Romance of the Three Kingdoms (TV series)

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical 14th century novel of the same title by Luo Guanzhong. The series was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and was first aired on the network in 1994. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. One of the most expensive television series produced at the time, the project cost 170 million yuan. It was completed over four years and involved over 400,000 cast and crew members, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army from the Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu military regions. Some of the dialogue spoken by characters was adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes, such as the battles of Guandu, Red Cliffs and Xiaoting, were also live-acted.

The series is widely seen as among the best period dramas in China and appraised for capturing the grand scale of the novel's story, themes and characters while maintaining its artistic and historical value. The show has a 9.5 rating on Douban from over 89,030 reviews.

List of episodes
The series is divided into five parts and each part has a different executive producer and director(s).

Part One

 * Title: 第一部：群雄逐鹿 (Part One: Heroes compete for power)
 * Executive producer: You Shijun
 * Director(s): Shen Haofang, Cai Xiaoqing

Part Two

 * Title: 第二部：赤壁鏖战 (Part Two: The Battle of Red Cliffs)
 * Executive producer: Zhang Guangqian
 * Director: Cai Xiaoqing, Zhang Zhongyi

Part Three

 * Title: 第三部：三国鼎立 (Part Three: Emergence of the Three Kingdoms)
 * Executive producer: Shan Yusheng
 * Director: Sun Guangming, Zhang Zhongyi

Part Four

 * Title: 第四部：南征北战 (Part Four: Battles in the south and north)
 * Executive producer: Zhang Jizhong
 * Director: Zhang Shaolin

Part Five

 * Title: 第五部：三分归一 (Part Five: Three united as one)
 * Executive producer: Hao Hengmin
 * Director: Zhang Zhongyi

Cast
Due to the time taken to complete the project (four years), there were numerous instances of (1) multiple actors portraying the same character or (2) the same actor taking on multiple roles. An example of case (1) was the character Zhang Liao, who was portrayed by Xu Shaohua in episode 12, Zhang Yakun in episode 39, and Wang Weiguo in episode 54. Chen Zhihui was an extreme example of case (2) because he took on four roles – three as generals from Wei, Shu and Wu (Xu Chu, Liao Hua and Taishi Ci) and one as minor warlord Bao Xin. Two other prominent examples of case (2) were Wu Xiaodong and Hong Yuzhou – the former portrayed Sun Jian in episode 5 and Sun Quan from episode 30 onwards; the latter portrayed a young Yuan Shao in episode 5 and Zhou Yu from episode 9 onwards.

Main cast

 * Sun Yanjun as Liu Bei
 * Tang Guoqiang as Zhuge Liang
 * Bao Guo'an as Cao Cao
 * Lu Shuming as Guan Yu
 * Li Jingfei as Zhang Fei
 * Wu Xiaodong as Sun Quan / Sun Jian
 * Hong Yuzhou as Zhou Yu / Yuan Shao (younger)

Other cast

 * Sorted by role in alphabetical order


 * Du Wenlu as Ahuinan
 * Xue Wencheng as Bao Long
 * Chen Zhihui as Bao Xin
 * Liu Shaochun as Bao Zhong
 * Li Fengying as Lady Bian
 * Liu Xiaomei as Lady Cai (Liu Biao's wife)
 * Li Hua as Cai He
 * Me Yue as Cai Mao
 * Qin Zhao as Cai Yong
 * Li Xiaozhou as Cai Zhong
 * An Zhiyi as Cao Fang
 * Huoercha / Bala Zhu'er / Wang Jie as Cao Hong
 * Wang Han as Cao Huan
 * Li Ming as Cao Jie
 * Ji Chenmu as Cao Mao
 * Yang Junyong as Cao Pi
 * Tai Zuhui / Xu Deshan as Cao Ren
 * Wang Guanghui as Cao Rui
 * Kang Ming as Cao Shuang
 * Chi Chonggen as Cao Xi
 * Sun Zhencai as Cao Xun
 * Zheng Qiang as Cao Zhen
 * Wang Liangbo as Cao Zhi
 * Wang Changli as Chen Deng
 * Li Jianyi / Xiu Zongdi as Chen Gong
 * Niu Chaliang as Chen Gui
 * Wang Tao as Chen Lin
 * Chen Debao / Zhang Shijun as Chen Shi
 * Zhang Shijun as Chen Qun
 * Liu Yinglu as Chen Tai
 * Dong Jiuru as Cheng Bing
 * Zhang Ping as Cheng Ji
 * Yan Huaili / Chen Zhuanliang as Cheng Pu
 * Dai Jingguo / Yu Lianzeng as Cheng Yu
 * Ren Meng as Cheng Zi
 * Zhou Wanhong as Chunyu Qiong
 * Zhuang Li as Lady Cui
 * Li Songqiao as Cui Liang
 * Zhao Xiaochuan as Cui Zhouping
 * Wang Hongguang as Deng Ai
 * Li Zhiyi as Deng Zhi
 * Wu Wenqing as Deng Zhong
 * Zhang Jiatian as Dian Wei
 * Chen Hong as Diaochan
 * Liu Shaochun / Wang Yi / Yang Baohe as Ding Feng
 * Rui Lirong as Ding Yuan
 * Lü Zhong as Empress Dowager Dong
 * Liu Long as Dong Cheng
 * Qin Baolin as Dongtuna
 * Li Po as Dong Zhuo
 * Wei Yingming as Duan Gui
 * Liu He as King Duosi
 * Zhang Xuting as Eheshaoge
 * Shi Laiqun / Zhang Minfu as Fa Zheng
 * Wei Deshan as Fan Qiang
 * Qi Wenqiang as Fei Yao
 * Li Hong as Fei Yi
 * Yi Shufen / Guo Shuping as Lady Gan
 * Han Dong / Zhang Yuhai as Gan Ning
 * Yuan Lijian as Gao Xiang
 * Yang Fan as Gongsun Zan
 * Li Yanping as Gu Yong
 * Ding Zhiyong / Chen Bing as Guan Ping
 * Li Wei as Guan Xing
 * Chang Yuping / Sun Qicheng as Guo Huai
 * Jiang Kai as Guo Jia
 * Guo Shouyang as Guo Tu
 * Zhu Jun as Han Dang
 * Yu Rongguang as Han Fu
 * Yang Zibin as Han Hao
 * Sude Siqin as Han Meng
 * Huang Xiaoli as Han Xuan
 * Li Shicai as Hao Zhao
 * Zheng Tianwei as Empress He
 * Zhang Fuyuan as He Jin
 * Ye Jinsen as Hu Ban
 * Jiang Chongxia as Hu Lie
 * Qi Jianbo as Hu Yuan
 * Yu Weijie as Huche'er
 * Wang Zhongxin as Hua Tuo
 * Song Ge as Hua Xin
 * Wen Hao as Huan Fan
 * Wang Hongwu as Huang Chengyan
 * Wu Guicen / Xu Fuyin as Huang Gai
 * Zeng Ge as Huang Hao
 * Wang Hongtao as Huang Zhong
 * Qiao Chen as Huang Zhong's wife
 * Wang Hongtao as Ji Ling
 * Ding Zhicheng as Ji Ping
 * Han Xinmin as Jia Chong
 * Xu Yongliang / Li Xuliang as Jia Xu
 * Su Jianyu as Jian Shuo
 * An Ji as Jian Yong
 * Zhou Zhou as Jiang Gan
 * Liu Xi as Jiang Ji
 * Liu Hongkun as Jiang Wan
 * Zhang Tianshu as Jiang Wei (younger)
 * Fan Zhiqi as Jiang Wei (older)
 * Zhang Dengqiao as Jiang Wei's mother
 * Wang Zhiqiang as Ju Shou
 * Zhang Xiqian as Kan Ze
 * Zheng Rong as Kong Rong
 * Ma Jichun as Kuai Yue
 * Zhang Yingwu / Sang Bao / Zhang Jinghai as Li Dian
 * Wang Qiang / Zhang Jimin as Li Feng
 * Li Bao'an as Li Fu
 * Wang Zhiqiang as Li Hui
 * Bi Yanjun as Li Ru
 * Yang Aifu as Li Sheng
 * Yan Yansheng as Li Su
 * Mang Lai / Chen Zhihui / Du Wenlu as Liao Hua
 * Wang Gang / Han Zengxiang as Ling Tong
 * Ma Zijun as Liu Bei and Lady Sun's wedding emcee
 * Zhu Feng as Liu Bian, Emperor Shao of Han
 * Zhang Da as Liu Biao
 * Chen Xu as Liu Chen
 * Liang Chi as Liu Cong
 * Huo Ercha as Liu Dai
 * Zhao Zhenping as Liu Feng
 * Liu Zongren as Liu Gui
 * Yin Li as Liu Qi
 * Li Tie as Liu Shan (younger)
 * Lu Jixian as Liu Shan (older)
 * Bao Dazhi as Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han (younger)
 * Yin Shen / Su Ke as Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han (older)
 * Xiao Lu / Ma Yusen / Wei Xian as Liu Ye
 * Liang Zhenya as Liu Zhang
 * Zhao Piyu as Lu Ji
 * Cao Li / Song Banggui / Ma Yuliang as Lu Su
 * Gao Fei as Lu Xun
 * Yang Zhaoquan as Lu Zhi
 * Cao Shixiang as Lü Boshe
 * Zhang Guangbei as Lü Bu
 * Liu Yan as Lü Bu's daughter
 * Gao Baobao as Lü Bu's wife
 * Suo Eryong as Lü Fan
 * Chu Guoliang / Guo Molang as Lü Meng
 * An Yaping as Ma Chao
 * Li Jianping / Chen Guanxin as Ma Dai
 * Wang Xianhe / Li Ping as Ma Liang
 * Zhang Zhizhong as Ma Su
 * Huang Wenjun as Ma Teng
 * Zhang Hao as Ma Zhong
 * Qin Baolin as Ma Zun
 * Zhou Huilin as Mao Jie
 * Zhang Nan as Meng Da
 * Hu Zhanli as Meng Huo
 * Yan Fengqi as Meng Jian
 * Li Yankui as Meng Jie
 * Sude Siqin as Meng Tan
 * Li Dongguo as Meng You
 * Xu Di / Wang Luyao as Lady Mi
 * Kui Heguo as Mi Fang
 * Zhu Bingqian / Yang Naihuang / Ren Dongsheng as Mi Zhu
 * Zhang Xuting as King Midang
 * Pang Daxin as Pan Ying
 * Hei Shuikuan / Sun Qicheng as Pan Zhang
 * Zhang Yuanpeng as Pang De
 * Jin Shugui / Zhu Shibin as Pang Tong
 * Guo Jiaqing as Pujing
 * Jiang Jin as Elder Qiao
 * Wang Fengwen as Qiao Zhou
 * Chen Changlong as Qin Liang
 * Wang Zhongxin as Qin Mi
 * Liu Liwei as Qin Qi
 * Zhao Piyu as Qiu Jian
 * Wang Ying as Shao Ti
 * Wang Xian as Shen Pei
 * Ma Shuliang as Shi Tao
 * Ji Chonggong as Shi Xu
 * Zheng Xu as Shi Zuan
 * Su Min as Sima Hui
 * Pan Yinlai as Sima Shi (younger)
 * Lei Tieliu as Sima Shi (older)
 * Lü Suosen as Sima Wang
 * Han Qing as Sima Yan
 * Tang Zhenhuan as Sima Yi (younger)
 * Wei Zongwan as Sima Yi (older)
 * Li Chiyou as Sima Zhao (younger)
 * Gao Lancun as Sima Zhao (older)
 * Xu Hongda as Su Yue
 * Zhao Yue as Lady Sun
 * Pu Cunxin as Sun Ce
 * Yang Jun as Sun Li
 * Guo Jiaqiang / Xia Junyin as Sun Qian
 * Pan Yueming as Sun Xiu
 * Li Hongtao / Chen Zhihui as Taishi Ci
 * Zhang Tong as Tao Qian
 * Gao Baobao as Lady Tian
 * Zhang Lianzhong as Tian Feng
 * Wang Tiejun as Tian Si
 * Chi Chonggen as Wang Fu
 * Zhang Hongying as Wang Jing
 * Dong Ji as Wang Lang
 * Cui Dai as Wang Ping
 * Yan Yansheng as Wang Su
 * Zheng Dapeng as Wang Tao
 * Xu Yun as Wang Youtong
 * Tan Zongyao as Wang Yun
 * Mo Qi as Wang Zhi
 * Shi Changjin as Wang Zifu
 * Liu Wei / Wang Xiaoying / Wang Shaowen / Wang Xinhai as Wei Yan
 * Mang Lai / Bi Lige as Wen Ping
 * Lin Moyu / Yu Ruojuan as Lady Wu
 * Li Shicai as Wu Ban
 * Liu Jianwei as Wu Fu
 * Hong Zongxi as Wu Yayu
 * Hong Ximai as Xi Zheng
 * He Jing as Xiaoqiao
 * Shi Tiansheng / Shen Shuangcun as Xiahou Ba
 * Bala Zhu'er as Xiahou Dun
 * Yang Lixin as Xiahou Jie
 * Wang Jiming as Xiahou Mao
 * Jiao Yucheng as Xiahou Shang
 * Hao Yueguo as Xiahou Xuan
 * Qian Yulin as Xiahou Yuan
 * Ma Xingyue / Qin Baolin as Xin Pi
 * Wang Jianguo / Lu Ying / Chen Zhihui / Han Dong as Xu Chu
 * Huoercha / Nige Mutu / Li Dongguo / Liu Honglin / Xie Dong as Xu Huang
 * Zhang Qin as Xu Jing
 * Zhang Xiaoming as Xu Sheng
 * Zhai Wanchen as Xu Shu
 * Tai Renhui as Xu Shu's mother
 * Shi Xiaoman as Xu You
 * Wang Ying as Xue Zong
 * Yu Jianai as Xun You
 * Gu Lan as Xun Yu
 * Li Tan as Yan Jun
 * Xie Jiaqi as Yan Liang
 * Li Zhongbi / Wang Wenyou as Yan Yan
 * Si Gengtian as Yang Feng
 * Gao Xiaobao as Yang Ling
 * Liu Jianwei as Yang Song
 * Meng Xianli as Yang Yi
 * Liu Longbin / Wang Hui as Yi Ji
 * Chu Jianfu as Yu Fan
 * Siqin Bilige / Qi Kejian as Yu Jin
 * Zhou Wanhong as Yu Qiong
 * Li Qingxiang as Yuan Shao (older)
 * Chen Youwang / Wang Fusheng as Yuan Shu
 * Deng Xiaoguang as Yuan Tan
 * Shen Long as Yue Jin
 * Ma Jingwu as Zhang Bao (Yellow Turban)
 * Chi Guodong as Zhang Bao (Zhang Fei's son)
 * Zhu Decang as Zhang Dang
 * Wang Huanan / Xing Guozhou as Zhang He
 * Tian Ye as Zhang Hu
 * Yin Huasheng as Zhang Ji
 * Yuan Zhiguang as Zhang Jiao
 * You Shijun as Zhang Liang
 * Xu Shaohua / Zhang Yakun / Wang Weiguo as Zhang Liao
 * Ma Yuliang as Zhang Lu
 * Xie Zhijian as Zhang Rang
 * Zhou Zhonghe as Zhang Ren
 * Zhang Ju as Zhang Song
 * Wang Mianzhi as Zhang Wen
 * Han Shanxu as Zhang Xiu
 * Qi Wenqiang as Zhang Yi
 * Zhou Jiwei as Zhang Zhao
 * Li Baohua as Zhao Fan
 * Gai Ke as Zhao Fan's sister-in-law
 * Han Xinmin as Zhao Lei
 * Zhang Shan as Zhao Yun (younger)
 * Hou Yongsheng as Zhao Yun (older)
 * Han Xinmin as Zheng Tai
 * Guan Yue as Zhong Hui
 * Liu Geng as Zhong Yao
 * Liu Runcheng as Zhou Cang
 * Yin Wei / Zhang Ying as Zhou Tai
 * Li Yunjuan as Lady Zhurong
 * Zhong Yujie / Wang Zhaogui as Zhuge Jin
 * Shi Ni as Zhuge Jun
 * He Bing as Zhuge Ke
 * Su Chongshan as Zhuge Zhan

Music
The music for the series was composed by Gu Jianfen and Li Yiding (李一丁).