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Journey to the West (1986 TV series)

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For other uses, see Journey to the West (disambiguation).
Journey to the West
Promotional poster
Genre
  • Chinese mythology
  • shenmo
  • fantasy
  • adventure
Based onJourney to the West
by Wu Cheng'en
Screenplay by
  • Dai Yinglu
  • Zou Yiqing
  • Yang Jie
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composerXu Jingqing
Opening themeImmortal Sound Above Cloud Palace (天宫讯音) made by Xu Jingqing
Ending themeDare to Ask Where is the Road (敢问路在何方) performed by Jiang Dawei
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes41 (40 on the YouTube release)
Production
Executive producers
  • Wang Feng
  • Ruan Ruolin
ProducerYang Jie
Production locationChina
CinematographyWang Chongqiu
Running time40–62 minutes (45 on the YouTube release)
Production companies
  • CCTV
  • China Television Production Center
  • 铁道部第十一工程局
Original release
NetworkCCTV
Release1 October 1986 (1986-10-01)

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, making a total of 40 episodes instead of the original 41.[3]

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
1 Birth of the Monkey King 猴王初问世 1-2 40
2 Becoming a horse-keeper 官封弼马温 2-4 44
3 Havoc in Heaven 大圣闹天宫 4-7 57
4 Five Elements Mountain 困囚五行山 7-9, 12-13 41
5 The Monkey King guards Tang Sanzang 猴王保唐僧 13-15 51
6 Trouble in the temple of Guanyin 祸起观音院 16-17 42
7 The recruitment of Zhu Bajie 计收猪八戒 18-19 51
8 Facing three adversities during the tough journey 坎途逢三难 20-24 49
9 Stealing the Ginsengfruit 偷吃人蔘果 24-26 51
10 Three battles with the White Bone Demon 三打白骨精 27 48
11 Cleverly instigating the Monkey King 智激美猴王 28-31 52
12 Robbing treasure in the Lotus Cave 夺宝莲花洞 32-35 51
13 Slaying demons in the Kingdom of Wuji 除妖乌鸡国 36-39 58
14 Battling Red Boy 大战红孩儿 40-42 42
15 Defeating three demons in a contest of magic powers 斗法降三怪 44-46 59
16 Interesting encounter in Women's Kingdom 趣经女儿国 53-55 59
17 Three attempts in taking the Palm Leaf Fan 三调芭蕉扇 59-61 50
18 Cleaning the tower and redressing a grievance 扫塔辨奇冤 62-63 54
19 Entering Little Leiyin Temple by mistake 误入小雷音 64-66 55
20 The Monkey King becomes a physician 孙猴巧行医 68-71 56
21 Falling into the spiders' cave by accident 错坠盘丝洞 72-73 57
22 Four visits to the abyss 四探无底洞 80-83 62
23 Teaching in Yuhuazhou 传艺玉华州 84-85, 88-90 59
24 Subduing the Jade Rabbit in India 天竺收玉兔 93-95 46
25 Arrival in the Land of Pureness 波生极乐天 98-100 50

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
26 Dangerous crossing at Heaven Reaching River 险渡通天河 47-48 43
27 A rift between master and disciples 师徒生二心 49, 56-58 44
28 The real and fake Monkey King 真假美猴王 58 44
29 Obstacle at Lion Camel Ridge 受阻狮驼岭 58, 74 44
30 Meeting immortals at Peacock Platform 遇仙孔雀台 75-76 44
31 Buddha captures the Great Peng 如来收大鹏 77, 43 44
32 Heartbreak at Black Water River 情断黑水河 43, 10 44
33 Capturing the Azure Bull Demon 收伏青牛怪 50-51 44
34 Praying for rain in Phoenix Immortal Prefecture 祈雨凤仙郡 52, 87 44
35 Wreaking havoc in Fragrance Covered Hall 大闹披香殿 87, 67 44
36 A dead end becomes the way 绝域变通途 67, 86 44
37 Shedding tears on Hidden Misty Mountain 泪洒隐雾山 86, 78 44
38 Rescuing children in a city 救难小儿城 78-79 44
39 Catching bandits in the land of bodhi 缉盗菩提域 79, 88, 96-97 44
40 Returning the soul of Benefactor Kou 还魂寇善人 97, 91 44
41 Admiring lanterns in Jinping Prefecture 观灯金平府 91-92 43

Cast

Further information: List of Journey to the West characters
Some of the actors played multiple roles while certain roles were played by multiple actors

Season 1

Main cast

Other cast

Listed in order of appearance

Season 2

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 title Credits Notes
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 Bingxu The 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 Yanze Opening 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 Dawei Ending 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 Xiaoqun Insert 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 Yinyin Insert 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 Xiaoqing Insert 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 Junjian Insert 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 Jingxian Insert 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 Junjian Insert song in episode 10
10 女儿情
(Women's Feelings)		 Lyrics by Yang Jie; performed by Wu Jing Insert 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 Jing Insert song in episode 16
12 晴空月儿明
(Clear Sky, Bright Moon)		 Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Chi Chongrui Insert 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 Jing Insert song in episode 19
14 天竺少女
(Indian Girl)		 Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Li Lingyu Insert song in episode 24
15 青青菩提树
(Green Bodhi Tree)		 Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Li Jingxian Insert song in episode 25
16 无底船歌
(Song of the Bottomless Boat)		 Lyrics by Yan Su; performed by Ye Mao Insert song in episode 25
17 取经归来
(Returning with the Scriptures)		 Lyrics by Dai Yinglu; performed by Jiang Dawei Insert 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 title Credits Notes
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 Dawei The 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 Awards Outstanding Television Series Journey to the West Won
6th Golden Eagle Awards Best Actor Zhang Jinlai Won

Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West

Main article: 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

  1. ^ "《西游记》| 历经艰难 终成正果 【全25集】 - YouTube". YouTube.
  2. ^ "《西游记续集》| 师徒四人 回转长安 【全15集】 - YouTube". YouTube.
  3. ^ "《西游记》 Journey to the West（English Subs） | 四大名著 经典再现【全40集】 - YouTube". YouTube.
  4. ^ (in Chinese) 敢问路在何方 - 电视剧《西游记》剧组聚首《艺术人生》
  5. ^ (in Chinese) 老剧再抢暑期档 86版《西游》重播超2000次
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