The Blood Sword
| Company type | Television drama series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | June 1990 |
| Founder | ATV |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
| Products | Television drama |
The Blood Sword is a television drama from Hong Kong, adapted from the wuxia manhua Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword created by Ma Wing-shing. Produced by ATV, the series debuted in June 1990 and was succeeded by a prequel titled The Blood Sword 2 in 1991.
Plot
Taking place in the early 20th-century Chinese jianghu—the martial arts world—the narrative centers on Hua Yingxiong, who returns to an island to settle a long-standing rivalry between the Hua and Chi clans. After being separated from his family for more than two decades following an ambush while traveling from America, Hua Yingxiong lost his wife Jieyu and believed his daughter Hua Wenying had perished; meanwhile, their son Hua Jianxiong was raised by the family's servant Shengnu.
Hua Jianxiong becomes embroiled in conflict with Situ Mowen, the martial artist responsible for Shengnu’s death, and marries Taxue despite jealousy from Si-ao, a servant’s daughter who harbors feelings for him. Concurrently, Hua Yingxiong resolves the family feud and forms an alliance with Chi Lianyingwang, head of the Chi family, taking his son Chi Yan as a disciple. He also develops romantic feelings toward Ziyi, a mercenary working for the Chi family who bears a striking resemblance to his late wife.
Unknown to them, Hua Wenying survived and was renamed Qiongtian after being raised by Yuanlaowang of the Hell School. Trained to become the school’s leader, she adopts a cold-hearted demeanor, kills her foster father, and manipulates Situ Mowen into supporting her cause. With assistance from Situ Mowen and ninjas from Japan’s Iga School, Qiongtian commands the Hell School in launching assaults against rival martial arts factions to seize control of the jianghu. She further provokes a dispute between Situ Wuliang (Situ Mowen’s adoptive father) and the Iga School upon discovering that Situ Mowen is actually the biological son of the Iga leader.
In response to the Hell School’s aggression, the Hua family collaborates with the Chi family and other martial arts schools to resist their advances. Ultimately, Hua Yingxiong brings about peace by defeating and reluctantly ending his daughter’s life.
Cast
- Kenny Ho as Hua Yingxiong, the central figure wielding the distinctive red "Blood Sword."
- Law Chung-wah as Hua Jianxiong, son of Hua Yingxiong and Jieyu.
- Veronica Yip as Ziyi, a mercenary allied with the Chi family who resembles Jieyu.
- Yeung Chak-lam as Chi Lianyingwang, patriarch of the Chi clan.
- Esther Kwan as Qiongtian / Hua Wenying, Hua Yingxiong’s missing daughter and leader of the Hell School.
- Eric Wan as Situ Mowen, martial artist and adversary of Hua Jianxiong.
- Kwan Chan-nei as Si-ao, daughter of Guipu who is infatuated with Hua Jianxiong.
- Chan Tung-mui as Taxue, spouse of Hua Jianxiong.
- Lau Wun-fung as Situ Wuliang, antagonist posing as Situ Mowen’s adoptive father.
- Mok Ka-yiu as Chi Yan, son of Chi Lianyingwang and apprentice to Hua Yingxiong.
- Hung Chi-shing as Guipu, servant of the Hua family.
- Jackie Lui as Yu Buwei, companion of Hua Jianxiong.
- Chan Chek-wai as Shengnu, servant who raised Hua Jianxiong.