The Unforgettable Memory

The Unforgettable Memory
Mainland China DVD cover (first 108 episodes)
Also known as	''Unforgettable Memory
Traditional	意難忘
Simplified	意难忘
Mandarin	Yì Nán Wàng
Hokkien	Ì Lân Bông
Genre	Romance Competitions between family businesses
Directed by	Wang Wei
Starring	Wang Shixian Zhang Fengshu
Opening theme	1. 情難忘 by Wang Shixian 2. 出外人 by Zhan Yawen 3. 擔輸贏 by Jiang Hui 4. 堅持 by Weng Liyou 5. 愛你的代價 by Gao Xiangpeng and Feng Rui'e 6. 雪中花 by Wang Shixian and Sun Shumei 7. 無人來作伴 by Lin Shan and Weng Liyou 8. 愛了無後悔 by Long Qianyu and Weng Liyou 9. 愛伊希地魯 by Weng Liyou
Ending theme	1. 雲中月圓 by Wang Shixian and Sun Shumei 2. 昨夜星辰 by Yao Xinying 3. 意難忘 by Cai Xiaohu 4. 真愛只有你 by Lin Shan and Fu Zhenhui 5. 無人來作伴 by Lin Shan and Weng Liyou 6. 風中的玫瑰 by Long Qianyu 7. 今生最愛的人 by Cai Xiaohu
Country of origin	Taiwan
Original language(s)	Taiwanese
No. of episodes	526 (Formosa Television) 877 (Mediacorp Channel 8)
Production
Producer(s)	Guo Hongliang, Lin Huijun
Running time	90 minutes (Episodes 1–285) 105 minutes (Episodes 286–525) 50 minutes (Finale - Episode 526)
Release
Original network	Formosa Television Mediacorp Channel 8
Original release	22 September 2004 – 28 September 2006
Chronology
Preceded by	Desire for Life (Formosa Television)
Followed by	Eternal Happiness (Formosa Television) Return of Past Spring (Mediacorp Channel 8)
Related shows	Night Market Life The Spirits of Love

The Unforgettable Memory is a Taiwanese prime-time soap opera, originally broadcast on Formosa Television from 22 September 2004 to 28 September 2006 for 526 episodes. With a run-time of over 50,000 minutes, it is the longest Taiwanese TV drama in the 21st century.

Broadcast

Taiwan — Formosa Television (22 September 2004)
Malaysia — Astro AEC (24 August 2005)
Singapore — MediaCorp Channel 8 (9 June 2006, dubbed in Mandarin)
China — China Central Television Channel 8 (2 September 2007, dubbed in Mandarin)
Hong Kong — Asia Television (29 September 2008, dubbed in Cantonese)
Vietnam — THVL Channel 1 (1 April 2014, dubbed in Vietnamese as Tình Đầu Khó Phai)

Cast

Wang Shengtian is the main protagonist in this drama. Villains include Huang Kunshan, Cai Jianpao, Du Wenjie, Wu Pinde and many others.

Wangs

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Wang Shixian	Wang Qingyun	Wang-Cheng Yuexia's husband Father of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi	He appeared only in episode 13. In episode 89, he was killed by Huang Kunshan in Japan.
Wang Shixian	Wang Shengtian	Protagonist Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Cheng Yuexia Fang Lizhu's husband Wang Shengzhi's elder brother Father of Wang Tianzhu	He appeared in all the episodes. In episode 141, Shengtian travelled with Lizhu and Tianzhu. He married Lizhu in episode 195 and was later divorced in episode 347. Shengtian and Tianzhu met again in episode 422. Shengtian and Lizhu remarried again in episode 520. In the finale, Shengtian had successfully fought brain cancer and in the end, both he and Lizhu travelled around the world by boat.
Zhang Qin	Wang-Cheng Yuexia	Old Madam Wang Wang Qingyun's wife Mother of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi Mother-in-law of Lai Lizhu and Lai Suling	She appeared in almost all the episodes.
Zhang Fengshu	Fang/Lai Lizhu	Adopted daughter of Fang Jinchuan and Xiazi Biological daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing Wang Shengtian's wife Lai Suling's elder sister Mother of Wang Tianzhu	She appeared in episodes 1-148, later episodes 164-348 and episodes 467-526. In episode 34, Lizhu had Shengtian's son. In episode 79, she was jailed, and later was bailed out in episode 104. She gave birth to Tianzhu in episode 89. She thought of the care Shengtian brought in episode 140. In episode 141, Lizhu travelled with Shengtian and Tianzhu. She and Tianzhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164. She knew her biological parents in episode 186, and therefore acknowledged them in episode 191. She married Shengtian in episode 195 and was later divorced in episode 347. She returned in episode 467 after the divorce 120 episodes earlier. Lizhu and Shengtian remarried again in episode 520. In the finale, both Shengtian and her travelled around the world by boat.
Younger: Qiu Guanlong and later Ge Jiahong Older: Xie Chengjun	Wang Tianzhu	Son of Wang Shengtian and Lai Lizhu Chen Shanni's husband Li Jiajia's former husband Fat Cat's friend	The younger version appeared in episodes 123-148 and later episodes 164–212. The older version appeared in episodes 214–382 and returned in episodes 389–526. He was born in episode 89. He and his mother Lizhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164. He married Shanni in episode 316. Tianzhu and his father Shengtian met again in episode 422. He divorced with Shanni in episode 428. He was appointed the General Manager of Tianlei Enterprise in episode 440. He married Jiajia in episode 490 and was later divorced in episode 515. Tianzhu and Shanni remarried again in episode 520. He was appointed the Chairman of Tiancheng Enterprise in episode 525.
Han Yu	Huang Xuelian	Lin Dazhong's fiancée Daughter of Huang Kunshan	She appeared from episodes 1–95. In episode 94, She and Dazhong were getting engaged. An episode later, she jumped down to her death.
Han Yu	Chen Shanni	Daughter of Yu Guangrong and Chen Yujie Wang Tianzhu's wife	She appeared from episodes 233–508 and later episodes 514–526. She married Tianzhu in episode 316 and was later divorced in episode 428. She made suicide attempts in episode 491. Shanni and Tianzhu remarried again in episode 520.
Li Liren	Wang Shengzhi	Lai Suling's husband Adopted father of Wang Yuting Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Cheng Yuexia Younger brother of Wang Shengtian	He appeared in episodes 1–342. He married Suling in episode 85. He made suicide attempts in episode 289 in losing his wife three episodes after her death. He married Peiqi in episode 338. He died in episode 342.
Yang Baowei	Lai Suling	Wang Shengzhi's wife Lin Dazhong's former wife Wang Yuting's mother Daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing Lai Lizhu's younger sister	She appeared in episodes 1-286. She married Dazhong in episode 36 and was later divorced in episode 77. She married Shengzhi in episode 85. She gave birth to Yuting in episode 118. She died in episode 286.
Younger: Fu Peici Older: Xie Jinyan	Wang Yuting	Nicknamed as 'Tingting' Li Wenhua's wife Daughter of Lin Dazhong and Lai Suling Adopted daughter of Wang Shengzhi	The younger version appeared from episodes 123–212. She was born in episode 118. She returned as the older version in episodes 215-315 and later episodes 329-505. She recovered her memory in episode 402. She married Jianzhi in episode 485. She died in episode 505.
Wang Can	Li Wenhua	Wang Yuting's husband One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's doctors	He appeared in episodes 297–315 and later 329-406. He had committed suicide in episode 406.

Lais

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Shi Ying	Lai Tianyou	Chen Liqing's husband Father of Lai Lizhu and Lai Suling	He appeared in episodes 1–212 and later 266–505. He accompanied Liqing to the hospital in episode 127. He and Liqing acknowledged Lizhu as his daughter in episode 191.
Gao Xinxin	Chen Liqing	Lai Tianyou's wife Mother of Lai Lizhu	She appeared in episodes 2–197. She was rushed to the hospital in episode 127. She and Tianyou acknowledged Lizhu as his daughter in episode 191. She died in episode 197 due to lung cancer.
Zhang Fengshu	Fang/Lai Lizhu	See Wangs.
Yang Baowei	Lai Suling	See Wangs.

Huangs

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared
Huang Zhongkun	Huang Kunshan	Father of Huang Xuelian	He appeared in episodes 1-112.
Han Yu	Huang Xuelian	See Wangs.

Sus

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Li Xinwen	Li Quanshui	Nicknamed as 'Shui' Su Yuefong and Su Yuehong's husband Li Aiyu's brother	He appeared in all the episodes. He was jailed in episode 2. In episode 44, he and Yuefong settled their conditions. Quanshui and Yuefong met again in episode 127. He was jailed again in episode 211. He married Yuehong in episode 296.
Chen Ruoping	Su Yuefong	Li Quanshui's wife Su Yuehong's sister	She appeared in episodes 1-53 and returned in episodes 123-168. In episode 44, she and Quanshui settled their conditions. She was rolled down a cliff in episode 53. Yuefong and Quanshui met again in episode 127. She died in episode 168 to rescue Quanshui from being shot by Cai Jianpao.
Yue Hong	Su Yuehong	Li Quanshui's wife Su Yuefong's younger sister	She appeared in episodes 232–498. She married Quanshui in episode 296. She died in episode 498 to rescue Aiyu from being shot by Du Wenjie.
De Xin	Li Aiyu	Cai Jianpao's former wife Mother of Cai Zhiying Li Quanshui's younger sister	She appeared in episodes 38–517. She married Jianpao in episode 88. She gave birth to Zhiying in episode 122. She was nominated for the legislators in episode 214, replacing Jianpao's role. She divorced Jianpao in episode 377. She lost her position as a legislator in episode 484. She was jailed in episode 517.

Fangs

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Tang Chuan	Fang Jinchuan	Xia Zi's husband Father of Fang Lijun Adopted father of Lai Lizhu	He appeared from episode 113 until episode 214 when he died.
Xiao Hui	Xia Zi	Fang Jinchuan's wife Mother of Fang Lijun Adopted mother of Lai Lizhu	She appeared in episodes 113–217. She told Lizhu who her biological parents were in episode 186.
Gao Yuzhen	Fang Lijun	Gao Maoxiong's wife Daughter of Fang Jinchuan and Xiazi One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's persons-in-charge	She appeared in episodes 113–214 and later episodes 355–406.
Huang Yingxun	Gao Maoxiong	Fang Lijun's husband Lin Xiuhui's former husband One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's doctors	He appeared in episodes 127–214. He engaged with Xiuhui in episode 148 and was later married in episode 155.

Lins

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Lin Zhaoxiong	Lin Tonghai	Father of Lin Dazhong and Lin Xiuhui	He appeared in episodes 26-83, episodes 158 and 159 and episodes 193-198.
Liu Zhihan	Lin Dazhong	Lai Suling's former husband Huang Xuelian's fiancé Biological father of Wang Yuting Son of Lin Tonghai Lin Xiuhui's elder brother	He appeared in episodes 6-108 and returned later in episodes 124–183. He married Suling in episode 36 and was later divorced in episode 77. In episode 94, he and Xuelian were getting engaged. Suling killed him in episode 183.
Jiang Zuping	Lin Xiuhui	Gao Maoxiong's former wife Daughter of Lin Tonghai Lin Dazhong's younger sister	She appeared in episodes 36–108 and returned later in episodes 127–214. She happened to be one of the guests of Dazhong's wedding in episode 36. She knew about Xuelian's death in episode 95, and handed the evidence to the judge in episode 104. She engaged with Maoxiong in episode 148 and was later married in episode 155.

Cais

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Xu Heng	Cai Jianpao	Yang Shuzhen's husband Li Aiyu's former husband Father of Yang Jianzhi (Cai Zhiming) and Cai Zhiying	He appeared in almost all the episodes. He married Aiyu in episode 88. He was nominated for the legislators in episode 122. He was jailed in episode 214. He was disillusioned in episode 375. He later divorced Aiyu two episodes later. He went to compensate the Wangs in episode 411. In episode 411, he rescued Yuting from a car accident and he becomes the victim. In episode 525, he rescued Shengtian from being shot.
Li Yating	Yang Shuzhen	Cai Jianpao's wife Mother of Yang Jianzhi	She appeared in episodes 98-526.
Younger: Lin Yanchen Older: Li Zhenying	Yang Jianzhi Cai Zhiming	Mai Yatong's husband Son of Cai Jianpao and Yang Shuzhen Cai Zhiying's half brother	The younger version appeared in episode 98–214. He returned as the older version in episode 224–526. He engaged with Yatong in episode 414. He married Yuting in episode 485. He later married Yatong in episode 523.
Liu Yue	Mai Yatong	Yang Jianzhi's wife Daughter of Mai Guochuan and Zhang Huilin Angie's friend	She appeared in episodes 380–526. She engaged with Jianzhong in episode 414 and was later married in episode 523.
Younger: Gan Yongwei and later Huang Jie Older: Ye Jiayu	Cai Zhiying	Nicknamed "Niu Niu" Jiang Wenbing's wife Du Anlun's former wife Daughter of Cai Jianpao and Li Aiyu Yang Jianzhi (Cai Zhiming)'s half sister	She was born in episode 122. She appeared as the younger version in episodes 122–214. She returned as the older version in episodes 219–513. She married Wenbing in episode 299. She later married Anlun in episode 392. She and Wenbing met again in episode 409, and later divorced Anlun in episode 424. She had committed suicide in episode 513 in losing her husband five episodes after his death.
An Dingya	Jiang Wenbing	Cai Zhiying's husband	He appeared in episodes 230–319. He married Zhiying in episode 299. He jumped down the sea in episode 319, causing him to be missing. He returned in episodes 388–508. He and Zhiying met again in episode 409. He was shot by Du Wenjie in episode 508.

Lins ()

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Mi Jiang	Elephant Lin	Hee's husband Father of Tarzan Lin	He appeared from episode 1 and was later killed in episode 349 to save Cai Jianpao from being killed by Su Yuehong's men.
	Hee	Elephant Lin's wife Mother of Tarzan Lin	She appeared in episode 259 where she died.
Lin Guanyu	Tarzan Lin	Son of Elephant Lin and Hee	He appeared in episode 259 where his mother died.

Mais

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Lin Tzay-peir	Mai Guochuan	Zhang Huilin's husband Father of Mai Yatong	He appeared in episode 195, making his return in episodes 415–524. He remarried Huilin in episode 523.
Zhang Qiongzi	Zhang Huilin	Mai Guochuan's wife Mother of Mai Yatong	She appeared in episodes 415–524. She remarried Guochuan in episode 523.
Liu Yue	Mai Yatong	See Cais.

Dus

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Li Luo	Du Wenjie	Father of Du Anlun	He appeared from episode 351 till episode 508 where he died.
Fu Zichun	Du Anlun	Son of Du Wenjie Wang Jiayi's husband Cai Zhiying's former husband Nice Also villianic	He appeared in episode 352–471. He married Zhiying in episode 392. He happened to be one of the capturers in a crime in episode 419. He divorced Zhiying five episodes later. He has to go to America for health treatment in episode 471. He was well, and made his return in episodes 495–526. He married Jiayi in episode 525. An episode later in the finale, he was arrested by the police.
Zhang Ruihan	Wang Jiayi	Du Anlun's wife Wu Pinde's girlfriend	She appeared from episodes 458–526. She married Anlun in episode 525. An episode later in the finale, she was shot. But not dead yet.

Lis

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Zhang Yonghua	Li Jiyao	Director Li Father of He Peiqi	He appeared in episodes 1–102, making his return in episodes 294–316.
Kuang Mingjie	He Peiqi	Daughter of Li Jiyao	She appeared in episodes 289–425. She married Shengzhi in episode 338. She was chased out of the Wangs in episode 425.

Lis (not again)

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Cui Haoran	Li Shimin	Father of Li Jiajia	He appeared in episodes 119–148, later episodes 308–369 and episodes 513–526.
Younger: Shi Yuyan Older: Qiu Qiwen	Li Jiajia	Daughter of Li Shimin Chen Shanni's rival in love	The younger version appeared in episodes 123-148. She returned as the older version in episodes 311–370 and later episodes 409-526. She was raped by Director Zhao in episode 368. She married Tianzhu in episode 490 and was later divorced in episode 515. She died in the finale.

Chens

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Zhang Mingjie	Yu Guangrong	Shi Liwen's husband Chen Yujie's former husband Father of Chen Shanni	He appeared from episode 250 till episode 274 where he and Liwen returned to America. He returned in episodes 486-526.
Zhao Yongxin	Chen Yujie	Yu Guangrong's former wife Mother of Chen Shanni	She appeared from episode 245 till episode 274 where she died.
Li Fangwen	Shi Liwen	Yu Guangrong's wife Stepmother of Chen Shanni	She appeared from episodes 253 till episode 274 where she and Guangrong returned to America.
Han Yu	Chen Shanni	See Wangs.

Xus

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Chen Yufeng	Xu Kunliang	Xu Xiaozhen's brother	He appeared from episodes 150 till episode 203 where he was shot by Cai Jianpao.
Lü Minzhen	Xu Xiaozhen	Liao Shuiwa's wife Xu Kunliang's younger sister	She appeared in episodes 159–214, making her return in episodes 234 and 235.
Chen Ziqiang	Liao Shuiwa	Xu Xiaozhen's husband	He appeared from episodes 24 till episode 234 where he saved Zhao Wuxiong from being shot by Jiang Wenbing.

Tiancheng Enterprise

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career
Wang Shixian	Wang Shengtian	See Wangs.
Zhang Fengshu	Fang/Lai Lizhu
Xie Chengjun	Wang Tianzhu
Han Yu	Chen Shanni
Li Liren	Wang Shengzhi
Li Xinwen	Li Quanshui	See Sus.
Qiu Qiwen	Li Jiajia	See *Lis (not again)*.

Tianying Enterprise

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared
Xie Chengjun	Wang Tianzhu	See Wangs.
Han Yu	Chen Shanni	See Wangs.
Li Zhenying	Yang Jianzhi Cai Zhiming	See Cais.
Sun Zhiyu	Sun Jie	One of Tianying Enterprise's part-time persons-in-charge	He appeared in episodes 414–468.
Chen Baicun	Ken	One of Tianying Enterprise's part-time persons-in-charge	He appeared only in episode 419.

Tianlei Enterprise

Cast	Role	Character / Relationship / Career	Episodes appeared / Status
Lin Yifang	Lei Guang	Nie Chaofeng's sworn brother Power of secret societies to help bond friendship Lei Gong befriended Wang Tianzhu, Yang Jianzhi, Xiaomai, Yuehong and many others. He also let Wang Tianzhu hand over Tianlei. Nie Chaofeng is nice to He Peiqi.	He appeared in episodes 389–526.
Nie Bingxian	Nie Chaofeng	Lei Guang's sworn brother Nie Jiangtian's brother	He appeared from episode 447 till episode 518 where he was killed by Wu Pinde's men.
Jiang Zhong	Nie Jiangtian	Nicknamed as 'Buffalo' Nie Chaofeng's younger brother	He appeared from episode 389 till episode 437 where he was accidentally killed by Wang Tianzhu.
Ding Liqi	Wu Pinde	Nicknamed as 'De' Wang Jiayi's boyfriend	He appeared from episode 440 till episode 526 where he died.
Zhang Fengshuo	Bao	One of Wu Pinde's men and brother	He appeared in episode 439.
Jiang Yi	Tarzan	One of Lei Guang's men and brother	He appeared in episodes 436−514.
Yue Hong	Su Yuehong	See Sus.
Liu Yue	Mai Yatong	See Cais.

Viewership in Taiwan

The Unforgettable Memory has the distinction of being the longest primetime drama ever in Taiwan history, with a total of 526 episodes produced. It has the highest viewership of all TV shows in Taiwan when it debuted at primetime on September 22, 2004 till its ending on September 28, 2006 almost daily (hitting above 10). It was rerun again at 6.00–7.00 pm from July 5, 2010 and still running.

Overseas reception

The series received very good critical response and viewership in other countries too and as of 2009 being shown in Singapore's MediaCorp Channel 8 (in weekday one hour series from June 9, 2006 to October 23, 2009, 4.30–5.30 pm, becoming the longest running drama on Channel 8 in 46 years) rerunning in the pre-dawn hours from Tuesdays to Saturdays 4.00–6.00 am from January 7, 2009 to September 9, 2010, and the third time from 4 October 2010 from Mondays to Thursdays at 10.00 am – 12.00 noon and ended in 2012. Singapore's Channel 8, China's CCTV-8 and Hong Kong's ATV Channel all aired with each episode running 1 hour, with a total of 872 episodes. It has ended its run on Malaysia's Astro Cable Service. The Vietnamese dub "Tinh Dau Kho Phai" was broadcast on THVL Channel and is streamable on YouTube with a total of 767 episodes.

Singapore broadcast

Due to local broadcast laws prohibiting radio or television broadcasts in non-Mandarin varieties of Chinese the show was dubbed into Mandarin when it aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 thus making it the first channel to broadcast the show in Mandarin.

External links

Main Portal Site at Formosa Television
Episode Synopses and Reviews at Sina
CCTV Portal Site at CCTV
Discussion at Baidu

Articles

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