Journey to the West (1986 TV series)

Journey to the West is a Chinese television series adapted from the classic 16th century novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on CCTV in China on 1 October 1986. The series became an instant classic in China and was praised for being one of the most original and faithful interpretations. Unadapted portions of the original story were later covered in the second season, which was released in 1999. CCTV released the entire series online on YouTube[1][2] and in addition has an edited version (all episodes are 45 minutes long) with English subtitles.[3]

Journey to the West
Promotional poster
Traditional西遊記
Simplified西游记
MandarinXī Yóu Jì
GenreChinese mythology, shenmo, fantasy, adventure
Based onJourney to the West
by Wu Cheng'en
Screenplay byDai Yinglu
Zou Yiqing
Yang Jie
Directed byYang Jie
Xun Hao
Ren Fengpo
StarringLiu Xiao Ling Tong
Wang Yue
Xu Shaohua
Chi Chongrui
Ma Dehua
Yan Huaili
Cui Jingfu
Liu Dagang
Theme music composerXu Jingqing
Opening themeGanwen Lu Zai Hefang (敢问路在何方) performed by Jiang Dawei
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes41
Production
Executive producersWang Feng
Ruan Ruolin
ProducerYang Jie
Production locationChina
CinematographyWang Chongqiu
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production companiesCCTV
China Television Production Center
铁道部第十一工程局
DistributorCCTV
China Television Production Center
Release
Original networkCCTV
Original release1 October 1986 (1986-10-01)

List of episodes

Season 1

Season 1 has 25 episodes and covers 74 chapters of the novel. The first trial episode was aired on 1 October 1986, and filming lasted until 1987. It was aired as a whole series in 1988. With the limited but relatively new special effects, the series received a viewership rate of 89.4% in 1987.[4] The series has been rebroadcast every year since then. As of 2012, the series has been repeated on Chinese local channels more than 2,000 times.[5]

# Translated title in English Original title in Chinese Based on
chapter(s) of novel
Runtime in minutes
1Birth of the Monkey King猴王初問世1-240
2Becoming a horse-keeper官封弼馬溫2-444
3Havoc in Heaven大聖鬧天宮4-757
4Five Elements Mountain困囚五行山7-9, 12-1341
5The Monkey King guards Tang Sanzang猴王保唐僧13-1551
6Trouble in the temple of Guanyin禍起觀音院16-1742
7The recruitment of Zhu Bajie計收豬八戒18-1951
8Facing three adversities during the tough journey坎途逢三難20-2449
9Stealing the Ginsengfruit偷吃人蔘果24-2651
10Three battles with the White Bone Demon三打白骨精2748
11Cleverly instigating the Monkey King智激美猴王28-3152
12Robbing treasure in the Lotus Cave奪寶蓮花洞32-3551
13Slaying demons in the Kingdom of Wuji除妖烏雞國36-3958
14Battling Red Boy大戰紅孩兒40-4242
15Defeating three demons in a contest of magic powers鬥法降三怪44-4659
16Interesting encounter in Women's Kingdom趣經女兒國53-5559
17Three attempts in taking the Palm Leaf Fan三調芭蕉扇59-6150
18Cleaning the tower and redressing a grievance掃塔辨奇冤62-6354
19Entering Little Leiyin Temple by mistake誤入小雷音64-6655
20The Monkey King becomes a physician孫猴巧行醫68-7156
21Falling into the spiders' cave by accident錯墜盤絲洞72-7357
22Four visits to the abyss四探無底洞80-8362
23Teaching in Yuhuazhou傳藝玉華州84-85, 88-9059
24Subduing the Jade Rabbit in India天竺收玉兔93-9546
25Arrival in the Land of Pureness波生極樂天98-10050

Season 2

Season 2 has 16 episodes (covers another 25 chapters of the novel). Filming began in 1998 and finished in 1999. It was broadcast on CCTV in 2000. The internal story of the second season has the four protagonists relating to Emperor Taizong of Tang via flashbacks of their travels and adventures, (namely those episodes not depicted in the first series) upon their return to China. Season 2 differs from the format of the first season, as most episodes end on a cliffhanger, with conflicts being resolved and new ones encountered in the middle of episodes in a more fluid timeline.

# Translated title in English Original title in Chinese Based on chapter(s) of novel Runtime in minutes
26Dangerous crossing at Heaven Reaching River險渡通天河47-4843
27A rift between master and disciples師徒生二心49, 56-5844
28The real and fake Monkey King真假美猴王5844
29Obstacle at Lion Camel Ridge受阻獅駝嶺58, 7444
30Meeting immortals at Peacock Platform遇仙孔雀台75-7644
31Buddha captures the Great Peng如來收大鵬77, 4344
32Heartbreak at Black Water River情斷黑水河43, 1044
33Capturing the Azure Bull Demon收伏青牛怪50-5144
34Praying for rain in Phoenix Immortal Prefecture祈雨鳳仙郡52, 8744
35Wreaking havoc in Fragrance Covered Hall大鬧披香殿87, 6744
36A dead end becomes the way絕域變通途67, 8644
37Shedding tears on Hidden Misty Mountain淚灑隱霧山86, 7844
38Rescuing children in a city救難小兒城78-7944
39Catching bandits in the land of bodhi緝盜菩提域79, 88, 96-9744
40Returning the soul of Benefactor Kou還魂寇善人97, 9144
41Admiring lanterns in Jinping Prefecture觀燈金平府91-9243

Cast

Some of the actors played multiple roles while certain roles were played by multiple actors

Main cast

Other cast

Listed in order of appearance

Main cast

Other cast

Listed in order of appearance

Music

The music for the series was mainly composed by Xu Jingqing (许镜清).

Season 1

#Track titleCreditsNotes
1西游记序曲 / 云宫迅音
(Journey to the West Opening Theme / Immortal Sound Above Cloud Palace)
Performed by the musical band of the Central Ballet Troupe; conducted by Hu BingxuThe opening theme music played at the start of each episode
2百曲千折显精诚
(Thousands of Adversities Prove One's Sincerity)
Composed by Wang Liping; lyrics by Wang Liping; performed by Wu YanzeOpening theme song of episodes 7 and 10 during the 1984 run; replaced by the first track in the 1986 run.
3敢问路在何方
(Dare to Ask Where is the Road)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Zhang Baomo / Jiang DaweiEnding theme song; performed by Zhang Baomo during the initial runs in 1984 and 1986; performed by Jiang Dawei in the full 25 episodes run
4生无名本无姓
(Born Without a Name, Naturally Without a Surname)
Lyrics by Fulin and Xiaoling; performed by Huang XiaoqunInsert song in episode 3; played during the 1986 run; later performed by Wang Xiaoqing
5大圣歌
(Song of the Great Sage)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Hu YinyinInsert song in episode 3, replaced the fourth track in the full 25 episodes run
6他多想是棵小草 / 被贬五行山
(He Wished He Was a Blade of Grass / Trapped Under Five Elements Mountain)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Ding XiaoqingInsert song in episode 4; played during the 1986 run
7五百年桑田沧海
(500 Years of Great Changes)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Yu JunjianInsert song in episode 4; replaced the sixth track in the full 25 episodes run
8走啊走
(Let's Go)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Zhou Lifu / Li JingxianInsert song in episode 4; performed by Zhou Lifu in the 1986 run; performed by Li Jingxian in the full 25 episodes run
9吹不散这点点愁
(Cannot Blow Away This Little Bit of Misery)
Lyrics by Yan Su, performed by Yu JunjianInsert song in episode 10
10女儿情
(Women's Feelings)
Lyrics by Yang Jie; performed by Wu JingInsert song in episode 16
11相见难别亦难
(Meeting is Difficult, Parting Ways is Also Difficult)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Wu JingInsert song in episode 16
12晴空月儿明
(Clear Sky, Bright Moon)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Chi ChongruiInsert song in episode 18
13何必西天万里遥
(Why Must the West Heaven be So Far Away)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Wu JingInsert song in episode 19
14天竺少女
(Indian Girl)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Li LingyuInsert song in episode 24
15青青菩提树
(Green Bodhi Tree)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Li JingxianInsert song in episode 25
16无底船歌
(Song of the Bottomless Boat)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Ye MaoInsert song in episode 25
17取经归来
(Returning with the Scriptures)
Lyrics by Dai Yinglu; performed by Jiang DaweiInsert song in episode 25
18欢聚花果山
(Happy Gathering at Flower Fruit Mountain)
19快乐花果山
(Joy in Flower Fruit Mountain)
20逍遥自在的孙大圣
(The Carefree Great Sage Sun)
21幽冥界
(The Underworld)
22初进凌霄殿
(First Entrance into Lingxiao Hall)
23官封弼马温
(Appointed Keeper of Horses)
24嫦娥舞曲
(Chang'e's Dance Theme)
25大闹蟠桃会
(Causing Trouble at the Peach Feast)
26大战二郎神
(Fighting Erlang Shen)
27安天会
(Heaven Pacification Meeting)
28观音宝曲
(Guanyin's Theme)
29送别
(Farewell)
30状元巡街
(Top Scholar Parades Through the Streets)
31江流儿
(The River Flows)
32放生曲
(Release Theme)
33江月
(River and Moon)
34痴梦
(Delusional Dream)
35猪八戒背媳妇
(Zhu Bajie Carries his Spouse)
36猪八戒撞天婚
(Zhu Bajie's Marriage)
37偷吃人参果
(Stealing the Ginsengfruit)
38仙童骂战
(Argument Between Boys)
39公主打猎曲
(The Princess Goes Hunting Theme)
40云山雾海
(Clouded Mountains and Misty Seas)
41乌鸡遗恨
(Regret in Wuji)
42登坛作法
(Setting Up an Altar and Preparing for a Ritual)
43云台显圣
(Display of Power at Cloud Platform)
44鸳鸯梦
(Dream of the Mandarin Ducks)
45铁扇仙舞剑
(Princess Iron Fan's Sword Dance)
46风雨行路难
(A Road Hard to Travel)

Season 2

#Track titleCreditsNotes
1通天大道宽又阔
(The Path to Heaven is Wide)
The main theme song
2敢问路在何方
(Dare to Ask Where Is the Road)
Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Jiang DaweiThe ending theme song
3伴君常开花一朵
(By Your Side, A Flower Often Blossoms)
Insert song
4心中有路是坦途
(The Road in Your Heart is a Level Path)
Originally written as an insert song, but was replaced by 看我跃马扬鞭 (Watch Me Ride My Horse and Wave My Whip) in the final release.
5留不住去也难
(Cannot Make You Stay, Leaving is Also Difficult)
Originally written as an insert song, but was replaced by 就这样走 (Just Leave Like This) in the final release.
6庄严我神州大地
(The Dignity of Our Land)
Insert song
7多少情和意
(How Much Love and Meaning)
Originally written as an insert song, but was replaced by a piece of background music in the final release.
8看我跃马扬鞭
(Watch Me Ride My Horse and Wave My Whip)
Insert song

Accolades

Award Category Nominee Result
8th Feitian AwardsOutstanding Television SeriesJourney to the WestWon
6th Golden Eagle AwardsBest ActorZhang JinlaiWon

Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West

The original lead actors of Journey to the West (1986) — Liu Xiao Ling Tong, Chi Chongrui and Ma Dehua — reprised their roles in Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West, a 2010 television series about Wu Cheng'en and his inspiration for writing the novel Journey to the West. Sha Wujing, however, was portrayed by Liu Dagang because Yan Huaili, who played the character in 1986, died in April 2009.

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.