View source for Justice Pao (1993 TV series)

{{For|other TV series with the same name|Justice Pao (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox television
| image                = Judge Bao 1993.jpg
| caption              = Promotional poster
| alt_name             = Judge Bao<br>Justice Bao<br>{{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|s={{linktext|包|青|天}}|p=Bāo Qīng Tiān}}
| genre                = [[Chinese crime fiction|Crime fiction]]<br>Historical fiction<br>[[Wuxia]]<br>[[Gong'an fiction]]<br>[[Fantasy]]<br>[[historical drama|Period]]<br>Tragedy drama
| creator              =
| developer            = 
| writer               = 
| director             = 
| creative_director    = 
| presenter            = 
| starring             = [[Jin Chao-chun]]<br>[[Kenny Ho]]<br>[[Fan Hung-hsuan]]
| judges               = 
| voices               = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| opentheme            = "Bāo Qīng Tiān" (包青天) performed by Hu Gua (胡瓜)
| endtheme             = 1. "New Dream of the Butterfly Couple" (新鴛鴦蝴蝶夢) performed by [[Huang An (singer)|Huang An]]<br>2. "Hand in Hand, Let's Travel the World" (攜手遊人間) performed by Chang Chen
| composer             = Hsi Yu-lung
| country              = Taiwan
| language             = Mandarin
| num_seasons          = 10
| num_episodes         = 236
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = 
| producer             = Chao Ta-shen
| editor               = 
| location             = 
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = 
| runtime              = 45 minutes/episode
| company              = 
| channel              = [[Chinese Television System|CTS]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1993|2|23}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1994|1|18}}
| related              = ''[[Justice Bao (2008 TV series)|Justice Bao]]'' (2008)<br>''[[Justice Bao (2010 TV series)|Justice Bao]]'' (2010–2012) 
}}

{{Infobox Chinese|title=Justice Bao|c={{linktext|包|青|天}}|p=Bāo Qīng Tiān|w=Pao<sup>1</sup> Ch'ing<sup>1</sup> T'ien<sup>1</sup>|j=Baau<sup>1</sup> Cing<sup>1</sup> Tin<sup>1</sup>}}

'''''Justice Pao''''' is a 236-episode television series from [[Taiwan]], first airing on [[Chinese Television System]] (CTS) from February 1993 to January 1994.

==Background==
The show stars [[Jin Chao-chun]] as the legendary [[Song dynasty]] official [[Bao Zheng]]. It was hugely popular in many countries in [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]].

The series was originally planned to have just 15 episodes. However, the show had high ratings when the initial episodes aired. Due to its popularity, CTS extended the show to 236 episodes.

The rival [[TVB]] and [[ATV Home]] networks in [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] both bought the series in an attempt to gain viewers. Competition between the two networks during the series’ run was so intense that identical episodes were shown on both channels on the same night. It was also one of the first dramas that used [[NICAM]] technology ([[Second audio program|Dual Sound Switch]] [[Cantonese]]/Mandarin).

==List of cases==
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!style="background-color: #00BFFF" width="20"  | Case
!style="background-color: #00BFFF" | ep.<br>#
!style="background-color: #00BFFF" | Chinese Title
!style="background-color: #00BFFF" | English Translation
|-
|#1
|6
|鍘美案 <small>(Zhá Mĕi Àn)</small>
|The Execution of [[Chen Shimei]]
|-
|#2
|5
|真假狀元 <small>(Zhēn Jiă Zhuàng Yuán)</small>
|The Real and Fake [[Zhuangyuan|Principal Graduate]]
|-
|#3
|7
|狸貓換太子 <small>(Lí Māo Huàn Tài Zĭ)</small>
|The Exchange of the Civet Cat and The Crown Prince
|-
|#4
|3
|雙釘記 <small>(Shuāng Dīng Jì)</small>
|The Tale of Two Nails
|-
|#5
|4
|探陰山 <small>(Tàn Yīn Shān)</small>
|The Trek to the Underworld
|-
|#6
|4
|紅花記 <small>(Hóng Huā Jì)</small>
|The Tale of the Red Flowers
|-
|#7
|5
|鍘龐昱 <small>(Zhá Páng	Yù)</small>
|The Execution of Pang Yu
|-
|#8
|9
|鍘包勉 <small>(Zhá Bāo Miăn)</small>
|The Execution of Bao Mian
|-
|#9
|3
|烏盆記 <small>(Wū Pén Jì)</small>
|The Tale of the Black Pot
|-
|#10
|5
|秋娘 <small>(Qiū Niáng)</small>
|Miss Qiu
|-
|#11
|4
|鍘王爺 <small>(Zhá Wáng	Yé)</small>
|The Execution of the Prince
|-
|#12
|5
|古琴怨 <small>(Gŭ Qín Yuàn)</small>
|Resentment of the Guqin
|-
|#13
|9
|三擊鼓 <small>(Sān Jī Gŭ)</small>
|Thrice Hitting the Drum
|-
|#14
|5
|攣生劫 <small>(Luán Shēng Jié)</small>
|The Tale of the Twin Brothers
|-
|#15
|5
|報恩亭 <small>(Bào Ēn Tíng)</small>
|The Temple of Retribution
|- 
|#16
|5
|真假女婿 <small>(Zhēn Jiă Nǚ Xù)</small>
|The Real and Fake Son-in-Law
|-
|#17
|4
|紫金錘 <small>(Zĭ Jīn Chuí)</small>
|The Purple Hammer
|-
|#18
|9
|天下第一莊 <small>(Tiān Xià Dì Yī Zhuāng)</small>
|The Number One Manor
|-
|#19
|5 
|寸草心 <small>(Cùn Căo Xīn)</small>
|The Mind of Kindness
|-
|#20
|8
|屠龍記 <small>(Tú Lóng Jì)</small>
|The Story of Slaying the Dragon
|-
|#21
|5
|鴛鴦蝴蝶夢 <small>(Yuān Yāng Hú Dié Mèng)</small>
|The Dream of the Butterfly Lovers
|- 
|#22
|6 
|天倫劫 <small>(Tiān Lún Jié)</small>
|The Rules of the Lord
|-
|#23
|6
|孔雀膽 <small>(Kŏng Què	Dăn)</small>
|Peacock's Abdomen (A type of poison)
|-
|#24
|6
|真假包公 <small>(Zhēn Jiă Bāo Gōng)</small>
|The Real and Fake Judge Bao
|-
|#25
|6
|貞節牌坊 <small>(Zhēn Jié Pái Făng)</small>
|The Widow's Board
|-
|#26
|5 
|血雲幡傳奇 <small>(Xuè Yún Fān Chuán Qí)</small>
|The Legend of the Blood-Thirsty Flag
|-
|#27
|7
|生死戀 <small>(Shēng Sĭ Liàn)</small>
|Love Between Life and Death
|-
|#28
|6
|尋親記 <small>(Xún Qīn Jì)</small>
|The Story of Seeking Beloved Ones
|-
|#29
|6
|踏雪尋梅 <small>(Tà Xuĕ	Xún Méi)</small>
|Searching for Plum Blossom in the Snow
|-
|#30
|6
|青龍珠 <small>(Qīng Lóng Zhū)</small>
|The Azure Dragon Pearl
|-
|#31
|6
|魚美人 <small>(Yú Mĕi Rén)</small>
|The Mermaid Angel
|-
|#32
|5
|狄青 <small>(Dí Qīng)</small>
|[[Di Qing]]
|-
|#33
|7
|孝子章洛 <small>(Xiào Zĭ Zhāng Luò)</small>
|Zhang Luo, the Filial Son 
|-
|#34
|7
|雷霆怒 <small>(Léi Tíng Nù)</small>
|Heaven's Wrath
|-
|#35
|7
|陰陽判 <small>(Yīn Yáng	Pàn)</small>
| The Fortunes of Yin and Yang
|-
|#36
|6
|九道本 <small>(Jiŭ Dào Bĕn)</small>
|Nine Letters to the King
|-
|#37
|6
|菩薩嶺 <small>(Pú Sà Lĭng)</small>
|Buddha's Peak
|-
|#38
|6
|畫中話 <small>(Huà Zhōng Huà)</small>
|Mystery of the Painting
|-
|#39
|6
|龐妃有喜 <small>(Páng Fēi Yŏu Xĭ)</small>
|Consort Pang is Pregnant
|-
|#40
|6
|乞丐王孫 <small>(Qĭ Gài Wáng Sūn)</small>
|The Beggar Princess
|-
|#41
|5
|五鼠鬧東京 <small>(Wŭ Shŭ Nào Dōng Jīng)</small>
|Five Rats Cause Chaos in the [Eastern] Capital
|}

==Cast==
: ''Note: Some cast members played multiple roles.''
{|class="wikitable" 
|-
!Cast
!Role
!Description
|-
|[[Jin Chao-chun]] || [[Bao Zheng]] || [[Prefect]] of [[Kaifeng]], capital of [[Song Dynasty]]
|-
|[[Kenny Ho]] || [[Zhan Zhao]] || "Southern Hero", "Royal Cat", [[Nine-rank system|4th-ranked]] imperial guard
|-
|[[Fan Hung-hsuan]] || [[Gongsun Ce]] || Bao Zheng's secretary
|-
|Kao Nien-kuo || Wang Chao || Bao Zheng's officer
|-
|[[Hsu Heng (actor)|Hsu Chien-yu]] <small>(C.1–21)</small> || rowspan="2" | Ma Han ||rowspan=2| Bao Zheng's officer
|-
|[[Liu Yueh-ti]] <small>(C.22–41)</small>
|-
|Yang Hsiung || Zhang Long || Bao Zheng's officer
|-
|Shao Chang-sheng || Zhao Hu || Bao Zheng's officer
|-
|Sun Peng <small>(C.1)</small> ||rowspan=3| [[Emperor Renzong of Song|Zhao Zhen]] ||rowspan=3| "Emperor Renzong", 4th emperor of Song Dynasty
|-
|Wang Chung-huang <small>(C.2–28)</small>
|-
|Shih Yu <small>(C.29–41)</small>
|-
|Hou Ping-ying || || Emperor Renzong's sister
|-
|Yang Huai-min || [[Chen Shimei]] || married to Emperor Renzong's sister
|-
|Yang Ping-an || Han Qi || Chen Shimei's guard
|-
|[[Leanne Liu]] || Qin Xianglian || Chen Shimei's original wife
|-
|Tsao Chien || Wang Yan Ling || Song Dynasty [[chancellor (China)|chancellor]]
|-
|Lung Lung || [[Zhao Defang]] || "Eighth Virtuous Prince", Emperor Renzong's uncle
|-
|Han Hsiang-chin <small>(C.3)</small> ||rowspan=2| Princess Di ||rowspan=2| Eighth Virtuous Prince's wife
|-
|Yin Pao-lien <small>(C.32)</small>
|-
|Liu Yueh-ti || [[Emperor Zhenzong of Song|Zhao Heng]] || "Emperor Zhenzong", Emperor Renzong's father and predecessor
|-
|Lu Pi-yun <small>(C.1)</small> ||rowspan=2| [[Empress Liu (Zhenzong)|Empress]]<br>[[Empress Liu (Zhenzong)|Dowager Liu]] ||rowspan=2| Emperor Zhenzong's wife
|-
|Hsiao Ai <small>(C.3)</small>
|-
|Tai Chih-yuan || Guo Huai || eunuch for Empress Dowager Liu
|-
|Tseng Ya-chun || [[Consort Li (Zhenzong)|Consort Li]] || Emperor Renzong's real mother
|-
|[[Wen Shuai]]|| Chen Lin || eunuch
|-
|Tu Man-sheng || [[Pang Ji (Song Dynasty)|Pang Ji]] || Song Dynasty grand tutor
|-
|Chen Chi || Consort Pang || Pang Ji's daughter, married to Emperor Renzong
|-
|[[Doze Niu]] || Pang Yu || Pang Ji's son
|-
|Liu Chu || Pang Fu || Pang Yu's servant
|-
|Chang Kuo-chu || [[Lu Fang (character)|Lu Fang]] || "Sky Rat", 1st sworn brother
|-
|Wu Yuan-chun || [[Han Zhang]] || "Earth Rat", 2nd sworn brother
|-
|Pang San || [[Xu Qing (character)|Xu Qing]] || "Mountain Rat", 3rd sworn brother
|-
|Lu Yi-lung || [[Jiang Ping (character)|Jiang Ping]] || "River Rat", 4th sworn brother
|-
|{{ill|Chang Chen-huan|zh|張振寰}} <small>(C.3–6)</small> ||rowspan=2| [[Bai Yutang]] ||rowspan=2| "Sleek Rat", 5th sworn brother
|-
|Goo Goon-chung <small>(C.41)</small>
|-
|Tai Chih-yuan || Bao Mian || Bao Zheng's same-aged nephew
|-
|Liu Ming || Wu Miaozhen || Bao Zheng's eldest sister-in-law and motherly figure, Bao Mian's mother
|-
|Chang Fu-chien || [[Di Qing]] || Song Dynasty general, Princess Di's nephew
|}

==Awards==
1995 – '''30th [[Golden Bell Awards]]'''<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Government Information Office]] |date=April 20, 2004 |script-title=zh:84年金鐘獎得獎名單【個人技術纇/其他獎】 |url=http://info.gio.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=13330&ctNode=1983 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713044831/http://info.gio.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=13330&ctNode=1983 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-12 |language=zh }}</ref>
* '''Won''' – [[Jin Chao-chun]], [[Golden Bell Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
* '''Won''' – [[Tai Chih-yuan]], [[Golden Bell Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]], for the portrayal of Guo Huai (Case 3)
* '''Won''' – [[Liu Ming (actress)|Liu Ming]], [[Golden Bell Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]], for the portrayal of Bao Mian's mother (Case 8)

==Theme songs==
1. The opening theme, performed by Hu Kua, has the same title as the series. It was originally performed by Chiang Kuang-Chao for the earlier 1974 CTS series also of the same name.
* A [[Cantonese]] [[cover version|cover]] ("願世間有青天") performed by [[George Lam]] with lyrics by [[Wong Jim]] was the opening theme of the series on [[TVB]] in Hong Kong. It was also the opening theme of the 1995 TVB series ''Justice Bao''.
* Another Cantonese cover by [[Ray Lui]] was the opening theme of the 1995 [[Asia Television|ATV]] series ''Justice Bao''.
* A [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] [[cover version|cover]] ("Katarungan Ay Si Judge Bao") was the opening theme of the series on [[TV5 (Philippine TV network)|ABC-5]] in the [[Philippines]] Produced By 20 Plus Entertainment.
* [[Andy Lau]] covered the song in the 2003 Bao Zheng-related movie ''[[Cat and Mouse (2003 film)|Cat and Mouse]]''.
* Cambodian version was performed by Nou Sib which aired on CTV9 in 1994 and Neay Koy which air on CTN in 2020 (as he performed in 2001)
2. The ending theme was "New Dream of the Butterfly Lovers" ({{zh|c=新鴛鴦蝴蝶夢 |p = Xīn Yuānyāng Húdié Mèng}}), written and performed by [[Huang An (singer)|Huang An]].
* This song became a huge hit in the Chinese-speaking world, and Huang's album with the same name became one of the [[List of best-selling albums in Taiwan|best-selling albums in Taiwan]], selling over a million copies.
* Cover versions in many languages exist due to the show's influence in the region. [[Kenny Ho]] recorded a [[Cantonese]] version (also "新鴛鴦蝴蝶夢") with lyrics by [[Albert Leung]], while Huang An and [[Loletta Lee]] each recorded a different Cantonese version (both titled "愛於錯誤年代" but the lyrics differ). A popular English version from the Singaporean band Tokyo Square was titled "Can't Let Go". Huang An's own English version was titled "When It Comes to Love". There are also versions in [[Hokkien]] ("鴛鴦蝴蝶夢" by Joice Lim), [[Thai language|Thai]] ("สุดจะหยุดใจ" by Koong Tuangsith Reamchinda), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] ("Uyên Ương Hồ Điệp Mộng" by Đan Trường), [[Khmer language|Khmer]] ("ផ្ការោយមុនរដូវ" by Nou Sib and "ព្រួយជាមួយចន្ទ" by Khemarak Sereymon) and [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] ("Melody Memory" by Lavenia), among others.
3. Another ending theme song used for some episodes was "Hand in Hand, Let's Travel the World" ({{zh|c=攜手遊人間|l=Traveling the World Hand in Hand}}).

== International broadcast ==
*{{flagicon|Cambodia}}: [[Channel 9 (Cambodia)|Channel 9]]
* {{flagicon|Indonesia}}: [[MNCTV|Indonesian Educational Television]] (1995).<ref>{{cite web|language=id|title=10 Drama Mandarin Legendaris Populer Tahun 90-2000an yang Masih Berkesan Hingga Sekarang, Mana Favoritmu?|date=June 14, 2017|url=https://www.boombastis.com/drama-mandarin-legendaris/109396|publisher=Boombastis|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Malaysia}}: [[8TV (Malaysian TV network)|Metrovision]] (1995) <ref>{{cite news |title=Ban on Justice Bao serial 'not to protect govt TV station' |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19951011-1.2.30.1 |access-date=16 December 2023 |date=10 October 1995}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Myanmar}}: Myawady Television (1998), [[Myanmar Radio and Television]] (2018 - with Burmese dub), [[Sky Net]] Channel 9 Myanmar (2019)
*{{flagicon|Philippines}}: [[Radio Philippines Network|RPN]] (1996-2000),  [[TV5 (Philippine TV network)|ABC 5]] (2007-2008) 
*{{flagicon|Singapore}}: [[Channel 8 (Singaporean TV channel)|Channel 8]] 
*{{flagicon|Thailand}}: [[Channel 3 (Thailand)|Channel 3]] (1995; rerun was broadcast in 2006, 2015 and again since 2024)<ref>{{cite web|title=เปาบุ้นจิ้น1993 เริ่ม 1 ต.ค. ช่อง3, ช่อง3HD|url=http://www.jomyut.club/index.php/news-update/series-in-thai/item/192-justice-bao-1993|work=jomyut.club|access-date=December 12, 2015|date=September 10, 2015|language=th|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163008/http://www.jomyut.club/index.php/news-update/series-in-thai/item/192-justice-bao-1993|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Thailand}}: [[:th:นิว 18|NEW18]] (April 6, 2020 - March 28, 2021 (Every Monday - Sunday from 16: 35-17: 35))
*{{flagicon|Vietnam}}: [[HanoiTV]] (1996)

== Video game adaptations ==
On the first few years after its original run ended, at least three video game adaptations of the series were published in Asia. It is unknown if any of them were licensed by CTS.

The first adaptation was the homonymous [[beat 'em up]] 包青天 (Bāo Qīng Tiān), published in 1994 by [[Bit Corporation]] for the [[Gamate]] handheld console in Taiwan. It is the only one out of the three that was licensed by the console manufacturer. Its higher quality and overall polish and country of origin may also be a pointer for it being officially licensed by CTS, although that is uncertain.

The second and third adaptations were both released in mainland China in 1996 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], and it is unclear which went to market first. The most well-known out of the two, usually cited as the first, is a platformer also titled ''Bāo Qīng Tiān'', published by Kai Sheng in Hong Kong and by Family TSI in Thailand. The second is a fighting game titled ''Impartial Judge'', published by [[Waixing Technology|Fuzhou Waixing]] in China.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|1501313|Bao Qing Tian}}

{{The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants}}

[[Category:Fictional depictions of Bao Zheng in television]]
[[Category:1993 Taiwanese television series debuts]]
[[Category:1994 Taiwanese television series endings]]
[[Category:Taiwanese wuxia television series]]
[[Category:Taiwanese fantasy television series]]
[[Category:Television shows about ghosts]]
[[Category:Demons in television]]
[[Category:1990s crime drama television series]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Kaifeng]]
[[Category:1990s Taiwanese television series]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Justice Pao (1993 TV series)|access_date=2026-03-04}}