Seven Swordsmen
Encyclopedia
Seven Swordsmen is a 2006 television series directed by Clarence Fok and produced by Tsui Hark
. The series is adapted from Liang Yusheng
's novels Qijian Xia Tianshan and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan
. It is also the derived counterpart of the 2005 film Seven Swords
, which was also directed and produced by Tsui Hark.
s seize control of China and establish the Qing Dynasty
. The Qing government issues a martial arts ban, forbidding the common people from practising martial arts and possessing weapons. Prince Dokado, a Manchu noble, leads an army to eliminate those who defy the order. Dokado's men kill many pugilists before assaulting Martial Village, which houses rebels from the Red Spears Society, an anti-Qing resistance movement. Two young villagers, Han Zhibang and Wu Yuanying, break out of the siege and follow Fu Qingzhu to Mount Heaven
to seek help from Master Huiming, a reclusive martial artist and sword forger.
Huiming allows his four students (Chu Zhaonan, Yang Yuncong, Xin Longzi and Mulang) to join the trio on their heroic quest to save the wulin (martial artists' community) from the Qing government's persecution. Each of the seven men receives a special sword from Huiming, and they title themselves "Seven Swords".
The Seven Swords return in the nick of time and save the villagers from attacking Qing soldiers. However, they decide to split up temporarily later to avoid trouble, and embark on their respective missions and adventures. Han Zhibang and Mulang remain with the villagers, while Fu Qingzhu, Xin Longzi and Wu Yuanying travel to the capital city to assassinate the Qing emperor.
Meanwhile, Chu Zhaonan falls into a trap and is captured by the ruthless Qing general Fenghuo Liancheng. Chu falls in love with Fenghuo Liancheng's slave girl, Lüzhu, but the romance ends in tragedy, as Lüzhu sacrifices herself to help him escape. Chu Zhaonan meets Yang Yuncong in northwestern China and they join the Desert Eagles, a tribal anti-Qing organization led by the legendary heroine, Feihongjin. Yang Yuncong is wounded during a battle with Qing forces, and is rescued by Nalan Minghui, an enemy general's daughter. They fall in love, despite standing on opposing sides, but are not fated to be together, as Nalan Minghui is engaged to Dokado. However, Nalan is already pregnant with Yang's child and she gives birth to a baby girl later.
In the capital, Fu Qingzhu and company sneak into the palace and attempt to assassinate the Shunzhi Emperor
, but ironically, instead they save the emperor from a coup staged by some nobles. In Hangzhou
, Han Zhibang is elected as the new leader of the Red Spears Society for his heroic acts in rescuing his imprisoned comrades. After the reunion of the Seven Swords, Chu Zhaonan pretends to defect to the enemy and use the opportunity to get close to Dokado and assassinate him. Chu's plan fails, as Dokado is aware of his intention, and manipulates him into killing some of the rebels, causing Chu's fellows to start doubting his loyalty.
Eventually, to prove his innocence, Chu Zhaonan and the other six swordsmen challenge Dokado to a battle on the Qiantang River
bank. Although the battle concludes with Dokado's defeat, it also causes the division of the Seven Swords. Yang Yuncong is killed in action; Xin Longzi goes missing after entering a fit of insanity; Mulang returns to Mount Heaven in shame with Yang's infant daughter after carelessly allowing the enemy to infiltrate the rebels' hideout; Chu Zhaonan is morally weakened after the mentally devastating experiences he went through, and he abandons his fellows along with his conscience. Fu Qingzhu and Wu Yuanying embark on a search for their missing comrades, while Han Zhibang stays behind to help the surviving rebels rebuild their force.
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
. The series is adapted from Liang Yusheng
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 novels Qijian Xia Tianshan and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan
Saiwai Qixia Zhuan
Saiwai Qixia Zhuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first published in China in January 1984. The novel is closely related to another of Liang's works, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Baifa Monü Zhuan.-Plot:...
. It is also the derived counterpart of the 2005 film Seven Swords
Seven Swords
Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...
, which was also directed and produced by Tsui Hark.
Plot
In 1664, the ManchuManchu
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...
s seize control of China and establish the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. The Qing government issues a martial arts ban, forbidding the common people from practising martial arts and possessing weapons. Prince Dokado, a Manchu noble, leads an army to eliminate those who defy the order. Dokado's men kill many pugilists before assaulting Martial Village, which houses rebels from the Red Spears Society, an anti-Qing resistance movement. Two young villagers, Han Zhibang and Wu Yuanying, break out of the siege and follow Fu Qingzhu to Mount Heaven
Tian Shan
The Tian Shan , also spelled Tien Shan, is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak , ....
to seek help from Master Huiming, a reclusive martial artist and sword forger.
Huiming allows his four students (Chu Zhaonan, Yang Yuncong, Xin Longzi and Mulang) to join the trio on their heroic quest to save the wulin (martial artists' community) from the Qing government's persecution. Each of the seven men receives a special sword from Huiming, and they title themselves "Seven Swords".
The Seven Swords return in the nick of time and save the villagers from attacking Qing soldiers. However, they decide to split up temporarily later to avoid trouble, and embark on their respective missions and adventures. Han Zhibang and Mulang remain with the villagers, while Fu Qingzhu, Xin Longzi and Wu Yuanying travel to the capital city to assassinate the Qing emperor.
Meanwhile, Chu Zhaonan falls into a trap and is captured by the ruthless Qing general Fenghuo Liancheng. Chu falls in love with Fenghuo Liancheng's slave girl, Lüzhu, but the romance ends in tragedy, as Lüzhu sacrifices herself to help him escape. Chu Zhaonan meets Yang Yuncong in northwestern China and they join the Desert Eagles, a tribal anti-Qing organization led by the legendary heroine, Feihongjin. Yang Yuncong is wounded during a battle with Qing forces, and is rescued by Nalan Minghui, an enemy general's daughter. They fall in love, despite standing on opposing sides, but are not fated to be together, as Nalan Minghui is engaged to Dokado. However, Nalan is already pregnant with Yang's child and she gives birth to a baby girl later.
In the capital, Fu Qingzhu and company sneak into the palace and attempt to assassinate the Shunzhi Emperor
Shunzhi Emperor
The Shunzhi Emperor was the third emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China, which he did from 1644 to 1661. "Shunzhi" was the name of his reign period...
, but ironically, instead they save the emperor from a coup staged by some nobles. In Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Han Zhibang is elected as the new leader of the Red Spears Society for his heroic acts in rescuing his imprisoned comrades. After the reunion of the Seven Swords, Chu Zhaonan pretends to defect to the enemy and use the opportunity to get close to Dokado and assassinate him. Chu's plan fails, as Dokado is aware of his intention, and manipulates him into killing some of the rebels, causing Chu's fellows to start doubting his loyalty.
Eventually, to prove his innocence, Chu Zhaonan and the other six swordsmen challenge Dokado to a battle on the Qiantang River
Qiantang River
The Qiantang River is a southeast Chinese river that originates in the borders of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and passes through Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, before flowing into the East China Sea through Hangzhou Bay....
bank. Although the battle concludes with Dokado's defeat, it also causes the division of the Seven Swords. Yang Yuncong is killed in action; Xin Longzi goes missing after entering a fit of insanity; Mulang returns to Mount Heaven in shame with Yang's infant daughter after carelessly allowing the enemy to infiltrate the rebels' hideout; Chu Zhaonan is morally weakened after the mentally devastating experiences he went through, and he abandons his fellows along with his conscience. Fu Qingzhu and Wu Yuanying embark on a search for their missing comrades, while Han Zhibang stays behind to help the surviving rebels rebuild their force.
List of episodes
| # | Translated title in English | Original title in Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swordsmen from Mount Heaven | 天山劍客 |
| 2 | The Seven Swords | 七劍 |
| 3 | The Battle of Boye | 決戰博野 |
| 4 | Yufang is Poisoned | 郁芳中毒 |
| 5 | The Real and Fake Secret Passage | 真假密道 |
| 6 | True Character of the Transience | 青干本色 |
| 7 | Mulang's Blood | 穆郎的血 |
| 8 | The Sorrowful Dragon | 悲情由龍 |
| 9 | The Heartless Green Pearl | 綠珠無情 |
| 10 | Yufang's Wedding | 郁芳婚禮 |
| 11 | The Desert Eagles | 沙漠之鷹 |
| 12 | Flying Shadows of Red Sash | 飛影紅巾 |
| 13 | The Transience and the Dragon | 青干由龍 |
| 14 | Chivalrous Bones and Tender Sentiments | 俠骨柔情 |
| 15 | Nalan Minghui | 納蘭明慧 |
| 16 | Children in a Chaotic World | 亂世兒女 |
| 17 | A Sacrifice to End the War | 止戰之殤 |
| 18 | Iron Blood and Loyal Heart | 鐵血丹心 |
| 19 | Trail of Heroes in the Capital | 京城俠影 |
| 20 | Dokado's Contest for Power | 多格多爭霸 |
| 21 | Ten Days Siege | 十日圍城 |
| 22 | Meeting of Dragons and Tigers | 龍虎會 |
| 23 | Gathering of Heroes | 聚義風雲 |
| 24 | The Mystery of the Tangerine Orchard | 橘園之謎 |
| 25 | The Sun and Moon and the Deity | 日月舍神 |
| 26 | Guild Master Han Zhibang | 舵主韓志邦 |
| 27 | Turmoil in Hangzhou | 杭州風暴 |
| 28 | Crisis in the Lantern Corner | 燈籠仿風波 |
| 29 | Pretending to Surrender to Dokado | 詐降多格多 |
| 30 | The Dragon Changes Colour | 變色由龍 |
| 31 | Two Irreconcilable Powers | 勢不兩力 |
| 32 | Minghui's Wedding | 明慧大婚 |
| 33 | The Breaking | 決裂 |
| 34 | The Battle of the Qiantang River | 決戰錢塘江 |
Cast
- Vincent ZhaoVincent ZhaoVincent Zhao Wenzhuo , sometimes credited as Chiu Man-cheuk, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Zhao is best known playing the role of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film and television series.-Early life:Zhao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, as the...
as Chu Zhaonan (楚昭南), wielder of the Dragon (由龍)
- Wang Xuebing as Yang Yuncong (楊雲驄), wielder of the Transience (青干)
- Ji Chunhua as Xin Longzi (辛龍子), wielder of the Star Chasers (競星)
- Qiao Zhenyu as Mulang (穆郎), wielder of the Sun and Moon (日月)
- Zhang Bo as Han Zhibang (韓志邦), wielder of the Deity (舍神)
- Sang Weilin as Wu Yuanying (武元英), wielder of the Heaven's Fall (天瀑)
- Yu ChenghuiYu ChenghuiYu Chenghui , sometimes credited as Yue Sing-wai, is a Chinese actor, action director and martial artist.-Martial arts career:...
as Fu Qingzhu (傅青主), wielder of Unlearnt (莫問)
- Ray Lui as Dokado (多格多), a Manchu prince and primary antagonist of the series
- Ada ChoiAda ChoiAda Choi Siu-fun is a Hong Kong actress best known for her work for TVB television, and to a lesser extent, for her film work. She was the second runner-up in the 1991 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant....
as Feihongjin (飛紅巾; Flying Red Sash), leader of the Desert Eagles
- Li XiaoranLi XiaoranLi Xiaoran is a Chinese actress. Apart from her acting career, she is also a dancer, having graduated from Beijing Dance Academy in 1993.-Filmography:-External links:* *...
as Nalan Minghui (納蘭明慧), Nalan Xiuji's daughter and Yang Yuncong's lover
- Wang Likun as Liu Yufang (劉郁芳), Liu Jingyi's daughter
- Bryan Leung as Liu Jingyi (劉精一), chief of Martial Village
- Askar as Ai'erjiang (艾爾江), a singer and Feihongjin's ex-lover
- Sun FeifeiSun FeifeiSun Feifei is an actress from China.In 1993, she started her education at the Beijing Dance Academy as a middle school student and then subsequently joined the Department of Chinese classical dance at the academy. After graduating from the academy, she chose to commence a career as an actress. In...
as Dong Xiaowan (董小宛), Mao Pijiang's wife who was forced to be Shunzhi's concubine
- Edell Ai as Lüzhu (綠珠; Green Pearl), a slave girl who becomes Chu Zhaonan's first love
- Eryang as Nalan Xiuji (納蘭秀吉), a Manchu general
- Xu Xiangdong as Niuhuru (紐祜魯), Dokado's teacher
- Sun Jiankui as Qi Zhenjun (齊真君), a swordsman hired by Dokado to fight the Seven Swords
- Tan Kai as Fenghuo Liancheng (風火連城; Fire Wind), Manchu general and former baturuBaturuBaturu is a title from the Qing Dynasty for commanders and soldiers who fight bravely in a battlefield. In Manchu, baturu means warrior or brave. It is originally from the Mongolian word "baγatur" which has the same meaning....
- Gao Lu as Chuntao (春桃), Nalan Minghui's servant
- Xie Zhenwei as the Shunzhi EmperorShunzhi EmperorThe Shunzhi Emperor was the third emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China, which he did from 1644 to 1661. "Shunzhi" was the name of his reign period...
(順治皇帝), ruler of the Qing Empire
- Dai Chunrong as Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang (孝莊皇太后), Shunzhi's mother
- Guo Hongjie as Zhang Chengbin (張承斌), Dokado's deputy
- Liu Tieyong as Zhang Kui (張魁), Dokado's deputy
- Zhang Xin as Qiu Dongluo (邱東洛), traitor of Martial Village
- Wang Huarong as Zhang Huazhao (張華昭), the oldest of Martial Village's children
- Ma Ji as Gu Sandao (顧三刀), a villager
- Chen Zhou as Zhang Laifu (張來福), a villager
- Zheng Li as Zhou Chaotai (周朝泰), a villager
- Zhou He as Shao Zhanpeng (邵展鵬), a villager
- Milading as Ailike (埃里克), Feihongjin's deputy
- Dili Reba'ao as Manlingna (曼玲娜), Kelimu's wife
- Ma Jingwu as Master Huiming (晦明大師; Master Shadow Glow), a reclusive swordsman and sword forger
- Zhu Feng as Mao Pijiang (冒辟疆), Dong Xiaowan's husband
- Wang Xinfen as the White Haired Demoness (白髮魔女), teacher of Feihongjin and ex-lover of Master Huiming
External links
Seven Swordsmen official page on CTV website- Seven Swordsmen information on wu-jing.org