A Step into the Past

A Step into the Past
Official poster
Also known as	The Chronicles of Finding Qin
Genre	Historical fiction Time travel
Format	Serial drama
Written by	Wong Kwok Fai Tong Kin Ping Lau Choi Wan Cheung Siu Fong Ho Kwan Ngor Novel: Huang Yi
Directed by	Man Wai Hong Shek Ming Chuen Lau Shun On Lam Chi Yan Ng Kam Yuen
Starring	Louis Koo Kwong Wah Raymond Lam Jessica Hsuan Sonija Kwok Joyce Tang Michelle Saram Waise Lee Eileen Yeow Kwok Fung Suet Lei
Opening theme	"Highest Fate" (天命最高) by Louis Koo
Ending theme	"I'm Willing to Love" (我願愛) by Louis Koo
Country of origin	Hong Kong
Language(s)	Cantonese
No. of episodes	40
Production
Producer(s)	Chong Wai Kin
Camera setup	Multi camera
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Production company(s)	TVB
Broadcast
Original channel	TVB
Picture format	576i (SDTV)
Original run	15 October – 7 December 2001
Chronology
Related shows	The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow
External links
Official website

English	A Step into the Past
Traditional	尋秦記
Simplified	寻秦记
Pinyin	Xún Qín Jì
Jyutping	Cham4 Cheun4 Gei3

A Step into the Past is a 2001 TVB television drama from Hong Kong, adapted from Huang Yi's book series The Chronicles of Finding Qin. It tells the story of a 21st century VIPPU officer who travels back in time to the Warring States Period during the conflicts between the states of Zhao and Qin. He also becomes involved in a number of important historical events that eventually led to the first unification of China.

Contents 1 Cast 1.1 Main cast 1.2 Minor characters 1.2.1 Xiang Shaolong's friends 1.2.2 Wu family 1.2.3 State of Qin 1.2.4 State of Zhao 1.2.5 State of Wei 1.2.6 Mohists 1.2.7 Present-day 1.2.8 Others 1.2.9 Guest stars 2 Plot 2.1 21st century Hong Kong 2.2 Time traveling 2.3 Warring States Period 2.4 Helping Ying Zheng rise to power 2.5 Destiny 3 Production notes, public response, legacy 4 Home video 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Cast

Main cast

• Louis Koo as Xiang Shaolong - born in 1975, Xiang was orphaned at the age of three and spent most of his childhood in an orphanage. He becomes a VIPPU officer after spending one year in training, owing to his excellent social skills, diligence and intelligence. After separating with his girlfriend of seven years, Xiang agrees on a time traveling project organized by Li Shaoqiu on the condition that he will see his girlfriend again when he returns.

• Raymond Lam as Zhao Pan/Ying Zheng - the teenage son of Princess Ya of Zhao. He is despised and often bullied by the other nobles because his mother behaved like a prostitute. After Xiang Shaolong successfully rescues Lady Zhu Ji of Qin from Zhao, Zhu Ji mistakes Pan for her deceased son Ying Zheng. Through Xiang's coercion, compounded by his personal lust for power and vengeance, Pan becomes the Crown Prince of Qin and ascends to the throne. Subsequently, he becomes Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of a unified China.

• Kwong Wah as Lian Jin/Lao Ai - a swordsman who used to serve Zhao Mu. His right arm is injured during a fight with Xiang Shaolong and his master sees him as useless and abandons him after that. Lian Jin meets Lao Ai, a left-handed swordsman. After convincing Lao Ai to teach him left-handed swordplay, he kills Lao and takes over Lao's identity. He becomes the Marquis of Changxin in the court of Qin.

• Jessica Hsuan as Wu Tingfang - the daughter of the Qin loyalist Wu Yingyuan. Wu Tingfang is spoiled and impulsive. She despises Xiang Shaolong but she becomes jealous of her own accord when she sees Xiang with other maidens. Wu Tingfang is actually warm-hearted and loyal. She develops a close friendship with Princess Zhao Qian and often visits her.

• Sonija Kwok as Chun Ching/Qin Qing - Chun Ching was Xiang Shaolong's girlfriend of seven years who broke up with him after he reneges the wedding promise. Xiang Shaolong agrees to participate in a time-traveling project after he was assured that Ching would return to him. After Xiang is transported to 2000 years back, he meets Qin Qing, a female scholar who resembles Chun Ching in appearance and they develop a romantic relationship.

• Joyce Tang as Shanrou - the daughter of a noble from the State of Qi. She flees from Qi after her parents were killed by Zhao Mu. She becomes an assassin who kills people for money. She is the first person Xiang Shaolong meets after he is transported back in time.

• Michelle Saram as Zhao Qian, Princess of Zhao - the daughter of King Xiaocheng of Zhao. She develops feelings for Xiang Shaolong after he "rescues" her from the palace. She is also Xiang's first love after he returns in time.

• Waise Lee as Zhao Mu - a secret agent working for State of Chu who is stationed in Zhao. He is one of the primary villains of the series.

Minor characters

Xiang Shaolong's friends

• Wong Man Piu as Teng Yi
• Lau Ka Long as Jing Jun
• Sherming Yiu as Lü Niangrong
• Yu Chi Ming as Zou Xian

Wu family

• Wong Wai as Wu Yingyuan
• Siu Chuen Yung as Wu Tingwei
• Au Sui Wai as Tao Fang

State of Qin

• Eileen Yeow as Lady Zhu Ji
• Kwok Fung as Lü Buwei
• Power Chan as Li Si
• Derek Kwok as Wang Jian
• Kwok Tak Shun as Lord Lu
• Wong Wai Leung as Zhao Gao
• Lee Lung Kei as King Zhuangxiang of Qin
• Tai Chi Wai as Yang Quanjun
• Lee Hoi Sang as Meng Ao
• Chow Yeung as Prince Chengjiao

State of Zhao

• Peter Lai as King Xiaocheng of Zhao
• Suet Lei as Lady Zhao Ya
• Lau Wing-Kin as Zhao De
• Bond Chan as Zhao Jia

State of Wei

• Joyce Koi as Lord Longyang
• Savio Tsang as Lord Shunling
• Ricky Wong as Xiao Weimou
• Chan Ka Yee as Lady Pingyuan
• Raven Po as Crown prince of Wei
• Chung Kim Man

Mohists

• Yuen Wah as Yuan Zhong
• Gordon Liu as Cao Qiudao
• Lee Ka Ding as Yan Ping
• Wong Kam Hung
• Yeung Ching-Wa

Present-day

• Lam King Kong
• Raymond Chiu
• Kong Fai
• Chor Yuen as Officer Wang
• Ho Chi Cheung
• Wong Wan Jin
• Ngan Chung Si
• Evergreen Mak as madman (ep. 1)
• Hugo Wong
• Kwan Chung Ming
• Chan Nim Kwan
• Tang Yat Kwan as Li Shaoqiu
• Liu Kai Chi as Wu Yau
• Rachel Kan
• Kam Chi Ching
• Janice Shum
• Chan Ka Fai

Others

• Chan Wing Chun as Lao Ai
• Russell Cheung as Ying Zheng imposter
• Lai Suen as Empress Dowager
• Cheung Lui as bandit (ep. 3)
• Tan Kuen Fai as bandit (ep. 3)
• Lam Yuen Ying as bandit (ep. 3)
• Wong Kun Sun as bandit (ep. 3)
• Summer Joe
• Chung Hiu Ying
• Suen Kwai Hing
• Ce Pou Lo
• Chiu Hung
• Kenneth Ma
• Ng Yik Hin as Han Fei
• Law Ho Kai
• Yeung Ka Nok
• Chan Dik Hak
• Chow Chung as old man (ep. 2)
• Ha Ping as old woman (ep. 2)
• Lee Chun Wai as Xiang Yu (ep. 40)

Guest stars

• Wong He as drummer (ep. 6)

Plot

21st century Hong Kong

Xiang Shaolong is a 21st century G4 special agent in Hong Kong. In the first episode, Xiang and his colleagues stand guard at an exhibition of Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army. One of Xiang's colleagues notices that one of the terracotta warriors bears a striking resemblance to Xiang. The wealthy businessman Li Shaoqiu is attacked and held hostage at the museum by a madman who had suffered losses in the stock market. Xiang rescues Li and defuses the crisis.

Xiang is unhappy despite his success in his career. He had broken up with his girlfriend Chun Ching after a seven-year long relationship. She had insisted that they tie the knot but he preferred to continue their relationship without a proper marriage. Chun married another man and Xiang becomes further depressed.

Time traveling

Impressed with Xiang's rescue attempt earlier, Li Shaoqiu recruits Xiang for a secret time travel experiment. Xiang agrees to help Li in exchange for a opportunity to travel back in time to salvage his failed relationship with Chun Ching. Xiang is tasked to travel back more than 2000 years in time to the Qin Dynasty era, half an hour prior to the coronation of Qin Shi Huang, and document the event with a digital camera before a swift departure. However, a critical error occurs during the traveling stage and Xiang returns further back in time by three years than originally planned. He is now in the Warring States Period in the State of Zhao in 250 BC.

In order to return to the future, Xiang has to make an arduous journey across thousands of miles in ancient China to activate a device at a specific location and time. He had been warned that making even a slight change in the grand scheme of events will trigger a chain reaction of catastrophes that will alter history.

Warring States Period

Xiang enjoys a series of adventures in history. His knowledge of the 21st century, intelligence and experience as an elite special agent, as well as his prowess in martial arts, enables him to make a strong stand in history. He enters the service of various lords and nobles, and becomes a valuable ally to them. Concurrently, he is involved in romantic relationships with four women. The first, Shanrou, is a wandering female assassin, who is the first person he meets after traveling back in time. The second, Wu Tingfang, is the beautiful but spoilt daughter of a wealthy noble. The third one is a pretty female scholar named Qin Qing, who resembles his girlfriend Chun Ching in appearance. The last one is Princess Zhao Qian, the daughter of the King of Zhao, who dies in a tragic incident later. He also befriends the king's sister Zhao Ya and her son Zhao Pan. Meanwhile, he foils the evil plans of the secret agent Zhao Mu from the State of Chu and becomes Zhao's enemy. Zhao's henchman Lian Jin also sees Xiang as his greatest rival.

Helping Ying Zheng rise to power

As Xiang Shaolong's future is dependent on Ying Zheng's succession to the throne of Qin, it is imperative that he makes the event a success. Xiang tracks down Ying Zheng, who is held hostage in Zhao, and Ying's mother Lady Zhu Ji. However, he is shocked to discover that the real Ying Zheng has died. As Lady Zhu Ji had never seen her son after his birth, she mistakes Zhao Pan as her son. Xiang Shaolong is desperate to return to the 21st century so he forces Zhao Pan to accept his new identity as Ying Zheng and continue impersonating the deceased Ying Zheng.

They return to Qin together and face new threats from the Qin Chancellor Lü Buwei and Lü's right-hand man Lao Ai. Lü Buwei is actually Ying Zheng's biological father and he schemes to place his son on the throne and secure his power over the empire. Lao Ai is actually Lian Jin and he knows the truth about Zhao Pan's true identity. Xiang Shaolong helps Ying Zheng clear all obstacles to the path to the throne and Ying eventually becomes the King of Qin after the death of King Zhuangxiang of Qin.

Although having accomplished his mission, Xiang's hope of returning to the 21st century is ruined when the time signaling device fails to work as the battery has expired. In panic, Xiang recalls some lessons at school about electricity and he enlists the help of his friends to build a new power source. The experiment is successful but Xiang hesitates to return home at the last minute because he has already developed true feelings for Qin Qing and Wu Tingfang.

Xiang stays behind and continues to aid Ying Zheng in building the new Qin Dynasty, through the annexation of the other seven states and reunification of China. Ying Zheng holds absolute power and becomes more corrupted gradually, morphing from the original naive and kind Zhao Pan into the ruthless tyrant First Emperor Qin Shi Huang as depicted in history.

Destiny

The emperor sees Xiang Shaolong as a valuable ally in his future endeavours and wants to retain him as an advisor. However, Xiang begins to feel sorry when he sees the evil creation of his efforts. He is aware that he is not destined to leave his mark in history and refuses to stay in the imperial court. He leaves with Wu Tingfang and Qin Qing, who are both happily married to him at last. Qin Shi Huang sends his troops to pursue Xiang Shaolong, based on the notion that "if you're not with me, then you're against me". Eventually, the tyrant decides to send Xiang into exile and he decrees that the name "Xiang Shaolong" shall henceforth be extinct. All books and historical records pertaining to Xiang Shaolong are ordered to be destroyed, which leads to Qin Shi Huang's notorious practice of burning of books and burying of scholars.

Xiang and his family find paradise in the plains far away from the urban regions. Xiang and Wu Tingfang have a son. In the final moments of the last episode, Xiang's son is revealed to be Xiang Yu, the Conqueror of Western Chu, who will grow up and overthrow the Qin Dynasty one day.

Production notes, public response, legacy

The show was one of the most critically acclaimed TVB production in the studio's history. It received very high ratings during its initial run in 2001, and continued to be highly successful during its midnight re-runs in summer 2005, leading to yet another trend of late-night TV watching after At the Threshold of an Era.

At that time Louis Koo was already famous and popular, and had major roles in countless TV series before. This was the last TV series that he took part in, however, because he decided to concentrate on acting in feature films rather than television. He has since starred in numerous popular films such as the critically acclaimed Election and its sequel.

Raymond Lam, in his first major role, was highly praised for his breakthrough performance as Qin Shi Huang, and rose to fame quickly. He has starred in numerous leading roles ever since.

While filming in Zhuozhou in Hebei province, Jessica Hsuan was stricken with cholera, causing her to enter a local hospital.^[1] She remained in bed for over a month until she was able to leave and start filming again. This caused Jessica's character to be absent for a while in the series. During her hospital stay, many of her co-stars, including Louis Koo, visited her regularly.

Home video

After its successful summer 2005 midnight re-run, TVB decided to release the complete series on DVD and VCD for the first time on November 18 of the same year. It also became the second TVB drama to receive a DVD release (after War and Beauty), and the first to receive a non-limited release.

See also

• The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow

References

External links

• Drama Wiki
• A Step into the Past reviews at spcnet.tv
• A Step into the Past
  (尋秦記) at the Internet Movie Database