The Unforgettable Memory


The Unforgettable Memory is a Taiwanese prime-time television series, originally broadcast on Formosa Television from 22 September 2004 to 28 September 2006 for 526 episodes. With a run-time of over 50,000 minutes, it is the longest Taiwanese TV drama in the 21st century.

Cast

Wang Shengtian is the main protagonist in this drama. Villains include Huang Kunshan, Cai Jinpao, Du Wenjie, Wu Pinde and many others.

Wangs

CastRoleCharacter / Relationship / CareerCareer/StatusEpisodes appeared
Jason Wang Wang Qingyun 王青雲Wang-Chen Yuexia's husband
Father of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi
Famous for carving statues of Guan Yu
He appeared only in episode 13. In episode 65 through flashbacks, he was killed by Huang Kunshan in Japan.
13, 65
Jason Wang Wang Shengtian 王勝天Protagonist
Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Chen Yuexia
Fang Lizhu's husband
Wang Shengzhi's elder brother
Father of Wang Tianzhu
One of the market leaders of the electronics industry and top 50 companies in Taiwan
He stopped schooling at an early age to support his family as a pier labourer and then an employee in Huang Kunshan's timber factory.
Founded Tiancheng Enterprise with Lizhu in Episode 33 in a timber factory as General Manager and subsequently Chairman before expanding into shipping, healthcare, construction, real estate and electronics over the next few decades.
He found out that Huang Kunshan was his father's murderer in episode 70.
Previously faced a business crisis after Kunshan and Dazhong cheated Tiancheng Enterprise funds and causing Lizhu to be jailed.
Became successful after buying over Dazhong's shares in the urban planning project which turned out to be a success.
Relocated Tiancheng Enterprise to Taipei in episode 122 in order to search for Lizhu and Tianzhu.
Founded Tianzhu Hospital in Episode 127 and became its Chairman cum interim CEO in order to fulfil Lizhu's wishes.
In episode 141, Shengtian travelled with Lizhu and Tianzhu.
His role as Tianzhu Hospital's interim CEO was succeeded by Gao Maoxiong in episode 146.
Disbanded most departments in Tiancheng Enterprise and focused more on the electronics industry to help Shengzhi repay his debts worth TWD$1 billion in episode 179.
He married Lizhu in episode 195 after numerous obstacles in their relationship and was later divorced in episode 347.
Had his company listed on the stock exchange in episode 247.
Shengtian and Tianzhu met again in episode 422.
Shengtian and Lizhu remarried again in episode 520.
Retired as the Chairman of Tiancheng Enterprise before passing the baton to Tianzhu in episode 525.
In the finale, Shengtian had successfully fought brain cancer and in the end, both he and Lizhu travelled around the world by boat.
1-363, 373-386 and 409-526
Zhang QinWang-Chen Yuexia
陳月霞
Old Madam Wang
Wang Qingyun's wife
Mother of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi
Mother-in-law of Lai Lizhu and Lai Suling
Grand Matriarch of the Wang Family
Widowed at a young age after Qingyun was murdered by Huang Kunshan
Worked as a vegetable farmer to raise Shengtian and Shengzhi
Favoring male offsprings over female offsprings
Previously diagnosed with stroke and kidney failure.
Used to look down on Lizhu's bar hostess background due to her husband's past encounter which indirectly caused his death and objected to Shengtian and Lizhu's wedding.
Regretted her actions after losing Lizhu and Tianzhu when Suling gave birth to Yuting and tried to get mother and son back into the Wang family.
2-228, 237-390, 396-399, 403-406, 409, 413-418, 425-431, 440-441, 449, 457, 469-491, 494, 497, 499, 501, 504-526
Zhang FengshuFang/Lai LizhuAdopted daughter of Fang Jinchuan and Xiazi
Biological daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing
Huang Kunshan's niece
Huang Xuelian's cousin
Wang Shengtian's wife
Lai Suling's elder sister
Mother of Wang Tianzhu
Former top bar hostess of Xiao Nan Guo's pub and subsequently transformed the pub into a nostalgic restaurant.
Founded Tiancheng Enterprise with Shengtian in episode 33 as Chairman and subsequently Deputy Chairman
In episode 34, Lizhu had Shengtian's son.
In episode 79, she was jailed for 3 years after being framed by Huang Kunshan, and later was bailed out in episode 104.
She gave birth to Tianzhu in episode 89.
She and Tianzhu left quietly in episode 113 in order not to let Shengtian to continue being stuck between her and Old Madam Wang.
She established a property agency firm in episode 122 and disbanded the company in episode 179.
She and Shengtian met again in episode 135.
She thought of the care Shengtian brought in episode 140.
In episode 141, Lizhu travelled with Shengtian and Tianzhu.
She and Tianzhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164.
She knew her biological parents in episode 186, and therefore acknowledged them in episode 191.
She was elected as Chairman of Bo-ai Hospital in episode 208, replacing Lai Suling's role.
She married Shengtian in episode 195 and was later divorced in episode 347.
She returned in episode 467 after the divorce 120 episodes earlier.
Lizhu and Shengtian remarried again in episode 520.
In the finale, both Shengtian and her travelled around the world by boat.
1-148, 164-348, 467-508, 512-526
Younger: Qiu Guanlong and later Ge Jiahong
Older: Xie Chengjun
Wang TianzhuSon of Wang Shengtian and Lai Lizhu
Chen Shanni's husband
Li Jiajia's former husband
Fat Cat's friend

He was born in episode 89 in prison
He and his mother Lizhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164.
Former Canadian university graduate and made his appearance in the older version in episode 214.
Started his career as a security guard in Tiancheng Enterprise.
He married Shanni in episode 316.
He lost the takeover of the Cai's bank shares through a gambling set-up by Du Wenjie and Anlun in episode 370.
Tianzhu and his father Shengtian met again in episode 422.
He divorced with Shanni in episode 428.
He was appointed the General Manager of Tianlei Enterprise in episode 440.
He married Jiajia in episode 490 and was later divorced in episode 515.
Tianzhu and Shanni remarried again in episode 520.
He was appointed the Chairman of Tiancheng Enterprise in episode 525.
The younger version appeared in episodes 123-148 and later episodes 164–212.
The older version appeared in episodes 214–382 and returned in episodes 389–526.
Angel Han Huang XuelianLin Dazhong's fiancée
Daughter of Huang Kunshan
Fang/Lai Lizhu's cousin
Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing's niece

Former Schoolteacher and secretary of Tiancheng Enterprise
She was knocked down by a car in episode 20 arranged by Lin Tonghai's men in order to stop the wedding between her and Dazhong.
She was shot by Quanshui by accident during the election campaign in episode 55.
In episode 94, She and Dazhong were getting engaged.
An episode later, she died by jumping off a cliff after discovering Kunshan's past misdeeds.
1-95
Angel Han Chen ShanniDaughter of Yu Guangrong and Chen Yujie
Wang Tianzhu's wife
She appeared from episodes 233–508 and later episodes 514–526.
She married Tianzhu in episode 316 and was later divorced in episode 428.
She made suicide attempts in episode 491.
Shanni and Tianzhu remarried again in episode 520.
Lee Lee-zenWang ShengzhiLai Suling's husband
Adopted father of Wang Yuting
Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Chen Yuexia
Younger brother of Wang Shengtian
Lawyer-turned-businessman
Former GM of Tiancheng Enterprise
He appeared in episodes 1–342.
He married Suling in episode 85.
Established an investment firm in episode 116 which is used by Cai Jinpao for the purpose of money laundering.
Found out about Yuting's true parentage in episode 172 after she met into an accident.
He divorced with Suling in order not to implicate her for his mounting debts in episode 178 and patched up in episode 195.
Founded Tianma Enterprise in episode 204 with electronics as its core business together with his original investment firm, construction, property development and law firms as subsidiaries and had it listed on the stock exchange in episode 240, earning him the nickname of "Taiwan's King of Stocks".
Went into financial crisis after Yang Jianzhi sabotaged Tianma Enterprise.
He made suicide attempts in episode 289 in losing his wife three episodes after her death.
He married Peiqi in episode 338.
He died in episode 342 after being shot by Cai Jinpao's men.
Yang BaoweiLai SulingWang Shengzhi's wife
Lin Dazhong's former wife
Wang Yuting's mother
Daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing
Lai Lizhu's younger sister
She appeared in episodes 1-286.
She married Dazhong in episode 36 and was later divorced in episode 77.
She married Shengzhi in episode 85.
She gave birth to Yuting in episode 118.
She became the Chairman of Tianzhu Hospital in episode 170 and subsequently changed the hospital's name to Bo-ai Hospital.
Divorced with Shengzhi in episode 178 and patched up in episode 195.
Hired an assassin to kill Dazhong in episode 183.
She was ousted by Lizhu as the Bo-ai Hospital's Chairman in episode 208.
She died in episode 286 after suffering an asthma attack and her inhaler kicked away by Cai Jinpao
Younger: Fu Peici
Older: Jeannie Hsieh
Wang YutingNicknamed as 'Tingting'
Li Wenhua's wife
Daughter of Lin Dazhong and Lai Suling
Adopted daughter of Wang Shengzhi
The younger version appeared from episodes 123–212.
She was born in episode 118.
Met into an accident in episode 172 and her parentage as Lin Dazhong's biological daughter was revealed.
She returned as the older version in episodes 215-315 and later episodes 329-505.
She recovered her memory in episode 402.
Diagnosed with leukemia in episode 438.
She married Jianzhi in episode 485.
She died from leukemia in episode 505.
Wang CanLi WenhuaWang Yuting's husband
One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's doctors
He appeared in episodes 297–315 and later 329-406.
Suffering from mental illness
He had committed suicide in episode 406.

Lais

Huangs

Lis and Sus

Fangs

Lins

Cais

Lins ()

Mais

Dus

Lis

Lis (not ''again'')

Chens

Xus

Tiancheng Enterprise

Tianying Enterprise

Tianlei Enterprise

Music

Theme Song

Ending Songs

Song titlePerformer
雲中月圓
Wang Shih-hsien and Sun Shu-may
昨夜星辰
Yao Xinying
意難忘
Cai Xiaohu
真愛只有你
Lin Shan and Fu Zhenhui
無人來作伴
Lin Shan and Weng Liyou
風中的玫瑰
Long Qianyu
今生最愛的人
Cai Xiaohu

Viewership in Taiwan

The Unforgettable Memory has the distinction of being the longest primetime drama ever in Taiwan history, with a total of 526 episodes produced. It has the highest viewership of all TV shows in Taiwan when it debuted at primetime on September 22, 2004 till its ending on September 28, 2006 almost daily. It was rerun again at 6.00–7.00 pm from July 5, 2010 and lasted until 2014.

Overseas reception

The series received very good critical response and viewership in other countries too and as of 2009 being shown in Singapore's MediaCorp Channel 8 rerunning in the pre-dawn hours from Tuesdays to Saturdays 4.00–6.00 am from January 7, 2009 to September 9, 2010, and the third time from 4 October 2010 from Mondays to Thursdays at 10.00 am – 12.00 noon and ended in 2012. Singapore's Channel 8, China's CCTV-8 and Hong Kong's ATV Channel all aired with each episode running 1 hour, with a total of 872 episodes. It has ended its run on Malaysia's Astro Cable Service. The Vietnamese dub "Tinh Dau Kho Phai" was broadcast on THVL Channel and is streamable on YouTube with a total of 767 episodes.

International broadcast

Taiwan broadcast

, the show airs in Taiwan, country of origin of the drama every weeknight at prime time with episodes which have ranged in length from 135 to 150 minutes including commercial advertisements. The producers received funding from the Government Information Office to produce the series in high definition. The encore episodes are currently uploading on Formosa Television Drama's Youtube Page.