19 replies to this topic

[laowai]

So far nobody has mentioned the excellent 1997 CCTV production of Outlaws of the Marsh (水浒传) which takes place at the end of Northern Song:

http://www.chinesema.../noname113.html



You can also download the entire 43 episode series in avi format with English subtitles from veoh.com (you need to install their software first):

http://www.veoh.com/...1149966dDeysHFG

I'm watching the series right now. I see in the credits a long list of "consultants" (顾问) so I think that the Song settings, costumes, etc. are quite authentic. Does anyone agree or disagree?

Edited by laowai, 06 November 2008 - 08:53 PM.

[Gordon]

So far nobody has mentioned the excellent 1997 CCTV production of Outlaws of the Marsh (水浒传) which takes place at the end of Northern Song:
...
I'm watching the series right now. I see in the credits a long list of "consultants" (顾问) so I think that the Song settings, costumes, etc. are quite authentic. Does anyone agree or disagree?

I enjoyed watching this series a lot. I'm no expert on Chinese history, but from my limited knowledge, it seemed reasonably accurate. I hope more people get the opportunity to watch series like this and "Genghis Khan", etc.

There is another excellent drama set around this time period (the last years of the Yuan Dynasty) called "Fei Tian Wu (飛天舞)" or "Dance in the Sky". It is an excellent story, but I don't know how historically accurate it is. The story focuses on characters who are fairly minor in the historical sense, but had significant influence on some major military and political events of the time. Most of these events dealt with the struggle between various factions rebelling against the oppression and corruption of the Yuan dyanasty, and eventually Zhu Yuanzhang's emergence as the leader of the rebel forces and his assault on the Yuan capital I suspect that most of the main characters are completely fictional, but I may be wrong. The story was quite believeable and seemed true to the era. I would be interested in knowing which of the major characters (primarily generals in command of the major armies) were real people and how this story matches up with what is known about actual events.

This TV series was a joint venture between China and Korea, filmed in 2005. It originally aired in China (2006), and subsequently in Korea (2008) on SBS.

You can find the Mandarin version in .avi with English soft subs listed under it's Korean title "Bi Chun Mu (비천무)" at
http://d-addicts.com...topic_59463.htm.

[Optimus]

Mediacorp (SBC) - 绝代双雄 ( The Sword and the Song ) ( 1986 )



Opening Theme Video


This drama depicts the life story of 趙匡胤 Zhao Kuangyin, a general who rebelled against Later Zhou dynasty, and become the founder of the Song Dynasty of China ( 太祖, Emperor Taizu ) Emperor Taizu and Taizong ( Zhao Kuangyi ) eventually conquered all others warring states and reunified China, ending Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

This is a very good production, one of the best period dynasty dramas I have watched. The plot was good and well-paced with plenty of intrigue and suspense. The theme and sub songs are excellent.
Good shows will withstand the test of time. I liked this show a lot ( as a little boy and recently when I watched it again )


Now showing in Singapore, Channel 8, Every Monday and Tuesday, 2-4 AM.

Online watch - http://6.cn/playlist/174122-5 ( this is the best quality available )

[shibo77]

A summary:
汉族 宋 Han Song (There's also many made on the topic of 岳飞Yue Fei and 包青天/包公Bao Qingtian/Bao Gong)
《陈桥兵变》Mutiny at Chenqiao About the events leading up to the founding of the Song dynasty. Link
《赵匡胤》Zhao Kuangyin About the founder of the Song dynasty/usurper of Later Zhou. Link
《寇老西儿》Kou Laoxir Comedy about the Northern Song bureaucrat 寇准 Kou Zhun. Link
《水浒传》Outlaws of the Marsh During the reign of Northern Song's Huizong.
《百家讲坛·两宋风云》Lecture Room: Liangsong Fengyun Wonderful lecture by Yuan Tengfei, concerning the period between the Northern and Southern Songs, from about 1082 to 1187, mostly non-fiction. Link
《大宋提刑官》Legend of Song Ci One of the world's earliest forensic science pioneer, 宋慈 Song Ci, Southern Song. Link
《大宋提刑官II》Legend of Song Ci One of the world's earliest forensic science pioneer, 宋慈 Song Ci, Southern Song. Link
《水浒后传》Outlaws of the Marsh Sequel Based on the Qing dynasty novel, focus is on Song's wars with the Jin. Link
契丹族 辽 Khitan Liao
《百家讲坛·塞北三朝之辽》Lecture Room: Saibei Sanchao - Liao Wonderful lecture by Yuan Tengfei, concerning the Khitans and their Liao empire, from Khitan during Tang's Wu Zetian to Kara-Khitan's Kuchlug and Khitans' present day whereabouts, mostly non-fiction. Link
《大辽太后》Empress of Great Liao Link
《契丹英后》Wise Empress of the Khitans Adapted from a Peking Opera. Link
女真族 金 Jurchen Jin(I couldn't find any, I suppose the Jurchens were much too hated. The other series about the Song, Liao, Xixia, and Yuan do have scenes with the Jurchens)
党项族 夏 Tangut Xia
《贺兰雪》Snow of Helan Mountain Chronicles the rise of the Tanguts, from 982 to their fall to the Mongols in 1227. Link
蒙古族 元 Mongol Yuan(There's also many more about Genghis Khan)
《成吉思汗》Genghis Khan TV series Link
Mongol Feature film Link

There are also many film and television adaptations of 金庸Jin Yong's martial arts novels based roughly during this era, from the late Tang to the Mongols' Yuan.

Edited by shibo77, 21 December 2010 - 11:36 PM.

[Mergen]

《贺兰雪》Snow of Helan Mountain Chronicles the rise of the Tanguts, from 982 to their fall to the Mongols in 1227. [

I quite enjoyed this TV series. It shows a rare side of non-Han Chinese culture. But like all screen adaptations, the series should be watched with a pinch of salt because we don't know how much fictional elements are included. BTW, the series ends with the death of Yuanhao, the founder of the Xi Xia (Tanggut) and the ascession of his infant son. It did not show their fall to the Mongols.