Romance of the Three Kingdoms (TV series)

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

DVD cover art
Genre Historical drama
Written by Original story:
Luo Guanzhong
Screenwriters:
Du Jiafu
Li Yibo
Zhou Kai
Zhu Xiaoping
Ye Shisheng
Directed by Wang Fulin
Zhang Shaolin
Shen Haofang
Sun Guangming
Zhang Zhongyi
Cai Xiaoqing
Starring Sun Yanjun
Tang Guoqiang
Bao Guo'an
Wu Xiaodong
Lu Shuming
Li Jingfei
Theme music composer Gu Jianfen
Opening theme Gungun Changjiang Dongshishui (滚滚长江东逝水) performed by Yang Hongji
Ending theme Lishi De Tiankong (历史的天空) performed by Mao Amin
Composer(s) Gu Jianfen
Li Yiding
Wang Xian
Country of origin China
Language(s) Mandarin
No. of episodes 84
Production
Executive producer(s) You Shijun
Zhang Guangqian
Shan Yusheng
Zhang Jizhong
Hao Heming
Producer(s) Wang Feng
Ren Dahui
Dai Linfeng
Yang Weiguang
Zhang Tianmin
Yu Changhua
Zhou Ming
Liu Jinru
Location(s) China
Running time 45 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel CCTV
Original airing 1994
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Traditional Chinese 三國演義
Simplified Chinese 三国演义

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a 1994 Chinese television series produced by CCTV. It is based on Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, with each episode being approximately 44 minutes long.

A team of about 1,000 people took four years to complete the project. More than 400,000 civilian participants were recruited, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army. It is CCTV's most expensive television production up to date.

Most of the dialogues spoken by the characters were adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes were live acted, such as the Battle of Guandu, Battle of Red Cliffs and Battle of Xiaoting.

Contents

List of episodes

The series are divided into five parts and each part with a different executive producer and director(s).

Part One: The Heroes Struggle for Power (第一部： 群雄逐鹿)

  1. Oath of the Peach Garden (桃园三结义)
  2. Political Turmoil by the Ten Attendants (十常侍乱政)
  3. The Capital Falls to Dong Zhuo (董卓霸京师)
  4. Mengde Presents a Sword (孟德献刀)
  5. The Three Heroes Joust Lü Bu (三英战吕布)
  6. An Interlocking set of Stratagems (连环计)
  7. Fengyi Pavilion (凤仪亭)
  8. Three Declinations to Take Xu Province (三让徐州)
  9. Sun Ce's Dynasty (孙策立业)
  10. An Arrow through a Halberd (辕门射戟)
  11. The Battle of Wancheng (宛城之战)
  12. White Gate Tower (part 1) (白门楼 (上))
  13. White Gate Tower (part 2) (白门楼 (下))
  14. A Talk of Heroes over Drinks (煮酒论英雄)
  15. War Between Yuan and Cao (袁曹起兵)
  16. Guan Yu's Three Conditions (关羽约三事)
  17. Return of Wealth and Seal (挂印封金)
  18. Through Five Passes, Slew Six Generals (千里走单骑)
  19. Reunion at Gucheng (古城相会)
  20. The Death of Sun Ce (孙策之死)
  21. The Battle of Guandu (part 1) (官渡之战 (上))
  22. The Battle of Guandu (part 2) (官渡之战 (下))
  23. Yuan Shao's Defeat (大破袁绍)

Part Two: The Battle of Red Cliff (第二部： 赤壁鏖战)

  1. Leaping Across the Tan Stream (跃马檀溪)
  2. Liu Bei Seeks the Wise (刘备求贤)
  3. A Recommendation for Zhuge (回马荐诸葛)
  4. The Three Visits (三顾茅庐)
  5. Inferno at Bowang Hill (火烧博望坡)
  6. Taking the People across the River (携民渡江)
  7. A Battle of Words with Scholars (舌战群儒)
  8. A Clever Provocation of Zhou Yu (智激周瑜)
  9. Zhou Yu's Scheme (周瑜空设计)
  10. A Heroes' Feast (群英会)
  11. Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats (草船借箭)
  12. The Self-Torture Ruse (苦肉计)
  13. Pang Tong's Interlocking Stratagems (庞统献连环)
  14. Spear and Poem (横槊赋诗)
  15. Zhuge's Prayer for the Wind (诸葛祭风)
  16. Red Cliff (火烧赤壁)
  17. Strategic Capture of Southern Administrative Division (智取南郡)
  18. Conquering Four Administrative Divisions (力夺四郡)
  19. The Beauty Scheme (美人计)
  20. Dew Drop Temple (甘露寺)
  21. Return to Jing Province (回荆州)
  22. Zhou Yu Infuriated Thrice (三气周瑜)
  23. A Funeral Attended by the Sleeping Dragon (卧龙吊孝)
  24. Slicing Off Beard and Discarding Robe (割须弃袍)

Part Three: Rise of the Three Kingdoms (第三部：三国鼎立)

  1. Zhang Song Presents a Map (张松献图)
  2. Liu Bei Enters Sichuan (刘备入川)
  3. Valley of the Fallen Phoenix (凤雏落坡)
  4. Righteous Release of Yan Yan (义释严颜)
  5. The Capture of Western Sichuan (夺战西川)
  6. Attending a Feast Alone with only a Single Blade as Accompaniment (单刀赴会)
  7. The Battle of Hefei (合肥会战)
  8. Contending for Succession (立嗣之争)
  9. Mount Dingjun (定军山)
  10. Strategic Capture of Hanzhong (巧取汉中)
  11. Drowning the Seven Armies (水淹七军)
  12. The Fall of Maicheng (走麦城)
  13. The Death of Cao Cao (曹操之死)
  14. Cao Pi Ends the Han Empire (曹丕篡汉)
  15. The Campaign on Eastern Wu (兴兵伐吴)
  16. The Burning of the Linked Camps (火烧连营)

Part Four: Northern and Southern Conquests (第四部：南征北战)

  1. Pacifying Five Armies (安居平五路)
  2. Crossing the Lu River (兵渡泸水)
  3. Seeking the Way (绝路问津)
  4. The Seven Captures and Releases of Meng Huo(七擒孟获)
  5. The Northern Expedition (出师北伐)
  6. Jiang Wei Surrenders (收姜维)
  7. Return of Sima Yi (司马复出)
  8. The Empty Fort Strategy (空城退敌)
  9. Sima Seizes the Seal (司马取印)
  10. The Battle of Wits at Mount Qi (祁山斗智)
  11. Zhuge in Disguise as a God (诸葛妆神)
  12. The Six Campaigns on Mount Qi (六出祁山)
  13. Extinguished Fire in Shangfang Valley (火熄上方谷)
  14. Autumn Winds of the Wuzhang Plains (秋风五丈原)

Part Five: The Three Kingdoms United as One (第五部：三分归一)

  1. Feigning Illness to trick Cao Shuang (诈病赚曹爽)
  2. Turmoil in the Wu Court (吴宫干戈)
  3. Siege at Mount Tielong (兵困铁笼山)
  4. Sima Zhao Commits Regicide (司马昭弑君)
  5. The Ninth Expedition on the Central Plains (九伐中原)
  6. The Stealth March to Yinping (偷渡阴平)
  7. Jin Unites the Three Kingdoms (三分归晋)

Cast

Note: Due to the time taken to complete the project (four years), there were numerous instances of multiple actors playing the same character, or the same actor taking on multiple roles. For example, Wu Xiaodong played Sun Jian in episode 5 but was cast as Sun Quan in the remaining episodes. Chen Zhihui is an extreme example of the later because he had played total four roles, three as generals from Wei, Shu and Wu (Xu Chu, Liao Hua, and Taishi Ci) and one as minor warlord Bao Xin. An example of the former is Zhang Liao, who is played by Xu Shaohua in episode 12, Zhang Yakun in episode 39 and Wang Weiguo in episode 54.

Main cast

Other cast

Wei

Shu

Wu

Others

Theme songs

The music for the series was composed by Gu Jianfen (谷建芬).

# Song title Song credits More information
1 滾滾長江東逝水
(pinyin: Gǔngǔn Chángjiāng Dōngshì Shuĭ)
(translation: The Billowing Yangtze River Flows East)		 Lyrics by Yang Shen
Performed by Yang Hongji		 The opening theme song
2 歷史的天空
(pinyin: Lìshĭ Dē Tiānkōng)
(translation: The Sky Of History)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Mao Amin		 The ending theme song
3 這一拜
(pinyin: Zhè Yī Bài)
(translation: This Bow)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Liu Huan		 Played during the Peach Garden Oath scene in episode 1 and during the three brothers' reunion scene in episode 19
4 烈火雄風
(pinyin: Lièhuŏ Xíóngfēng)
(translation: Fierce Fire And Majestic Wind)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Lü Jihong		 Played during Lü Bu's riding scene in episode 3
5 貂蟬已隨清風去
(pinyin: Diāochán Yĭsuí Qīngfēng Qù)
(translation: Diaochan Has Gone With The Wind)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Wan Shanhong		 Played during the last scene showing Diaochan's departure in episode 7
6 淯水吟
(pinyin: Yùshuĭ Yín)
(translation: Ode To The Yu River)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Mao Amin		 Played during the Battle of Wancheng scene in episode 11
7 有為歌
(pinyin: Yŏuwéi Gē)
(translation: A Promising Song)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Dai Jianming		 Played during Zhuge Liang's scene in episode 27
8 民得平安天下安
(pinyin: Míndé Píng'ān Tiānxià Ān)
(translation: The World Is Peaceful When People Are At Peace)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Cui Jinghao		 Played during the scene showing Liu Bei crossing the river with civilians in episode 29
9 豹頭環眼好兄弟
(pinyin: Bàotóu Huányăn Hăo Xiōngdì)
(translation: The Good Brother With A Leopard's Head And Big Round Eyes)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Yin Xiangjie
10 當陽常志此心丹
(pinyin: Dāngyáng Chángzhì Cĭ Xīndān)
(translation: In Dangyang This Red Heart Is Shown)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Cui Jinghao		 Played during Zhao Yun's heroics scene in episode 30
11 丈夫歌
(pinyin: Zhàngfū Gē)
(translation: A Song For Men)		 Lyrics by Luo Guanzhong
Performed by Lü Jihong		 Played during Zhou Yu's dance scene in episode 33
12 短歌行
(pinyin: Duăngē Xíng)
(translation: A Short Song)		 Lyrics by Cao Cao
Performed by Yang Hongji		 Played during Cao Cao's poem recitation scene in episode 37
13 江上行
(pinyin: Jiāngshàng Xíng)
(translation: Sail Along The River)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Cui Jinghao		 Played during the scene showing Guan Yu's arrival by boat in episode 53
14 七步詩
(pinyin: Qībù Shī)
(translation: The Seven-Step Poem)		 Lyrics by Cao Zhi
Performed by Liu Huan		 Played during Cao Zhi's poem recitation scene in episode 61
15 哭諸葛
(pinyin: Kū Zhūgě)
(translation: Mourning Zhuge)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Liu Huan		 Played during Zhuge Liang's funeral scene in episode 77
16 一夜北风寨
(pinyin: Yīyè Běifēng Zhài)
(translation: A Night In The Northern Wind Fortress)		 Lyrics by Luo Guanzhong
17 壮士功名尚未成
(pinyin: Zhuàngshì Gōngmíng Shàngwèi Chéng)
(translation: A Hero Has Yet To Achieve Glory)		 Lyrics by Zhu Xiaoping
18 南阳有隐居
(pinyin: Nányáng Yŏu Yĭnjū)
(translation: There Is A Hermit In Nan Yang)		 Lyrics by Luo Guanzhong
19 誰肯論英雄
(pinyin: Shéikěn Lùn Yīngxióng)
(translation: Who Would Talk About Heroes)		 Lyrics by Zhu Xiaoping
20 子夜四時歌
(pinyin: Zĭyè Sìshí Gē)
(translation: The Midnight Song)		 Played during Liu Bei and Lady Sun's wedding scene in episode 43
21 臥龍吟
(pinyin: Wòlóng Yín)
(translation: Crouching Dragon's Song)		 Lyrics by Wang Jian
Performed by Dai Jianming
22 明主求賢兮卻不知吾
(pinyin: Míngzhŭ Qíuxián Xī Què Bùzhī Wú)
(translation: The Wise Ruler Seeks Talents But Knows Me Not)		 Lyrics by Luo Guanzhong Played during the scene where Liu Bei meets Xu Shu in episode 25

See also

External links

Television series based on the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature
Dream of the Red Chamber (A Dream of Red Mansions)
Journey to the West
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994) · Three Kingdoms (2011)
Water Margin

N/A (1983) · N/A (1984) · N/A (1985) · N/A (1986) · N/A (1987) · N/A (1988) · N/A (1989) · N/A (1990) · N/A (1991) · N/A (1992) · N/A (1993) · N/A (1994) · Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1995) · Prime Minister Liu Luoguo (1996) · Peacetime (1997) · Heroes of the Marshes (1998) · Princess Pearl (1999) · The Making of the Steel (2000) Snow Without Trace (2001) · Long March (2002) · The Field of Hope (2003) · Yanan (2004) Ren Changxia (2006) · Chuang Guan Dong (2008) · Libration (2010)
Zhang Jizhong filmography
Producer
Actor and others