Romance of the Three Kingdoms (TV series)

Romance of the Three Kingdoms (TV series)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical 14th century novel of the same title by Luo Guanzhong. The series was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and was first aired on the network in 1994. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. One of the most expensive television series produced at the time, the project was completed over four years and involved over 400,000 cast and crew members, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army from the Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu military regions. Some of the dialogues spoken by characters were adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes, such as the battles of Guandu, Red Cliffs and Xiaoting, were also live-acted.
The series is widely seen as among the best period dramas in China and appraised for capturing the grand scale of the novel's story, themes and characters while maintaining its artistic and historical value.
The show has a 9.5 rating on Douban from over 89,030 reviews.
List of episodes
The series is divided into five parts and each part has a different executive producer and director(s).
Part One
Title: 第一部：群雄逐鹿 (Part One: Heroes compete for power)
Executive producer: You Shijun
Director(s): Shen Haofang, Cai Xiaoqing
Part Two
Title: 第二部：赤壁鏖战 (Part Two: The Battle of Red Cliffs)
Executive producer: Zhang Guangqian
Director: Cai Xiaoqing, Zhang Zhongyi
Part Three
Title: 第三部：三国鼎立 (Part Three: Emergence of the Three Kingdoms)
Executive producer: Shan Yusheng
Director: Sun Guangming, Zhang Zhongyi
Part Four
Title: 第四部：南征北战 (Part Four: Battles in the south and north)
Executive producer: Zhang Jizhong
Director: Zhang Shaolin
Part Five
Title: 第五部：三分归一 (Part Five: Three united as one)
Executive producer: Hao Hengmin
Director: Zhang Zhongyi
Cast
Due to the time taken to complete the project (four years), there were numerous instances of (1) multiple actors playing the same character or (2) the same actor taking on multiple roles. An example of case (1) is the character Zhang Liao, who is portrayed by Xu Shaohua in episode 12, Zhang Yakun in episode 39, and Wang Weiguo in episode 54. Chen Zhihui is an extreme example of case (2) because he played a total of four roles – three as generals from Wei, Shu and Wu (Xu Chu, Liao Hua and Taishi Ci) and one as minor warlord Bao Xin. Two other prominent examples of case (2) were Wu Xiaodong and Hong Yuzhou – Wu portrayed Sun Jian in episode 5 and Sun Quan from episode 30 onwards; Hong played a young Yuan Shao in episode 5 and Zhou Yu from episode 9 onwards.
Main cast
Sun Yanjun as Liu Bei
Tang Guoqiang as Zhuge Liang
Bao Guo'an as Cao Cao
Lu Shuming as Guan Yu
Li Jingfei as Zhang Fei
Wu Xiaodong as Sun Quan / Sun Jian
Hong Yuzhou as Zhou Yu / Yuan Shao (younger)
Other cast
Sorted by role in alphabetical order
Du Wenlu as Ahuinan
Xue Wencheng as Bao Long
Chen Zhihui as Bao Xin
Liu Shaochun as Bao Zhong
Li Fengying as Lady Bian
Liu Xiaomei as Lady Cai (Liu Biao's wife)
Li Hua as Cai He
Me Yue as Cai Mao
Qin Zhao as Cai Yong
Li Xiaozhou as Cai Zhong
An Zhiyi as Cao Fang
Huoercha / Bala Zhu'er / Wang Jie as Cao Hong
Wang Han as Cao Huan
Li Ming as Cao Jie
Ji Chenmu as Cao Mao
Yang Junyong as Cao Pi
Tai Zuhui / Xu Deshan as Cao Ren
Wang Guanghui as Cao Rui
Kang Ming as Cao Shuang
Chi Chonggen as Cao Xi
Sun Zhencai as Cao Xun
Zheng Qiang as Cao Zhen
Wang Liangbo as Cao Zhi
Wang Changli as Chen Deng
Li Jianyi as Chen Gong (younger)
Xiu Zongdi as Chen Gong (older)
Niu Chaliang as Chen Gui
Wang Tao as Chen Lin
Chen Debao / Zhang Shijun as Chen Shi
Zhang Shijun as Chen Qun
Liu Yinglu as Chen Tai
Dong Jiuru as Cheng Bing
Zhang Ping as Cheng Ji
Yan Huaili / Chen Zhuanliang as Cheng Pu
Dai Jingguo / Yu Lianzeng as Cheng Yu
Ren Meng as Cheng Zi
Zhou Wanhong as Chunyu Qiong
Zhuang Li as Lady Cui
Li Songqiao as Cui Liang
Zhao Xiaochuan as Cui Zhouping
Wang Hongguang as Deng Ai
Li Zhiyi as Deng Zhi
Wu Wenqing as Deng Zhong
Zhang Jiatian as Dian Wei
Chen Hong as Diaochan
Liu Shaochun / Wang Yi / Yang Baohe as Ding Feng
Rui Lirong as Ding Yuan
Lü Zhong as Empress Dowager Dong
Liu Long as Dong Cheng
Qin Baolin as Dongtuna
Li Po as Dong Zhuo
Wei Yingming as Duan Gui
Liu He as King Duosi
Zhang Xuting as Eheshaoge
Shi Laiqun / Zhang Minfu as Fa Zheng
Wei Deshan as Fan Qiang
Qi Wenqiang as Fei Yao
Li Hong as Fei Yi
Yi Shufen / Guo Shuping as Lady Gan
Han Dong / Zhang Yuhai as Gan Ning
Yuan Lijian as Gao Xiang
Yang Fan as Gongsun Zan
Li Yanping as Gu Yong
Ding Zhiyong as Guan Ping (younger)
Chen Bing as Guan Ping (older)
Li Wei as Guan Xing
Chang Yuping / Sun Qicheng as Guo Huai
Jiang Kai as Guo Jia
Guo Shouyang as Guo Tu
Zhu Jun as Han Dang
Yu Rongguang as Han Fu
Yang Zibin as Han Hao
Sude Siqin as Han Meng
Huang Xiaoli as Han Xuan
Li Shicai as Hao Zhao
Zheng Tianwei as Empress He
Zhang Fuyuan as He Jin
Ye Jinsen as Hu Ban
Jiang Chongxia as Hu Lie
Qi Jianbo as Hu Yuan
Yu Weijie as Huche'er
Wang Zhongxin as Hua Tuo
Song Ge as Hua Xin
Wen Hao as Huan Fan
Wang Hongwu as Huang Chengyan
Wu Guicen / Xu Fuyin as Huang Gai
Zeng Ge as Huang Hao
Wang Hongtao as Huang Zhong
Qiao Chen as Huang Zhong's wife
Wang Hongtao as Ji Ling
Ding Zhicheng as Ji Ping
Han Xinmin as Jia Chong
Xu Yongliang / Li Xuliang as Jia Xu
Su Jianyu as Jian Shuo
An Ji as Jian Yong
Zhou Zhou as Jiang Gan
Liu Xi as Jiang Ji
Liu Hongkun as Jiang Wan
Zhang Tianshu as Jiang Wei (younger)
Fan Zhiqi as Jiang Wei (older)
Zhang Dengqiao as Jiang Wei's mother
Wang Zhiqiang as Ju Shou
Zhang Xiqian as Kan Ze
Zheng Rong as Kong Rong
Ma Jichun as Kuai Yue
Zhang Yingwu / Sang Bao / Zhang Jinghai as Li Dian
Wang Qiang / Zhang Jimin as Li Feng (Li Yan's son)
Li Bao'an as Li Fu
Wang Zhiqiang as Li Hui
Bi Yanjun as Li Ru
Yang Aifu as Li Sheng
Yan Yansheng as Li Su
Mang Lai / Chen Zhihui / Du Wenlu as Liao Hua
Wang Gang / Han Zengxiang as Ling Tong
Ma Zijun as Liu Bei's wedding emcee
Zhu Feng as Liu Bian, Emperor Shao of Han
Zhang Da as Liu Biao
Chen Xu as Liu Chen
Liang Chi as Liu Cong
Huo Ercha as Liu Dai
Zhao Zhenping as Liu Feng
Liu Zongren as Liu Gui
Yin Li as Liu Qi
Li Tie as Liu Shan (younger)
Lu Jixian as Liu Shan (older)
Bao Dazhi as Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han (younger)
Yin Shen / Su Ke as Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han (older)
Xiao Lu / Ma Yusen / Wei Xian as Liu Ye
Liang Zhenya as Liu Zhang
Zhao Piyu as Lu Ji
Cao Li / Song Banggui / Ma Yuliang as Lu Su
Gao Fei as Lu Xun
Yang Zhaoquan as Lu Zhi
Cao Shixiang as Lü Boshe
Zhang Guangbei as Lü Bu
Liu Yan as Lü Bu's daughter
Suo Eryong as Lü Fan
Chu Guoliang / Guo Molang as Lü Meng
An Yaping as Ma Chao
Li Jianping / Chen Guanxin as Ma Dai
Wang Xianhe / Li Ping as Ma Liang
Zhang Zhizhong as Ma Su
Huang Wenjun as Ma Teng
Zhang Hao as Ma Zhong
Qin Baolin as Ma Zun
Zhou Huilin as Mao Jie
Zhang Nan as Meng Da
Hu Zhanli as Meng Huo
Yan Fengqi as Meng Jian
Li Yankui as Meng Jie
Sude Siqin as Meng Tan
Li Dongguo as Meng You
Xu Di / Wang Luyao as Lady Mi
Kui Heguo as Mi Fang
Zhu Bingqian / Yang Naihuang / Ren Dongsheng as Mi Zhu
Zhang Xuting as King Midang
Pang Daxin as Pan Ying
Hei Shuikuan / Sun Qicheng as Pan Zhang
Zhang Yuanpeng as Pang De
Jin Shugui / Zhu Shibin as Pang Tong
Guo Jiaqing as Pujing
Jiang Jin as Two Qiaos' father
Wang Fengwen as Qiao Zhou
Chen Changlong as Qin Liang
Wang Zhongxin as Qin Mi
Liu Liwei as Qin Qi
Zhao Piyu as Qiu Jian
Wang Ying as Shao Ti
Wang Xian as Shen Pei
Ma Shuliang as Shi Tao
Ji Chonggong as Shi Xu
Zheng Xu as Shi Zuan
Su Min as Sima Hui
Pan Yinlai as Sima Shi (younger)
Lei Tieliu as Sima Shi (older)
Lü Suosen as Sima Wang
Han Qing as Sima Yan
Tang Zhenhuan as Sima Yi (younger)
Wei Zongwan as Sima Yi (older)
Li Chiyou as Sima Zhao (younger)
Gao Lancun as Sima Zhao (older)
Xu Hongda as Su Yue
Pu Cunxin as Sun Ce
Yang Jun as Sun Li
Guo Jiaqiang / Xia Junyin as Sun Qian
Zhao Yue as Sun Shangxiang
Pan Yueming as Sun Xiu
Li Hongtao / Chen Zhihui as Taishi Ci
Zhang Tong as Tao Qian
Gao Baobao as Lady Tian
Zhang Lianzhong as Tian Feng
Wang Tiejun as Tian Si
Chi Chonggen as Wang Fu
Zhang Hongying as Wang Jing
Dong Ji as Wang Lang
Cui Dai as Wang Ping
Yan Yansheng as Wang Su
Zheng Dapeng as Wang Tao
Xu Yun as Wang Youtong
Tan Zongyao as Wang Yun
Mo Qi as Wang Zhi
Shi Changjin as Wang Zifu
Liu Wei / Wang Xiaoying / Wang Shaowen / Wang Xinhai as Wei Yan
Mang Lai / Bi Lige as Wen Ping
Lin Moyu / Yu Ruojuan as Lady Wu
Li Shicai as Wu Ban
Liu Jianwei as Wu Fu
Hong Zongxi as Wu Yayu
Hong Ximai as Xi Zheng
He Jing as Xiaoqiao
Shi Tiansheng / Shen Shuangcun as Xiahou Ba
Bala Zhu'er as Xiahou Dun
Yang Lixin as Xiahou Jie
Wang Jiming as Xiahou Mao
Jiao Yucheng as Xiahou Shang
Hao Yueguo as Xiahou Xuan
Qian Yulin as Xiahou Yuan
Ma Xingyue / Qin Baolin as Xin Pi
Wang Jianguo / Lu Ying / Chen Zhihui / Han Dong as Xu Chu
Huoercha / Nige Mutu / Li Dongguo / Liu Honglin / Xie Dong as Xu Huang
Zhang Qin as Xu Jing
Zhang Xiaoming as Xu Sheng
Zhai Wanchen as Xu Shu
Tai Renhui as Xu Shu's mother
Shi Xiaoman as Xu You
Wang Ying as Xue Zong
Yu Jianai as Xun You
Gu Lan as Xun Yu
Gao Baobao as Lady Yan (Lü Bu's wife)
Li Tan as Yan Jun
Xie Jiaqi as Yan Liang
Li Zhongbi / Wang Wenyou as Yan Yan
Si Gengtian as Yang Feng
Gao Xiaobao as Yang Ling
Liu Jianwei as Yang Song
Meng Xianli as Yang Yi
Liu Longbin / Wang Hui as Yi Ji
Chu Jianfu as Yu Fan
Siqin Bilige / Qi Kejian as Yu Jin
Zhou Wanhong as Yu Qiong
Li Qingxiang as Yuan Shao (older)
Chen Youwang / Wang Fusheng as Yuan Shu
Deng Xiaoguang as Yuan Tan
Shen Long as Yue Jin
Ma Jingwu as Zhang Bao (Yellow Turban)
Chi Guodong as Zhang Bao (Zhang Fei's son)
Zhu Decang as Zhang Dang
Wang Huanan / Xing Guozhou as Zhang He
Tian Ye as Zhang Hu
Yin Huasheng as Zhang Ji
Yuan Zhiguang as Zhang Jiao
You Shijun as Zhang Liang
Xu Shaohua / Zhang Yakun / Wang Weiguo as Zhang Liao
Ma Yuliang as Zhang Lu
Xie Zhijian as Zhang Rang
Zhou Zhonghe as Zhang Ren
Zhang Ju as Zhang Song
Wang Mianzhi as Zhang Wen
Han Shanxu as Zhang Xiu
Qi Wenqiang as Zhang Yi
Zhou Jiwei as Zhang Zhao
Zhang Shan as Zhao Yun (younger)
Li Baohua as Zhao Fan
Gai Ke as Zhao Fan's sister-in-law
Han Xinmin as Zhao Lei
Hou Yongsheng as Zhao Yun (older)
Han Xinmin as Zheng Tai
Guan Yue as Zhong Hui
Liu Geng as Zhong Yao
Liu Runcheng as Zhou Cang
Yin Wei / Zhang Ying as Zhou Tai
Li Yunjuan as Lady Zhurong
Zhong Yujie / Wang Zhaogui as Zhuge Jin
Shi Ni as Zhuge Jun
He Bing as Zhuge Ke
Su Chongshan as Zhuge Zhan
Music
The music for the series was composed by Gu Jianfen (谷建芬) and Li Yiding (李一丁).
See also
List of media adaptations of Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms (TV series)
References
External links
Works based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms
1994 Chinese television series debuts
1994 Chinese television series endings
Television series set in the Three Kingdoms
Television series set in the Eastern Han dynasty
Mandarin-language television shows
Chinese historical television series