Tai Chi Master (RTV)
Encyclopedia
Taichi master is a classic Rediffusion Television
series aired in Hong Kong
in 1980. The series helped boost the popularity of Rediffusion TV right before the station was converting over to become ATV
. Numerous sequels and spawns have followed since its release.
(Alex Man
) who starts off as a young monk from Shaolin temple with some knowledge of T'ai chi ch'uan martial art. He soon meets general Chang Yuchun
and become a student of To Cek-lun (陶石麟). Yuan-bo falls in love with his daughter To Choi-yi (陶綵衣). A number of adversaries later tried to kill Yuan-bo. He can only fight them off by becoming the supreme Taoist Tai chi master.
and Michelle Yim
extend their popularity well into the 1980s era. Most memorable was the opening song composed by Michael Lai (黎小田), lyrics written by Lou Gwok-zim (盧國沾) and sung by Johnny Yip (葉振棠). The song have since been re-released on numerous albums.
In Hong Kong the series would later spawn the 1981 direct sequel Taichi Master II starring Alex Man
, Amy Chan and Leslie Cheung
with a Chinese knight-errant
theme. Another reproduction is Tai Chi Master
the movie, starring Jet Li
and Michelle Yeoh
filmed more than a decade later using the same name.
Rediffusion Television
Rediffusion Television was the first television station in Hong Kong, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony and the first predominantly Chinese city to have television...
series aired in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1980. The series helped boost the popularity of Rediffusion TV right before the station was converting over to become ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
. Numerous sequels and spawns have followed since its release.
Summary
The story revolves around Yuan-boZhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-legendary Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.Zhang's legend is that of...
(Alex Man
Alex Man
Alex Man , Hong Kong actor who has played leading roles in numerous movies and television serials.Born in Hong Kong, Alex Man joined ATV in 1970s, casting some TV drama. He became popular when joining TVB in 1980s, in which he had been the main character of several TV drama with big production...
) who starts off as a young monk from Shaolin temple with some knowledge of T'ai chi ch'uan martial art. He soon meets general Chang Yuchun
Chang Yuchun
Chang Yuchun , style name Boren and pseudonym Yanheng , was a Chinese Muslim military general. He was a follower of the Ming Dynasty's founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, and contributed greatly to the founding of the dynasty...
and become a student of To Cek-lun (陶石麟). Yuan-bo falls in love with his daughter To Choi-yi (陶綵衣). A number of adversaries later tried to kill Yuan-bo. He can only fight them off by becoming the supreme Taoist Tai chi master.
Legacy
The series being a classic helped Alex ManAlex Man
Alex Man , Hong Kong actor who has played leading roles in numerous movies and television serials.Born in Hong Kong, Alex Man joined ATV in 1970s, casting some TV drama. He became popular when joining TVB in 1980s, in which he had been the main character of several TV drama with big production...
and Michelle Yim
Michelle Yim
Michelle Yim Wai-ling , also known by her Chinese stage name Mai Suet , is a Hong Kong actress. She graduated from St Rose of Lima College and Shaw Brothers' Training School.-Early life and career:...
extend their popularity well into the 1980s era. Most memorable was the opening song composed by Michael Lai (黎小田), lyrics written by Lou Gwok-zim (盧國沾) and sung by Johnny Yip (葉振棠). The song have since been re-released on numerous albums.
In Hong Kong the series would later spawn the 1981 direct sequel Taichi Master II starring Alex Man
Alex Man
Alex Man , Hong Kong actor who has played leading roles in numerous movies and television serials.Born in Hong Kong, Alex Man joined ATV in 1970s, casting some TV drama. He became popular when joining TVB in 1980s, in which he had been the main character of several TV drama with big production...
, Amy Chan and Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
with a Chinese knight-errant
Chinese knight-errant
Youxia was a type of chivalrous hero which came into existence during the Han Dynasty and disappeared during the Qing Dynasty ....
theme. Another reproduction is Tai Chi Master
Tai Chi Master
Tai Chi Master is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Yuen Woo-ping and produced by and starring Jet Li.-Plot:Junbao and Tienbo grow up together in a Shaolin Temple as monks, studying the martial arts and generally getting into trouble. They are both expelled from the temple after...
the movie, starring Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
and Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
filmed more than a decade later using the same name.
Cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Alex Man Alex Man Alex Man , Hong Kong actor who has played leading roles in numerous movies and television serials.Born in Hong Kong, Alex Man joined ATV in 1970s, casting some TV drama. He became popular when joining TVB in 1980s, in which he had been the main character of several TV drama with big production... |
Cheung Yuan-bo Zhang Sanfeng Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-legendary Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.Zhang's legend is that of... (張君寶) |
|
| Michelle Yim Michelle Yim Michelle Yim Wai-ling , also known by her Chinese stage name Mai Suet , is a Hong Kong actress. She graduated from St Rose of Lima College and Shaw Brothers' Training School.-Early life and career:... |
To Choi-yi (陶綵衣) | |
| Cho Tat Wah Cho Tat Wah Cho Tat-wah or Tso Tat-wah was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of Wuxia films in the 1950s and 1960s.... |
Buddhist Monk Hong-ming (空明和尚) | |
| (楊澤霖) | Prince Fok-dou (霍都王子) | |
| Lo Lieh Lo Lieh Lo Lieh was a Hong Kong actor in martial arts films. His real name is Wang Lap Tat. After his parents sent him back to China he attended acting school in Hong Kong. He began his martial arts training in 1962 and joined the Shaw Brothers Studio in the same year and went on to become one of the... |
(哈赤兒) | |
| (劉國誠) | General Chang Yuchun Chang Yuchun Chang Yuchun , style name Boren and pseudonym Yanheng , was a Chinese Muslim military general. He was a follower of the Ming Dynasty's founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, and contributed greatly to the founding of the dynasty... |
|
| Law Lok-lam (羅樂林) | Chu Yuan-chang Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China... |
|
| Ng Wui (吳回) | To Cek-lun (陶石麟) | |
| (鮑漢琳) | (也先王爺) | |
| Eddy Ko Eddy Ko Eddy Ko Hung is a Hong Kong television and film actor who has worked on the TV stations RTV , TVB and ATV. His birthname is Ho Yiu Sum . He adopted the name Ko Hung as a stage name... |
(濟深和尚) | |
| (周慧娟) | (周若) | |
| (麥天恩) | (高米拉) | |
| (蔣金) | Emperor |