Zheng Keshuang was the son of Zheng Jing and a grandson of Koxinga. He succeeded his father Zheng Jing in 1681 as third King of and surrendered Taiwan to Qing Dynasty forces in 1683.
Keshuang was only 12 years old when his father died and he was appointed heir apparent. Within two years his government surrendered to the Qing.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wei Xiaobao
Wei Xiaobao is the main character in Jinyong's last novel ''The Deer and the Cauldron'' .
In early pirated copies by 南琪出版社 in Taiwan, Wei Xiaobao has another name ''Ren Datong'' , and his mother was ''Ren Chunhua'' , ''Xiaoguizi'' was ''Xiaozhuzi'' .
In John Minford's translation, Wei Xiaobao has an English localized name ''Trinket''.
* Family name: Wéi
* Given name: Xiǎobǎo
* Gender: Male
* Father: ''Unknown''
* Mother: Wei Chunhua .
* Masters: Chen Jinnan , Emperor Kangxi , Princess Changping
* Wives: A Ke , Shuanger , Fang Yi , Princess Jianning , Mu Jianping , Su Quan , Zeng Rou
* Sons: Wei Hutou with A Ke, Wei Tongchui with Su Quan
* Daughter: Wei Shuangshuang with Princess Jianning
Wei Xiaobao was born around 1656 in ''Lichun Yuan'' , brothel in Yangzhou. His mother Wei Chunhua was a prostitute. When Xiaobao was 12 years old, he met Mao Shiba, and went to Beijing with him. One day, Mao and Wei were caught by eunuch Hai Dafu, and came into Forbidden City. Wei Xiaobao killed young eunuch Xiaoguizi and lived with Hai Dafu in the imperial palace. He met young Emperor Kangxi by accident.
* 文雪兒
* 江禹
*
*
*
*
*
Name
In early pirated copies by 南琪出版社 in Taiwan, Wei Xiaobao has another name ''Ren Datong'' , and his mother was ''Ren Chunhua'' , ''Xiaoguizi'' was ''Xiaozhuzi'' .
In John Minford's translation, Wei Xiaobao has an English localized name ''Trinket''.
Biography
* Family name: Wéi
* Given name: Xiǎobǎo
* Gender: Male
* Father: ''Unknown''
* Mother: Wei Chunhua .
* Masters: Chen Jinnan , Emperor Kangxi , Princess Changping
* Wives: A Ke , Shuanger , Fang Yi , Princess Jianning , Mu Jianping , Su Quan , Zeng Rou
* Sons: Wei Hutou with A Ke, Wei Tongchui with Su Quan
* Daughter: Wei Shuangshuang with Princess Jianning
Plot
Wei Xiaobao was born around 1656 in ''Lichun Yuan'' , brothel in Yangzhou. His mother Wei Chunhua was a prostitute. When Xiaobao was 12 years old, he met Mao Shiba, and went to Beijing with him. One day, Mao and Wei were caught by eunuch Hai Dafu, and came into Forbidden City. Wei Xiaobao killed young eunuch Xiaoguizi and lived with Hai Dafu in the imperial palace. He met young Emperor Kangxi by accident.
Notable actors who have played Wei Xiaobao
* 文雪兒
* 江禹
*
*
*
*
*
Wei Tongchui
Wei Shuangshuang
Wei Shuangshuang is the daughter of Wei Xiaobao in Jinyong's last novel ''The Deer and the Cauldron''.
Wei Shuangshuang's was born in Tongchi Island. Her father was Wei Xiaobao, mother Princess Jianning.
She was named after a game Pai Gow .
Jinyong revised the novel and Wei Shuangshuang was elder than her two brothers. In the old editions, Shuangshuang was younger.
Wei Shuangshuang's was born in Tongchi Island. Her father was Wei Xiaobao, mother Princess Jianning.
Name
She was named after a game Pai Gow .
Revisions
Jinyong revised the novel and Wei Shuangshuang was elder than her two brothers. In the old editions, Shuangshuang was younger.
Wei Hutou
The Deer and the Cauldron
The Deer and the Cauldron or The Duke of Mount Deer is the last novel written by Jinyong.
The novel was initially published as a , the first installment being published on October 24, 1969 in ''Ming Pao'' and running for 2 years, 11 months, until September 23, 1972.
The choosing of the name of novel, which literally meant ''Tale of the Deer and the Cauldron'', was alluded to in a scene of the first chapter showing a conversation between a scholar and his young son.
The scholar recounted that both the deer and the cauldron served as metaphors for the central plains and the empire.
It was written in volume 92 of the historical text Book of Han "The deer lost by Qin was hunted by all under Heavens , an illustration of the rise of numerous rivalling warlords contesting for supremacy to capture the prize, the empire lost by .
During the Zhou Dynasty, there were the , symbolic of the Divine Mandate of rulership. Zuo Zhuan recorded an account where the ruler of most powerful State of Chu enquired the weight of the cauldron from a Zhou minister, signalling his covetting the overlordship technically possessed by the Zhou king.
Put together, the title referred to novel's background where the ethnic-Han subjects of the defunct Ming struggled to restore their own rule on the empire against the nascent Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty.
Towards the end of the novel, the protagonist Wei XiaoBao, an ethnic-Han with close ties to both the young Manchu emperor and to the anti-Qing ethnic-Han rebels, and hitherto been delicately balancing his divided loyalties, came to personify the prize himself when he was pressured by both sides to make the crucial decision which would determine the fate of the empire.
This story is centered around a witty, sly, illiterate and lazy protagonist, Wei Xiaobao, born in a Yangzhou brothel. Through a series of adventures- or misadventures, the teenage scamp made his way from the southern playground of Yangzhou to Beijing, the seat of Manchurian imperial power. There, he was kidnapped and taken to the palace where he impersonated an eunuch. Xiaobao bumbled his way into a fateful encounter with the young Kangxi Emperor and they developed an unlikely friendship.
Early in his life at the Forbidden City, he met with Chen Jinnan, the leader of the patriotic Heaven and Earth Society, one of the anti-Qing resistance underground organizations. He became one of its Lodge Masters and the society's "mole" inside the palace. Later he was kidnapped to Snake Island, home of the sinister Mystic Dragon Sect, where he ended up as Mystic Dragon's White Dragon Marshal.
By sheer luck and cleverness, but underhanded strategies, he managed to accomplish a number of seemingly impossible achievements. He played a major role in disposing the cruel and power-hungry Oboi, rescuing Kangxi's father, Emperor Shunzhi and reuniting father and son, destroying the Mystic Dragons Sect, weakening the uprising raised by renegade general Wu Sangui, campaigning against Russia, and reaching a border treaty with Russian regent Sophia Alekseyevna and Fedor Golovin. He was also directly responsible for introducing Kangxi to many generals, who would become highly distinguished in the battlefields and very grateful to Xiaobao.
Throughout the story, Xiaobao exhibited devout loyalty to both Kangxi and the Society. Twice, Xiaobao instinctively threw himself between Kangxi and the assassins. He rescued many people of the resistance, including his master Chen Jinnan, on numerous occasions. He undermined the resistance's attempts on Kangxi's life, while using his influence in the court to keep the society from the hands of Manchurian authority.
For his numerous accomplishments, he was rewarded with immense wealth, ever-rising titles of nobility by Kangxi. In the mean time, he also earned respect from Heaven and Earth Society for his works against Wu Sangui and other foreign enemies.
Ultimately, Xiaobao's conflicting identities came to an explosive end. Kangxi revealed that he knew Xiaobao's relationship with Heaven and Earth Society, and forced Xiaobao to choose between him and the society. Although Kangxi still considered Xiaobao a loyal friend and subject, Xiaobao was eventually forced into exile for refusing to betray the society. Only years later was he allowed back to help Kangxi deal with the conflict at the border with Russia.
In the finale of the novel, Xiaobao realized that he would never be able to reconcile between the two opposing causes, and his divided friendships were tearing him apart. He chose, instead, to walk out on it all- taking his immerse wealth, mother, seven beautiful wives and three children for a life of peace and tranquility away from Kangxi and the society.
This wuxia novel is unique in that the main character has very poor gongfu and was by no means a person of integrity. Xiaobao is a greedy, lazy, and anti-hero. He is unlike any of Jin Yong's previous Wuxia protagonists, who laugh at death and fight for what they believe to be a noble cause. Xiaobao's cause is his own advancement. But even if he did not believe in their cause, he had genuine loyalty and generosity to his friends.
The lack of absolute good and absolute evil in the real world is echoed in The Deer and the Cauldron. There is no nationalistic tone that is a prominent part of all of Jin Yong's previous novels. In the trilogy of The Legend of the Condor Heroes and even The Book and the Sword , the northern invaders were the obvious "bad guys", war-mongering tribes who preyed on the fertile Central Plains whilst the Chinese Han-dominated court was vulnerable.
Instead, in The Deer and the Cauldron, Jin Yong had grayed out the traditional black-and-white, Han versus Barbarians line. The foreign Manchurian emperor is portrayed as an intelligent, caring ruler doing his best for the people who did not always accept him, although ruthless at times . On the other hand, the patriotic anti-Qing-pro-Ming resistance had placed their hopes in the incompetent and spoiled Zheng Keshuang of Taiwan, fighting for an aspiration that did not echo with the wishes of the common people. This style was in direct opposition to the stance that Jin Yong had taken previously.
Towards the end of the book, Xiaobao made a statement to the effect of "it doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, a cat that catches mice is a good cat" . Does it matter the race, colour or creed of the leader, as long as he or she has the best interests of the people at heart?
Admittedly, the Manchurians indeed killed tens of thousands of Han people and ravaged the country, the reason which caused the Heaven and Earth Society to rebel for the days of Han Chinese rulers. In time, they forgot that the common people wanted only to live in peace and prosperity. Their zealousness reflects the world where people are divided violently along religious or ethnic lines.
The realism, down-to-earth ideas and timelessness of the themes of the novel, contributes to its success, with some fans claiming that it is Jin Yong's best book.
Jinyong's novel has been translated into English by John Minford, published in three volumes from 1997 to 2002. Minford is an Honorary Research Fellow at Lingnan University, Chair Professor of Chinese at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chair Professor at the University of Auckland, Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Translation Society, and translator of numerous Chinese works, including the famous Chinese work of military strategy, Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and the renowned classic "The Story of the Stone". Several minute details were paraphrased and omitted in the translation, presumably for the western audience unfamiliar with wuxia novels.
There are also books to examine the office-politic skills displayed by the main characters and their modern day applications:
* 情境鹿鼎记, ISBN 7-80207-108-9
* 总裁韦小宝, ISBN 7-80673-728-6
* 破译韦小宝, ISBN 7-5048-4705-4
* 串烤韦小宝, ISBN 7-80661-929-1
* 人精韦小宝的混世法宝 ISBN 7-80100-576-7
There are several television and film adaptations of the novel; all of which have modified the original storyline.
* Hong Kong starring 文雪兒
* "The Duke of the Mount Deer" Hong Kong TVB - starring and Andy Lau; theme sung by the late Leslie Cheung
* Taiwan
* Hong Kong TVB - starring Jordan Chan
* - starring Dicky Cheung
* 2007 - mainland China - directed by Zhang Jizhong, starring Huang Xiaoming
* Tale Of A Eunuch - starring Wong Yu as Wei XiaoBao and Gordon Liu as Kang Xi
* Royal Tramp Hong Kong - directed by Wong Jing; starring Stephen Chow.
* Royal Tramp II - starring Stephen Chow
* Hero - Beyond the Boundary of Time
* Wais Romance
There are also several of the novel.
* 鹿鼎記
* 鹿鼎記
* 鹿鼎記II
Other games based on the novel:
* J2ME game for phones:
** 情圣韦小宝
** 韦小宝笑传
* Online games:
** 金庸群侠传Online
* and etc.
The novel was initially published as a , the first installment being published on October 24, 1969 in ''Ming Pao'' and running for 2 years, 11 months, until September 23, 1972.
The choosing of the name of novel, which literally meant ''Tale of the Deer and the Cauldron'', was alluded to in a scene of the first chapter showing a conversation between a scholar and his young son.
The scholar recounted that both the deer and the cauldron served as metaphors for the central plains and the empire.
It was written in volume 92 of the historical text Book of Han "The deer lost by Qin was hunted by all under Heavens , an illustration of the rise of numerous rivalling warlords contesting for supremacy to capture the prize, the empire lost by .
During the Zhou Dynasty, there were the , symbolic of the Divine Mandate of rulership. Zuo Zhuan recorded an account where the ruler of most powerful State of Chu enquired the weight of the cauldron from a Zhou minister, signalling his covetting the overlordship technically possessed by the Zhou king.
Put together, the title referred to novel's background where the ethnic-Han subjects of the defunct Ming struggled to restore their own rule on the empire against the nascent Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty.
Towards the end of the novel, the protagonist Wei XiaoBao, an ethnic-Han with close ties to both the young Manchu emperor and to the anti-Qing ethnic-Han rebels, and hitherto been delicately balancing his divided loyalties, came to personify the prize himself when he was pressured by both sides to make the crucial decision which would determine the fate of the empire.
Summary
This story is centered around a witty, sly, illiterate and lazy protagonist, Wei Xiaobao, born in a Yangzhou brothel. Through a series of adventures- or misadventures, the teenage scamp made his way from the southern playground of Yangzhou to Beijing, the seat of Manchurian imperial power. There, he was kidnapped and taken to the palace where he impersonated an eunuch. Xiaobao bumbled his way into a fateful encounter with the young Kangxi Emperor and they developed an unlikely friendship.
Early in his life at the Forbidden City, he met with Chen Jinnan, the leader of the patriotic Heaven and Earth Society, one of the anti-Qing resistance underground organizations. He became one of its Lodge Masters and the society's "mole" inside the palace. Later he was kidnapped to Snake Island, home of the sinister Mystic Dragon Sect, where he ended up as Mystic Dragon's White Dragon Marshal.
By sheer luck and cleverness, but underhanded strategies, he managed to accomplish a number of seemingly impossible achievements. He played a major role in disposing the cruel and power-hungry Oboi, rescuing Kangxi's father, Emperor Shunzhi and reuniting father and son, destroying the Mystic Dragons Sect, weakening the uprising raised by renegade general Wu Sangui, campaigning against Russia, and reaching a border treaty with Russian regent Sophia Alekseyevna and Fedor Golovin. He was also directly responsible for introducing Kangxi to many generals, who would become highly distinguished in the battlefields and very grateful to Xiaobao.
Throughout the story, Xiaobao exhibited devout loyalty to both Kangxi and the Society. Twice, Xiaobao instinctively threw himself between Kangxi and the assassins. He rescued many people of the resistance, including his master Chen Jinnan, on numerous occasions. He undermined the resistance's attempts on Kangxi's life, while using his influence in the court to keep the society from the hands of Manchurian authority.
For his numerous accomplishments, he was rewarded with immense wealth, ever-rising titles of nobility by Kangxi. In the mean time, he also earned respect from Heaven and Earth Society for his works against Wu Sangui and other foreign enemies.
Ultimately, Xiaobao's conflicting identities came to an explosive end. Kangxi revealed that he knew Xiaobao's relationship with Heaven and Earth Society, and forced Xiaobao to choose between him and the society. Although Kangxi still considered Xiaobao a loyal friend and subject, Xiaobao was eventually forced into exile for refusing to betray the society. Only years later was he allowed back to help Kangxi deal with the conflict at the border with Russia.
In the finale of the novel, Xiaobao realized that he would never be able to reconcile between the two opposing causes, and his divided friendships were tearing him apart. He chose, instead, to walk out on it all- taking his immerse wealth, mother, seven beautiful wives and three children for a life of peace and tranquility away from Kangxi and the society.
Themes and story review
This wuxia novel is unique in that the main character has very poor gongfu and was by no means a person of integrity. Xiaobao is a greedy, lazy, and anti-hero. He is unlike any of Jin Yong's previous Wuxia protagonists, who laugh at death and fight for what they believe to be a noble cause. Xiaobao's cause is his own advancement. But even if he did not believe in their cause, he had genuine loyalty and generosity to his friends.
The lack of absolute good and absolute evil in the real world is echoed in The Deer and the Cauldron. There is no nationalistic tone that is a prominent part of all of Jin Yong's previous novels. In the trilogy of The Legend of the Condor Heroes and even The Book and the Sword , the northern invaders were the obvious "bad guys", war-mongering tribes who preyed on the fertile Central Plains whilst the Chinese Han-dominated court was vulnerable.
Instead, in The Deer and the Cauldron, Jin Yong had grayed out the traditional black-and-white, Han versus Barbarians line. The foreign Manchurian emperor is portrayed as an intelligent, caring ruler doing his best for the people who did not always accept him, although ruthless at times . On the other hand, the patriotic anti-Qing-pro-Ming resistance had placed their hopes in the incompetent and spoiled Zheng Keshuang of Taiwan, fighting for an aspiration that did not echo with the wishes of the common people. This style was in direct opposition to the stance that Jin Yong had taken previously.
Towards the end of the book, Xiaobao made a statement to the effect of "it doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, a cat that catches mice is a good cat" . Does it matter the race, colour or creed of the leader, as long as he or she has the best interests of the people at heart?
Admittedly, the Manchurians indeed killed tens of thousands of Han people and ravaged the country, the reason which caused the Heaven and Earth Society to rebel for the days of Han Chinese rulers. In time, they forgot that the common people wanted only to live in peace and prosperity. Their zealousness reflects the world where people are divided violently along religious or ethnic lines.
The realism, down-to-earth ideas and timelessness of the themes of the novel, contributes to its success, with some fans claiming that it is Jin Yong's best book.
English language translation
Jinyong's novel has been translated into English by John Minford, published in three volumes from 1997 to 2002. Minford is an Honorary Research Fellow at Lingnan University, Chair Professor of Chinese at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chair Professor at the University of Auckland, Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Translation Society, and translator of numerous Chinese works, including the famous Chinese work of military strategy, Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and the renowned classic "The Story of the Stone". Several minute details were paraphrased and omitted in the translation, presumably for the western audience unfamiliar with wuxia novels.
Works based on the novel
There are also books to examine the office-politic skills displayed by the main characters and their modern day applications:
* 情境鹿鼎记, ISBN 7-80207-108-9
* 总裁韦小宝, ISBN 7-80673-728-6
* 破译韦小宝, ISBN 7-5048-4705-4
* 串烤韦小宝, ISBN 7-80661-929-1
* 人精韦小宝的混世法宝 ISBN 7-80100-576-7
Adaptations
There are several television and film adaptations of the novel; all of which have modified the original storyline.
TV series
* Hong Kong starring 文雪兒
* "The Duke of the Mount Deer" Hong Kong TVB - starring and Andy Lau; theme sung by the late Leslie Cheung
* Taiwan
* Hong Kong TVB - starring Jordan Chan
* - starring Dicky Cheung
* 2007 - mainland China - directed by Zhang Jizhong, starring Huang Xiaoming
Films
* Tale Of A Eunuch - starring Wong Yu as Wei XiaoBao and Gordon Liu as Kang Xi
* Royal Tramp Hong Kong - directed by Wong Jing; starring Stephen Chow.
* Royal Tramp II - starring Stephen Chow
* Hero - Beyond the Boundary of Time
* Wais Romance
Video games
There are also several of the novel.
* 鹿鼎記
* 鹿鼎記
* 鹿鼎記II
Other games based on the novel:
* J2ME game for phones:
** 情圣韦小宝
** 韦小宝笑传
* Online games:
** 金庸群侠传Online
* and etc.
Songgotu
Songgotu was a politician during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. He was an uncle of the emperor's official wife, Empress Xiaocheng of the Heseri clan who died during childbirth. He was the son of Sonin, one of the four regents appointed to assist the young Emperor Kangxi during his minority. He was the great-uncle of the crown prince, Prince Yinreng.
He helped the young Emperor Kangxi to get rid of Oboi, a regent during the reign of the young emperor. Gradually, he gained more and more power and became one of the most prominent officials under Kangxi. He was involved in a long power struggle with Mingzhu, another leading official at that time. He also acted as a diplomat and signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk with Russia. Songgotu was later found guilty of plotting to murder Emperor Kangxi, along with a series of corruption charges, and was executed.
He helped the young Emperor Kangxi to get rid of Oboi, a regent during the reign of the young emperor. Gradually, he gained more and more power and became one of the most prominent officials under Kangxi. He was involved in a long power struggle with Mingzhu, another leading official at that time. He also acted as a diplomat and signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk with Russia. Songgotu was later found guilty of plotting to murder Emperor Kangxi, along with a series of corruption charges, and was executed.
Princess Changping
Princess Chángpíng , birth name Zhū Huīchuò , was the second daughter of China's Chongzhen Emperor and the only one who survived to adulthood.
Changping was the last princess of Ming Dynasty. Her father, Emperor Chongzhen, chose Zhou Xian to be her husband. But soon after the throne was taken in a rebellion, Chongzhen ordered his family to commit suicide. She resisted, resulting in the Emperor severing her left arm. In 1645, Changping asked the Shunzhi Emperor of Qing Dynasty for permission to be a nun. The emperor refused and married her with Zhou Xian. She died one year after the marriage.
Changping has had a greater impact on folklore and popular culture than history, such stories revolving around the concept that she somehow survived her early death.
* Changping is the main character in story ''Princess Chang Ping'' .
* Changping is a significant character in Jinyong's wuxia novels:
** A Jiu in ''Sword Stained with Royal Blood''
** Jiunan in ''The Deer and the Cauldron'' , shifu of A Ke and A Qi, and Wei Xiaobao.
* in 武俠帝女花
* in Sword Stained with Royal Blood and , known in Chinese as
* Bak Sheut Sin Princess Chang Ping
* 梅雪詩
* 張敏
* 趙雅芝
* 李通明 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 陳嘉儀 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李芷鱗 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 毛舜筠 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 馬海倫 in Royal Tramp II
* Lily Li in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李菲 in Duke of Mount Deer 2000
* He Jiayi in The Deer and the Cauldron
* Sun Feifei in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* History of Ming, volume 121
Changping was the last princess of Ming Dynasty. Her father, Emperor Chongzhen, chose Zhou Xian to be her husband. But soon after the throne was taken in a rebellion, Chongzhen ordered his family to commit suicide. She resisted, resulting in the Emperor severing her left arm. In 1645, Changping asked the Shunzhi Emperor of Qing Dynasty for permission to be a nun. The emperor refused and married her with Zhou Xian. She died one year after the marriage.
Popular culture
Changping has had a greater impact on folklore and popular culture than history, such stories revolving around the concept that she somehow survived her early death.
* Changping is the main character in story ''Princess Chang Ping'' .
* Changping is a significant character in Jinyong's wuxia novels:
** A Jiu in ''Sword Stained with Royal Blood''
** Jiunan in ''The Deer and the Cauldron'' , shifu of A Ke and A Qi, and Wei Xiaobao.
Notable actresses who have played Changping
* in 武俠帝女花
* in Sword Stained with Royal Blood and , known in Chinese as
* Bak Sheut Sin Princess Chang Ping
* 梅雪詩
* 張敏
* 趙雅芝
* 李通明 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 陳嘉儀 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李芷鱗 in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 毛舜筠 in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
* 馬海倫 in Royal Tramp II
* Lily Li in The Deer and the Cauldron
* 李菲 in Duke of Mount Deer 2000
* He Jiayi in The Deer and the Cauldron
* Sun Feifei in Sword Stained with Royal Blood
Further reading
* History of Ming, volume 121
Duke of Mount Deer 2000
The Duke of Mount Deer 2000 is a Taiwanese and Hong Kong TVB co-production released in 2000, adapted from novel The Deer and the Cauldron by notable Hong Kong fiction author Louis Cha . Another translated name of the story is The Duke of Mount Deer.
First broadcasted on 2000 in Hong Kong which was followed by subsequent broadcasts in other Asian countries.
This production is a more recent, and somewhat more loose adaptation of Jin Yong's last and most distinctive Wuxia novel "The Deer and the Cauldron". The story is centred around an uneducated street urchin Wei Xiao Bao, who was born and raised in a brothel by his mother. Through a series of misdaventures, he managed to make his way from the southern playground of Yangzhou to Beijing, the seat of Manchurian imperial power, and bumbling accidentally into a fateful encounter with young Emperor Kang Xi. By hook or by crook, but also through a genuine concern and fierce loyalty towards his "mate" the Emperor, Xiao Bao found himself in the greatest of confidences and a complicated friendship of one of the most eminent monarchs of Chinese history.
The plot follows Xiao Bao on a rags to riches journey as Xiao Bao becomes embroiled in political and court intrigues, overcoming enemies for Kang Xi and accomplishing amazing achievements. Along the way, Xiao Bao meets with and successfully woos seven beautiful women, climbs his way up the social ladder from brothel boy to great lord and nobleman, acquiring titles such as Imperial Emissary and Plenipotenitary, Ambassador, general and admiral- courtesy of Kang Xi- as well as finding himself in positions completely at odds with the above: Green Wood Lodge Master of the Heaven and Earth Guild , and White Dragon Marshal of the Mystical Dragons Sect.
In the end, however, Xiao Bao could not reconcile his two separate lives- as an anti-Qing rebel and Kang Xi's devoted courtier. He chose to offer up his own life- in return for the Emperor's munificence towards him and also as an honourable way out of the Heaven and Earth Sect. Pained and aggrieved beyond words, Kang Xi orders the execution of his one and only true friend. Afterwards, plagued by loss and guilt, Kang Xi took a long walk along the Great Wall, asking heaven for guidance- only to be happily surprised by the appearance of Xiao Bao, who didn't die after all. After saving his mate's life once again, Xiao Bao bades goodbye to Kang Xi, reaffirming their friendship which will, from that point onwards, remain only in the minds and memories of the two men.
* Dicky Cheung as Wei Xiaobao
* as Emperor Kangxi
* Ruby Lin as Princess Jianning
* as Shuang Er
* Athena Chu as A Ke
* Teresa Mak as Fang Yi
* Monica Chan as Long Yi
* Shu Qi as Xiao Jin Yu
* Jessie Cheung as Mu Jian Ping
* Huang Ie Fei as Duo Long
* Bryan Leung as Hu Dedi
* Ekin Cheng as Chan Jinnan
* Ng Man Tat as Hai Kung Kung
* Chen Kuan Tai as Hong An Tong
* Cheng Jui Siau as Zhen Ke Shuang
; Wei Xiao Bao
is the witty & loveable young man from Li Chun Yuan, and is forever close friend with the emperor Kang Xi.
; Emperor Kang Xi
Despite being powerful, he has only one good friend he can entrust, Xiao Bao. It is a rare case that a royal leader would befriend anyone.
; Princess Jian Ning
is the attractive and playful princess who loves Xiao Bao deeply ,but Xiao Bao is always afraid of her threatening him, in order to save his own life, he let her boss him around. But as time goes on, we see that he also loves her, what a pity that she died protecting him at the end.
; Shuang Er
is a maid sent by Hu De Di to take care of Xiao Bao. She knows most about him & is very forgiving. Without a doubt, she is the one whom Xiao Bao trusts the most.
; Mu Jian Ping
is the first woman that Xiao Bao is attracted to in the palace. Xiao Bao first meets with the princess when she is kidnapped by a member of Tian Di leader sect. Her characteristic is as of a child making Xiao Bao very concerned about her.
; Ah Ke
is the woman that Xiao Bao loves the most. He fell in love with her at first sight. Though she hated him at first because he seems like an annoying pervert, but then later on after all that they go through, she finally falls in love with him.
; Long Yi
is a disciple of Hong An Tong. Her master sends her to palace to find the Eight Books of Forty-two Chapters. To accomplish her master's desire, she disguises as the mother of the emperor Kang Xi. She is well-versed in martial arts.
; Fang Yi
is Jian Ping one sect sister. She is very aggressive, witty and a sweet talker. At first she hates him, thinking he is a pervert but then later falls for him after knowing how sweet he is.
; Xiao Jin Yu
is Xiao Bao's first love. Xiao Bao makes a promise to marry her as soon as he gets rich. Unfortunately, they are not destined to be together. She commits suicide when her parents force her to marry another man.
They have a very different ending as far as Wei Xiao bao's personal life goes , and they added a "Little Goldfish," who was his first love --took out his other wife. They changed the story around some too, such as the backgrounds of some of the wives. Ending not like other 2.
* Princess Jian Ning
In order to make her noble elegance stand off, Princess Kin Ning has a pink base. She has plenty of jewelry as decoration. Sum Yu said the big butterfly on her head was to make Kin Ning's naughty personality stand out. When she walks she does not feel she is flowing.
* Fang Yi
Fong Yi's costume specialty is the cute collar which made the role especially fresh.
* Long Yi
With Chinese flavored stitches, Gypsy head wrap and scarves, this Holy Dragon Cult Lady Saint is outrageous and attractive.
* Shuang Er
Her movement has to look a lot smoother. So her costume is a gong fu style
First broadcasted on 2000 in Hong Kong which was followed by subsequent broadcasts in other Asian countries.
Plot Summary
This production is a more recent, and somewhat more loose adaptation of Jin Yong's last and most distinctive Wuxia novel "The Deer and the Cauldron". The story is centred around an uneducated street urchin Wei Xiao Bao, who was born and raised in a brothel by his mother. Through a series of misdaventures, he managed to make his way from the southern playground of Yangzhou to Beijing, the seat of Manchurian imperial power, and bumbling accidentally into a fateful encounter with young Emperor Kang Xi. By hook or by crook, but also through a genuine concern and fierce loyalty towards his "mate" the Emperor, Xiao Bao found himself in the greatest of confidences and a complicated friendship of one of the most eminent monarchs of Chinese history.
The plot follows Xiao Bao on a rags to riches journey as Xiao Bao becomes embroiled in political and court intrigues, overcoming enemies for Kang Xi and accomplishing amazing achievements. Along the way, Xiao Bao meets with and successfully woos seven beautiful women, climbs his way up the social ladder from brothel boy to great lord and nobleman, acquiring titles such as Imperial Emissary and Plenipotenitary, Ambassador, general and admiral- courtesy of Kang Xi- as well as finding himself in positions completely at odds with the above: Green Wood Lodge Master of the Heaven and Earth Guild , and White Dragon Marshal of the Mystical Dragons Sect.
In the end, however, Xiao Bao could not reconcile his two separate lives- as an anti-Qing rebel and Kang Xi's devoted courtier. He chose to offer up his own life- in return for the Emperor's munificence towards him and also as an honourable way out of the Heaven and Earth Sect. Pained and aggrieved beyond words, Kang Xi orders the execution of his one and only true friend. Afterwards, plagued by loss and guilt, Kang Xi took a long walk along the Great Wall, asking heaven for guidance- only to be happily surprised by the appearance of Xiao Bao, who didn't die after all. After saving his mate's life once again, Xiao Bao bades goodbye to Kang Xi, reaffirming their friendship which will, from that point onwards, remain only in the minds and memories of the two men.
Main cast
* Dicky Cheung as Wei Xiaobao
* as Emperor Kangxi
* Ruby Lin as Princess Jianning
* as Shuang Er
* Athena Chu as A Ke
* Teresa Mak as Fang Yi
* Monica Chan as Long Yi
* Shu Qi as Xiao Jin Yu
* Jessie Cheung as Mu Jian Ping
* Huang Ie Fei as Duo Long
* Bryan Leung as Hu Dedi
* Ekin Cheng as Chan Jinnan
* Ng Man Tat as Hai Kung Kung
* Chen Kuan Tai as Hong An Tong
* Cheng Jui Siau as Zhen Ke Shuang
Characters Info
; Wei Xiao Bao
is the witty & loveable young man from Li Chun Yuan, and is forever close friend with the emperor Kang Xi.
; Emperor Kang Xi
Despite being powerful, he has only one good friend he can entrust, Xiao Bao. It is a rare case that a royal leader would befriend anyone.
; Princess Jian Ning
is the attractive and playful princess who loves Xiao Bao deeply ,but Xiao Bao is always afraid of her threatening him, in order to save his own life, he let her boss him around. But as time goes on, we see that he also loves her, what a pity that she died protecting him at the end.
; Shuang Er
is a maid sent by Hu De Di to take care of Xiao Bao. She knows most about him & is very forgiving. Without a doubt, she is the one whom Xiao Bao trusts the most.
; Mu Jian Ping
is the first woman that Xiao Bao is attracted to in the palace. Xiao Bao first meets with the princess when she is kidnapped by a member of Tian Di leader sect. Her characteristic is as of a child making Xiao Bao very concerned about her.
; Ah Ke
is the woman that Xiao Bao loves the most. He fell in love with her at first sight. Though she hated him at first because he seems like an annoying pervert, but then later on after all that they go through, she finally falls in love with him.
; Long Yi
is a disciple of Hong An Tong. Her master sends her to palace to find the Eight Books of Forty-two Chapters. To accomplish her master's desire, she disguises as the mother of the emperor Kang Xi. She is well-versed in martial arts.
; Fang Yi
is Jian Ping one sect sister. She is very aggressive, witty and a sweet talker. At first she hates him, thinking he is a pervert but then later falls for him after knowing how sweet he is.
; Xiao Jin Yu
is Xiao Bao's first love. Xiao Bao makes a promise to marry her as soon as he gets rich. Unfortunately, they are not destined to be together. She commits suicide when her parents force her to marry another man.
Differences with the novel
They have a very different ending as far as Wei Xiao bao's personal life goes , and they added a "Little Goldfish," who was his first love --took out his other wife. They changed the story around some too, such as the backgrounds of some of the wives. Ending not like other 2.
Costume Descriptions
* Princess Jian Ning
In order to make her noble elegance stand off, Princess Kin Ning has a pink base. She has plenty of jewelry as decoration. Sum Yu said the big butterfly on her head was to make Kin Ning's naughty personality stand out. When she walks she does not feel she is flowing.
* Fang Yi
Fong Yi's costume specialty is the cute collar which made the role especially fresh.
* Long Yi
With Chinese flavored stitches, Gypsy head wrap and scarves, this Holy Dragon Cult Lady Saint is outrageous and attractive.
* Shuang Er
Her movement has to look a lot smoother. So her costume is a gong fu style
A Ke
A Ke is a character in Jinyong's novel ''The Deer and the Cauldron''.
In John Minford's translation, A Ke has an English localized name ''Green''.
A Ke was one of Wei Xiaobao's seven wives. Her parents were Li Zicheng and Chen Yuanyuan. When she was 2 years old, her master A Jiu grabbed her from Wu Sangui and Chen Yuanyuan out of personal hatred. She was supposed as daughter of Wu Sangui and so her master did not treat her well. About love story of Wei Xiaobao and A Ke , we can summarize the contents like this : at first ,A Ke loved Zheng Ke Shuang and she didn't love Wei Xiaobao,she very hated him . But then , Wei Xiaobao had helped A Ke realized Zheng Ke Shuang's true face .Finally , with Wei Xiaobao's heartfelt love , A Ke accepted and became his 7th wife - the last wife of Wei Xiaobao.
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* 陳玉枚
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In John Minford's translation, A Ke has an English localized name ''Green''.
A Ke was one of Wei Xiaobao's seven wives. Her parents were Li Zicheng and Chen Yuanyuan. When she was 2 years old, her master A Jiu grabbed her from Wu Sangui and Chen Yuanyuan out of personal hatred. She was supposed as daughter of Wu Sangui and so her master did not treat her well. About love story of Wei Xiaobao and A Ke , we can summarize the contents like this : at first ,A Ke loved Zheng Ke Shuang and she didn't love Wei Xiaobao,she very hated him . But then , Wei Xiaobao had helped A Ke realized Zheng Ke Shuang's true face .Finally , with Wei Xiaobao's heartfelt love , A Ke accepted and became his 7th wife - the last wife of Wei Xiaobao.
Notable actress who have played A Ke
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* 陳玉枚
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