Journey to the West is a 1986 Chinese live action TV series made by CCTV adapting the majority of the literary classic Journey to the West. The show became an instant classic in mainland China and is still being praised as the best and the most authentic interpretation of the original novel.[citation needed] Unadapted portions of the original Journey to the West were later covered in 1998 as a 'part two' to complete the whole novel (such as "The Cave of Red Gold", in which Lord Lao Zi's water buffalo turned into a demon).
The series was directed by Yang Jie (杨洁). The music is composed by Xu Jingqing (许镜清)
Contents |
Cast and characters
The main characters are Xuánzàng, Sūn Wùkōng, Zhū Bājiè, Shā Wùjìng and Yùlóng Sāntàizi (white dragon horse)
- Xuanzang or Tripitaka is played by Wang Yue, Xu Shaohua and Chi Chongrui. The two last named also played Xuanzang in the second series.
- Sun Wukong or Monkey King is played by Liu Xiao Ling Tong.
- In the first series Zhu Bajie or Pigsy is played by Ma Dehua. For the 2000 edition Cui Jingfu was recruited for the role.
- Sha Wujing or Friar Sand was previously a general. In the first series Sandy was played by Yan Huaili. He was replaced by Liu Dagang in the second series.
Extended Cast
- Wang Bo Zhao (王伯昭) as Bai Long Ma / Xiao Bai Long / Little White Dragon Horse
- Zuo Da Bin (左大玢) as Guan Yin
- Zhu Long Guang (朱龙广) as Buddha
- Ai Jin Mi (艾金梅) as Na Zha
- Qiu Pei Ning (邱佩宁) as Chang E
- Zhang Yu Shan (章玉善) as Jade Emperor
- Li Ling Yu (李玲玉) as Yu Tu / Princess Jade Rabbit
- Zhu Lin (朱琳) as Queen of Women's Country
- Yang Chun Xia (杨春霞) as Bai Gu Jing
- Ma Lan (马兰) as Tang Seng's mother
- Li Yun Juan (李云娟) as Pi Pa Jing
- Wang Feng Xia (王凤霞) as Princess Iron Fan
- Wang Fu Tang (王夫棠) as Demon Bull King
- He Qing as Lian Lian
- Wei Hui Lan (魏慧兰) as Miss Gao
- Yu Hong (于虹)
- Yang Jun (杨俊)
- Zhou Tao (周涛)
List of episodes
The first series runs to 25 episodes and cover 74 chapters of the novel. Directed by Yang Jie, the first trial episode was aired on October 1, 1982, and shooting lasted until 1987. It was aired as a whole in 1988. With the limited but relatively new special effects, the series received a viewership rate of 89.4% in 1987[1]. The series has been rebroadcast every year since then.
| episode title first series | based on chapter | run time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Birth of Monkey King |
1-2 | 40 min. |
| 2. Monkey King the Charge of Horses |
2-4 | 44 min. |
| 3. Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in the Palace of Heaven |
4-7 | 57 min. |
| 4. Monkey King Imprisoned in Wuhang Mountain |
7-9, 12-13 | 41 min. |
| 5. Monkey King Becomes the Body Guard of Monk Tang |
13-15 | 51 min. |
| 6. Disaster in Kwan-yin Temple |
16-17 | 42 min. |
| 7. Getting Ba Jie with Strategy |
18-19 | 51 min. |
| 8. Facing Three Adversities during the Rough Journey |
20-24 | 49 min. |
| 9. Stealing the Ginseng Fruit |
24-26 | 51 min. |
| 10. Beating the Dead Bones Spirit Three Times |
27 | 48 min. |
| 11. Stimulating the Monkey King Wisely |
28-31 | 52 min. |
| 12. Seizing Treasures in Lotus Flower Cave |
32-35 | 51 min. |
| 13. Killing the Devils in the Wuji Country |
36-39 | 58 min. |
| 14. A Battle with the Red Boy |
40-42 | 42 min. |
| 15. Defeating the Three Monsters with Magic |
44-46 | 52 min. |
| 16. The Funny Advantage in the Women Nation |
53-55 | 50 min. |
| 17. Getting the Palm-leaf Fan for Three Times |
59-61 | 48 min. |
| 18. Cleaning the Tower and Clarifying the Injustice |
62-63 | 50 min. |
| 19. Getting in the Little Thunder Temple Accidentally |
64-66 | 51 min. |
| 20. Doctor Monkey King |
68-71 | 49 min. |
| 21. Falling in the Spider Silk Cave Accidentally |
72-73 | 49 min. |
| 22. Visiting the Abyss for Four Times |
80-83 | 52 min. |
| 23. Teaching in Yuhua Continent |
84-85, 88-90 | 59 min. |
| 24. Getting the Rabbit Spirit in India |
93-95 | 46 min. |
| 25. Arriving in the Pure Land | 98-100 | 50 min. |
The second part of series includes 16 episodes (covers another 25 chapters of the novel). The shooting began in 1998 and finished in 1999. It was first aired in 2000.
| episode title second series | based on chapter | run time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dangerous Crossing at the River of Heaven | 47-48 | 43 min. |
| 2. A Rift between Master and Disciples | 49, 56-58 | 44 min. |
| 3. Real and Fake Handsome Monkey King | 58 | 44 min. |
| 4. Stopped at Lion Hump Mountain | 58,74 | 44 min. |
| 5. Meeting Immortals at Peacock Stage |
75-76 | 44 min. |
| 6. Buddha Captures the Great Roc | 77,43 | 44 min. |
| 7. Heartbreak at Black Water River |
43,10 | 44 min. |
| 8. Capturing the Green Bull Demon | 50-51 | 44 min. |
| 9. Praying for Rain at Phoenix-Immortal Prefecture |
52,87 | 44 min. |
| 10. Wreaking Havoc on Fragrance-Covered Hall | 87,67 | 44 min. |
| 11. A Dead-End Becomes the Way | 67,86 | 44 min. |
| 12. Shedding Tears on Mist-Hidden Mountain | 86,78 | 44 min. |
| 13. Rescue in the City of Children | 78-79 | 44 min. |
| 14. Catching Bandits in Bodhisattva Territory | 79,88,96-97 | 44 min. |
| 15. Returning the Souls of Benefactor Kou | 97,91 | 44 min. |
| 16. Admiring the Lanterns at Gold-Level Prefecture | 91-92 | 43 min. |
Reshot version in High-Definition
A High-Definition reshoot of the entire series to started filming in 2007. It will consist of 45 episodes. Every 45-minute-episode will contain 10 minutes 3D effects. The original cast was recruited: Liu Xiao Ling Tong, Chi Chongrui and Ma Dehua. Sandy will be played by Liu Dagang for Yan Huaili died in April 2009. The production will be completed in november 2010.[1]
Other Adaptations
There also exist at least three other TV adaptations of the same novel. Nippon Television made a series, Saiyūki, in 1979-1980 which was translated by the BBC as Monkey. Another was made by TVB, a Hong Kong television station. This was made into two parts; part one was made in 1996, starring Dicky Cheung, and the second part was made in 1998, starring Benny Chan Ho Man. The general public was displeased with the second part of the adaptation, mostly due to recasting Sun Wukong. Cheung later reprised his role in Taiwan's 2002 adaptation, which was infamous for being terribly inaccurate.
Notes
See also
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
