Three Kingdoms (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Gao Xixi (director) |
| Products | Television drama series |
Three Kingdoms is a 2010 Chinese TV series that dramatizes the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era, drawing its narrative from the 14th-century classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms along with associated tales. Under the direction of Gao Xixi, this production had a budget surpassing 160 million RMB (approximately US$30 million) and underwent five years of preparatory work. Principal photography commenced in October 2008, with its premiere in China occurring in May 2010.
Upon release, Three Kingdoms held the distinction of being the most costly television series produced in China, having been sold to four regional broadcasters for 160 million yuan. The series was distributed across more than 20 countries and had generated close to 800 million RMB (around US$133.3 million) in revenue by May 2012.
List of episodes
| # | English title | Original title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | To eliminate a traitor, Cao Cao presents a precious sword | 除国贼曹公献宝刀 |
| 2 | Chen Gong releases Cao Cao in righteousness | 陈宫申正义释曹操 |
| 3 | Cao Cao kills Lü Boshe by mistake | 曹操疑错杀吕伯奢 |
| 4 | Guan Yu slays Hua Xiong while the wine is still warm | 关云长温酒斩华雄 |
| 5 | Battle of Hulao - The three heroes fight Lü Bu | 破虎牢三英战吕布 |
| 6 | Sun Jian gains the Imperial Jade Seal | 孙坚得传国玉玺 |
| 7 | Sun Jian's death at Sanjin Ford | 三津渡孙文台殒命 |
| 8 | Wang Yun plans the Chain-Linked Strategy | 王司徒巧设连环计 |
| 9 | Father and son turn hostile at Fengyi Pavilion | 凤仪亭父子挑兵戈 |
| 10 | Lü Bu kills Dong Zhuo | 反间计吕布诛董卓 |
| 11 | Tao Qian offers Xu Province thrice | 陶恭祖三让徐州城 |
| 12 | Lü Bu is defeated in battle and seeks shelter under Liu Bei | 吕奉先战败投刘备 |
| 13 | Cao Cao saves the emperor and controls the warlords | 曹孟德救驾令诸侯 |
| 14 | Lü Bu stages a night raid on Xu Province | 吕奉先趁夜袭徐郡 |
| 15 | Lü Bu shoots an arrow through a halberd | 吕奉先辕门射画戟 |
| 16 | Cao Cao defeats Yuan Shu in battle | 曹孟德举兵败袁术 |
| 17 | Lü Bu falls for Cao Cao's trick and loses Xu Province | 中曹计吕布失徐州 |
| 18 | Lü Bu meets his end at White Gate Tower | 白门楼奉先赴黄泉 |
| 19 | Liu Bei receives an imperial decree and swears to destroy Cao Cao | 刘皇叔奉旨誓灭曹 |
| 20 | Cao Cao discusses about heroes over drinks | 曹孟德煮酒论英雄 |
| 21 | Yuan Shao and Cao Cao mobilise their armies | 袁曹各起马步三军 |
| 22 | Liu Bei is defeated and seeks shelter under Yuan Shao | 刘玄德战败投袁绍 |
| 23 | Guan Yu surrenders to Cao Cao on three conditions | 关云长降曹约三事 |
| 24 | Yuan Shao loses troops and commanders | 袁本初败兵又折将 |
| 25 | Guan Yu's lone journey over a thousand li | 美髯公千里走单骑 |
| 26 | Reunion at Gucheng | 会古城主臣聚大义 |
| 27 | Yuan Shao suffers defeats at Guandu | 战官渡袁本初败绩 |
| 28 | Xu You betrays his lord and joins Cao Cao | 许子远叛主投曹操 |
| 29 | Cao Cao burns the supply depot at Wuchao | 曹孟德劫粮烧乌巢 |
| 30 | Liu Bei garrisons an army at Xinye | 刘备屯兵新野 |
Main
- Chen Jianbin portraying Cao Cao
- Yu Hewei as Liu Bei
- Lu Yi cast as Zhuge Liang
- Yu Rongguang in the role of Guan Yu
- Kang Kai playing Zhang Fei
- Nie Yuan as Zhao Yun
- Ni Dahong portraying Sima Yi
- Yu Bin as Cao Pi
- Luo Jin depicting Liu Xie (Emperor Xian)
- Xiaodingge as young Liu Xie (child)
- Lü Xiaohe cast as Dong Zhuo
- Peter Ho in the role of Lü Bu
- Chen Hao playing Diaochan
- Zhang Bo portraying Sun Quan
- Zheng Wei as young Sun Quan (child)
- Ruby Lin as Lady Sun
- Victor Huang playing Zhou Yu
- Sha Yi cast as Sun Ce
- Liu Jing acting as one of the Two Qiaos, Daqiao
- Zhao Ke portraying Xiaoqiao, one of the Two Qiaos
Supporting
- Organized alphabetically by character
- Li Li portraying Bao Long
- Bai Yu as Lady Bian
- Cao Xiwen in the role of Lady Cai (spouse of Liu Biao)
- Li Fangyao playing Cai He
- Liu Dan as Cai Mao
- Hu Zi taking on Cai Yang
- Guo Miaoxin as Cai Zhong
- Liu Zijiao portraying Empress Cao
- Zhao Lei in the role of Cao Bao
- An-Peng Zeyu as Cao Chong
- Li Daiqing playing Cao Hong
- Yuan Shaoxiong as Cao Fang
- Yang Guang portraying Cao Ren
- Yang Demin in the role of Cao Rui
- Xia Tian playing Cao Shuang
- Guo Jiyun as Cao Song
- Li Gen portraying Cao Zhang
- Zhao Jin in the role of Cao Zhen
- Li Jichun as Cao Zhi
- Wang Jinjun taking on Cheng Dekou
- Shang Yue portraying Chen Deng
- Sun Hongtao as Chen Gong
- Lu Jidong playing Chen Gui
- Sun Hai in the role of Chen Qun
- Ding Xiaonan as Chen Ying
- Zhong Minghe portraying Cheng Pu
- Jiang Changyi as Cheng Yu
- Cao Zhanjun playing Cui Zhouping
- Jiang Yi in the role of Ding Feng
- Bai Hui as Consort Dong
- Gao Baosong portraying Dong Cheng
- Yang Chuanxi playing Dong Zhao
- Zhang Xinhua as Fa Zheng
- Piao Lan in the role of Lady Fan
- Dong Zhiyong portraying Fan Qiang
- Wang Daosheng as Fu Jun
- Tang Zidi playing Lady Gan
- Xia Xiaolong in the role of Gan Ning
- Chen Gang portraying Gao Xiang
- Wang Baogang as Gongsun Zan
- Fan Jinlun in the role of Guan Ping
- Wei Zhi playing Guan Xing
- Wang Di portraying Empress Guo
- Zhang Ge as Guo Huai
- Wang Jinxin in the role of Guo Jia
- Gong Zhixi playing Guo Si
- Han Zhenguo portraying Guo Tu
- Liu Jun as Han Dang
- Jiao Zhiqiang in the role of Han Fu
- Hu Sha portraying Han Sui
- Ying Qiang playing Han Xuan
- Qin Fanxiang as Hao Zhao
- Cai Jun taking on the role of Hua Tuo
- Zhang Xiqian portraying Hua Xin
- Ding Xiaonan playing Hua Xiong
- Liu Kui as Huang Gai
- Zhao Xu taking on Huang Kui
... [the list continues alphabetically with similar concise formatting] ...
Replaced cast
- Initially, the part of Cao Cao was assigned to Jiang Wen, but he withdrew following the departure of two directors. He later embodied Cao Cao in the 2011 production The Lost Bladesman. Meanwhile, renowned for his portrayal of Zhuge Liang in the 1994 Romance of the Three Kingdoms, actor Tang Guoqiang expressed interest in this role; however, it was eventually given to Chen Jianbin.
- The role of Guan Yu was sought by actor Ken Watanabe, who requested a salary between 30 and 40 million yuan. Director Gao Xixi, unable to accommodate this demand, cast Yu Rongguang, known for his previous portrayal of Han De in the 2008 film Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.
Critical reception
The series enjoyed strong commercial performance and led viewership ratings across China, yet it sparked divided opinions and debate due to substantial departures from both Romance of the Three Kingdoms and historical facts. Critics contended that commercial considerations took precedence over authentic adaptation, leading to narrative inconsistencies. While some applauded the producers’ daring reinterpretations, others faulted slow pacing, unnecessary scenes, and reliance on typical elements from Chinese gongdou dramas, which detracted from the source material’s gravitas and solemn character.
Soundtrack
| # | Track Title | Credits | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 还我一个太平天下 (Template:Zh) (Give Me Back A World At Peace) |
Music by Zhao Jiping; lyrics by Yi Ming; vocal performance by Liao Changyong | Opening theme |
| 2 | 英雄往来天地间 (Template:Zh) (Heroes Cross Heaven And Earth) |
Composed by Zhao Jiping; words by Yi Ming; sung by Tan Jing | Ending theme |
| 3 | 天地莽苍苍 (Template:Zh) (A Blurry World) |
Created by Zhao Jiping; lyrics by Yi Ming; performed by Tang Can | Ending theme |
| 4 | 貂婵歌 (Template:Zh) (Diaochan's Song) |
Composed by Zhao Jiping; lyrics from Luo Guanzhong; vocal rendition by Chen Hao | |
| 5 | 爱无痕 (Template:Zh) (Love Without A Trace) |
Music by Hu Li; words by Shi Donghui and Hu Li; performed by Deng Tianqing | |
| 6 | 不枉 (Template:Zh) (Not in Vain) |
Composed by Tang Chi-wai; lyrics penned by Sandy Chang; performed by Super 4 | Opening theme (Hong Kong edition) |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Shanghai Television Festival | Silver Award for Best Television Series | Three Kingdoms | |
| China TV Drama Awards | Best Television Series | |||
| Most Popular Television Series | ||||
| Best Director | Gao Xixi | |||
| Best Screenwriter | Zhu Sujin | |||
| Television Figure of the Year | Chen Jianbin | |||
| 2011 | Seoul International Drama Awards | Grand Prize | Three Kingdoms | |
| Best Actor | Chen Jianbin | |||
| International Drama Festival in Tokyo | Special Award for Foreign Drama | Three Kingdoms | ||
| 45th Houston International Film Festival | Grand Remi Award |
International broadcast
| Region | Network | Air Dates | Broadcast Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | Anhui TV | 2 May 2010 – 14 June 2010 | Daily at 19:35 |
| Mainland China | Jiangsu TV | 2 May 2010 – 14 June 2010 | Daily at 19:30 |
| Mainland China | Chongqing TV | 2 May 2010 – 14 June 2010 | Daily at 19:36 |
| Mainland China | Tianjin TV | 2 May 2010 – 14 June 2010 | Daily at 19:35 |
| Hong Kong | TVB Select | 11 October 2010 – 4 March 2011 | Monday to Thursday, 22:30–23:30; extended to Monday to Friday from 13 December |
| Japan | BS Fuji | 26 October 2010 – 2011 | Mondays weekly, 21:00–23:00 |
| Malaysia | Astro Zhi Zun HD | 10 November 2010 – 2011 | Weekdays, 18:00–19:00 |
| Hong Kong | HD Jade | 15 March 2012 – 11 July 2012 | Weekdays, from 23:45 to 00:45 |
| Taiwan | China Television | 2 July 2012 – 4 September 2012 | |
| South Korea | KBS 2TV | 27 February 2012 – 12 February 2013 | Monday and Tuesday, from 00:35 to 01:25 |
| Romania | National channels including: | Various evening and late-night time slots | |
| Thailand | 3 HD, and channel 3 Family | 30 January 2017 (originally aired from October 2016) | Weekdays during early evening hours; shifted to channel 3 Family at 21:00 starting May 2017 |
| Middle East & North Africa | MBC Action | 24 April –15 November 2016 | Weekdays at 17:00 |
| Iran | IRIB Tamasha | — | Weekdays at 19:00 |
See also
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms television adaptation
- Compilation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms adaptations
External links
- Official Three Kingdoms page hosted on Sina.com
- Official Three Kingdoms webpage available at Sohu.com
Categories:
- 2010 Chinese television series debuts
- 2010 Chinese television series conclusions
- Television productions based on Chinese literature
- Adaptations of Romance of the Three Kingdoms
- Television dramas set during the Three Kingdoms period
- Television series set in the Eastern Han dynasty era
- Chinese historical drama series
- Television scripts by Zhu Sujin
- Anhui Television original programming