A Step into the Past

A Step into the Past

Official poster
Genre Historical fiction
Wuxia
Science fiction
Based on Records of the Search for Qin 
by Huang Yi
Written by Wong Kwok-fai
Tong Kin-ping
Lau Choi-wun
Cheung Siu-fong
Ho Kwan-ngo
Directed by Mun Wai-hung
Shek Ming-chuen
Lau Shun-on
Lam Tze-yan
Ng Kam-yuen
Starring Louis Koo
Kwong Wa
Jessica Hsuan
Sonija Kwok
Raymond Lam
Joyce Tang
Michelle Saram
Waise Lee
Eileen Yeow
Sicney Yim
Kwok Fung
Theme music composer Chiu Tsang-hei
Opening theme Tin Ming Jui Ko (天命最高) by Louis Koo
Ending theme Ngo Yuen Oi (我願愛) by Louis Koo
Country of origin Hong Kong
Original language(s) Cantonese
No. of episodes 40
Production
Producer(s) Chong Wai-kin
Editor(s) Wong Kwok-fai
Tong Kin-ping
Location(s) Hong Kong
Hengdian World Studios
Camera setup Multi camera
Running time 45 minutes per episode
Production company(s) TVB
Release
Original network TVB Jade
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Original release 15 October – 7 December 2001
External links
Website
A Step into the Past
Traditional Chinese 尋秦記
Simplified Chinese 寻秦记
Literal meaning Records of the Search for Qin

A Step into the Past (Chinese: 尋秦記; Jyutping: Cam4 Ceon4 Gei3; literally "Records of the Search for Qin") is a 2001 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB and based on Huang Yi's novel of the same Chinese title. The series tells the story of a 21st-century Hong Kong VIPPU officer who travels back in time to the Warring States period of ancient China. He is involved in a number of important historical events that leads to the first unification of China under the Qin dynasty. The series' first original broadcast ran from 15 October to 7 December 2001 on the TVB Jade network in Hong Kong.

Plot

21st century Hong Kong

Hong Siu-lung is a 21st-century VIPPU special agent in Hong Kong. In the first episode, Hong and his colleagues stand guard at an exhibition of the First Emperor's Terracotta Army. One of Hong's colleagues notices that one of the terracotta warriors bears a striking resemblance to Hong. Moments later, wealthy businessman Lee Siu-chiu is attacked and held hostage at the museum by a madman who had suffered losses in the stock market. Hong rescues Lee and defuses the crisis.

Hong is unhappy despite his success in his career. He has just broken up with his girlfriend, Chun Ching, after a seven-year-long relationship. She insisted that they wed but he preferred to continue their relationship without a proper marriage. Chun married another man and Hong becomes depressed.

Time travelling

Impressed with Hong's rescue attempt, Lee Siu-chiu and Doctor Wu Yau recruit him for a secret time-travelling experiment. Hong agrees to help them in exchange for an opportunity to travel back in time to salvage his failed relationship with Chun Ching. He is tasked to travel back more than two thousand years to the Qin dynasty, half an hour prior to the coronation of Ying Ching in 247 BC, and document the event with a digital camera before a swift departure. However, a critical error occurs during the traveling stage and Hong is sent further back in time three years earlier than originally planned. He is now trapped in the Zhao state of the Warring States period in 250 BC.

In order to return to the future, Hong has to make an arduous journey across thousands of miles in ancient China to activate a device at a specific location and time. He was warned that making even a slight change in the grand scheme of events will trigger a chain reaction of catastrophes that will alter history.

Warring States Period

Hong enjoys a series of adventures in history. His knowledge of the 21st century, intelligence and experience as an elite special agent, as well as his prowess in martial arts, enables him to make a strong stand in history. He enters the service of various lords and nobles, and becomes a valuable ally to them. Concurrently, he becomes involved in romantic relationships with four women. The first, Sin-yau, is a wandering female assassin and the first person he meets after travelling back in time. The second, Wu Ting-fong, is the beautiful but spoiled daughter of a wealthy noble. The third is a pretty female scholar named Kam Ching, who resembles his 21st century girlfriend Chun Ching in appearance and shares a similar name (completely homophonic in Standard Mandarin). The last is Princess Chiu Sin, the daughter of the king of Zhao, who dies in a tragic incident later. He also befriends the king's sister Chiu Nga and her son Chiu Poon. Meanwhile, he foils the evil plans of Chiu Muk, a secret agent from the Chu state, and becomes Chiu's enemy. Chiu Muk's henchman Lin Chun also sees Hong as his greatest rival.

Destiny

Ying sees Hong as a valuable ally in his future endeavours and wants to retain him as an adviser. However, Hong begins to feel regret when he sees the evil creation of his efforts, fulfilling the predestination paradox. He is aware that he is not destined to leave his mark in history and refuses to stay in the imperial court. He leaves with Wu Ting-fong and Kam Ching, who are both happily married to him at last. Ying sends his troops to pursue Hong and eventually decides to exile Hong and decrees that the name "Hong Siu-lung" shall henceforth be purged from history. All books and historical records pertaining to Hong are ordered to be destroyed, which leads to Chun Chi Wong's notorious practice of the burning of books and burying of scholars.

Hong and his family find paradise in the plains far from the urban regions. Hong and Wu Ting-fong have a son. In the final moments of the last episode, Hong's son tells him he wants to change his name to Hong Yu, a man who historically become a prominent military general who overthrew the Qin dynasty. Hong then exclaims in English "Shit!"

Cast

Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.

Main characters

Minor characters

  • Eileen Yeow as Lady Chu
  • Kwok Fung as Lui But-wai
  • Power Chan as Lee See
  • Derek Kok as Wong Chin
  • Wong Man-piu as Tang Yik
  • Lau Ka-long as Ying Jun
  • Sherming Yiu as Lui Leung-yung
  • Yu Tze-ming as Chau Hin
  • Wong Wai as Wu Ying-yuen
  • Siu Chuen-yung as Wu Ting-wai
  • Au Sui-wai as To Fong
  • Kwok Tak-shun as Lord Luk
  • Wong Wai-leung as Chiu Ko
  • Lee Lung-kei as King Chong-sheung
  • Tai Chi-wai as Yeung Chuen-kwan
  • Lee Hoi-sang as Mung Ngo
  • Chow Yeung as Prince Sing-kiu
  • Peter Lai as King Hao-sing
  • Lau Wing-kin as Chui Tak
  • Bond Chan as Chiu Ka
  • Joyce Koi as Lord Lung-yeung
  • Savio Tsang as Lord Suen-ling
  • Ricky Wong as Hiu Ngai-mau
  • Chan Ka-yee as Lady Ping-yuen
  • Raven Po as Crown Prince
  • Gordon Liu as Cho Chau-dou
  • Lee Ka-ding as Yim Ping
  • Chan Wing-chun as Lo Oi
  • Russell Cheung as the real Ying Ching
  • Lai Suen as empress dowager
  • Kenneth Ma as Kam Ching's late husband
  • Ng Yik-hin as Hon Fei
  • Law Ho-kai as Lee Yuen
  • Yeung Ka-nok as Hon Yin
  • Chan Tik-hak as Uncle Mute
  • Lam King-kong as Ah Keung (episode 1)
  • Chor Yuen as Officer Wong (episode 1)
  • Mak Cheung-ching as madman (episode 1)
  • Tang Yat-kwan as Lee Siu-chiu (episode 1)
  • Liu Kai-chi as Wu Yau (episode 1)
  • Yuen Wah as Yuen Chung (episode 23)
  • Cheung Lui as bandit (episode 3)
  • Tan Kuen-fai as bandit (episode 3)
  • Lam Yuen-ying as bandit (episode 3)
  • Wong Kun-sun as bandit (episode 3)
  • Chow Chung as old man (episode 2)
  • Ha Ping as old woman (episode 2)
  • Wong He as drummer (episode 6)
  • Lee Chun-wai as Hong Yu (episode 40)

Production and reception

A Step into the Past received high ratings during its initial run in 2001, and continued to be successful during its midnight re-runs in the summer of 2005, leading to another trend of late-night television watching after At the Threshold of an Era.

This was the last television drama that Louis Koo acted in, as he had decided to concentrate on his film career. He has since worked on films such as Election and its sequel.

Raymond Lam, in his first major role, was highly praised for his breakthrough performance as Ying Ching, and rose to fame quickly. He has starred in numerous leading roles ever since.

While filming in Zhuozhou, Hebei, Jessica Hsuan was stricken with cholera, causing her to enter a local hospital.[1] She remained in bed for over a month until she was able to leave and start filming again. This caused Hsuan's character to be absent for a while in the series. During her hospital stay, many of her co-stars, including Koo, visited her regularly.

After its 2005 midnight re-run, TVB decided to release the complete series on DVD and VCD for the first time on November 18 in the same year. It also became the second TVB drama to be released on DVD after War and Beauty, and the first to receive a non-limited release.

See also

References

  1. Leong, Sandra (15 August 2005). "Single and Loving It". The Straits Times (Singapore). p. 6. Archived from the original on 15 August 2005.

External links

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