Dark Tales is a series of Hong Kong television period supernatural dramas that originally aired on Jade from 18 March 1996 to 1 May 1998, consisting of two installments with 75 episodes. Based on Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling's series of supernatural tales called Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Dark Tales is produced by TVB and stars a cast of mainly Hong Kong and Taiwanese actors.

Dark Tales
GenrePeriod drama
Supernatural drama
Horror
Romance
Written byTing Shan-hsi (I)
Leung Wing-mui (II)
Leung Kim-ho (II)
Based on the works of
Pu Songling
Theme music composerWilliam Wu (I)
Mahmood Rumjahn (II)
Opening themeI: Kak Sai Ching (隔世情) by Cass Phang
II: Ji Dong Si Gor Mung (只當是個夢) by Cass Phang
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes75 (I–II)
Production
ProducersLau Sze-yu (I–II)
Chou Ling-kang (I)
Production locationsHong Kong
Taiwan
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time45 mins. (each)
Production companyTVB
Original release
NetworkJade
Release18 March 1996 (1996-03-18) –
1 May 1998 (1998-05-01)
Dark Tales
Traditional Chinese聊齋
Simplified Chinese聊斋
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiáo Zhāi
Wade–GilesLiao2 Chai1
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLiu4 Jaai1
JyutpingLiu4 Zaai1

Dark Tales I

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Dark Tales I (聊齋) originally aired on Jade every weekday evening from 18 March to 5 May 1996, and is produced by Lau Sze-yu and Chou Ling-kang, consisting of 35 episodes. It features six independent stories, adapted from the first ten books of Pu's novel.

Part I (Episodes 1–5)

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Part I (流光情劫; lit. "Stealing Love Through Time") is adapted from the tale Mr. Lu's Daughter (魯公女).

  • Jamie Weng as Chang Yu-dan (張於旦)
  • Cynthia Khan as Lu Chin-tsai / Lu Han-chu (魯金采/盧含珠)
  • Chao Chung as You Feng-wen (游鳳紋)
  • Gary Chan as Crown Prince (鹿王三太子)
  • Jessie Chan as Siao Chui (小翠)
  • Hsieh Han as Master Hui-tong (慧通大師)
  • Chen Hung-lieh as Uncle Shen (沈叔)
  • Suen Kwai-hing as Tien Tor Chi
  • Chan Chung-gin as Emperor Crown (鹿王)
  • Suen Dalong as Young Chang Yu-dan (十八歲張於旦)
  • Kwok Tak-shun as Governor (戶部)
  • Lily Liew as Governor's wife (戶部夫人)
  • Cho Chai as Lu An (盧安)
  • Wong Te-fen as Hong Er (紅兒)
  • Shi Yun as Magistrate (縣令)
  • Howie Huang as General (少將軍)
  • Yip Jan-wa as Ming (阿明)
  • Yip Yung as Cheng (阿政)

Part II (Episodes 6–10)

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Part II (俠女田郎; lit. Heroine Tian) is adapted from the tale Tian Chi-lang (田七郎).

  • Cheung Siu-fai as Wu Cheng-hsiu (武承休)
  • Chin Siu-ho as Tian Chi-lang (田七郎)
  • Cynthia Khan as Liu Mu-lian (劉木蓮)
  • Josephine Lam as Wu Cheng-hsiu's wife (武承休夫人)
  • Chao Chung as Su Yue (素月)
  • Michelle Fung as Cheng Chu (程菊)
  • Wilson Tsui as Li Ying (李應)
  • Joseph Lee as Lin Er (林二)
  • Wong Siu-lung as Siao Wu (小五)
  • Leung Yuk-gan as Su Su (蘇蘇)
  • Sally Chen as Tian's Mother (田母)
  • Chen Hung-lieh as Yan Tao-sheng (嚴道生)
  • Derek Kok as Yan Hou (嚴候)
  • Hui Man-chuen as Yan Yung (嚴用)
  • Chan Wing-chun as Wei Ming (魏明)
  • Jack Wong as the Emperor (皇帝)
  • Ho Bik-kin as Manager Wang (王掌櫃)
  • Sun Dalong as Chiang Chiu (蔣九)
  • Shiu Cheuk-hiu as Bali (巴利)
  • Yip Yung as Balu (巴魯)
  • Tie Meng-qiu as Eunuch Yu

Part III (Episodes 11–15)

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Part III (古劍幽靈; lit. "Ancient Ghost Sword") is adapted from the tale Chin Sheng-se (金生色).

  • Jamie Weng as Chin Sheng-se (金生色)
  • Chiang Shu-na as Siao Wen (小雯)
  • Elizabeth Lee as Mu Yue-chin (木月琴)
  • Derek Kok as Mu Ma-biao (木麻彪)
  • Alice Fung as Mrs. Mu (木夫人)
  • Tam Yat-ching as Mu Ying-hao (木英豪)
  • Kwong Wing-fai as Mu Hsing (木興)
  • Yip Yung as Mu Long (木隆)
  • Joseph Lee as Tung Kwai (董貴)
  • Cheng Zhuan as Tung Wu (董五)
  • Hsieh Han as Tung Bi-cheng (董必成)
  • Kwan Yi as Grandma Chin (金姥姥)
  • Wilson Tsui as Chin Sheng-kwang (金生光)
  • Lily Lieu as Mother Bo (鴇母)
  • Chan Pui-shan as Tao Hung (桃紅)
  • Ho Sam as Prostitute
  • Chan Heung-ying as Prostitute
  • Chan Wing-chun as Wang Hsiung (王雄)
  • Brian Wong as Liu Shi-hu (劉仕虎)
  • Tie Meng-chiu as Yu Chi-yung (俞繼榮)

Part IV (Episodes 16–20)

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Part IV (狐仙報恩; lit. "Fox Spirit Repays Debt") is adapted from the tale Siao Chui (小翠).

  • Gallen Lo as Wang Yuan-feng (王元豐)
  • Grace Yu as Siao Chui (小翠)
  • Howie Huang as Wang Kuo-ying (王國英)
  • Chen Hung-lieh as Wang Tai-cheng (王太常)
  • Sally Chen as Mrs. Wang (王夫人)
  • Chau Ching as Wang Yu-chi (王玉芝)
  • Lily Lieu as Yu (虞氏)
  • Kwan Yi as Liu (劉媒婆)
  • Kwong Ming-fai as Chi Er (喜兒)
  • Gary Chan as the Emperor (皇帝)
  • Lee Lung-kee as Mao Song-nian (毛松年)
  • Kwan Ching as Yu Hsu (玉虛道長)
  • Law Suet-ling as Pang Er (胖兒)
  • Hui Man-chuen as Wang Fei (王非)
  • Fung So-bor as Madam Wang Chao (王曹氏)
  • Josephine Lam as Fifth Aunt (五姨太)
  • Cheng Pak-lun as Yuan Chung (袁忠)
  • Chan Wing-chun as Chi He (祈和)
  • Wan Sheung-yin as Empress Dowager (太后)

Part V (Episodes 21–25)

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Part V (翁婿鬥法; lit. "Fight of the In-Laws") is adapted from the tale Chang-ting (長亭).

  • Howie Huang as Shi Da-bu / Fifth Brother (石大璞/五師兄)
  • Grace Yu as Weng Chang-ting (翁長亭)
  • Chen Hung-lieh as Old Weng (翁老兒)
  • Lily Lieu as Mrs. Weng (翁妻)
  • Lee Lung-kee as a Taoist abbot
  • Yip Jan-wa as Big Brother (大師兄)
  • Yip Yung as Second Brother (二師兄)
  • Suen Dalong as Third Brother (三師兄)
  • Brian Wong as Fourth Brother (四師兄)
  • Cheng Zhuan as Sixth Brother (六師兄)
  • Hsieh Han as Old Mr. Shi (石老爹)
  • Kwan Yi as Old Mrs. Shi (石老娘)
  • Wong Siu-lung as Shi Da-kwai (石大珪)
  • Amy Fan as Shi Siao-ying (石小英)
  • Wong Chun-kam as Kao Kwai-chi (高桂枝)
  • Ling Lai-man as Mr. Kao (高員外)
  • Lau Kwai-fong as Mrs. Kao (高夫人)
  • Wa Chung-nam as Kao's housekeeper (高管家)
  • Fung Hiu-man as Weng Hung-ting (翁紅亭)
  • Chan Pui-shan as Siao Yan (小燕)
  • Wilson Tsui as Hua Hua Tai Sui (花花太歲)

Part VI (Episodes 26–35)

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Part VI (秋月還陽; lit. "Chiu-yue Returns from Death") is adapted from the tale Wu Chiu-yue (伍秋月).

  • Gallen Lo as Wang Ting (王鼎)
  • Grace Yu as Wu Chiu-yue (伍秋月)
  • Chen Hung-lieh as Wang Nai (王鼐)
  • Josephine Lam as Wang Nai's wife, Liu (柳氏)
  • Dai Siu-man as Wang Cheng (王誠)
  • Hui Man-chuen as Wang An (王安)
  • Amy Fans as Yuan Yuan-yuan (袁圓圓)
  • Wilson Tsui as Octopus (八爪魚)
  • Joseph Lee as Magistrate Peng (彭縣令)
  • Cheng Fan-sang as King Yan
  • Lau Dan as Chiu-yue's father, Wu Yuan (伍員)
  • Derek Kok as Big Head Ghost (大頭鬼)
  • Brian Wong as Three-eyed Ghost (三眼鬼)

Dark Tales II

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Dark Tales II (聊齋貳) originally aired on Jade every weekday evening from 9 March to 1 May 1998, and is produced by Lau Sze-yu, consisting of 40 episodes. It features eight independent stories, adapted from the first fifteen books of Pu's novel.

Part I (Episodes 1–5)

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Part I (陸判奇談; lit. "Interesting Tales of Judge Lu") is adapted from the tale Judge Lu (陸判).

  • Evergreen Mak as Chu Er-dan (朱爾旦)
  • Celine Ma as Madam Chiao (嬌娘)
  • Angie Cheong as Chang Yun-luo (章雲蘿)
  • Felix Lok as Judge Lu (陸判)
  • Marco Lo as Li Chi-chiao (黎子喬)

Part II (Episodes 6–10)

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Part II (綠野飛仙; lit. "Flying Immortal in the Wilderness") is adapted from the tale Ying (阿英).

  • Jackie Lui as Kan Yu (甘鈺)
  • Noel Leung as Ah Ying (亞英)
  • May Kwong as Chin Chi-niao (秦吉鳥)
  • Derek Kok as Lang Wen-hsien (郎文軒)
  • Elvina Kong as Rouge (胭脂)
  • Chen Xiaoyun as Lotus Fairy (蓮花仙子)
  • Chan Chung-kin as Father Hao (郝老爹)
  • Samuel Yau as Chao Da-shan (趙大山)
  • Wilson Tsui as Prince Ying (鷹王)
  • Kwan Ching as Mountain Spirit (山妖)
  • Suen Kwai-hing as Senior (長老)

Part III (Episodes 11–15)

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Part III (鬼母痴兒; lit. "Ghostly Mother, Devoted Son") is adapted from the tale Siang-chun (湘裙).

  • Derek Kok as Shi Yun-ting (石雲庭)
  • Louisa So as Siang-chun (湘裙)
  • Benny Chan as Shi Tian-sheng (石天生)
  • Joyce Chan as Hsia Sue (夏雪)
  • Chan Dik-hak as Shi Yun-hsien (石雲軒)
  • So Yan-chi as Hsien's wife
  • Chan On-ying as Mute Chuan (啞娟)

Part IV (Episodes 16–20)

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Part IV (陰差陽錯; lit. "Accidental Mistake") is adapted from the tale Wang Lu-lang (王六郎).

  • Evergreen Mak as Wang Lu-lang (王六郎)
  • Rain Lau as Hsu Dan-feng (許丹鳳)
  • Chan Wing-chun as Underworld guardian (鬼差)
  • Felix Lok as Hsu Ban-hsian (許半仙)

Part V (Episodes 21–25)

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Part V (花醉紅塵; lit. "World of Drunk Flowers") is adapted from the tale Madam Hsin Shi-si (辛十四娘).

  • Patrick Tam as Feng Shao-you (馮少游)
  • Noel Leung as Madam Hsin Shi-si (辛十四娘)
  • Dickson Li as King Bee (蜂王)
  • Melissa Ng as Flower Spirit (花妖)
  • Chang Wing-Chun as Emperor's Bodyguard

Part VI (Episodes 26–30)

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Part VI (隔世追情; lit. "Chasing Love Across Time") is adapted from the tale Chin-se (錦瑟).

  • Joey Leung as Yang Da-yung (楊大勇)
  • Louisa So as Sue Chin-se (薛錦瑟)
  • Dickson Li as Yi Dao Sheng (一道生)
  • Gordon Liu as Kao Ni (高聻)
  • Akina Hong as Siao Siang (小香)
  • Wilson Tsui as Chuang Tie-niu (莊鐵牛)
  • Chan On-ying as Chiao Lan (嬌蘭)
  • Celine Ma as Toad Spirit (蛤蟆)
  • Ng Man-sang as Gecko Spirit (壁虎)
  • Andy Tai as Monk Huo-yun (火雲僧人)
  • Helen Ma as Ms. Hsu (徐氏)
  • Felix Lok as Sue Po-ling (薛柏齡)

Part VII (Episodes 31–35)

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Part VII (魅影靈狐; lit. "Phantom Fox Spirit") is adapted from the tale Lian Siang (蓮香).

  • Benny Chan as Sang Siao (桑曉)
  • Rain Lau as Lian Siang (蓮香)
  • Florence Kwok as Li Chiu-rong (李秋蓉)
  • Joyce Chan as Miao Ah-hsiu (苗阿秀)

Part VIII (Episodes 36–40)

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Part VIII (斬妖神劍; lit. "Demon Sword") is adapted from the tale Lady Hua (花姑子).

  • Jackie Lui as An Chun-yang (安君陽)
  • Angie Cheong as Lady Hua (花姑子)
  • Cheng Pak-lun as the Thunder God (雷神)
  • Lily Liu as Lady Hua's mother
  • Florence Kwok as Po Ching-ching (白晶晶)
  • Derek Kok as Chian Chi-liang (錢七兩)

References

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