SCARLET
HEART RYEO
AN ADAPTATION
OF
THE NOVEL
BU BU
JING XIN
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 None who have watched Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, would
be able to forget the timeless masterpiece. The South Korean television
series took the world by storm in 2016. The global audience have raved over
Lee Joon Gi’s electrifying and stirring performance as Prince Wang So / Emperor
Gwangjong and they too have ranted over the heart-breaking ending. Korean
historical dramas would never be the same again for those who have watched the stunning drama.   Many viewers of the 2016 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo might
not be aware that the South Korean television series is not a remake
of the Chinese television series, Bu Bu Jing Xin (Startling By Each
Step). The two remarkable Asian television series
are actually adaptations; they have been adapted from Tong Hua’s novel (Bu
Bu Jing Xin) to television. Therefore, both share similarities; both are
historical fiction-romance dramas with time travel elements. Tong Hua, one of
the most famous contemporary romance novelists in China, has written many
astonishing romance stories. The SBS Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo masterpiece, which is written by Jo Yoon Young and directed by Kim Kyu Tae, also stars Lee Ji Eun (Hae Soo), Hong Jong-hyun, Kang Ha-neul, Exo’s Byun Baek-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji-soo, Yoon Sun-woo and Kang Han-na. Bu Bu Jing Xin, which stars Damian Lau, Cecelia Liu, Nicky Wu, Kevin Cheng and Yuan Hong, premiered in China on Hunan Broadcasting System in 2011.   Both dramas are about a 21st century lady, who,
through a disastrous event, is sent back in time and finds herself trapped in
the body of a young lady of aristocrat means. She meets several princes and
falls in love, first with the Eighth Prince and later, with the Fourth Prince. Another similarity
is that they speak of a house that is divided against itself and a war among
brothers. There are great differences between the two dramas. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is
significantly shorter than its predecessor, being 20-episode in length
compared to the 35-episode Bu Bu Jing Xin. The Chinese era and Goryeon era are separated from each
other by about 7 centuries. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is about
the tenth century Goryeo Dynasty founded by Taejo while Bu Bu Jing Xin
is about the 17th Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) which was ruled by the
Kangxi Emperor so there are great differences. The Qings or Manchus were considered
to be a barbarian race from the north but their ability to adapt and
assimilate into Chinese culture and civilization was remarkable.  The South Korean television series, Moon Lovers: Scarlet
Heart Ryeo is radically different from Bu Bu Jing Xin in that it
is fast-paced, infused with passion, and action-packed with a lot of martial
arts scenes. Some parts are injected with unexpected humour.   The Chinese Bu Bu Jing Xin is slow-paced and there are practically
no martial arts scenes. Even their few action or horse-riding scenes seem
mild compared to Lee Joon Gi’s showcase of martial arts, sword-wielding and
horse-riding skills. An exception is the display of equestrian skills by Ruolan
and Mingyu, whose skills are probably those of a stuntsman.         The actors and actresses in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
are younger and naturally they portray their young character roles
differently from the Chinese actors who are senior actors playing young
characters particularly at the beginning of the story. The Chinese actors
portray an elegant and more cultured society. At the beginning of the tale, the young Korean actors, portray spirited
teenagers like the scene in which Hae Soo and the Tenth Prince are
involved in a hilarious but childish scuffle.  The greatest difference is the interpretation of the role of
the Fourth Prince. Wang So, the South Korean Fourth Prince is full of fire,
emotion and passion unlike Yinzhen, the Chinese Fourth Prince, who is
seen to be cold and detached. However, both exhibit admirable restraint in
remaining silent or calm in moments of great stress. BU BU JING XIN Bu Bu Jing Xin is loaded with many interesting
aspects of Chinese, Manchu and Mongol history and culture. Whosoever wants to
know more about China will not come away disappointed. The title Bu
Bu Jing Xin speaks volumes about the drama. Bu Bu Jing Xin means ‘On Tenterhooks at Every Turn’. Bu means step. Jing
Xin has connotations of fear. If one is to understand the context
in which the phrase, Bu Bu Jing Xin has been used, one
has to observe life in the palace. It is nerve-racking. Everyone
in the Forbidden City walks on a tightrope; they have to be wary of their every
step. The power struggles bring out the worst in the Yongzhen (Yinzhen)
emperor. His reign is overshadowed by ruthlessness, cruelty and barbarity. Maids are cruelly
beaten to death and Ruoxi’s personal maid is steamed alive.   Some palace
servants have their tongues or limbs cut off and some are forced to drink
poison. The 8th
Prince is forced to watch the barbaric punishment of an official who has betrayed
the Yongzhen emperor. Each of his 4 limbs is tied to a horse and all the
four horses gallop away in different directions. It is
worthy to note that The Usurpation of The Throne by the Fourth Prince is
one of the most exciting scenes in Bu Bu Jing Xin. There is a widely
circulated legend that Yinzhen had usurped the Qing
throne. He had been
accused of modifying the Kangxi emperor's will by changing key Chinese characters
specifying the heir to the throne. It was rumoured that Yinzhen had modified
the phrase ‘transfer the throne to the Fourteenth Prince’
(Chinese: 傳位十四子→ shísì) to ‘transfer the throne to the Fourth Prince’
(Chinese: 傳位于四子 → yúsì) by changing the character shi (十) to yu (于). In 2013, an exhibit in Liaoning's
Archive Bureau unveiled the Kangxi Emperor's succession will for the
first time, and the exhibit finally disproved any notion that Yinzhen had
changed his father's will. The romance of the Thirteenth Prince, played by Yuan Hong, and the Mongolian princess, MinMin, is also one of the most moving and memorable segments of the series. Bu Bu Jing Xin is one of China’s best historical television series. If you have not
watched it, then, it’s your loss. MOON LOVERS:
SCARLET HEART RYEO In Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Lee Joon Gi’s
passionate and deeply emotional Wang So, hurt by his hostage status
and deeply traumatised by his biological mother’s cruelty towards him, is
propelled into the limelight by palace intrigues. A great warrior, Wang So is passionate, aggressive,
violent and fearless. His biological and half-brothers’ jealousy and naked ambition
and his biological mother’s deep-seated prejudice against him drive him to
deeply suspect those around him. Fate deals a helping hand and Wang So ascends
the Goryeo throne to become Emperor Gwangjong. Life as an emperor is not what he had anticipated; his enemies continue to harass him and his few allies leave him
one by one and he ends up lonely at the top. What are the most exciting and impressive Moon Lovers:
Scarlet Heart scenes? One can say that the viewers’ hearts must have skipped a beat whenever the handsome, gorgeous and masculine Fourth Prince appears on the screen. Oh, the
throbbing heart, the racing heartbeats. WANG SO      THE RETURN OF
WANG SO TO SONGAK (GORYEO) Source: A Review of
Korean History Vol 1 Ancient Goryeo Era   THE BATHING RITUAL          THE SHAMANISTIC
MASK DANCE        MOTHER AND SON THE QUEEN AND WANG SO        THE RAINMAKING CEREMONY  THE POISONED
WINE CONSPIRACY    THE FORCED
KILLING OF THE TENTH PRINCE   GWANGJONG’S
WEDDING NIGHT    WANG SO’S SOLILOQUY
AT HIS MOTHER’S DEATHBED    Another impressive scene, Standing in the Rain, in which
Wang So protects Hae Soo with his black cloak has been favourably
compared to the scene in the original drama in which Yinzhen shields Ruoxi
from the pouring rain. The tragic romance in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is
heart-breaking. When the story ends, many in the audience must have broken
down. Hearts ache for Emperor Gwangjong and Hae Soo.           The global success of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo has cemented Lee Joon Gi's place as the King of Historical
Dramas. It is without a shadow of a doubt that the main reason for the runaway
global success of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is Lee Joon
Gi’s spectacular performance. Lee as Wang So, the spirit of the Goryeo,
completely dominates the television series with his natural charisma,
handsome and powerful visual appearance, royal demeanour, formidable
presence, powerful and mysterious aura. His tour de force-soul-stirring
performance has won every viewer’s heart and affection. The passionate Lee
Joon Gi has ridden the crest of the Hallyu Wave yet again.     It is not often that a historical drama touches so many souls. The tale of love, hate, passion, ambition and regret is beautiful and moving, the cinematography is fantastic and the way the tale is narrated is absolutely divine. And the actors’ performance, particularly, Lee Joon Gi’s takes the breath out of everyone in the audience. Although the Fourth Prince is in a mask, viewers cannot help but fall in love with him; they rave over his gorgeous looks and sexiness. Lee Joon Gi’s appeal cannot be easily distilled and explained. It is certain that Lee Joon Gi has stolen a piece of the viewers’ hearts. They look at him but cannot touch him; it is like pressing one's nose against the candy store window. After watching Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, historical dramas will never be the same again. Is there going to be a sequel? Another Time, Another Place: Meeting
Wang So, the Fourth Prince Again in The 21st Century. In South Korea, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Moonlight
Drawn By Clouds, another historical drama, were broadcast in the same
timeslot but the former lost to the latter in ratings. One of the reasons which was given is hilarious. The South Korean reporter really has a sense of humour. ‘… the
audience was tired of bad guys and complicated emotions, preferring a kind
male lead and a simple story like Love in the Moonlight’. (Moonlight Drawn By
Clouds) K-CULTURE PRIDE
AWARD KOREA BRAND
AWARDS 2016  It cannot be denied that Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is
a huge global success. The global
reception to Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is the REAL
indication of the superior quality of the drama and the outstanding performance
of the actors, particularly that of Lee Joon Gi. CHINA Wikipedia originally recorded that Moon Lovers: Scarlet
Heart Ryeo had 2.5 billion views in China in 2016 but someone had
vandalised the Wikipedia site. According to Soompi, ‘…. eighteen (18) episodes have aired so far and the drama has reached a total of two billion views on Youku in total, with each episode viewed over 100 million times.’
‘On October 26, star Lee Joon Gi took to Instagram to post a video of himself and included a caption in English where he thanks fans and expresses his amazement at the record-breaking number of views’, that is 2,023, 991, 992.
The last two (2) episodes of the 20-episode drama, were only aired on 31 October and 1 November 2016. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo had reached 2.5 billion views by 1 November 2016. The Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo WIKIPEDIA site has been vandalised by unseen hands.
   SINGAPORE AND
MALAYSIA The television series garnered 73% (nearly three quarters) of viewership (and not 'surpassing 70%' as noted in Wikipedia) in Singapore and Malaysia, a lion share compared to Moonlight Drawn By Clouds, its rival historical drama which aired simultaneously. Note that there are 4 Korean channels in ONE.  https://www.onetvasia.com/onescoop/scarlet-heart-wins-hearts-and-ratings  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Lovers:_Scarlet_Heart_Ryeo
SINGAPORE In
Singapore, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was number three in 2016
Google Trends (TV shows section). NORTH
AND SOUTH AMERICA DramaFever, which
made Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo available in North and South
America, recorded more than two million views within the mid-series. AMERICAN
SURVEY ON KOREAN CONTENT
CONSUMERS OCTOBER
2016 DRAMA CHART:
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was placed SECOND. FAVORITE
ACTORS CHART: Lee Joon Gi was placed SECOND. FAVORITE
ACTORESSES CHART: Lee Ji Eun was placed THIRD. TAIWAN Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo topped Taiwan's VOD service website KKTV Drama Chart in the
September 19–25 week. Lee Joon Gi was presented with the 2016 Best Actor of the Year award by Taiwan’s KKTV for his amazing performance. ACTOR OF THE YEAR 2016
   https://www.facebook.com/KKTV.me/videos/391096531241891/
HONG
KONG Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was the top content on Hong Kong VOD service's Laiko since the
first week of September. 12th
SOOMPI AWARDS 2016 THE BEST
ADAPTATION AWARD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taXwgHRiHJc   5TH ANNUAL DRAMA FEVER AWARDS MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO BEST ENSEMBLE AND BEST HISTORICAL
DRAMA
 SBS AWARDS 2016   LEE JOON GI 1ST PLACE ACTORS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED OVERSEAS SHOWBIZ KOREA 20.03.2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkO3NPnWDxg Wikipedia: The
information is incomplete Lee Joon Gi’s brilliant performance in Moon Lovers: Scarlet
Heart Ryeo and his Hallyu influence were noticed and in 2019, the sterling
actor was appointed the Brand Ambassador for Palace 3D, a Hong Kong
mobile game featuring Emperor Gwangjong and the imperial palace.    One important fact that was not well-publicised is Tong Hua’s
visit to the filming set of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. The drama
team met up with Tong Hua who was in South Korea for the Seoul
International Book Fair on 19 June 2016. Tong Hua was with the director
and the cast of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and after watching the
initial video made for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, she immediately
approved of it. |
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INTERVIEW with TONG HUA The author of Bu
Bu Jing Xin  https://iu-jjang.tumblr.com/post/146604810642 https://www.weibo.com/2417482174/DClFO5TbL?from=page_1005052417482174_profile&wvr=6&mod=weibotime |
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Q1 |
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Does it
feel different compared to the actors in the Chinese version of Scarlet
Heart? |
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A |
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Although
there are great differences, the Korean actors have their own unique
characteristics. I feel
that the actors each of their own distinct image and style. While they’re not
that similar to the actors in the Chinese version of Scarlet Heart, I
personally think they do match the original characters in the novel well. I
believe the director took references from the characters in the novel and
cast the actors with the intention of helping the audience interpret (the
novel) more easily. Through
communicating with the actors, he preserved the important characteristics of
each personality, while combining that with the actors’ own personalities and
acting abilities to craft each character. The
actors in the Chinese drama are outstanding, so I’m looking forward how
‘Scarlet Heart: Ryeo’ will showcase each of the actors’ strong personalities
through their acting. |
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Q2 |
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How do
you feel attending the Seoul International Book Fair for the first
time and meeting your Korean readers? |
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A |
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I didn’t
know so many people in Korea read my books and that so many people would
attend this event. I’m really glad. |
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Q3 |
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You’ve
met the Scarlet Heart: Ryeo cast then? |
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A |
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I met
them yesterday (19th June 2016) and watched the video they produced, then
greeted the actors at the filming site. |
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Q4 |
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How did
you feel upon meeting the actors? |
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A |
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Great,
I’m filled with greater anticipation now. |
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Q5 |
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This is
your first novel that’s been produced into a Korean drama. To some extent,
you’re probably worried about it. |
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A |
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Initially,
due to the difference in cultures between the two countries, I was indeed
worried, but to not experiment with the new just because of these concerns
would be akin to not eating for fear of choking. (TL note: meaning to avoid
something essential because of a slight risk). I really
like this new attempt to make an originally Chinese novel into a Korean drama
and I’ve seen Kim Kyu Tae PD’s works before, so I trust him completely. I’m
really looking forward to the new drama. |
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Q6 |
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How do
you find the Korean actors’ acting abilities? |
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A |
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While I
haven’t seen all their works, I’ve seen Kang Ha Neul, Lee Joon Gi and Baek
Hyun (EXO)’s acting before. IU is too adorable. The cast is full of actors
that I like. |
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