TVB has launched a drama called "Dharma", starring Lu Liangwei, and it has been more than 20 years. Despite its time, its intriguing storyline is still worth recalling.
The entire series revolves around a mysterious Nirvana Sutra that tells a story full of intrigue and sacrifice.
The Nirvana Sutra is not an ordinary Buddhist scripture, and it hides a shocking secret. It is said that this sutra records an invincible martial art, and if it falls into the hands of people with bad intentions, it will bring disaster to the world.
Driven by this scripture, a series of thrilling events unfold one after another, which also becomes the core of the development of the whole story.
In order to find this scripture, Bodhidharma was not afraid of hardships and dangers, and came to the Central Plains from Tianzhu. His arrival not only brought about the spread of Buddhism, but also plunged Wulin into a dispute over fate.
Bodhidharma in the play is not extraordinary, but a flesh-and-blood monk, who was only a mortal before his death, without any protagonist halo, this way of shaping makes the characters more real and credible, and also lays the groundwork for the subsequent development of the story.
At the same time, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Batuo, unexpectedly obtained this scripture, and he knew the power of this book, so he made an important decision. He hid the scriptures under the Buddha statue and sent his disciple Huiyuan down the mountain to find Bodhidharma.
Batuo hoped to pass on the position of abbot of Shaolin to this high monk from Tianzhu to ensure the safety of the scriptures.
However, things did not go according to Bhata's plan. After Wang Liang learned of the existence of the scriptures, he began to persecute Batuo by various means in an attempt to obtain the scriptures. These events set off a series of thrilling conflicts that became the trigger for the entire story.
At this time, in the land of the Central Plains, a story about scriptures, rights and beliefs unfolded quietly. The Nirvana Sutra becomes the key to connecting the forces of the parties, and at the same time becomes the central element that drives the story forward.
This series, titled "Bodhidharma", actually tells a much larger story, encompassing multiple levels of melee battles such as martial arts, the imperial court, and the temple.
In this battle around the "Nirvana Sutra", Shangshu Wang Liang is the main plot villain, and his ambitions and methods are impressive. Wang Liang has long coveted this scripture, and in order to get it, he does not hesitate to use various means.
Wang Liang began to carry out various conspiracies and persecution against the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Batuo, in an attempt to force out the whereabouts of the scriptures through this means. He definitely did not expect that Batuo would be able to stand firm, and despite the increasing pressure he exerted, Batuo still hid the scriptures under the Buddha statue, and sent his disciple Huiyuan down the mountain to find Bodhidharma, hoping to push this high monk from Tianzhu to the position of abbot of Shaolin.
However, Wang Liang's conspiracy did not end there. When Huiyuan went down the mountain to look for Bodhidharma, Wang Liang sent people to set up an ambush on the way and tried to kill Huiyuan. Luckily, Huiyuan was helped by a chivalrous warrior named Ji Guang and was able to escape.
This chance encounter not only changed Huiyuan's fate, but also laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of the story.
As time passed, Wang Liang's power continued to expand in the court. He uses his wisdom to constantly eradicate dissidents, and his desire for power is clearly revealed. As a righteous man, Ji Guang and Wang Liang have always been opposed, and the contradictions between them have deepened day by day.
Wang Liang's ambition is more than that. He was immersed in Lu Yi's beauty and tried in vain to possess her. This move couldn't help but infuriate Yi Mao, which eventually led to a fierce fight between the two.
In a near-miss process, Yi Mao stabbed the prince Wang Liang seized the opportunity to kill the prince, and then blamed Yi Mao for the crime, so Yi Mao was escorted to the court.
Ji Guang's family unfortunately all died in the process of trying to rescue him, and this incident became a turning point in Ji Guang's life and an important node to promote the development of the plot. In order to take revenge, Ji Guang had to cut off one of his arms, shave his ordination, and join the Shaolin Temple.
Wang Liang's lust for power seems to never stop. After Bodhidharma's death, not only did he not stop cheating, but deliberately covered up this crime, taking advantage of Bodhidharma's apprentice Zhu Chang's desire for the position of head of the family.
He even had Zhu Chang poison Bodhidharma, and then, Wang Liang led his men to occupy the Shaolin Temple, and turned this sacred place of Buddhism in the hearts of the people of the whole country into a place full of sin.
Wang Liang's characterization can be called one of the most successful cases in this series. The intrigue he used, his step-by-step methods, and his endless quest for power left a deep impression on the audience.
It is the presence of such a powerful villain that makes the whole story even more gripping and full of tension.
In this struggle for power, everyone is working hard for their goals, but they are not aware that their fate has quietly changed. Wang Liang's ambition and conspiracy drove the development of the whole story, and also laid the groundwork for the subsequent war between good and evil.
Ji Guang occupies a pivotal position in this "Dharma", and it can almost be said that he is the real protagonist. Ji Guang, played by Ou Ruiwei, has a rich role and character development arc, far exceeding the Dharma in the title of the play, leaving a deep and beautiful impression on the audience.
The story of Ji Guang saving Huiyuan originated from a chance encounter that not only changed Huiyuan's fate, but also brought a huge turning point in Ji Guang's life.
In the process of protecting Huiyuan, Ji Guang got acquainted with a special character - Lu Yi, who disguised herself as a man to serve in the army for her brother, and with the increase of time together, the relationship between the two gradually warmed up, and finally fell in love.
However, Himeko's happiness did not last long. Because of the family's opinion, the Ji family was unwilling to accept Lu Yi, who was born in a poor family. In the face of the family's opposition, Ji Guang chose love without hesitation, leaving home and going to the countryside with Lu Yi to live a secluded life.
Just when Ji Guang thought he could live a peaceful life, fate played tricks on him again. Wang Liang fell in love with Lu Yi's beauty and wanted to forcibly occupy her. In order to protect his beloved, Ji Guang had to clash head-on with Wang Liang.
In a fierce fight, Ji Guang stabbed the prince by mistake, but Wang Liang took the opportunity to kill the prince, and then blamed Ji Guang.
Ji Guang is escorted to the court of justice, where he will face the most serious threat to his life. The Ji family came to the rescue, but unfortunately, everyone was killed. Ji Guang, who witnessed the tragic death of his relatives, was greatly hit in his heart, and the seeds of hatred took root in his heart.
In order to take revenge, Ji Guang made a difficult decision: he cut off his arm, became a monk, and joined the Shaolin Temple. This marked a significant change in his personality, from a chivalrous man who loved and hated to a monk who was determined by revenge.
Ji Guang's transformation did not happen overnight. In the Shaolin Temple, he met Master Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma's wisdom and sacrificial spirit deeply touched Ji Guang and helped him gradually get out of the haze of hatred.
In particular, Bodhidharma's act of pretending to be Wang Liang to bear Ji Guang's two palms not only helped him eliminate hatred, but also made him realize the true meaning of Buddhism.
The process of Ji Guang's upbringing also includes his final decision. After obtaining the "Nirvana Sutra" and cultivating peerless martial arts, he was not confused by the power, but vowed to only deal with Wang Liang and his party.
He did this not only to avenge Comrade Bodhidharma, but also to clear the grievances of the Ji family, which showed the maturity and wisdom of Ji Guang's heart.
Ji Guang's character development process: from a simple chivalrous man to a complex monk, and finally to a wise avenger, this plot shows the richness and depth of the characters, which has become the soul of this series.
In this drama called "Bodhidharma", although Master Bodhidharma is the protagonist of the play, his image is surprisingly plain. Bodhidharma, played by Lu Liangwei, is not a fairy character with great powers, but a flesh-and-blood monk full of wisdom and compassion.
Bodhidharma, who came from Tianzhu, found the Central Plains in order to seek the peerless martial arts in the "Nirvana Sutra". Bodhidharma knew that if this scripture was obtained by people with ulterior motives, it would lead to human disaster. The arrival of Bodhidharma, while spreading Buddhism, was inevitably involved in a dispute over the fate of martial arts.
Bodhidharma's wisdom is first reflected in the plot when he enters the palace to preach the Fa. His words are earnest, showing compassion for all beings. However, his arrival caused an unexpected storm.
Princess Zhaoyi was attracted by Bodhidharma's temperament and secretly had feelings for himWhen the emperor found out about the princess's thoughts, he was furious and wanted to marry the princess far away in Fanbang In the face of this turmoil, Bodhidharma has always remained silent, showing his wisdom and detachment as a monk.
Bodhidharma's great love and sacrificial spirit are fully reflected in his interaction with Ji Guang. When he learns that Himeko has fallen into the abyss of hatred, his heart is filled with pity. He understood that if Ji Guang was allowed to sink, it would not only ruin the young man's life, but also bring shame to Shaolin.
In order to dissolve Ji Guang's hatred, Bodhidharma made an amazing decision: he disguised himself as Wang Liang and volunteered to bear Ji Guang's two palms. This astonishing move not only eliminated Ji Guang's hatred, but also gave him a deep understanding of the true meaning of Buddhism.
Bodhidharma's spirit of great love shows the mind of a true monk.
However, Bodhidharma's fate is full of twists and turns. His apprentice Zhu Chang was instigated and bewitched by Wang Liang because he could not get the position of head of the house, and finally poisoned Bodhidharma with drugs. Faced with the betrayal of his apprentice, Bodhidharma did not show anger, but used his last strength to tell Ji Guang the whereabouts of the "Nirvana Sutra" in his sleep.
In the play, the image of Bodhidharma is not high, although before his death, he was just an ordinary mortal and did not have any protagonist aura. This way of shaping makes the characters more realistic and believable, and also highlights Bodhidharma's wisdom and great love.
Bodhidharma's life shows the wisdom and sacrifice of a true monk. His actions changed Ji Guang's fate and sowed the seeds of hope for Shaolin's future. Although in the series, Bodhidharma's role is not as good as Ji Guang's, his image left a deep impression on the audience and became a key role in driving the development of the entire story.
After the death of Bodhidharma, the Shaolin Temple encountered an unprecedented crisis. Wang Liang led his men to occupy the Shaolin Temple and turned this sacred place into a place of filth and corruption.
This incident highlights the arrogance of evil forces, and also lays the groundwork for the future conflict between evil and justice.
At this time, Ji Guang is no longer the reckless young man he was back then. After all kinds of setbacks, under the guidance and teaching of Bodhidharma, Ji Guang's character has become more and more stable and mature. He swore that only killing Wang Liang and his party was not only to avenge Damour, but also to overturn the case for the Ji family.
This restrained view of revenge reflects Ji Guang's inner growth and comprehension of Buddhism.
A fierce clash between good and evil is about to be triggered. Ji Guang stepped into the Shaolin Temple where Wang Liang was entrenched, faced many enemies alone, and showed amazing martial arts. This life-and-death duel is not only a contest of power, but also a duel between good and evil.
Ji Guang's every move and style is full of firm belief in justice and deep hatred for evil.
In the heat of battle, Himeko always remained calm. He engraved the teachings of Bodhidharma in his heart, and even in the face of enemies, he was not completely consumed by hatred. This inner balance fully reflects the development of Ji Guang's character.
In the end, Ji Guang defeated Wang Liang and others with swift and decisive means, and avenged Bodhidharma and the Ji family. This victory not only washed away the shame of Shaolin, but also showed the return of justice.
When the dust settled, Ji Guang stood in the main hall of Shaolin Temple, looking around, with both the satisfaction of completing the mission and the remembrance of the past.
This battle between good and evil is the climax of the whole story, which not only shows thrilling martial arts scenes, but also reflects the inner growth of the protagonist Ji Guang. In the beginning, Ji Guang wants to solve all problems with revenge, but after a series of hardships and setbacks, he changes his perspective and learns to take revenge in moderation, a change that reflects the influence of Buddhism on him and also shows the deep theme that the play wants to convey.
It is worth noting that although the name of this drama is "Dharma", in this key battle between good and evil, the real protagonist is Ji Guang. This once again confirms the characteristics of this play, "I can't tell who is the protagonist between Lu Liangwei and Ou Ruiwei".
Ji Guang's performance not only promoted the development of the plot, but also deeply attracted the attention of the audience, making him the de facto protagonist of this drama.
Looking back at 1986's "Dharma", it seems to open a window to the past, allowing us to have the honor of seeing the star-studded TVB of that year. The series captivated viewers with its engaging storyline and stellar cast that was unforgettable.
In the play, the Bodhidharma Patriarch played by Lu Liangwei did not hesitate to blacken his face in order to shape the character image. At that time, Lu Liangwei was still a handsome young student, but his interpretation of the role showed maturity and depth beyond his age.
Although in the play, Bodhidharma is not as powerful as imagined, and he is only a mortal before his death, without any halo of the protagonist, but Lu Liangwei's performance left a deep impression on the audience.
Although Ji Guang played by Ou Ruiwei in the play is nominally a supporting role, he has become the actual protagonist through his excellent acting skills. His role surpassed Bodhidharma and became the central character who drove the development of the whole story.
As a young student who was highly praised by TVB at that time, Ou Ruiwei's ability to win this role is undoubtedly an important milestone in his acting career.
The other actors in the play are also dazzling, Chen Xiuwen at that time was full of collagen, beautiful and gentle, and her eyes were full of youthful vitality. Mao Shunyun hadn't met Stephen Chow at that time, pure route, and his eyes flashed with innocence.
With the passage of time, Xiaosheng Xiaohua, who was once in the limelight, has emerged in the film industry and has become a big name. Looking back at this "Dharma", people can't help but sigh that time flies, and the wonderful performances of the actors are also admirable.
This drama is not only a wonderful story, but also a witness to an era and records important moments in the careers of excellent actors.