Title: 태왕사신기 / Tae Wang Sa Shin GiAlso known as: The Legend / The Story of the First King’s Four GodsChinese title : 太王四神記Genre: Period DramaEpisodes: 24Broadcast network: MBCBroadcast period: 2007-Sept-11 to 2007-Dec-05Air 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 / SeohMoon So Ri as Seo Ki Ha / KajinOh Kwang Rok as HyeonkoChoi Min Soo as DaejangroYoon Tae Young as Yeon Ho GaePark Sang Won as Yeon Garyo
Extended Cast
Lee Philip as CheoroPark Seong Min as SaryangPark Sang Myun as JumuchiShin Eun Jung as DalbiKim Mi Kyung as BasonJang Hang Sun as Heuk Gae (Jeollo chief)Kim Hyuk as Heuk Gae’s sonKim Suk as Heuk Gae’s younger sonLee Da Hee as GakudanYoo Seung Ho as young DamdeokPark Eun Bin as young Ki HaOh Seung Yoon as young HyeonkoShim Eun Kyung as young SuziniKim Ho Young as young Ho GaeLee Hyun Woo (younger) as young Cheoro
Production Credits
Producer: Kim Jong HakWriter: Song Ji Na, Park Kyung SooDirector: Yoon Sang Ho
Source: TNS Media Korea
Well, this is another "Surprise" drama in my life. Despite after having a super tired working day, I insist on posting this blog. I have heard of this drama way before it was aired almost few weeks ago. The first 2 episode was "Huh??? what is that? who is that? what is going on?" I was in dilemma watching this drama as i could not catch up the storyline. But after watching more episode especially while watching with "free" of distraction and do not know since when, i started to follow this drama closely. I decided to watch this drama online instead as I could not wait for 1 week to watch only 2 episode aired on tv. And I finished watching it in 1 whole day. It was amazing, as I had no appettie to eat whole day. If only there were such person in this world, how wonderful it could be? I did not mean the hero or heroin in this drama, but Ho Gae. Yes, he is baddie in this drama. But a baddie who did bad stuff mainly for his mother and lover? So sad.
Rating: 3.8/5
