Monday 17 May 2010

The Story of the First King’s Four Gods

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Title: 태왕사신기 / Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi

Also known as: The Legend / The Story of the First King’s Four Gods

Chinese title : 太王四神記

Genre: Period Drama

Episodes: 24

Broadcast network: MBC

Broadcast period: 2007-Sept-11 to 2007-Dec-05

Air time: Wednesdays & Thursdays 21:55 (9:55 Korean time)

Theme song: ‘A thousand years love song’ by DBSK (Dong Bang Shin Gi)

Synopsis

This drama portrays the life of the 19th king of Goguryeo. Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, establish Goguryeo with his Four Gods: Cheong-ryong (Blue Dragon), Baek-ho (White Tiger), Joo-jak (Phoenix), Hyeon-mu (symbolized as a turtle). The Japanese may know them as Seiryuu, Byakko, Suzaku, and Genbu. Jumong marries Soseono, who had a big part in the founding of Goguryeo. They have two sons, Onjo and Biryu. When the son of Jumong’s first wife came to Goguryeo in search of his father, and is named Crown Prince, Soseono takes her sons, Onjo and Biryu, South and establishs Baekje. This is how Baekje and Goguryeo were known as “brother countries”.

As time passed, the Four Gods secluded themselves from society and watched as Baekje and Goguryeo’s relationship worsened (worsened more mainly because Goguryeo’s king was killed in a battle between Baekje and Goguryeo).

One day, Ju-ahn, “Hyeon-mu” of the Four Gods, sees two stars sour up into the sky. Since one came from the palace in Baekje, it predicted the birth of “Su”, later known as King Ah-shin. The other star came from Goguryeo, prophesizing the birth of Dam-deok, later known as Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang.

Realizing that his new master has come to the world, Ju-ahn awaits in the vast Manchuria with a young girl, Sujini, to see which of the two will be his master. Sujini was picked up as an orphan by Ju-ahn and considers Ju-ahn as her father.

Therefore, the story is on the Four Gods looking for their master, Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang, who was an expert in tactics, the woman he loved (Sujini), who was also loved by the coldhearted King Ah-shin.

Who was Dam-deok (Gwang Gae Toh Dae Wang)?: He was the 19th king of Goguryeo (lasted from 37 B.C. to 668 A.D.). During the time of Dam-deok, Goguryeo was the most powerful nation in East Asia (yes, even the Chinese dynasty couldn’t defeat Goguryeo). At age 11, he was made the Crown Prince and became King when he was 16. In 396, he attacked Baekje (a nation Southwest of Goguryeo) and took over the northern area above the Han River. He defeated the many invasions made by the Yeon Dynasty (China) after 400 A.D. During his reign, the number of castles he took over numbered in the hundreds and villages numbered in the thousands. However, he died at an untimely age of 39.

Cast

Bae Yong Jun as Damdeok / Hwanwoong

Lee Ji Ah as Sujini / Seoh

Moon So Ri as Seo Ki Ha / Kajin

Oh Kwang Rok as Hyeonko

Choi Min Soo as Daejangro

Yoon Tae Young as Yeon Ho Gae

Park Sang Won as Yeon Garyo

Extended Cast

Lee Philip as Cheoro

Park Seong Min as Saryang

Park Sang Myun as Jumuchi

Shin Eun Jung as Dalbi

Kim Mi Kyung as Bason

Jang Hang Sun as Heuk Gae (Jeollo chief)

Kim Hyuk as Heuk Gae’s son

Kim Suk as Heuk Gae’s younger son

Lee Da Hee as Gakudan

Yoo Seung Ho as young Damdeok

Park Eun Bin as young Ki Ha

Oh Seung Yoon as young Hyeonko

Shim Eun Kyung as young Suzini

Kim Ho Young as young Ho Gae

Lee Hyun Woo (younger) as young Cheoro

Production Credits

Producer: Kim Jong Hak

Writer: Song Ji Na, Park Kyung Soo

Director: Yoon Sang Ho

Source: TNS Media Korea

Official Site

Wallpaper

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