The Dream of Red Mansions (2010 TV series)
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - The Dream of Red Mansions (2010 TV series)
OR:
The Dream of Red Mansions (2010 TV series) on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

''The Dream of Red Mansions'' ( Chinese: 红楼梦) is a 2010 Chinese television series, produced by Han Sanping and directed by Fifth Generation director
Li Shaohong Li Shaohong (born 7 July 1955) is a Chinese film and television director and producer. She is considered a member of the Fifth Generation movement, and China's top woman director. Her films have won multiple awards in China and abroad, includin ...
. It is a new adaptation of the classic 18th century novel ''
Dream of the Red Chamber ''Dream of the Red Chamber'' (''Honglou Meng'') or ''The Story of the Stone'' (''Shitou Ji'') is a novel composed by Cao Xueqin in the middle of the 18th century. One of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, it is known fo ...
''. The series, comprising 50 episodes, made its debut on 6 July 2010 on 9 terrestrial networks across China.


Plot

After her mother succumbs to illness, the sickly
Lin Daiyu Lin Daiyu (also spelled Lin Tai-yu, zh, s=林黛玉, p=Lín Dàiyù, rendered Black Jade in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters of Cao Xueqin's classic 18th-century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is ...
is sent by her father to her mother's family- the Jia household. She meets her grandmother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. Daiyu is shy and delicate, and shares an affinity with her cousin Jia Baoyu. Jia Baoyu grew up surrounded by women, and doesn't take interest in family matters. He has an affair with his maid
Hua Xiren Hua Xiren (, rendered Aroma in David Hawkes' translation and Pervading Fragrance in Chi-chen Wang's translation), originally called Zhenzhu, is a major fictional character from the classic 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. ...
, and dreams of several female members of the Jia household, such as Qin Keqing (sister of Baoyu's best friend
Qin Zhong Qin Zhong or Zhong of Qin (, died 822 BC) was the fourth ruler of the state of Qin (r. 844 to 822 BC) during China's Zhou dynasty. Qin at the time was a small fief that had been granted to his great-grandfather Feizi for his work breeding horse ...
). He also acts playfully with his maids Qingwen and Sheyue, and his sisters and cousins
Jia Tanchun Jia Tanchun (Chinese: 賈探春; Pinyin: Jiǎ Tànchūn, rendered Quest Spring in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is the younger half-sister of Jia Baoyu and a major character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is t ...
, Jia Yingchun,
Jia Xichun Jia Xichun ( zh, t=賈惜春, p=Jiǎ Xīchūn, rendered Compassion Spring in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is a primary character in the 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. Her father is Jia Jing, a son of Jia Daihua. She is t ...
, and
Shi Xiangyun Shi Xiangyun () is a major fictional character in the classic 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber'', one of the characters known as the Twelve Beauties. She is Jia Baoyu's younger second cousin by the Dowager, Grandmother Jia. X ...
. The Jia family is corrupt, due to Baoyu's older sister Jia Yuanchun being a consort of the Emperor. Jia Yuanchun later visits her family in the
Daguanyuan The Daguanyuan (), variously translated as the Grand View Garden, Prospect Garden or Grand Prospect Garden, is a massive landscaped interior garden in the classic 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber'', built within the compoun ...
garden in the mansion. The Jia household also has relations with other notable families in Jinling such as the Xue and Wang households.
Wang Xifeng Wang Xifeng (, rendered Phoenix in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters in the classic 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. She came from one of the Four Great Families, the Wang (the other three are ...
is the aunt of Daiyu and Baoyu, and is known for being aggressive and quirky. Wang Xifeng dislikes her husband's concubines and one of them, Second Sister You commits suicide by consuming gold.
Xue Baochai Xue Baochai (, and her surname is a homophone with "Snow", rendered Precious Virtue in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters in the classic 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. Described as extremely be ...
is Baoyu and Daiyu's fellow playmate and her brother is known for being a corrupt villain around town. Her brother
Xue Pan Xue Pan () is a secondary character in the classic 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. He is a ne'er-do-well lout who is guilty of the killing of a man over a beautiful slave girl, Zhen Yinglian, who is renamed as Xiangling (L ...
even kills a man to buy a slave girl named Xiangling. Yet, their mother
Aunt Xue ''Dream of the Red Chamber'' (''Honglou Meng'') or ''The Story of the Stone'' (''Shitou Ji'') is a novel composed by Cao Xueqin in the middle of the 18th century. One of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, it is known for ...
doesn't interfere. Daiyu and Baoyu gradually develop feelings for each other, and Baoyu wishes to marry her. However, his mother
Lady Wang Lady Wang (王夫人) is a character in the classic Chinese 18th century novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is the wife of Jia Zheng, and mother of Jia Zhu (dead at the start of the novel), Jia Yuanchun and Jia Baoyu. She is the elder sis ...
, father's mother
Grandmother Jia Grandmother Jia ( zh, t=賈母, p=Jiǎ Mǔ), née Shi, so often also called Dowager Shi ( zh, s=史太君, p=Shǐ Tàijūn) or simply the Dowager, is a major character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is the daugh ...
, and other relatives instead choose Xue Baochai as his wife. Daiyu unexpectedly hears this, and falls ill. After the marriage takes place, Daiyu succumbs to grief, and Baoyu becomes disillusioned with his life. At the same time, Baoyu's older sister Yuanchun dies, and the family falls out of favor with the imperial family. Their debt and corruption scandals are known and the Jia household is severely punished. Most of the servants leave and hope is diminished. Grandmother Jia passes away in front of the whole family after lamenting about the rise and fall of the Jia household. Wang Xifeng miserably dies, and her young daughter Jia Qiaojie is arranged to be sold as a concubine to an old man. To rescue Qiaojie, Xifeng's trusted servant
Ping'er Ping'er ( zh, t=平兒, p=Píng'ér; literally "Peace", and known as “Patience” in the Hawkes translation) is an important character in the 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is Wang Xifeng's chief maid and personal a ...
gives Qiaojie to
Granny Liu Granny Liu ( zh, t=劉姥姥, p=Liú Lǎolāo) is a character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is an elderly country rustic and a distant relative of Lady Wang through "joining families" and marriage (i.e. they ar ...
- a visitor of the household several years ago. The young girls of the Jia household are forced to marry to wealthier families and suffer their demise. Baoyu leaves the family with two mysterious men who are shown at the beginning of the series. Baochai is left alone with Lady Wang, waiting for the day Baoyu to come back.


Cast

* Zhou Caiqin as
Grandmother Jia Grandmother Jia ( zh, t=賈母, p=Jiǎ Mǔ), née Shi, so often also called Dowager Shi ( zh, s=史太君, p=Shǐ Tàijūn) or simply the Dowager, is a major character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is the daugh ...
*
Gua Ah-leh Grace Gua Ah-leh (born 2 June 1944) is a Taiwanese actress and singer. Gua has portrayed over 200 roles in film and television since 1965. She has won the Golden Horse Awards 4 times and the Golden Bell Awards twice. Life and career Also know ...
as
Lady Wang Lady Wang (王夫人) is a character in the classic Chinese 18th century novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is the wife of Jia Zheng, and mother of Jia Zhu (dead at the start of the novel), Jia Yuanchun and Jia Baoyu. She is the elder sis ...
* Wang Fuli as Lady Xing *
Xu Huanshan Xu Huanshan (born 13 July 1937) is a Chinese actor and occasional film director. Xu was enrolled in the Beijing Film Academy in 1956. A year later, he was labelled as a "rightist" and was sent for "re-education through labour" under the Communis ...
as Jia Zheng * Ye Linlang as
Granny Liu Granny Liu ( zh, t=劉姥姥, p=Liú Lǎolāo) is a character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is an elderly country rustic and a distant relative of Lady Wang through "joining families" and marriage (i.e. they ar ...
* Yao Di as
Wang Xifeng Wang Xifeng (, rendered Phoenix in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters in the classic 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. She came from one of the Four Great Families, the Wang (the other three are ...
*
Jiang Mengjie Jiang Mengjie (, born 7 December 1989) is a Chinese actress. She is best known for her role as Lin Daiyu in 2010 television series '' The Dream of Red Mansions''. Personal life Jiang was born in Wuhu, Anhui on December 7, 1989. She was a gradua ...
as
Lin Daiyu Lin Daiyu (also spelled Lin Tai-yu, zh, s=林黛玉, p=Lín Dàiyù, rendered Black Jade in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters of Cao Xueqin's classic 18th-century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is ...
** Lin Miaoke as young Lin Daiyu * Yang Yang as Jia Baoyu ** Yu Xiaotong as young Jia Baoyu *
Michelle Bai Bai Bing (; born 2 May 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer. Bai is noted for her roles as Xue Baochai and Princess Yushu in the television series '' The Dream of Red Mansions'' (2010) and '' The Myth'' (2010) respectively. Early life and educ ...
as
Xue Baochai Xue Baochai (, and her surname is a homophone with "Snow", rendered Precious Virtue in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is one of the principal characters in the classic 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. Described as extremely be ...
** Li Qin as young Xue Baochai * Yin Yezi as Xue Baoqin **
Xu Lu Xu Lu (, born 28 December 1994), also known as Lulu Xu, is a Chinese actress and singer. She first became recognized in China for her role in the drama ''Empresses in the Palace'' (2012) and internationally with the drama '' One and a Half Summ ...
as young Xue Baoqin *
Yang Mi Yang Mi (, born 12 September 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer. She made her acting debut in historical television series '' Tang Ming Huang'', and later received recognition for her leading roles in various television series such as ''Wang Zha ...
as Qing Wen * Zhao Liying as Xing Xiuyan *
Huang Xuan Huang Xuan (, born 3 March 1985) is a Chinese actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Blind Massage'' (2014), ''The Legend of Mi Yue'' (2015), ''The Interpreter'' (2016) and ''Extraordinary Mission'' (2017). Life and career Born and raised i ...
as Xue Ke * Song Yi as Xiangling * Ding Li as
Jia Tanchun Jia Tanchun (Chinese: 賈探春; Pinyin: Jiǎ Tànchūn, rendered Quest Spring in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is the younger half-sister of Jia Baoyu and a major character in the 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is t ...
* Ma Xiaocan as
Shi Xiangyun Shi Xiangyun () is a major fictional character in the classic 18th century Chinese novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber'', one of the characters known as the Twelve Beauties. She is Jia Baoyu's younger second cousin by the Dowager, Grandmother Jia. X ...
* Zhang Di as Jia Yingchun * Xu Xing as
Jia Xichun Jia Xichun ( zh, t=賈惜春, p=Jiǎ Xīchūn, rendered Compassion Spring in Chi-chen Wang's translation) is a primary character in the 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. Her father is Jia Jing, a son of Jia Daihua. She is t ...
* Tang Yifei as Qin Keqing * Cheng Yuanyuan as
Ping'er Ping'er ( zh, t=平兒, p=Píng'ér; literally "Peace", and known as “Patience” in the Hawkes translation) is an important character in the 18th century Chinese novel '' Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is Wang Xifeng's chief maid and personal a ...
* Li Yan as Xiren * Gao Liang as
Jia Lian ''Dream of the Red Chamber'' (''Honglou Meng'') or ''The Story of the Stone'' (''Shitou Ji'') is a novel composed by Cao Xueqin in the middle of the 18th century. One of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, it is known for ...
* Wu Xiaodong as Jia Yun * Yang Junyong as Jia Rong * Jia Ni as Lady You * Gao Yang as
Miaoyu Miaoyu (, rendered Adamantina in the David Hawkes translation) is an important character in the 18th century novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber'', one of the classics of Chinese fiction. She is a young, beautiful but aloof Buddhist nun, compelled by ...
* Cai Feiyun as Yuanyang * Xuan Lu as Xue Yan * Kan Qingzi as She Yue


Production

The series was one of the most expensive Chinese TV series ever made at RMB118 million (US$17.55 million). Unlike the 1987 version, this series adapts the Cheng-Gao version. The 2010 series reproduces large segments of the book's pre-modern Beijing dialogue, often in full. Another feature is its heavy use of a male
voice-over Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non- diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentation ...
reciting much of the book's narrative. The director was originally slated to be Hu Mei, but Hu clashed with the producers over the cast selection, and was replaced by Li Shaohong in October 2007. The 2010 TV series faced controversy over its cast, the stylized, kunqu-inspired hairdo, as well as a generally negative press after its July 6 debut.
/ref>


Reception

The 2010 remake was controversial from the start, since the 1987 version was highly acclaimed and few critics were convinced a modern version will match its predecessor. Following a highly publicized casting call, director Hu Mei was replaced by
Li Shaohong Li Shaohong (born 7 July 1955) is a Chinese film and television director and producer. She is considered a member of the Fifth Generation movement, and China's top woman director. Her films have won multiple awards in China and abroad, includin ...
in 2007. Li courted more controversy by adopting a stylized kunqu-inspired hairstyle (dubbed "coined heads" 铜钱头/銅錢頭 (Tóngqián tóu) by netizens) for her female cast members, as advised by Hong Kong
art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and unify the vis ...
Ye Jintian. Many viewers find the hairstyle grotesquely unrealistic. Response to the series after its debut was mixed, but was largely negative. It was panned by some newspapers, with one referring to it as a pre-modern version of the pop idol drama '' Meteor Garden''. Audience expressed dismay over its use of music, and the use of make-up was also criticized. Some Redologist scholars voiced their disappointment with the somewhat juvenile acting and script adaptation. Director Li was under enormous pressure owing to the negative feedback and broke down during a Beijing press conference held on 7 July 2010, her birthday.


Awards and nominations


References


External links


The Dream of Red Mansions
CNTV online complete video, free and legal streaming (Chinese) *
Ent.163.com site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dream Of Red Mansions (2010 Tv Series), The Works based on Dream of the Red Chamber 2010 Chinese television series debuts Television series set in Imperial China Chinese romance television series Anhui Television original programming Beijing Television original programming Television series by Hualu Baina Film & TV