The Royal Swordsmen

The Royal Swordsmen

Poster
Also known as 'Royal Swordsmen'
Genre Wuxia
Written by Wong Jing
Lin Qiang
Directed by Deng Yancheng
Wei Liyuan
Presented by Yang Teng-kui
Lin Zheng
Zhang Xiaowu
Starring Roger Kwok
Li Yapeng
Wallace Huo
Michelle Ye
Damian Lau
Tammy Chen
Gao Yuanyuan
Eva Huang
Opening theme Ni De Diyi (你的第一) performed by Wallace Huo
Ending theme Xiang Wo De Liyou (想我的理由) performed by Jeff Chang
Composer(s) Mak Jan-hung
Luo Jian
Country of origin China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Original language(s) Mandarin
Cantonese
No. of episodes 35 (Taiwanese version)
40 (Chinese version)
Production
Producer(s) Wong Jing
Wang Dapeng
Chen Beibei
Huang Jinmei
Chen Jingxia
Location(s) China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Camera setup Huang Boxian
Chen Xitai
Running time 45 minutes per episode
Production company(s) Jing's Production Ltd.
First Media Corporation
Distributor Excel Media (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
Release
Original network CTS (Taiwan)
BTV (China)
SZMG (China)
SuperSun (Hong Kong)
TVB Jade (Hong Kong)
First shown in 14 February 2005 (CTS)
22 November 2005 (BTV)
31 October 2009 (SZMG)
25 October–12 December 2006 (SuperSun)
8–28 March 2007 (TVB Jade)
The Royal Swordsmen
Chinese 天下第一
Literal meaning Number One Under Heaven

The Royal Swordsmen[1] is a Chinese-Taiwanese wuxia television series. The series was directed by Deng Yancheng and Wei Liyuan, and starred Roger Kwok, Li Yapeng, Wallace Huo, Michelle Ye, Damian Lau, Tammy Chen, Gao Yuanyuan and Eva Huang in the lead roles. It was first shown on Shenzhen Media Group's Drama Channel on 30 January 2005.[2]

Plot

The series is set in China during the Ming dynasty. Zhu Wushi, the Emperor's uncle, had received an order from the previous Emperor to establish a secret service called "Dragon-Defending Mountain Manor" to protect the monarchy. Zhu has four elite secret agents serving under him. They are known by their code names: "Heaven Number One", "Earth Number One", "Mysterious Number One", and "Yellow Number One".

"Heaven Number One" is the calm and cool-headed Duan Tianya, who was raised by Zhu Wushi as a godson. Zhu sent him to Japan to learn ninjutsu from the Iga School. While in Japan, he had a romantic relationship with Yukihime, the elder daughter of Yagyū Tajima-no-Kami, the patriarch of the influential Yagyū family. However, he becomes an enemy of the Yagyū family after taking revenge against Yukihime's brother, who had murdered his sensei. Torn between her family and her lover, Yukihime ultimately sacrificed herself to prevent her father from killing Duan in a duel. Years later, Duan encounters and starts a relationship with Yukihime's younger sister, Tsumujikase-wata. He gets into conflict with the Yagyū family again.

"Mysterious Number One" is the beautiful and intelligent Shangguan Haitang, who is well versed in various skills and arts, including medicine and astronomy. Like Duan Tianya, she was also raised by Zhu Wushi as his goddaughter. She helps her godfather manage and run the day-to-day affairs of the secret service.

"Earth Number One" is the cold and aloof Guihai Yidao, whose skills in using the dao are unparalleled. He desires to avenge his murdered father, Guihai Bailian, and sees it as his raison d'être. In his quest for vengeance, he masters a powerful but highly perversive skill, and finds himself falling under its evil influence — to the point where he loses control of himself and starts to indiscriminately kill anyone who tries to stop him. He has also been secretly in love with Shangguan Haitang for many years but does not have the courage to confess his feelings to her.

"Yellow Number One" is the streetwise Cheng Shifei, who used to be a gambler, thief and trickster. By coincidence, he encounters Zhu Wushi's rival, Gu Santong, and inherits Gu's inner energy and abilities, including a powerful skill that allows him to temporarily turn his body into impenetrable metal. He also meets the Emperor's younger sister, Princess Yunluo, starts a romantic relationship with her, and marries her eventually.

The Dragon-Defending Mountain Manor has an ongoing rivalry with the Eastern Depot, another imperial spy agency led by the eunuch Cao Zhengchun. The Emperor knows that Zhu and Cao are equally influential in court politics and has been using them to balance against each other. The four agents assist Zhu by keeping Cao in check and defending the Emperor from internal and external threats. Towards the end, Zhu reveals his true colours after eliminating Cao: He has been coveting the throne for years and intends to usurp it. The four agents combine forces to defeat him and save the Emperor.

Cast

Production

Shooting for The Royal Swordsmen started on 22 March 2004 in Wuxi,[3] and wrapped up on 21 June in the same year.[4]

Broadcasts

The series was first aired in mainland China on Shenzhen Media Group's Drama Channel on 30 January 2005.[2] It started airing on 14 February 2005 on CTS Main Channel in Taiwan, and on 25 October 2006 on TVB in Hong Kong.

References

  1. ↑ The Royal Swordsmen Dvd-Box
  2. 1 2 "A string of new TV dramas for the festive season". Sina.com (in Chinese). Sina Entertainment News. 4 February 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Liu, Sijia (24 March 2004). "Li Yapeng plays a ninja in new drama and his popularity surges; he is asked to be the spokesman for a weiqi competition". Sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Illustrated: "The Royal Swordsmen" wraps up shooting; Tammy Chen and Roger Kwok describe their feelings of parting". Sina.com (in Chinese). Sina Entertainment News. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
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