The Mystic Nine
| The Mystic Nine | |
|---|---|
 The Mystic Nine (Zhang Qishan poster) | |
| Also known as |
Lao Jiu Men Old Nine Gates |
| Genre |
Action Adventure Mystery Supernatural |
| Based on | Daomu Biji by Nanpai Sanshu |
| Written by | Bai Yicong |
| Directed by |
Liang Shengquan He Shupei Huang Junwen |
| Starring |
William Chan Zhang Yixing Zanilia Zhao Ying Haoming Hu Yunhao Crystal Yuan |
| Opening theme |
My Clan by William Chan Returning Soul Door by Anson Hu |
| Ending theme | Dian Yu Si by Li Nan |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language(s) | Mandarin |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 48 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Zhang Yuxin Li Guohua Bai Yicong |
| Location(s) | Zhejiang, Hengdian |
| Running time | 40 mins |
| Production company(s) | Ciwen Media Group, iQiyi |
| Release | |
| Original network | iQiyi, Dragon TV |
| Original release | 4 July – 17 October 2016 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Lost Tomb |
The Mystic Nine (Chinese: 老九门; pinyin: Lǎo Jiǔ Mén, lit. Old Nine Gates) is a prequel to the Chinese television series The Lost Tomb based on the internet novel Daomu Biji.[1] It was first aired on Dragon TV and broadcast online via iQiyi from 4 July to 17 October 2016.
The series achieved success, placing first in television ratings and setting a record for the most online views garnered in a day, and has accumulated over 10 billion views in total.[2] It was awarded "Drama of the Year" at the iQiyi All-Star Carnival. A wax figure dressed of Zhang Qishan (portrayed by William Chan) was added to Madame Tussauds Shanghai in April 2017.[3]
Synopsis
During the era of the republic, the town of Changsha was guarded by nine big families known as the “Old Nine Gates / Mystic Nine Clan”. They were incredibly powerful families who wield supreme power over everything in Changsha.
In year 1933, a mysterious train ended in Changsha station. The leader of the Nine Gates, Zhang Qishan (William Chan) who was also the army commander of Changsha, started to investigate with Qi Tiezui (Ying Haoming) and they discovered a highly suspicious mine just outside of Changsha. In order to solve the mystery of the mine, they decided to engage the help of Er Yuehong (Zhang Yixing) who was an opera singer that came from a family of archaeologists. However Er Ye was reluctant to help them as his wife Ya Tou (Crystal Yuan) was terminally ill. In order to procure the medicine for treating her, Fo Ye travelled to Beiping with Er Ye, Ba Ye and Ya Tou and they met the young mistress of the hotel Yin Xinyue (Zanilia Zhao) there. The five of them later returned to Changsha and discovered the how the mystery of the mine was connected to their families’ histories and the Japanese’s sinister plot against Changsha.
Cast
Main
- William Chan as Zhang Qishan (张启山), also known as Fo Ye. The leader of the mystic nine clan.
- Zhang Yixing as Er Yuehong (二月红), second master of the mystic nine clan. An expert at tomb raiding due to his family background, but chooses to become an opera singer due to his passion.
- Zanilia Zhao as Yin Xinyue (尹新月), mistress of Xin Yue hotel. Zhang Qishan's love interest and later wife.
- Ying Haoming as Qi Tiezui (齐铁嘴), eighth master of the mystic nine clan. He is skilled in fortune-telling and divination.
- Hu Yunhao as Chen Pi Ah Si (陈皮阿四), fourth master of the mystic nine clan who is known for his cruel ways. He is the disciple of Er Yuehong and Ya Tou and works at their residence.
- Crystal Yuan as Ya Tou (丫头), Er Yuehong's wife. She and Er Yuehong knew each other as children and as adults, he saved her from being sold as a slave and they got married. She has a mysterious sickness that Er Yuehong tries desperately to cure.
Supporting
- Zhang Mingen as Lieutenant Zhang (张副官), Zhang Qishan's right-handed man.
- Wang Meiren as Huo Jinxi (霍锦惜), the only female member of the mystic nine clan. Loves Er Yuehong.
- Wang Chuang as Lu Jianxun (陆建勋), Zhang Qishan's political opponent.
- Yang Zijiang as Xiao Xiejiu (小解九), ninth master of the mystic nine clan. Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong's good friend.
- Li Naiwen as Banjie Li (半截李), third master of the mystic nine clan.
- Zhang Luyi as Wu Laogou (吴老狗), fifth master of the mystic nine clan.
- Li Zonghan as Hei Bei the Sixth (黑背老六), sixth master of the mystic nine clan. Only one among the nine families who has a thug origin.
- Stokes Andrew Charles as Cox Hendry (裘德考), the main antagonist. He gave morphine to Ya Tou to trick Chen Pi A Si into helping him.
Extended
- San Shu as Cun Dafu (村大夫)
- Peng Xiaoran as Huai Chan (怀婵)
- Jia Jiangfeng as Lieutenant Lu (陆副官)
- Wang Guan as Peng Sanbian (彭三鞭),
- Huang Zixi as Mo Ce (莫测)
- Zhou Xiaofei as Ryouko Tanaka (田中良子)
- Zhang Chunzhong as Mysterious Old Man (神秘老头)
- Wu Li as Tao Hua (桃花)
- Wang Xiaoyi as Xiao Kui (小葵)
- Ren Wanqing as Er Kui (二葵)
- Dai Qihua as Listening Slave (听奴)
- Li Ruichao as Bei Lei Ye (贝勒爷)
- Zhou Tingwei as Jiushan Mei Zhi (鸠山美志)
- Zhou Peixuan as Auction Host (主持人)
- Zheng Guolin as Jiu Laoye (舅老爷)
- Wang Bin as Wuteng Yi Lang (武藤一郎)
- Huang Wenhao as Zhang Qishan's father (张启山父亲)
- Sun Mingjun as Xiao Sanzi (小三子)
- Tang Yongnan as Si'er / Fourth (四儿)
- Mao Yiwen as Liu'er /Sixth (六儿)
- Gong Sile as Eighteenth (老十八)
- Zuo Xiaolong as Da Long (大龙)
- Xue Wenhua as Old Worker (老矿工)
- Chen Zejia as Young Worker (少年矿工)
- Li Yaojing as Hei Shi (黑石)
- Yang Qingshu as Cui Cui (翠翠)
- Tong Xiaomei as Chen Pi's grandmother (陈皮奶奶)
- Cheng Dachun as Fourth Master of the Mystic Nine (九门老四)
- Jin Meiling and Jin Qiling as Twins (双生花)
- Huang Tianqi as Zhang Youth (张家少年)
- He Zhonghua as Train Station Master (火车站长)
- Lu Xingyu as Photographer (摄影师)
- Su Mao as Uncle Yi (尹大伯)
- He Jiayi as Aunt Huo (霍姨母)
- Lee Bao'er as Bai Qiao Fatty (白乔胖子)
- Wang Jun as Leader of the Han (汉人首领)
- Peng Xiao Ran as Protector of Bai Qiao (白乔护法)
- Dai Xuanru as Xiao Hong (小红)
- Yang Xue as Xiao Meng (小孟)
Soundtrack
| The Mystic Nine - Original Television Soundtrack (老九门电视剧原声音乐大碟) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
| 1. | "My Clan (我门)" | William Chan | |
| 2. | "Returning Soul Door (还魂门)" | Anson Hu | |
| 3. | "Dian Yu Si (典狱司)" | Li Nan | |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3rd Hengdian Wenrong Awards | Online Popularity Award | The Mystic Nine | Won | [4] |
| Best Actress | Zanilia Zhao | Won | |||
| iQiyi All-Star Carnival | Drama of the Year | The Mystic Nine | Won | ||
| Person of the Year | William Chan | Won | |||
| Artist of the Year | Zanilia Zhao | Won | |||
| Newcomer Award | Hu Yunhao | Won | |||
| Zhang Mingen | Won | ||||
| 2017 | 2nd China Quality Television Drama Ceremony | Weekly Broadcast Drama of the Year | The Mystic Nine | Won | [5] |
| 22nd Huading Awards | Best Actress | Zanilia Zhao | Nominated | [6] | |
| Top 10 Dramas | The Mystic Nine | Won | |||
| Weibo Movie Night Awards | Most Influential Web Movie | The Mystic Nine Side Story: Flowers Bloom in February | Won | ||
| 2nd Golden Spider Academic Awards | Best Actor | Zhang Yixing | Pending |
Spin-off
On October 20, 2016, a side story of the drama was released under the title The Mystic Nine Side Story: Flowers Bloom in February (Chinese: 老九门番外之二月花开; pinyin: Lǎo jiǔ mén fānwài zhī èr yuè huā kāi; literally: "Old Nine Gates Flowers Bloom in February") as a web film. The web film is a continuation of the television series. Several more internet films were later produced, which focused on the supporting characters' side stories.
- Flowers Bloom in February (二月花开); featuring Er Yuehong[7]
- Tiger Bones Plum Blossom (虎骨梅花); featuring Jie Jiuye[8]
- Four Belongs to Abelmoschus (四屠黄葵); featuring Chenpi Ah Si[9]
- Ganges Killing the Trees (恒河杀树); featuring Huo Jinxi[10]
References
- ↑ Betsy. "EXO’s Lay to star in ‘Old Nine Gates’, the prequel to a crazy C-drama". Asian Junkie. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
- ↑ "EXO Lay's drama 'The Mystic Nine' reaches 10 billion views online!". Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- ↑ "Wax figure of William Chan unveiled". Borneo Post.
- ↑ "第三届“文荣奖”结果揭晓 黄轩、赵丽颖分获最佳男女主角". People's Daily. October 30, 2016.
- ↑ "品质盛典：孙俪着戏装现身 胡歌现场致敬老艺术家". NetEase. March 3, 2017.
- ↑ "华鼎奖提名公布投票开启 《人民》吴刚陆毅齐入围". Sina Corp. April 28, 2017.
- ↑ http://www.iqiyi.com/v_19rr9a8i4s.html
- ↑ http://www.iqiyi.com/v_19rr96mxz4.html
- ↑ http://www.iqiyi.com/v_19rra8fwx0.html
- ↑ http://tw.iqiyi.com/v_19rra30pos.html