The Book and the Sword (2008 TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Book and the Sword is a 2008 Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title
. The series was first broadcast on CETV-3 in China in 2009. It starred Qiao Zhenyu, Adam Cheng
, Niki Chow
and Liu Dekai in the leading roles.
as in the novel. "Yu Wanting" is actually the alter ego of Yintang
, the ninth younger brother of the Yongzheng Emperor
, and he had been demoted to the status of a commoner. The power-hungry Yintang seeks vengeance and wants to usurp his nephew (Qianlong)'s throne. Yintang knows the truth that Qianlong is not the legitimate successor to the throne and he constantly threatens the emperor with the evidence in his hands. Yintang rallies a group of pugilists from the jianghu
and establishes the Red Flower Society. He instigates the society's members and some tribal peoples in the northwest to rebel against the Qing imperial court.
Yintang fakes his death at one point and allows his godson Chen Jialuo to succeed him as leader of the Red Flower Society. However, within the society, the Chang brothers, Wei Chunhua and Shi Shuangying are the only ones who know that "Yu Wanting" is still alive, and they serve as his spies by watching over Chen and the others. The series also feature a different ending from the novel, with many of the society's members meeting their ends at the hands of Yintang. The surviving ones, under Chen Jialuo's leadership, confront Yintang to put an end to his ruthless ambitions.
by viewers, who feel that the story differs the most from the original source among all adaptations of Louis Cha's works.
, whom he previously played in the 1976 TVB production
based on the same novel.
The Book and the Sword on Baidu Baike
The Book and the Sword
The Book and the Sword is the debut wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized between February 8, 1955 and September 5, 1956 in The New Evening Post in Hong Kong....
. The series was first broadcast on CETV-3 in China in 2009. It starred Qiao Zhenyu, Adam Cheng
Adam Cheng
Adam Cheng Siu-chow is a Hong Kong TVB actor and Cantopop singer.-Career:Cheng started his career in the 1970s, where he gained a reputation for playing the lead roles in TVB Wuxia drama series based on the works of Louis Cha and Gu Long, such as The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and Chor Lau Heung...
, Niki Chow
Niki Chow
Niki Chow is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. She terminated her contract with management company BMA and label BMA Records in January 2011 and currently has an artist contract with TVB. She was born and raised in Hong Kong...
and Liu Dekai in the leading roles.
Plot
Although the flow of events in the series is generally similar to the novel, Yu Wanting's role is greatly emphasized, with him being the primary antagonist, instead of the Qianlong EmperorQianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
as in the novel. "Yu Wanting" is actually the alter ego of Yintang
Yintang
Yintang was the ninth son of the Kangxi Emperor. He was one of the most beloved princes of the emperor although he never held any important office during the reign of his father...
, the ninth younger brother of the Yongzheng Emperor
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
, and he had been demoted to the status of a commoner. The power-hungry Yintang seeks vengeance and wants to usurp his nephew (Qianlong)'s throne. Yintang knows the truth that Qianlong is not the legitimate successor to the throne and he constantly threatens the emperor with the evidence in his hands. Yintang rallies a group of pugilists from the jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
and establishes the Red Flower Society. He instigates the society's members and some tribal peoples in the northwest to rebel against the Qing imperial court.
Yintang fakes his death at one point and allows his godson Chen Jialuo to succeed him as leader of the Red Flower Society. However, within the society, the Chang brothers, Wei Chunhua and Shi Shuangying are the only ones who know that "Yu Wanting" is still alive, and they serve as his spies by watching over Chen and the others. The series also feature a different ending from the novel, with many of the society's members meeting their ends at the hands of Yintang. The surviving ones, under Chen Jialuo's leadership, confront Yintang to put an end to his ruthless ambitions.
Cast
- Qiao Zhenyu as Chen Jialuo / Fu Kang'an
- Adam ChengAdam ChengAdam Cheng Siu-chow is a Hong Kong TVB actor and Cantopop singer.-Career:Cheng started his career in the 1970s, where he gained a reputation for playing the lead roles in TVB Wuxia drama series based on the works of Louis Cha and Gu Long, such as The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and Chor Lau Heung...
as Qianlong EmperorQianlong EmperorThe Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796... - Niki ChowNiki ChowNiki Chow is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. She terminated her contract with management company BMA and label BMA Records in January 2011 and currently has an artist contract with TVB. She was born and raised in Hong Kong...
as Huo Qingtong - Liu Ying as Princess Fragrance
- Liu Dekai as Yu Wanting / YintangYintangYintang was the ninth son of the Kangxi Emperor. He was one of the most beloved princes of the emperor although he never held any important office during the reign of his father...
- Lu ChenLu Chen (actress)Lu Chen is a Chinese actress. She is currently a contracted artist to the talent agency Cathay Media.-Biography:Lu was discovered by a principal photographer of the television series Eternal Beauty in 2006 and was invited the participate in the project...
as Li Yuanzhi - Li Chengyuan as Zhou Qi
- Fu Hongjun as Taoist Wuchen
- Zhang Ping as Zhao Banshan
- Liu Naiyi as Wen Tailai
- Zhong Liang as Chang Bozhi
- Tan Jianchang as Chang Hezhi
- Li Yuan as Xu Tianhong
- Xu Xiaoming as Yang Chengxie
- Ng Yuen-chun as Wei Chunhua
- Lu Yuwen as Zhang Jin
- Qi Fang as Luo Bing
- Zhao Dongbo as Shi Shuangying
- Zhang Kai as Jiang Sigen
- Deep NgDeep NgDeep Ng is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. He is the winner of the 21st annual New Talent Singing Awards Hong Kong Regional Finals. Deep was well received by the viewers since the New Talent Singing Awards in 2002. His first EP Deep was released in 2003 with the hit debut single "先入為主"...
as Yu Yutong - Chen Shali as Empress Dowager Chongqing
- Bryan Leung as Yuan Shixiao
- Wong Yat-fei as Cheng Zhengde
- Yuen Qiu as Guan Mingmei
- Li Donglin as Zhang Zhaozhong
- You Jiahui as Bu Qianjia
- Li Shipeng as Tong Zhaohe
- Wang Gang as Zhou Zhongying
- Tong Xiaomei as Zhou Qi's mother
- Zheng Wei as Zhou Yingjie
- Cui Gui as Ma Zhen
- Dong Zhihua as Lu Feiqing
- Yao Jia as Empress
- Ren Wei as HeshenHeshenHeshen or Hešen , from the Manchu Niohuru clan, was a Manchu official of the Qing Dynasty, a favourite of the Qianlong Emperor. Born Shanbao , his given name was later changed to Heshen. His courtesy name was Zhizhai . He was a member of the Plain Red Banner, as well as one of the most corrupt...
- Yang Yifan as Bai Zhen
- Chen Tao as Etu
- Hong Zongyi as Prince Zheng
- Zhang Wei as Hong Shi
- Shen Baoping as Yongzheng EmperorYongzheng EmperorThe Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
- Zhao Enhan as Nine Gates Commander
- Wang Yingqi as Zhaohui
- Gong Fangmin as Li Kexiu
- An Ruiyun as E'ertai
- Du Yachun as Xu Xiangping
- Wu Lihua as Physician Cao
- Yang Min as Yu Ruyi
- Liu Hengyu as Aizhuo'er
- Zhou Jiwei as Long Jun
- Yan Jun as Tang Yilei
- Jin Peng as Hahetai
- Liu Zifei as YuezhiYuezhiThe Yuezhi, or Rouzhi , also known as the Da Yuezhi or Da Rouzhi , were an ancient Central Asian people....
princess - Hou Jianglong as Han Wenchong
- Xu Xiangdong as Mu Zhuolun
- Luo Ya as Xiaolan, Xiaolu, Wu Chanjuan
- Huang Wei as Rui Dalin
- Niu Ziqing as Meng Jianxiong
- Liu Juntao as Yan Shizhang
- Zhang Shaohui as Cheng Huang
- Jiao Changdao as Zeng Tu'an
- Yuan Ming as Wan Qinglan
- Gan Qilin as Li Guangping
- Wang Hong as Eunuch Li
- Song Haitao as Yan Bogan
- Zhang Guofeng as Ma Shanjun
- Wang Xinchen as Gu Youlan
Reception
The series has been criticized on Guangzhou DailyGuangzhou Daily
Guangzhou Ribao is the official newspaper of the Guangzhou municipal party committee published by the Guangzhou Daily Newspaper Group. The daily newspaper was established on October 1, 1952....
by viewers, who feel that the story differs the most from the original source among all adaptations of Louis Cha's works.
Trivia
Adam Cheng reprised his role as the Qianlong EmperorQianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
, whom he previously played in the 1976 TVB production
The Legend of the Book and the Sword (1976 TV series)
The Legend of the Book and the Sword is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Book and the Sword. It was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong in 1976.-Cast:*Adam Cheng as Chan Ka-lok / Kin-lung Emperor...
based on the same novel.
External links
The Book and the Sword on Sina.comSina.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...
The Book and the Sword on Baidu Baike
Baidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....