The Shaolin Warriors
The Shaolin Warriors (Chinese: 少林僧兵) is a Chinese television series directed by Raymond Lee, starring Sammo Hung, Cui Lin, Christopher Lee, Jeanette Aw, Sammy Hung, Cui Peng, Liu Ying and Li Man. The series was first broadcast in November 2008 on CCTV-8 in mainland China. It is the first wuxia television series to filmed in direct collaboration with Shaolin Monastery and features some rarely seen martial arts techniques.[1]
| The Shaolin Warriors | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover art | |
| Also known as | Shao Lin Seng Bing |
| Chinese | 少林僧兵 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Shàolín Sēng Bīng |
| Genre | Wuxia, costume drama |
| Written by | Wang Qiuyu Li Zhixian |
| Directed by | Raymond Lee |
| Starring | Sammo Hung Cui Lin Jeanette Aw Christopher Lee Li Man Sammy Hung Cui Peng Liu Ying |
| Opening theme | Shaolin Si (少林寺) performed by Kung-Fu Pop |
| Ending theme | Zuihao De Shiguang (最好的時光) performed by Jeff Chang |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 34 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Shi Yongxin Chen Juncong Zhou Liming Zhang Heyun Li Hua |
| Producers | Wang Maoliang Shi Yongxin Gao Xiaoping Chen Lizhong |
| Production location | Wuxi |
| Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
| Production companies |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | CCTV-8 |
| Original release | 3 November – 14 November 2008 |
Plot
The story is set in the Ming dynasty during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor. General Qi Jiguang enlists the help of Shaolin Monastery's warrior monks to defend China from the wokou (Japanese pirates) and other invaders.[2]
Cast
- Sammo Hung as Big Feet Monk
- Cui Lin as Yuewen
- Christopher Lee as Qi Jiguang
- Hong Zhibin as Qi Jiguang (young)
- Jeanette Aw as Haiqing
- Li Man as Hideko (Xiuzi)
- Sammy Hung as Yuekong
- Cui Peng as Kazego (Fengyu)
- Liu Ying as Li Ruolan
- Luo Jiaxu as young Li Ruolan
- Chen Zhihui as Yu Dayou
- Qin Yan as Xiaoshan abbot
- Wang Jianxin as Wang Zhi
- Shen Baoping as Hu Zongxian
- Cai Gang as Yan Shifan
- Xu Seng as Jin Ke
- Fang Zhoubo as Wan Biao
- Ren Xihong as Sasaki (Zuozuomu)
- Guo Changhui as Miyamoto (Gongben)
- Liu Weihua as Li Zhongcheng
- Dai Hekang as Mao Haifeng
- Hai Yan as Xiao Lin'an
- Zhou Yunshen as Sun Haixiao
- Ding Xiaohu as Liu Qianhu
- He Xianwei as Wu Jingui
- Cao Shuai as Wang San
- Liu Kai as Yuejian
- Xue Jiangtao as Yueman
- Shi Ziliang as Yiben Daming
- Zhou Jie as Zhou Zhiyuan
- Hao Han as Xiao Fu
- Sun Lufei as Xiao Fu's mother
- Meng Yansen as Xiao Shun
- Fan Libo as Xiao Shun's mother
- Zhao Gang as Qi Jingtong
- Shu Shouqin as Wang Zhifu
- Zheng Rugao as Wangshi Zuzhang
- Li Junliang as Qiangmazi
- Gao Jiafu as Tian Zhong
- Tao Jinlong as Fengchen Xiuji
- Lu Jidong as Zhitian Cilang
- Yuan Shichao as Li Qiangzong
- Li Ke as Zheng Zhifu
Production
The series had a costly budget. In addition to the participation of Hong Kong television series director Raymond Lee as the overall director, 120 warriors monks and 200 secular students from Shaolin Monastery were involved in the production as well.
The project was completed in late 2007 after more than three months of shooting in Wuxi's Film and TV Studios.
Shaolin Monastery's abbot, Shi Yongxin, expressed his desire to spread Shaolin history and culture to the rest of the world through this television series.[3]
United States release
The series premiered in the United States with English subtitles on Toku from 12 July 2017 to 21 February 2018.[4]
International Broadcast
| Network(s)/Station(s) | Series premiere | Airing dates | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
 China |
CCTV-8 | January 11, 2015 - (November 3, 2008-November 14, 2008) | 少林僧兵 ( The Shaolin Warriors; lit: ) |
 Thailand |
BBTV PSI (73) | July 11, 2018 – August 27, 2018 (Every Monday to Friday 08:45-09:30) | ศึกเส้าหลิน สองมังกร (The Shaolin Warriors; lit: ) |
| 5HD1 | 11 September 2020 - 2 November 2020 (Tuesday October 13: No broadcasting), (Friday, October 23: no broadcasting), (Tuesday October 27: No broadcasting) (Every Monday to Friday 22:40-23:30) | ศึกเส้าหลิน สองมังกร (The Shaolin Warriors; lit: ) | |
References
- "MediaCorp's new drama to show rarely seen Shaolin martial arts". Channel NewsAsia. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- (in Chinese) 《少林僧兵》今晚播出 三大看点值得期待
- (in Chinese) 影视作品《少林僧兵》无锡热拍 少林寺沙场秋点兵 Archived 2012-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
- "TOKU ANNOUNCES THE U.S. PREMIERE OF THE SHAOLIN WARRIORS AND THE RASCALS". Olympusat Inc. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
External links
- (in Chinese) The Shaolin Warriors on Sina.com