Li Wei the Magistrate

Li Wei the Magistrate, also known as Li Wei Becomes an Official, is a 2001 Chinese television historical comedy-drama starring Xu Zheng as a young Li Wei, an illiterate county magistrate who would become one of the most prominent officials during 18th-century Qing dynasty.

Li Wei the Magistrate
Taiwan DVD cover
Also known asLi Wei Becomes an Official
The Legend of Li Wei
Traditional李衛當官
Simplified李卫当官
MandarinLǐ Wèi Dāng Guān
Written byYuyue
Starring
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
Production
ProducerJiang Xuerou
Chronology
Followed byLi Wei the Magistrate II (2004)
Related showsYongzheng Dynasty (1997)

A great commercial success, the series was followed by a 2004 sequel Li Wei the Magistrate II, also starring Xu, and a 2005 sequel Li Wei Resigns from Office, starring Paul Chun as an older Li. The trilogy takes place during the reigns of the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng Emperor, and Qianlong Emperor respectively.

Production and broadcasts

The drama is usually considered the sidequel of the 1997 epic TV series Yongzheng Dynasty, returning most of its main cast in their iconic roles. However, whereas Yongzheng Dynasty is mostly based on history, Li Wei the Magistrate is almost completely fictional and includes a significant amount of comedy.

Filming began in October 2000 in Beijing.[1] The series was first broadcast in Taiwan in August 2001.[2] In mainland China, copyrights were sold to many TV stations,[3] which began broadcasting it variously from September 2001 to 2002.

During the series' run in Beijing, Xu Zheng began to be known as "Rookie Comedy King" (喜剧新人王).[4] In Taiwan, he was given the nickname "mainland China's Dicky Cheung".[5] Lead actress Chen Hao, then still a college student and relative unknown, saw her popularity skyrocket with the drama's airing.[6]

Cast and characters

References
  1. (in Chinese) 《李卫当官》正式开拍 “猪八戒”摇身成“李卫”
  2. (in Chinese) 皇帝演夠了 唐國強想演李鴻章
  3. (in Chinese) 《李卫当官》演绎腐败官场中的混混清官
  4. (in Chinese) 《李卫当官》笑翻荧屏 “小混混”徐峥也能称“王”
  5. (in Chinese) 張衛健有個大陸分身
  6. (in Chinese) 陈好：轻舞飞扬的凤凰


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