Three Kingdoms TV movies

[abcdefg]

Am in the US currently and thus have temporary access to Youtube. Have been downloading an extremely good Chinese TV series based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Outstanding productions, well staged and acted. If you are interested in Chinese history, it's well worth a look. Clear Mandarin with English subtitles. There are 90-odd episodes, each about 45 minutes long. 

 

Here's a Wikipedia article about them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Kingdoms_(TV_series) 

 

Here is a viewing or download link to one of the episodes, and you can access others from there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSgDfwpkQNU

 

I listened to a good series of podcasts on ROTK a few years ago, and now I have these fine video treatments on an SD card or USB thumb drive for those rainy days or cold nights. They really add to and flesh out the classic book, which I've only read in translation thus far. 

 

[abcdefg]

Came across an alternate production from a few years earlier. Acting not as good, in my opinion, but this one has Hanzi subtitles as well as the English. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew4x_xsITaE

[Guest realmayo]

I absolutely loved the first series you linked to. Watched it twice.

Can never have enough 进城-ing.

[Luxi]

The subtitles are by the fansubbing group Jiang Hu. IMO, second to none for quality.

 

 

 

[abcdefg]

1 hour ago, Luxi said:

The subtitles are by the fansubbing group Jiang Hu. IMO, second to none for quality.

 

I was wondering about that; they were extremely good. What an impressive piece of work! Looked it up and found a link to all the subtitled dialogue here: 

 

http://jiang-hu.org/content/three-kingdoms-2010-eps-01-95-95-extras 

 

 

Most of the Mandarin spoken was very clear, and recorded clearly, with good microphones, properly placed and so on. With such a good audio track plus English and Hanzi Chinese subs, one could use parts of this series as a study tool. It would yield some less useful vocabulary, specific to the era in which the drama was set, but it would also give access to lots that is more practical. 

 

Here's an index of episode titles:

 

http://jiang-hu.org/content/three-kingdoms-2010-episode-titles 

 

[somethingfunny]

90 episodes!

 

I find it too stressful if they're speaking in Chinese and the subtitles are in English.

[Luxi]

6 minutes ago, abcdefg said:

Most of the Mandarin spoken was very clear, and recorded clearly

 

That's right. Also, if I remember right, it is spoken directly not voiced over. It makes a huge difference.

 

7 minutes ago, abcdefg said:

one could use parts of this series as a study tool

 

I agree,  although it is rarefied speech with a sprinkling of Classical Chinese expressions, it would still be useful to train your ear. In general, I find good historical drama very effective for my study because it brings up the main ingredient: my interest.

 

@somethingfunny you can find versions of the series without the English subs.

 

 

[Guest realmayo]

Without the English subs where would I have learned the English term "fatuous lord"?

[wibr]

Unfortunately episode 23 and the ones after that are blocked on youtube, any better sources?

[abcdefg]

@wibr -- Are you in Mainland China? 

[wibr]

@abcdefg No, it says they are blocked for copyright reasons, the video contains content copyrighted by BEC-TERO Entertainment PCL. I get this for episodes 23 to 32.

[abcdefg]

Where are you located? I downloaded all 95 episodes plus three "extra features" within the last few days, from the US. 

 

-------------------------------- 

 

Here's a link that works right now for episode 23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwwMVWhn_YM 

 

Episode 24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKtpRfMrRKQ&t=1097s 

 

Episode 25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzLQo3dcPmY&t=1180s 

[wibr]

Yeah those work for me, too. Thanks!

[amytheorangutan]

Such a great TV series and very well subbed with little footnotes on important historical figures and events.  I would never ever get through reading the English translation of the book, so I was really happy to find a good adaptation. I find the story to be relatively unknown in the west even amongst people who learn Mandarin. It's fast paced, extremely interesting and well produced. Definitely 70 hours well spent 

[abcdefg]

I recorded them last month on my annual US trip. Now, back in Kunming, I can watch them at my leisure, even without good access to YouTube. Lots of fun. 

[ShelbyR]

Does anyone have a link for the 3 Kingdoms with English subtitles episodes 59 and 64?  I have all of the others.  Thanks!

[abcdefg]

Here's an episode 59. It's different from the others. Odd that I cannot find one which matches the rest of the series. This one has clearly been done by a different person or group. And 64 is completely missing in action. I'm stumped, Shelby. 

[Zeppa]

Thanks very much for the links, abcdefg. I have been wanting to read the novel but not got into it. I have now found a possible entry through the TV episodes. I don't know how far I'll get with the Moss Roberts version as it is heavy going nonetheless with all the names. I remember when I was in Nuremberg that my Chinese teacher was really impressed that I had read the (translation of) Story of the Stone/Dream of the Red Chamber. I wasn't aware at the time how well-known these novels are.

[abcdefg]

@Zeppa -- I tried reading an English translation recently on Kindle. It was deadly. Gave that up after only a few days and continued enjoying the splendid made-for-TV movies. It might just be that I'm not scholarly enough to chew my way through the book. Have decided not to fret about it and just enjoy the film. 

[amytheorangutan]

I think John who does the podacst said that the English translation is pretty hard to read. He tried to read it and found it dry and boring, unlike how he remembered reading it in Chinese and that’s why he decided to do the podcast.