The Legend (Korean: 태왕사신기; lit. 'The Chronicles of the First King and the Four Spirits') is a 2007 South Korean historical fantasy television series, starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, it aired on MBC from September 11 to December 5, 2007, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.
Loosely based on the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, the story also adds mythical elements of the Four Symbols depicted in fantasy form as the four guardians who serve the king of Jyushin. Bae was paid ₩250 million per episode, the highest salary to date for a Korean drama actor.
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Synopsis
A long time ago, a tribe that respected the tiger and controlled fire called the Ho-jok (Tiger Tribe), ruled the world. They eliminated and assimilated all tribes except the tribe that respected the bear, called the Ung-jok (Bear Tribe). The Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe fought, and Hwan-woong could not bear to see so many people getting killed. He brought the three gods of nature; Poong-Baek (백호, the White Tiger), Woonsa (청룡, the Azure Dragon), and Woosa (현무, the Turtle Snake).
He removed the power of fire from the leader of the Tiger Tribe, Kajin, sealed the power into an artifact called the Heart of Jujak (주작, the Vermilion Bird/Phoenix), and gave it to the woman he loved; Sae-oh. However, Kajin was mortally wounded while attacking another tribe, and she seemed to die until Hwan-woong healed her. This event makes Kajin develop love for Hwan-woong. When her tribe declared in a war council they would Hwan-woong take back the power of fire, Kajin then slew her tribe's elders with her own blade. She then escapes from her own tribe in search of Hwan-woong, deciding to become Hwan-woong's woman.
However, Hwan-woong likes Sae-oh and declared his love for her, not knowing that Kajin was watching them secretly when this took place. Kajin was infuriated by this and began reforming the Tiger Tribe and attacked the Bear Tribe. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sae-oh was pregnant, and when she had given birth, the baby was kidnapped by Kajin who offered Sae-oh a deal to trade her baby for the power of fire. When Sae-oh refuses Kajin, Kajin responds by dropping Sae-oh's baby from a cliff, leading to Sae-oh going out of control and releasing the Heuk-Jujak (Black Phoenix), even though Hwan-woong had saved the baby. (Note: Jujak is roughly the equivalent of Phoenix.) Hwan-woong's subordinates, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon and the Turtle Snake fought the Black Phoenix, but they were no match for it.
Left with no choice, Hwan-woong used his Heavenly Bow to kill Sae-oh, the source of the power of the Black Phoenix, and managed to seal it once again in the heart of the Phoenix. Kajin committed suicide by jumping from the cliff because she now "had no reason to live in this world any more." Hwan-woong sealed the powers of the 'Four Gods' (The Phoenix, White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and the Turtle Snake) in certain artifacts and left them in the care of certain people, telling them that they will wake when the King of Jyushin is born.
Many centuries later, Damdeok, the reincarnation of Hwan-woong, was born. Along with him, the artifacts of the guardians of the King were born. Damdeok met difficulties in becoming the king of Goguryeo, mainly because of Yeon Hogae who mistook Damdeok for the murderer of his mother, and his father who turned the king's parliament against him.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Bae Yong-joon as Damdeok (later Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo)
Yoo Seung-ho as young Damdeok
The prince of Goguryeo and the reincarnation of Hwang-woong. He comes across a girl named Kiha whom he falls in love with. He had grown to a pleasant young man, but in his heart he always suffered because of Hogae's mother who had committed suicide, causing Hogae to believe that Damdeok killed her. He was later found to be the destined King of Jyushin. In order to protect him before he becomes the king, he was asked to not show his true self to anyone, where in he pretended that he has no skills, especially in fighting. The image he showed to everyone was not hidden just by him and his father but he also trusted Kiha about him being a good fighter. It also prevented him from being harmed by people who wanted the throne, who didn't see him as a threat. However, he proves himself to be an excellent fighter and schemer. He wants to unite the world as a brother, avoiding killing and instead providing love for his future people. At the end of the series, he realizes that the task of the King of Jyushin was to answer the gods whether humans needed their help to continue surviving. The answer he told the gods was that he should return the powers and that humans could carry on by themselves. Having said that, he returned to the heavens, leaving behind Sujini whom he finally realizes thas he has feelings for (although he still had unresolved feelings for Kiha) and kiha's and his son.
Lee Ji-ah as Sujini
Shim Eun-kyung as young Sujini
The mistress of the Phoenix and the reincarnation of Sae-Oh. When she was just a little baby, she was hidden in a pot of beans by her sister, Kiha, to protect her from danger. She was then found by some men of the Geomul village, who saw a phoenix sign on her forehead and thought she was the Black Phoenix. The leader was about to kill her, however Hyeon-go denied having seen the Black Phoenix sign, but a Red Phoenix instead. Sujini was raised by Hyeon-go and considers him as her teacher. Growing up in a male tribe, she developed boyish traits, and loves money, which she uses to buy wine. She met Damdeok by chance one day while she was getting in somewhat little trouble and Damdeok helped her. Their relationship was strengthened over time. Sujini also gave a big contribution helping Damdeok to recognize himself as the king of Jyushin (because of the conflict with Hogae); she always tagged along with him, even onto the battlefield. Sujini was very good at archery. When she discovered that she was the one that would release the Black Phoenix she chose to live alone; she thus moved away without Damdeok's knowledge and brought up the son of Damdeok and her sister. After nine years, they met again, but Damdeok had by then realized she was the one he truly loved. She is the mistress of the Red Phoenix, the ruler of the South and the guardian of the fire, whose heavenly artifact is a large red gem orb. It awakens when the King of Jyushin feels burning passion in his heart.
Supporting cast
Park Jung-hak as General Go Woo-cheung
Jang Hang-sun as Heukgae
Kim Hyuk as Dalgu
Kim Seok as Dalgu's friend
Shin Eun-jung as Dalbi
Ha Ji-young as Personal Writer
Kim Mi-kyung as Bason
Min Ji-oh as Soidooroo
Baek Jae-jin as Buldeul
Hong Kyung-yeon as Dae Shin-kwan
Jung Yoon-seok as Ahjik
Lee Da-hee as Gakdan
Song Kwi-hyun as Jo Joo-do
Woo Hyun as wheat seller
Kim Sun-kyung as Hogae's mother
Dokgo Young-jae as King Gogugyang
Bae Yong-joon as Hwan-woong
Son of the god in the heavenly world, he brought three Guardians of the world: the Blue Dragon, the White Tiger and the Turtle-Snake. His heavenly artifact is the Cheongung, which normally takes the form of a fancy cylinder and enlarges to form a glowing white bow. It is said to be able to either kill or give life to anyone it shoots, and its destruction means the death of the King of Jyushin and the unsummoning of the heavenly power. Before the coming of the King of Jyushin, it was sealed inside a royal sword named Chumoshin, which should release the seal when the heart of the King of Jyushin was introduced to it: that is, when it were to impale his heart. When this was done, it exploded in bright light and disintegrated to fine ash-like mystic powder, revealing the Cheongung in it.
Ratings
Source: TNS Media Korea
Adaptations
A novelization written by Kim Chang-gyu became a bestseller, and a graphic novel version by manga artist Riyoko Ikeda was also released.
The series was adapted into a musical by the Japanese Takarazuka Revue. It was staged in early 2009 by the Flower Troupe, and starred Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano. Following the success of the first run, Version II of the musical was staged in late June 2009 by the Star Troupe, starring Reon Yuzuki and Nene Yumesaki.