Justice Pao (1993 TV series)
Justice Pao is a 236-episode television series from Taiwan, first airing on Chinese Television System from February 1993 to January 1994.
Background
The show stars Jin Chao-chun as the legendary Song dynasty official Bao Zheng. It was hugely popular in many countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia.The series was originally scheduled for just 15 episodes. However, the show garnered high ratings when the initial episodes aired. Due to its popularity, CTS expanded the show to 236 episodes.
The TVB and ATV Home networks in Hong Kong both bought the series in an attempt to gain viewers. Competition between the two networks during the showing of the series was so severe that identical episodes were shown on both channels on the same night. It was also one of the first dramas that used NICAM technology.
List of cases
Cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Jin Chao-chun | Bao Zheng | Prefect of Kaifeng, capital of Song Dynasty |
| Kenny Ho | Zhan Zhao | "Southern Hero", "Royal Cat", 4th-ranked imperial guard |
| Fan Hung-hsuan | Gongsun Ce | Bao Zheng's secretary |
| Kao Nien-kuo | Wang Chao | Bao Zheng's officer |
| Hsu Chien-yu | Ma Han | Bao Zheng's officer |
| Liu Yueh-ti | Ma Han | Bao Zheng's officer |
| Yang Hsiung | Zhang Long | Bao Zheng's officer |
| Shao Chang-sheng | Zhao Hu | Bao Zheng's officer |
| Sun Peng | Zhao Zhen | "Emperor Renzong", 4th emperor of Song Dynasty |
| Wang Chung-huang | Zhao Zhen | "Emperor Renzong", 4th emperor of Song Dynasty |
| Shih Yu | Zhao Zhen | "Emperor Renzong", 4th emperor of Song Dynasty |
| Hou Ping-ying | Emperor Renzong's sister | |
| Yang Huai-min | Chen Shimei | married to Emperor Renzong's sister |
| Yang Ping-an | Han Qi | Chen Shimei's guard |
| Leanne Liu | Qin Xianglian | Chen Shimei's original wife |
| Tsao Chien | Wang Yan Ling | Song Dynasty chancellor |
| Lung Lung | Zhao Defang | "Eighth Virtuous Prince", Emperor Renzong's uncle |
| Han Hsiang-chin | Princess Di | Eighth Virtuous Prince's wife |
| Yin Pao-lien | Princess Di | Eighth Virtuous Prince's wife |
| Liu Yueh-ti | Zhao Heng | "Emperor Zhenzong", Emperor Renzong's father and predecessor |
| Lu Pi-yun | Empress Dowager Liu | Emperor Zhenzong's wife |
| Hsiao Ai | Empress Dowager Liu | Emperor Zhenzong's wife |
| Tai Chih-yuan | Guo Huai | eunuch for Empress Dowager Liu |
| Tseng Ya-chun | Consort Li | Emperor Renzong's real mother |
| Wen Shuai | Chen Lin | eunuch |
| Tu Man-sheng | Pang Ji | Song Dynasty grand tutor |
| Chen Chi | Consort Pang | Pang Ji's daughter, married to Emperor Renzong |
| Doze Niu | Pang Yu | Pang Ji's son |
| Liu Chu | Pang Fu | Pang Yu's servant |
| Chang Kuo-chu | Lu Fang | "Sky Rat", 1st sworn brother |
| Wu Yuan-chun | Han Zhang | "Earth Rat", 2nd sworn brother |
| Pang San | Xu Qing | "Mountain Rat", 3rd sworn brother |
| Lu Yi-lung | Jiang Ping | "River Rat", 4th sworn brother |
| Chang Chen-huan | Bai Yutang | "Sleek Rat", 5th sworn brother |
| Goo Goon-chung | Bai Yutang | "Sleek Rat", 5th sworn brother |
| Tai Chih-yuan | Bao Mian | Bao Zheng's same-aged nephew |
| Liu Ming | Wu Miaozhen | Bao Zheng's eldest sister-in-law and motherly figure, Bao Mian's mother |
| Chang Fu-chien | Di Qing | Song Dynasty general, Princess Di's nephew |
Awards
1995 – 30th Golden Bell Awards- Won – Jin Chao-chun, Best Actor
- Won – Tai Chih-yuan, Best Supporting Actor, for the portrayal of Guo Huai
- Won – Liu Ming, Best Supporting Actress, for the portrayal of Bao Mian's mother
Theme songs
- A Cantonese cover performed by George Lam with lyrics by Wong Jim was the opening theme of the series on TVB in Hong Kong. It was also the opening theme of the 1995 TVB series Justice Bao.
- Another Cantonese cover by Ray Lui was the opening theme of the 1995 ATV series Justice Bao.
- A Tagalog cover was the opening theme of the series on ABC-5 in the Philippines.
- Andy Lau covered the song in the 2003 Bao Zheng-related movie Cat and Mouse.
- Cambodian version was performed by Nou Sib which aired on CTV9 in 1994 and Neay Koy which air on CTN in 2020
- This song became a huge hit in the Chinese-speaking world, and Huang's album with the same name became one of the best-selling albums in Taiwan, selling over a million copies.
- Cover versions in many languages exist due to the show's influence in the region. Kenny Ho recorded a Cantonese version with lyrics by Albert Leung, while Huang An and Loletta Lee each recorded a different Cantonese version. A popular English version from the Singaporean band Tokyo Square was titled "Can't Let Go". Huang An's own English version was titled "When It Comes to Love". There are also versions in Hokkien, Thai, Vietnamese, Khmer and Indonesian, among others.
International broadcast
- : Channel 8
- : Myawady Television , Myanmar Radio and Television, Sky Net Channel 9 Myanmar
- : Channel 9
- : Channel 3