast of mainland China on Hainan Island, where they are the largest minority ethnic group...

 improve their textile technology.

After Fang Ning died, Huang finally resolving the entanglement with Lin and Zhao after she reunites with them in the city of Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...

 (former Song capital Lin'an
Lin'an City
Lin'an City is a county-level city in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. It is located in northwestern Zhejiang....

), which Huang remorsefully realizes that she has inadvertently brought two men who have loved her nothing but heartbreak instead of happiness. She consents her blessing to Lin and Zhao of their newfound love. Huang also realizes her dream of revolutionizing the art of textile weaving and manufacturing, for the benefit of her people. With support from her family and friends, Huang becomes a pioneer of the Chinese textile industry. After numerous battles against the Yuan forces with Song remnants, the Battle of Yamen
Battle of Yamen
The naval Battle of Yamen took place on 19 March 1279 and is considered to be the last stand of the Song Dynasty against the invading Mongol-controlled Yuan Dynasty...

 officially brings an end to the Song Dynasty. Lin and Zhao, after enduring these defeats, realize that the enemy is too powerful, and is not yet for the resistance to overthrow. Admitting the situations in additions of averse of the violence and tragedies in their lives, they decide to retire and live in seclusion.

Three years later, Lin Mufei and Zhao Jiayi are happily married and return to Hangzhou after spending a long period in hiding. At this point, the Splendid Mill and Fang Family Dyehouse have accepted many apprentices and business successes, and Huang Qiao'er fulfilled her purpose in life with her great achievements.

Splendid Mill (錦繡坊)

Cast Role Description
Janine Chang
Janine Chang
Janine Chang , also known as Chang Chun-ning, is a German-born Taiwanese actress. Chang attended the National Taipei University and National Central University , obtaining a bachelor's degree in law....

 
Huang Qiao'er
(黃巧兒)
An orphaned weaver from Songjiang Town. Her works revolutionize the textile industry and help to save many people from poverty after the rise of the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...

. She becomes known as Huang Daopo (黃道婆) later.
Ivy Lu young Huang Qiao'er
Amy Chan Rong Xiuman
(容秀滿)
The senior and sworn sister of Huang's mother. She teaches Huang textile arts.
Zhao Yue Nanny Yuan
(袁姥姥)
The nanny of the weavers
Amber Xu Hu Xiaomei
(胡小梅)
Huang's neighbor and childhood friend
Chen Manyuan young Hu Xiaomei
Han Xiao Cheng Nianxiang
(程念湘)
Huang's eldest senior
Shi Jiahe young Cheng Nianxiang
Li Jinming He Xiaoyi
(賀小薏)
Huang's fellow. She is limp.
He Siying young He Xiaoyi
Li Qian  Tao Qianqian
(陶芊芊)
Huang's fellow. She is married to the Mongol prince Eerde Borjigin in Zhao Jiayi's place, and becomes known as Princess Jiashan (嘉善公主).
Li Chen young Tao Qianqian
Tao Huimin Wen Ruolan
(文若蘭)
Huang's mother. She entrusts her daughter to Rong Xiuman before her death.
Huang Shijia Xiaoqing
(小青)
One of Huang's students

Song royal family

Cast Role Description
Cecilia Liu
Cecilia Liu
Liu Shishi , better known as Cecilia Liu, is a Chinese film and television actress and ballerina.-Biography:...

 
Zhao Jiayi
(趙嘉儀)
An orphaned daughter of the late Emperor Lizong
Emperor Lizong of Song
Emperor Lizong 理宗 was the 14th emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the fifth emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was Zhao Yun . He reigned from 1224 to 1264. His temple name means "Reasonable Ancestor"...

. She was raised by Emperor Duzong and is known as Princess Jiayi (嘉儀公主). Zhao becomes a chivalrous heroine and a member of the resistance against the Yuan Dynasty after the fall of the Song Dynasty.
Wang Gang Emperor Duzong of Song
(宋度宗)
Song's incompetent and promiscuous ruler. Zhao Jiayi's paternal uncle and adoptive father.
Chen Ting Concubine E Ling'er
(鄂靈兒)
Zhao Jiayi's maternal aunt and adoptive mother
Tang Yifei Concubine Han
(韓貴妃)
Concubine E Ling'er's rival

Song imperial court

Cast Role Description
Justin Yuan
Justin Yuan
Yuan Hong , also known as Justin Yuan, is a Chinese actor.-Biography:Yuan was born in Wuhan, Hubei. He graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy, where he met and made friends with a fellow actor Hu GeYuan Hong , also known as Justin Yuan, is a Chinese actor.-Biography:Yuan was born in Wuhan, Hubei....

 
Lin Mufei
(林幕飛)
A patriotic general from a family of military personnel. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, Lin becomes a leader of the resistance against the Yuan Dynasty.
Guo Jun Li Ao
(李敖)
A former subordinate of Lin Mufei and archfoe of Lin and Zhao Jiayi. He defects to the Mongols.
Zhao Yi Han Tong
(韓通)
A subordinate of Lin Mufei and a member of the resistance.
Ma Fei Wu Qingtong
(武青同)
A subordinate of Lin Mufei and a member of the resistance.
Zhang Lei Zhao Zhe
(趙喆)
A corrupt official who lusts for Huang Qiao'er. He works for the Yuan governments after the fall of the Song Dynasty.
Niu Ben
Niu Ben
NIU Ben , original name ZHANG Xuejing , born in Tianjin, lives in Shanghai currently, one of the earlier generation of Chinese actors, with the reputation of "Ever green in Chinese filmdom".-Biography:...

 
Eunuch Wang
(王公公)
An attendant who works at the imperial kitchen and friends with Lin Mufei and Huang Qiao'er.

Fang Family Dyehouse (大方染坊)

Cast Role Description
Edwin Siu
Edwin Siu
-Discography:*2002: Born to Fly*2002: Edwin*2003: What Do You Want Me to Do *2005: Story -Films:-Television serial dramas:-Internet serial dramas:-Awards:- External links :...

 
Fang Ning
(方甯)
A close friend of Huang Qiao'er. He has been in love with Huang for a long time and marries her eventually.
Cheng Pei-pei
Cheng Pei-pei
Cheng Pei-pei is an actress best known for her performance in the seminal 1966 King Hu wuxia film Come Drink with Me. She continued to play expert swordswomen in a number of films throughout the 1960s...

 
Mrs. Fang
(方戴氏)
The mother of Fang Ning, Fang Po, and Fang Jing. She is the owner of the Fang Family Dyehouse (大方染坊). She instructs Huang in dyeing
Dyeing
Dyeing is the process of adding color to textile products like fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Dyeing is normally done in a special solution containing dyes and particular chemical material. After dyeing, dye molecules have uncut Chemical bond with fiber molecules. The temperature and time controlling...

.
Zheng Guolin Fang Po
(方寶)
Fang Ning's older brother and close friend of the Splendid Mill's weavers.
He Yan Fang Jing
(方靜)
Older sister of Fang Po and Fang Ning
He Jianze Shi Pujie
(石蒲傑)
Fang Jing's lover and a worker of the Fang Family Dyehouse

Yazhou (崖州)

Cast Role Description
Liu Dong A'dong
(阿東)
A Yazhou
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...

 native and widower. He teaches Huang and Rong cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....

 tillage
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...

.
Cristy Guo Fu Yaya
(符雅雅)
A'dong's neighbor. She teaches Huang and Rong the basic of cotton weaving, which Huang and Rong incorporate with their own knowledge of textile arts. Huang later accepts her as one of her apprentices, helping her advances her skills.

Others

Cast Role Description
Damian Lau
Damian Lau
Damian Lau Chung-yan is a Hong Kong film and television actor, executive producer and film director. Lau has starred in many television drama series of various genres, produced by Hong Kong's TVB and ATV.-Early career:...

 
Feng Jiujin
(風九斤)
Real name Yelü Ximu (耶律希木). He is actually a son of a Khitan
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...

 noble, Yelü Chucai, thus a descendant of the royal family of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...

. The educated artisan instructs Huang in woodwork.
Ethan Yao young Yelü Ximu
Li Qingxiang Taoist Sun
(孫真人)
A sarcastic but wise Taoist who heals Fang Ning and Feng Jiujin
Jerry Cheng Huang Chunyao
(黃震堯)
Huang's father and Rong Xiuman's former fiancé
Dai Chunrong Mrs. Guan
(贯大娘)
The owner of Iridescent Cloud Mill (彩雲坊) and Rong Xiuman's business rival.
Yan Yongxuan Wang Ying
(王英)
Lin Mufei's mother.
Lou Yejiang Eerde Borjigin
(額爾德·孛兒只斤)
A Mongol prince.

Deleted scenes

  • Huang Qiao'er first meets the Fang brothers during their childhood, A'dong's fiancée Dandan's (portrayed by Janine Chang) death, Huang Qiao'er and Rong Xiuman being burn at the stakes on Yazhou, and Lin Mufei and Zhao Jiayi returning home as husband and wife in the series finale.

Deviations from historic accounts

  • In Chinese history the Emperor Lizong
    Emperor Lizong of Song
    Emperor Lizong 理宗 was the 14th emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the fifth emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was Zhao Yun . He reigned from 1224 to 1264. His temple name means "Reasonable Ancestor"...

     and Emperor Duzong of the Song Dynasty were actually uncle and nephew. The series rewritten them as brothers to explain Zhao Jiayi's existence in additions of the screenwriters unwilling to write her as the daughter of Duzong. In fact, Zhao Jiayi were never existed and is a fictional character.
  • Almost all the characters in the series are fictional except Huang Daopo, Emperor Duzong, Mongol general Bayan
    Bayan of the Baarin
    Bayan of the Baarin , also known as "Bayan chingsang" or, to Marco Polo, as "Bayan Hundred Eyes" , was a Mongol general...

    , and Yelü Chucai. Most of its plot does not match the actual historic accounts. There are references of the death of Emperor Duzong, the succession and abdication of Emperor Gongzong
    Emperor Gong of Song
    Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song (1271- unknown (possibly 1323), born Zhào Xiǎn (趙顯), was the 7th Emperor of the Chinese Southern Song Dynasty. He reigned from 1274 until his abdication in 1276 CE when he was succeeded by his elder brother, Emperor Duanzong of Song....

    , Battle of Xiangyang
    Battle of Xiangyang
    The Battle of Xiangyang also known as the Battle of Xiangfan was a six-year battle between invading Yuan Dynasty armies founded by the Mongols and Southern Song forces between AD 1267 and 1273. After the battle, the victorious Yuan forces pushed farther into the Song heartland...

    , Battle of Yamen
    Battle of Yamen
    The naval Battle of Yamen took place on 19 March 1279 and is considered to be the last stand of the Song Dynasty against the invading Mongol-controlled Yuan Dynasty...

     and the deaths of the Song's last two emperors; Emperor Duanzong
    Emperor Duanzong of Song
    Emperor Duānzōng was the eighth and penultimate emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty of China who reigned from 1276 to 1278 and died at the early age of ten. He was also known as the "Nation Establishing Duke " ....

     and Emperor Huaizong.

Production

  • The Song and Mongol military costumes are originally made for the two television series The Young Warriors (2006) and The Legend of the Condor Heroes
    The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008 TV series)
    The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was produced by Chinese Entertainment Shanghai, the same company that produced Chinese Paladin , The Little Fairy and The Young Warriors...

    (2008).

  • Originally consider the part as Huang Qiao'er by the casting department, Cecilia Liu expresses her interest to portrays Zhao Jiayi instead after reading the script, leading Janine Chang in the starring role.

Reception

The series was well-received in Mainland China and Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

, as both regions reportedly received good ratings.

External links

A Weaver on the Horizon official Chinese Entertainment Shanghai website A Weaver on the Horizon on Sina.com
Sina.com
SINA is an online media company for China and Chinese communities around the world. SINA operates four major business lines: Sina Weibo, SINA Mobile, SINA Online, and SINA.net. SINA has over 100 million registered users worldwide...

A Weaver on the Horizon page on CTV website
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