The Shaolin Warriors

The Shaolin Warriors is a Chinese television series directed by Raymond Lee, starring Sammo Hung, Cui Lin, Christopher Lee, Jeanette Aw, Sammy Hung, Cui Peng, Liu Ying and Li Man. The series was first broadcast in November 2008 on CCTV-8 in mainland China. It is the first wuxia television series to filmed in direct collaboration with Shaolin Monastery and features some rarely seen martial arts techniques.[1]

The Shaolin Warriors
DVD cover art
Also known asShao Lin Seng Bing
Chinese少林僧兵
MandarinShàolín Sēng Bīng
GenreWuxia, costume drama
Written byWang Qiuyu
Li Zhixian
Directed byRaymond Lee
StarringSammo Hung
Cui Lin
Jeanette Aw
Christopher Lee
Li Man
Sammy Hung
Cui Peng
Liu Ying
Opening themeShaolin Si (少林寺) performed by Kung-Fu Pop
Ending themeZuihao De Shiguang (最好的時光) performed by Jeff Chang
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes34
Production
Executive producersShi Yongxin
Chen Juncong
Zhou Liming
Zhang Heyun
Li Hua
ProducersWang Maoliang
Shi Yongxin
Gao Xiaoping
Chen Lizhong
Production locationWuxi
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production company
  • Shenzhen Media Group
  • Shaolin Temple Culture Broadcasting (Dengfeng)
  • China Television Media
  • Beijing Yibo Film Production
Distributor
Release
Original networkCCTV-8
Original release3 November (2008-11-03) –
14 November 2008 (2008-11-14)

Plot

The story is set in the Ming dynasty during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor. General Qi Jiguang enlists the help of Shaolin Monastery's warrior monks to defend China from the wokou (Japanese pirates) and other invaders.[2]

Cast
  • Sammo Hung as Big Feet Monk
  • Cui Lin as Yuewen
  • Christopher Lee as Qi Jiguang
    • Hong Zhibin as Qi Jiguang (young)
  • Jeanette Aw as Haiqing
  • Li Man as Hideko (Xiuzi)
  • Sammy Hung as Yuekong
  • Cui Peng as Kazego (Fengyu)
  • Liu Ying as Li Ruolan
    • Luo Jiaxu as young Li Ruolan
  • Chen Zhihui as Yu Dayou
  • Qin Yan as Xiaoshan abbot
  • Wang Jianxin as Wang Zhi
  • Shen Baoping as Hu Zongxian
  • Cai Gang as Yan Shifan
  • Xu Seng as Jin Ke
  • Fang Zhoubo as Wan Biao
  • Ren Xihong as Sasaki (Zuozuomu)
  • Guo Changhui as Miyamoto (Gongben)
  • Liu Weihua as Li Zhongcheng
  • Dai Hekang as Mao Haifeng
  • Hai Yan as Xiao Lin'an
  • Zhou Yunshen as Sun Haixiao
  • Ding Xiaohu as Liu Qianhu
  • He Xianwei as Wu Jingui
  • Cao Shuai as Wang San
  • Liu Kai as Yuejian
  • Xue Jiangtao as Yueman
  • Shi Ziliang as Yiben Daming
  • Zhou Jie as Zhou Zhiyuan
  • Hao Han as Xiao Fu
  • Sun Lufei as Xiao Fu's mother
  • Meng Yansen as Xiao Shun
  • Fan Libo as Xiao Shun's mother
  • Zhao Gang as Qi Jingtong
  • Shu Shouqin as Wang Zhifu
  • Zheng Rugao as Wangshi Zuzhang
  • Li Junliang as Qiangmazi
  • Gao Jiafu as Tian Zhong
  • Tao Jinlong as Fengchen Xiuji
  • Lu Jidong as Zhitian Cilang
  • Yuan Shichao as Li Qiangzong
  • Li Ke as Zheng Zhifu

Production

The series had a costly budget. In addition to the participation of Hong Kong television series director Raymond Lee as the overall director, 120 warriors monks and 200 secular students from Shaolin Monastery were involved in the production as well.

The project was completed in late 2007 after more than three months of shooting in Wuxi's Film and TV Studios.

Shaolin Monastery's abbot, Shi Yongxin, expressed his desire to spread Shaolin history and culture to the rest of the world through this television series.[3]

United States release

The series premiered in the United States with English subtitles on Toku from 12 July 2017 to 21 February 2018.[4]

International Broadcast
Network(s)/Station(s) Series premiere Airing dates Title
China CCTV-8 January 11, 2015 - (November 3, 2008-November 14, 2008) 少林僧兵 ( The Shaolin Warriors; lit: )
Thailand BBTV PSI (73) July 11, 2018-August 27, 2018 (Every Monday to Friday 08:45-09:30) ศึกเส้าหลิน สองมังกร (The Shaolin Warriors; lit: )
5HD1 11 September 2020 - 2 November 2020 (Tuesday October 13: No broadcasting), (Friday, October 23: no broadcasting), (Tuesday October 27: No broadcasting) (Every Monday to Friday 22:40-23:30) ศึกเส้าหลิน สองมังกร (The Shaolin Warriors; lit: )

References
  1. "MediaCorp's new drama to show rarely seen Shaolin martial arts". Channel NewsAsia. 11 June 2008.
  2. (in Chinese) 《少林僧兵》今晚播出 三大看点值得期待
  3. (in Chinese) 影视作品《少林僧兵》无锡热拍 少林寺沙场秋点兵
  4. "TOKU ANNOUNCES THE U.S. PREMIERE OF THE SHAOLIN WARRIORS AND THE RASCALS". Olympusat Inc. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
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