The Legend | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional poster for The Legend | |
Genre | |
Written by | |
Directed by |
|
Starring | |
Ending theme | "Love Song for a Thousand Years" by TVXQ |
Composer | Joe Hisaishi |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language | Korean |
No. of episodes | 24 |
Production | |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies | TSG Company ( joint venture of Kim Jong-hak Productions and SSD) |
Budget | ₩43 billion [1] |
Original release | |
Network | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation |
Release | September 11 December 5, 2007 | –
Korean name | |
Hangul | 태왕사신기 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Taewangsasingi |
McCune–Reischauer | T'aewangsasin'gi |
The Legend ( Korean: 태왕사신기; Hanja: 太王四神記; RR: Taewangsasingi; lit. "Story of the First King's Four Gods") is a 2007 South Korean historical fantasy television series, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, it aired on MBC from September 11 to December 5, 2007, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. [2] [3]
Loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. Bae was paid ₩250 million per episode, the highest salary to date for a Korean drama actor. [4] [5]
A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok (Tiger Tribe), ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwan-woong could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Poong-Baek (백호, the White Tiger), Woonsa (청룡, the Azure Dragon), and Woosa (현무, the Turtle Snake).
He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Kajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Jujak (주작, the Vermilion Bird/Phoenix), and gave it to the woman he loved; Sae-oh. However, Kajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwan-woong healed her. This event makes Kajin develop love for Hwan-woong. When her tribe declared in a war council they would Hwan-woong take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own blade. She then escapes from her own tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become Hwan-woong's woman.
However, Hwan-woong likes Sae-oh and declared his love for her, not knowing that Kajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Kajin was infuriated by this and began reforming the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sae-oh was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Kajin who offered Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire. When Sae-oh refuses Kajin, Kajin responds by dropping Sae-oh's baby from a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak (Black Phoenix), even though Hwan-woong had saved the baby. (Note: Jujak is roughly the equivalent of Phoenix.) Hwan-woong's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake fought the Black Phoenix, but they were no match for it.
Left with no choice, Hwan-woong used his Heavenly Bow to kill Sae-oh, the source of the power of the Black Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of the Phoenix. Kajin committed suicide by jumping from the cliff because she now "had no reason to live in this world any more." Hwan-woong sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' (The Phoenix, White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and the Turtle Snake) in certain artifacts and left them in the care of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jyushin is born.
Many centuries later, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.
Date | Episode | Nationwide | Seoul |
---|---|---|---|
2007-09-10 | 1st Special | 14.1% (6th) | 14.5% (6th) |
2007-09-11 | 1 | 20.4% (3rd) | 21.6% (3rd) |
2007-09-12 | 2 | 26.9% (1st) | 27.7% (1st) |
2007-09-13 | 3 | 26.9% (1st) | 28.3% (1st) |
2007-09-19 | 4 | 31.7% (1st) | 33.3% (1st) |
2007-09-20 | 5 | 31.5% (1st) | 33.1% (1st) |
2007-09-26 | 6 | 23.4% (2nd) | 25.3% (1st) |
2007-09-27 | 7 | 30.9% (1st) | 33.0% (1st) |
2007-10-10 | 8 | 25.9% (2nd) | 26.4% (2nd) |
2007-10-11 | 9 | 28.2% (2nd) | 29.3% (1st) |
2007-10-17 | 10 | 27.5% (2nd) | 28.6% (1st) |
2007-10-18 | 11 | 28.3% (2nd) | 29.7% (1st) |
2007-10-24 | 12 | 29.6% (2nd) | 30.2% (1st) |
2007-10-25 | 13 | 29.1% (2nd) | 30.4% (1st) |
2007-10-31 | 14 | 27.9% (2nd) | 29.0% (1st) |
2007-11-01 | 15 | 31.9% (1st) | 33.2% (1st) |
2007-11-07 | 16 | 30.0% (2nd) | 31.0% (1st) |
2007-11-08 | 17 | 30.4% (2nd) | 31.9% (1st) |
2007-11-14 | 18 | 30.4% (2nd) | 31.5% (1st) |
2007-11-15 | 19 | 31.6% (2nd) | 32.8% (1st) |
2007-11-21 | 20 | 30.4% (2nd) | 32.1% (1st) |
2007-11-22 | 21 | 32.3% (2nd) | 33.4% (1st) |
2007-11-28 | 22 | 31.6% (2nd) | 32.9% (1st) |
2007-11-29 | 23 | 33.0% (2nd) | 34.6% (1st) |
2007-12-05 | 24 | 35.7% (1st) | 37.0% (1st) |
2007-12-06 | 2nd Special | 16.9% (2nd) | 16.0% (2nd) |
Average | 29.4% | 30.7% |
Source: TNS Media Korea
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Bae Yong-joon | Won | |
Top Excellence Award, Actor | Choi Min-soo | Nominated | ||
Bae Yong-joon | Nominated | |||
Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Historical Drama | Choi Min-soo | Won | ||
Best New Actor | Lee Phillip | Nominated | ||
Best New Actress | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Viewer's Favorite Drama of the Year | The Legend | Won | ||
Popularity Award, Actor | Bae Yong-joon | Won | ||
Choi Min-soo | Nominated | |||
Popularity Award, Actress | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Best Couple Award | Bae Yong-joon and Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
2008 | Best Drama | The Legend | Nominated | |
Best Actor (TV) | Bae Yong-joon | Nominated | ||
Best New Actor (TV) | Lee Phillip | Nominated | ||
Best New Actress (TV) | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Best Drama | The Legend | Nominated | ||
Hallyu Achievement Award | Bae Yong-joon | Won |
A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released. [6]
The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki. [7]
The Legend | |
---|---|
![]() Promotional poster for The Legend | |
Genre | |
Written by | |
Directed by |
|
Starring | |
Ending theme | "Love Song for a Thousand Years" by TVXQ |
Composer | Joe Hisaishi |
Country of origin | South Korea |
Original language | Korean |
No. of episodes | 24 |
Production | |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies | TSG Company ( joint venture of Kim Jong-hak Productions and SSD) |
Budget | ₩43 billion [1] |
Original release | |
Network | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation |
Release | September 11 December 5, 2007 | –
Korean name | |
Hangul | 태왕사신기 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Taewangsasingi |
McCune–Reischauer | T'aewangsasin'gi |
The Legend ( Korean: 태왕사신기; Hanja: 太王四神記; RR: Taewangsasingi; lit. "Story of the First King's Four Gods") is a 2007 South Korean historical fantasy television series, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, it aired on MBC from September 11 to December 5, 2007, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. [2] [3]
Loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. Bae was paid ₩250 million per episode, the highest salary to date for a Korean drama actor. [4] [5]
A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok (Tiger Tribe), ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwan-woong could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Poong-Baek (백호, the White Tiger), Woonsa (청룡, the Azure Dragon), and Woosa (현무, the Turtle Snake).
He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Kajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Jujak (주작, the Vermilion Bird/Phoenix), and gave it to the woman he loved; Sae-oh. However, Kajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwan-woong healed her. This event makes Kajin develop love for Hwan-woong. When her tribe declared in a war council they would Hwan-woong take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own blade. She then escapes from her own tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become Hwan-woong's woman.
However, Hwan-woong likes Sae-oh and declared his love for her, not knowing that Kajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Kajin was infuriated by this and began reforming the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sae-oh was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Kajin who offered Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire. When Sae-oh refuses Kajin, Kajin responds by dropping Sae-oh's baby from a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak (Black Phoenix), even though Hwan-woong had saved the baby. (Note: Jujak is roughly the equivalent of Phoenix.) Hwan-woong's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake fought the Black Phoenix, but they were no match for it.
Left with no choice, Hwan-woong used his Heavenly Bow to kill Sae-oh, the source of the power of the Black Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of the Phoenix. Kajin committed suicide by jumping from the cliff because she now "had no reason to live in this world any more." Hwan-woong sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' (The Phoenix, White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and the Turtle Snake) in certain artifacts and left them in the care of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jyushin is born.
Many centuries later, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.
Date | Episode | Nationwide | Seoul |
---|---|---|---|
2007-09-10 | 1st Special | 14.1% (6th) | 14.5% (6th) |
2007-09-11 | 1 | 20.4% (3rd) | 21.6% (3rd) |
2007-09-12 | 2 | 26.9% (1st) | 27.7% (1st) |
2007-09-13 | 3 | 26.9% (1st) | 28.3% (1st) |
2007-09-19 | 4 | 31.7% (1st) | 33.3% (1st) |
2007-09-20 | 5 | 31.5% (1st) | 33.1% (1st) |
2007-09-26 | 6 | 23.4% (2nd) | 25.3% (1st) |
2007-09-27 | 7 | 30.9% (1st) | 33.0% (1st) |
2007-10-10 | 8 | 25.9% (2nd) | 26.4% (2nd) |
2007-10-11 | 9 | 28.2% (2nd) | 29.3% (1st) |
2007-10-17 | 10 | 27.5% (2nd) | 28.6% (1st) |
2007-10-18 | 11 | 28.3% (2nd) | 29.7% (1st) |
2007-10-24 | 12 | 29.6% (2nd) | 30.2% (1st) |
2007-10-25 | 13 | 29.1% (2nd) | 30.4% (1st) |
2007-10-31 | 14 | 27.9% (2nd) | 29.0% (1st) |
2007-11-01 | 15 | 31.9% (1st) | 33.2% (1st) |
2007-11-07 | 16 | 30.0% (2nd) | 31.0% (1st) |
2007-11-08 | 17 | 30.4% (2nd) | 31.9% (1st) |
2007-11-14 | 18 | 30.4% (2nd) | 31.5% (1st) |
2007-11-15 | 19 | 31.6% (2nd) | 32.8% (1st) |
2007-11-21 | 20 | 30.4% (2nd) | 32.1% (1st) |
2007-11-22 | 21 | 32.3% (2nd) | 33.4% (1st) |
2007-11-28 | 22 | 31.6% (2nd) | 32.9% (1st) |
2007-11-29 | 23 | 33.0% (2nd) | 34.6% (1st) |
2007-12-05 | 24 | 35.7% (1st) | 37.0% (1st) |
2007-12-06 | 2nd Special | 16.9% (2nd) | 16.0% (2nd) |
Average | 29.4% | 30.7% |
Source: TNS Media Korea
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Bae Yong-joon | Won | |
Top Excellence Award, Actor | Choi Min-soo | Nominated | ||
Bae Yong-joon | Nominated | |||
Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Historical Drama | Choi Min-soo | Won | ||
Best New Actor | Lee Phillip | Nominated | ||
Best New Actress | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Viewer's Favorite Drama of the Year | The Legend | Won | ||
Popularity Award, Actor | Bae Yong-joon | Won | ||
Choi Min-soo | Nominated | |||
Popularity Award, Actress | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Best Couple Award | Bae Yong-joon and Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
2008 | Best Drama | The Legend | Nominated | |
Best Actor (TV) | Bae Yong-joon | Nominated | ||
Best New Actor (TV) | Lee Phillip | Nominated | ||
Best New Actress (TV) | Lee Ji-ah | Won | ||
Best Drama | The Legend | Nominated | ||
Hallyu Achievement Award | Bae Yong-joon | Won |
A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released. [6]
The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki. [7]