Romance of the White Haired Maiden (1999 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Romance of the White Haired Maiden is a 1999 Taiwanese television series adapted from Liang Yusheng
's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. Alternative Chinese titles for the series are Yidai Xianü (一代俠女) and Baifa Xianü (白髮俠女).
during the Ming Dynasty
. Zhuo Yihang of the Wudang Sect
falls in love with the legendary heroine Lian Nichang, disregarding his lover's past feud with his sect.
The treacherous eunuch Wei Zhongxian
secretly murders the Taichang Emperor
and replaces him with the young Tianqi Emperor
, who is effectively a puppet ruler under Wei's control. Wei schemes with the Manchu
leader Nurhachi to seize control of Ming China.
Lian Nichang's senior, Murong Chong, is actually a spy working for the Manchus. In order to achieve his ambition of dominating the Wulin, he uses a trick to turn Lian and Zhuo Yihang against each other. Lian falsely believes that Zhuo had betrayed her love and her hair turns white overnight. She leaves Zhuo in anger and travels to the remote regions of northern China. Zhuo is unwilling to give up on Lian and he finally resolves his misunderstanding with her after experiencing hardships.
Zhuo and Lian rally a group of pugilists to help them deal with the Manchus invaders. The heroes defeat the Manchu army at Shanhai Pass
and temporarily halt the invasion. By then, the Tianqi Emperor had died and is succeeded by the Chongzhen Emperor
. Chongzhen believes slanderous rumours and puts general Yuan Chonghuan
to death. Without Yuan to defend Shanhai Pass, Zhuo and Lian foresee that Ming China will eventually fall to the Manchus. They decide to permanently retire from the jianghu
and lead reclusive lives.
Liang Yusheng
Chen Wentong , better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century .-Biography:Chen was...
's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan. Alternative Chinese titles for the series are Yidai Xianü (一代俠女) and Baifa Xianü (白髮俠女).
Plot
The story begins in the 43rd year of the reign of the Wanli EmperorWanli Emperor
The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son...
during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. Zhuo Yihang of the Wudang Sect
Wudang Sect
The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains...
falls in love with the legendary heroine Lian Nichang, disregarding his lover's past feud with his sect.
The treacherous eunuch Wei Zhongxian
Wei Zhongxian
Wei Zhongxian is considered by most historians as the most powerful and notorious eunuch in Chinese history. Originally a hoodlum and gambler, his initial name was Wei Si . He took the step of becoming a eunuch and entering palace service to escape from his creditors, taking the name Li Jinzhong...
secretly murders the Taichang Emperor
Taichang Emperor
The Taichang Emperor was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu Changluo , the eldest son of the Wanli Emperor and succeeded his father as emperor in 1620. However his reign came to an abrupt end less than one month after his coronation when he was found dead one morning in...
and replaces him with the young Tianqi Emperor
Tianqi Emperor
The Tianqi Emperor was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youxiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era name means "Heavenly opening".-Biography:...
, who is effectively a puppet ruler under Wei's control. Wei schemes with the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
leader Nurhachi to seize control of Ming China.
Lian Nichang's senior, Murong Chong, is actually a spy working for the Manchus. In order to achieve his ambition of dominating the Wulin, he uses a trick to turn Lian and Zhuo Yihang against each other. Lian falsely believes that Zhuo had betrayed her love and her hair turns white overnight. She leaves Zhuo in anger and travels to the remote regions of northern China. Zhuo is unwilling to give up on Lian and he finally resolves his misunderstanding with her after experiencing hardships.
Zhuo and Lian rally a group of pugilists to help them deal with the Manchus invaders. The heroes defeat the Manchu army at Shanhai Pass
Shanhai Pass
Shanhai Pass , or Shanhaiguan, along with Jiayu Pass and Juyong Pass, is one of the major passes of the Great Wall of China It is located in Shanhaiguan District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei. In 1961, Shanhaiguan became a site of China First Class National Cultural Site.It is a popular tourist destination,...
and temporarily halt the invasion. By then, the Tianqi Emperor had died and is succeeded by the Chongzhen Emperor
Chongzhen Emperor
The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :...
. Chongzhen believes slanderous rumours and puts general Yuan Chonghuan
Yuan Chonghuan
Yuan Chonghuan was a famed patriot and military commander of the Ming Dynasty who battled the Manchus in Liaoning. A commander of Cantonese origin, Yuan Chonghuan was known to have excelled in artillery warfare and successfully incorporated Western tactics with those of the East...
to death. Without Yuan to defend Shanhai Pass, Zhuo and Lian foresee that Ming China will eventually fall to the Manchus. They decide to permanently retire from the jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
and lead reclusive lives.
Cast
- Jiang QinqinJiang QinqinJiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
as Lian Nichang - Julian CheungJulian CheungJulian Cheung Chi-lam , better known as Chilam, is an award-winning Hong Kong singer and actor. Cheung is popularly known for his role as Guo Jing in the 1994 TV series adaptation of the Wuxia novel, The Legend of the Condor Heroes and also as Chi-Kin from the TVB drama Cold Blood Warm Heart...
as Zhuo Yihang - Lin Fangbing as Red Flower Devil Mother
- Chen Chun-sheng as Murong Chong
- Zhang Heng as Meng Qiuxia
- Ku Pao-ming as Xiao Xiao
- Chang Chin as Miao Huichun
- Chang Luo-chun as Wang Zhaoxi
- Li Hui-ying as Tie Shanhu
- Feng Kuang-jung as Tudou
- Geng Yong as Duniangzi
- Chou Shao-tung as Wei ZhongxianWei ZhongxianWei Zhongxian is considered by most historians as the most powerful and notorious eunuch in Chinese history. Originally a hoodlum and gambler, his initial name was Wei Si . He took the step of becoming a eunuch and entering palace service to escape from his creditors, taking the name Li Jinzhong...
- Wang Bozhao as Zhu ChangluoTaichang EmperorThe Taichang Emperor was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu Changluo , the eldest son of the Wanli Emperor and succeeded his father as emperor in 1620. However his reign came to an abrupt end less than one month after his coronation when he was found dead one morning in...
- Yu Chia-hui as He E'hua
- Liu Kemian as Geng Shaonan
- Liu Naiyi as Taoist Qingsong
External links
Romance of the White Haired Maiden on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....