The Legend of Chu Liuxiang (2007 TV series)

The Legend of Chu Liuxiang
DVD box art
Also known as	1. The Legendary Knight 2. Chu Liuxiang Chuanqi'
Genre	Wuxia
Written by	Gu Long (original story) Yu Zheng Liu Qi Sha Lang
Directed by	Liu Fengsheng Kuk Kwok-leung
Presented by	You Jiaming
Starring	Ken Chu Hu Jing Sun Feifei Liu Jia Cui Peng Benny Chan Choo Ja-hyun Stephanie Hsiao Kingone Wang Sammul Chan Mu Tingting
Opening theme	Xiang Jian Yin (香剑吟) performed by Li Fei and Tian Yi
Ending theme	1. Ren Xiaoyao (任逍遥) performed by Wu Pinchun 2. Yingxiong Yi Nu Wei Hongyan (英雄一怒为红颜) performed by Xiaozhuang and She Manni
Country of origin	China
Original language(s)	Mandarin
No. of episodes	43
Production
Producer(s)	You Jianming
Location(s)	China
Cinematography	Shao Jinghui Jiang Jicheng
Running time	45 minutes per episode
Production company(s)	1. China Central Television 2. Guangdong CHS Media 3. Southern Television Guangdong 4. Joy Media
Release
Original network	CCTV-8
Original release	7 December 2007
Chronology
Related shows	The Legend of Chu Liuxiang (2012)

The Legend of Chu Liuxiang is a Chinese television series adapted from Chu Liuxiang Chuanqi of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series.^[1] The series was first broadcast on CCTV-8 in December 2007 in China.^[2]

Plot

Part 1 - Fragrance in the Sea of Blood (血海飘香)

Chu Liuxiang is a highly skilled martial artist who steals from the rich to help the poor. Once, he attempts to steal from a courtesan who cheats unsuspecting men of their money. However, all the occupants of the brothel, including three famous martial artists, are mysteriously killed overnight by a deadly potion known as the "Heaven's One Holy Water". The potion is the secret weapon of the Holy Water Palace, a martial arts sect whose members are all female. The Holy Water Palace suspects Chu Liuxiang of stealing the potion and committing the murders, so they attack him. However, Chu Liuxiang negotiates with them and they agree to give him three months to investigate the case. With help from Song Tian'er, Su Rongrong, Zhongyuan Yidianhong and others, Chu Liuxiang succeeds in clearing his name and exposing the true identity of the perpetrator, who turns out to be actually his friend Wuhua. Chu Liuxiang defeats Wuhua in a fight and Wuhua commits suicide by drinking poisoned wine.^[3]

Part 2 - The Vast Desert (大沙漠)

Chu Liuxiang's adventures lead him to the desert, where he encounters his old friend Hu Tiehua. At the same time, he meets Linlang, a beautiful maiden, whom he saves from a kidnapper, and falls in love with her. However, he discovers later that Linlang is actually Shiguanyin, a mysterious and highly feared female martial artist. Shiguanyin and Wuhua (who actually survived) are behind a plot to take over the Moon City, a desert kingdom ruled by an incompetent king. With the aid of his friends, Chu Liuxiang foils Shiguanyin and Wuhua's plans and helps the king regain control of the Moon City. Chu Liuxiang defeats Shiguanyin in a fight and apparently kills her.^[4]

Part 3 - The Thrush (画眉鸟)

Chu Liuxiang gets into conflict with the Holy Water Palace once more. The palace's members kidnap Song Tian'er and Hu Tiehua. The palace ruler, Shuimu Yinji, mistakes Song Tian'er for her long-lost daughter and showers her with love and care. Chu Liuxiang arrives at the palace with Li Hongxiu and Zhongyuan Yidianhong to rescue his friends, and engages Shuimu Yinji and her followers in a fight. He uncovers a plot by Liu Hongmei and Wuhua to seize the rulership of the palace. Shuimu Yinji dies as she has been poisoned by the conspirators. Song Tian'er eventually succeeds Shuimu Yinji as the ruler of the palace.^[5]

Cast

Reception

CCTV reviewer Xiangshuai commented on the series's "luxurious cast" and "amazing script". She said the script captured the feeling written by Gu Long four decades ago about internal human disputes. She praised the actors and actresses for their performance, which "enhanced" the script to give viewers a sense of what the characters were feeling.^[1]

The Legend of Chu Liuxiang received honours on CCTV-8 for being the third-top rated series of 2007, as well as receiving the third-highest viewership of all television series broadcast in 2007 on CCTV-8, even though it was released in December.^[6][7]

Notes

External links

• (Chinese) The Legend of Chu Liuxiang official page on CCTV's website
• (Chinese) The Legend of Chu Liuxiang on Sina.com