“Romance of the Three Kingdoms”

The “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” television series is adapted from the novel of the same name by Luo Guanzhong, directed by Wang Fulin, Cai Xiaoqing, Zhang Shaolin, among others, and stars Tang Guoqiang, Bao Guoan, Sun Yanjun, and Lu Shuming. The series premiered on October 23, 1994, on CCTV-1, divided into five parts: Part One “Heroes Compete” (Episodes 1-23), Part Two “Battle of Red Cliffs” (Episodes 24-47), Part Three “Three Kingdoms at a Stalemate” (Episodes 48-64), Part Four “Campaigns North and South” (Episodes 65-77), and Part Five “Unification of Three Kingdoms” (Episodes 78-84). The series narrates the story of the waning Liu Han dynasty at the end of the Eastern Han period, with the rise of heroes across the central plains, depicting the rise and fall of historical figures like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Zhuge Liang across the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. The series showcases the grand historical process from the competition of heroes to the Battle of Red Cliffs and the eventual unification of the Three Kingdoms. The series received multiple awards, including the First Prize for Long Drama at the 15th China Television Drama Feitian Awards and the Best Long TV Series Award at the 13th China TV Golden Eagle Awards. A substantial investment was made in costumes, props, and set design, with the filming process spanning four years, totaling 84 episodes. Classic lines from the show, such as “Never have I seen such shamelessness,” have become widely circulated on the internet.