The Master of Tai Chi (Traditional Chinese: 太極) is a Hong Kong martial arts television drama that aired on Jade and HD Jade from 25 February to 28 March 2008. Produced by Tommy Leung and Raymond Chai, The Master of Tai Chi is a TVB production. The drama was filmed in early 2006, and is the station's first high-definition series that was ever produced.
| The Master of Tai Chi | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| 太極 | |
| Genre | Period drama Martial arts |
| Written by | Au Koon-ying Lee Yee-wah |
| Directed by | Raymond Chai |
| Starring | Vincent Zhao Raymond Lam Myolie Wu Kenneth Ma Melissa Ng Paul Chun David Chiang Derek Kok Selena Li |
| Opening theme | Tai Chi (太極) |
| Ending theme | Fau Sang Yeuk Sui (浮生若水) by Raymond Lam |
| Composers | Tang Chi-wai Tam Tin-lok |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original language | Cantonese |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Tommy Leung Raymond Chai |
| Production locations | Hong Kong Jianshui County, Yunnan Kunming, Yunnan Shanghai |
| Camera setup | Multi camera |
| Running time | 45 minutes (each) |
| Production company | TVB |
| Original release | |
| Network | Jade |
| Release | 25 February – 28 March 2008 |
| The Master of Tai Chi | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 title card | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 太極 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 太极 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Tai Chi" | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
This is TVB's custom-made series for kung-fu icon Vincent Zhao. At the request of Zhao, the main character's name has been changed from 'Wen Zhiu' to 'Mo Ma'.
Synopsis edit
- It demonstrates the philosophy of the way,
- It shows the path to wisdom and harmony,
- A master is here to teach the essence of tai chi!
Orphaned as a child, Mo Ma (Vincent Zhao) grew up in the country and started learning tai chi from his mentor at a very young age. The devastating experience of being abandoned by his mother and eventually his mentor as well has left him twisted and full of hatred. After a series of events that leads to his house being burnt down in the village, his best friend Mai Fung-Nin (Kenneth Ma) and him joins the army. After yet another series of events, they saved Yin Chi-Kwai (Myolie Wu) and Yin Chui-Kiu (Selena Li) and travelled to the capital together. In the capital, another series of events leads Mo Ma to be reunited to his mentor and he starts learning tai chi from his mentor seriously.
Throughout the series, Mo Ma and his friends will experience many injustice that is planned by the Mayor's Assistant and the Head Police Officer aided by Lui Yau-Ngo (Derek Kok). The relationships of each character in the series will change and evolve as well especially between Mou Ma and Song Ching (Melissa Ng), Mai Fung-Nin and Yin Chui-Kiu and lastly between Yin Chi-Kwai and Tuen Hiu-Sing (Raymond Lam), Mo Ma's rival.
Cast edit
| Cast | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vincent Zhao | Mo Ma 巫馬 |
Kwan San-Yuet's student. |
| Raymond Lam | Tuen Hiu-Sing 段曉星 |
Chong Lung Pai (蒼龍派) Head Master Yin Chi-Kwai's lover. Mo Ma's rival. |
| Myolie Wu | Yin Chi-Kwai 言子規 |
Yin Chui-Kiu's sister. Tuen Hiu-Sing's lover. |
| Kenneth Ma | Mai Fung-Nin 米豐年 |
Restaurant Owner Mo Ma's best friend. Yin Chiu-Kiu's husband. |
| Melissa Ng | Song Ching 桑青 |
Mai Fung-Lin's fiance. Mo Ma's love interest |
| Selena Li | Yin Chui-Kiu 言翠翹 |
Yin Chi-Kwai's sister. Mai Fung-Lin's wife. |
| Paul Chun | Tuen Tai-Bak 段泰北 |
Chong Lung Pai (蒼龍派) Ex-Head Master Tuen Hiu-Sing's father. |
| Lau Siu Ming (劉兆銘) | Kwan San-Yuet 關山越 |
Mo Ma's mentor. |
| Power Chan | Ma Keung 麻強 |
Chong Lung Pai (蒼龍派) Eldest Student |
| Derek Kok | Lui Yau-Ngo 閭丘傲 |
|
| Yoyo Chen (陳自瑤) | So Hung-Ling 蘇紅菱 |
Lui Yau-Ngo's lover. |
| David Chiang | Mo Jik 巫直 |
Mo Ma's father. |
| Ellesmere Choy (蔡子健) | Chai Kei Hak-Yeung 柴崎克洋 |
Tuen Hiu-Sing's best friend/classmate. |
| Wilson Tsui (艾威) | Chai Wai 柴威 |
Head Police Officer |
Viewership ratings edit
| Week | Episode | Average Points | Peaking Points | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
February 25–29, 2008 | 1 — 5 | 28
|
30
|
[1] |
2
|
March 3–7, 2008 | 6 — 10 | 28
|
30
|
[2] |
3
|
March 10–14, 2008 | 11 — 15 | 28
|
—
|
[3] |
4
|
March 17–21, 2008 | 16 — 20 | 27
|
—
|
[4] |
5
|
March 24–28, 2008 | 21 — 25 | 29
|
31
|
[5] |
Awards and nominations edit
41st TVB Anniversary Awards (2008)
- "Best Drama"
- "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (Kenneth Ma - Mai Fung-Nin)
References edit
External links edit
- TVB.com The Master of Tai Chi - Official Website (in Chinese)
- K for TVB.net The Master of Tai Chi - Episodic Synopsis and Screen Captures (in English)