The Price of Peace
Encyclopedia
The Price of Peace is a Singaporean World War II period drama television series first run on TCS Eighth Frequency (now MediaCorp Channel 8) on 30 June 1997. Although the series was originally in Mandarin, an English dubbed version was also broadcast on TCS Fifth Frequency (now MediaCorp Channel 5) in 1999. The drama was rerun in 2007 on MediaCorp Channel 8. The series is based on a 1995 book of the same title (published by Asiapac Books), which contains numerous first-hand accounts of war veterans and eyewitnesses.
sparks off the Second Sino-Japanese War
as Japan launches a full invasion on China. Dida Cheng, a former soldier who served in the Chinese National Revolutionary Army
, travels to Nanyang
(refers to the Southeast Asia
region), where he meets the opera singer Cuicui and a Japanese woman called Hideko. The three of them are drawn into a complex love triangle. Xie Guomin, an anti-Japanese activist, and Zhou Wenlong, the asthmatic son of the boss of a tailor shop, both fall in love with the porridge vendor Wang Qiumei. After Qiumei is publicly humiliated by an evil businessman, she is saved by Wenlong and decides to marry him. However, she is already secretly pregnant with Guomin's child. The relationship between the three of them becomes very strained as a consequence.
After the Japanese occupied Singapore
, they start the Sook Ching Massacre
, in which thousands of Chinese are brutally killed and persecuted. Xie Guomin is arrested by the Kempeitai
and becomes a hanjian
and informant after succumbing under torture to the Japanese. On the other hand, Dida Cheng becomes a resistance fighter and ally of Force 136
and he continues to fight the Japanese invaders to liberate Singapore.
Historical figures, such as the war heroes Lim Bo Seng
, Elizabeth Choy
and Sybil Kathigasu
and the famous philanthropist Tan Kah Kee
, as well as notorious Japanese military figures, such as Ishibe Toshiro and Yoshimura Ekio, are featured as semi-fictional characters in the series as well.
Plot
On 7 July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge IncidentMarco Polo Bridge Incident
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was a battle between the Republic of China's National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, often used as the marker for the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War .The eleven-arch granite bridge, Lugouqiao, is an architecturally significant structure,...
sparks off the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
as Japan launches a full invasion on China. Dida Cheng, a former soldier who served in the Chinese National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
, travels to Nanyang
Nanyang (geographical region)
Nanyang is the Chinese name for the geographical region south of China, particularly Southeast Asia. Literally meaning "Southern Ocean", it came into common usage in self-reference to the large ethnic Chinese migrant population in Southeast Asia, to be more precise, in Singapore, the Philippines,...
(refers to the Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
region), where he meets the opera singer Cuicui and a Japanese woman called Hideko. The three of them are drawn into a complex love triangle. Xie Guomin, an anti-Japanese activist, and Zhou Wenlong, the asthmatic son of the boss of a tailor shop, both fall in love with the porridge vendor Wang Qiumei. After Qiumei is publicly humiliated by an evil businessman, she is saved by Wenlong and decides to marry him. However, she is already secretly pregnant with Guomin's child. The relationship between the three of them becomes very strained as a consequence.
After the Japanese occupied Singapore
Japanese Occupation of Singapore
The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
, they start the Sook Ching Massacre
Sook Ching massacre
The Sook Ching massacre was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, after the British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. Sook Ching was later...
, in which thousands of Chinese are brutally killed and persecuted. Xie Guomin is arrested by the Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
and becomes a hanjian
Hanjian
In Chinese culture, a Hanjian is a derogatory and pejorative term for a race traitor to the Han Chinese nation or state, and to a lesser extent, Han ethnicity. The word Hanjian is distinct from the general word for traitor, which could be used for any race or country...
and informant after succumbing under torture to the Japanese. On the other hand, Dida Cheng becomes a resistance fighter and ally of Force 136
Force 136
Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive . The organisation was established to encourage and supply resistance movements in enemy-occupied territory, and occasionally mount clandestine sabotage operations...
and he continues to fight the Japanese invaders to liberate Singapore.
Historical figures, such as the war heroes Lim Bo Seng
Lim Bo Seng
Lim Bo Seng was a World War II anti-Japanese resistance fighter based in Singapore and Malaya.-Family background and early life:...
, Elizabeth Choy
Elizabeth Choy
Elizabeth Choy-Yong Su-Moi OBE was a Singaporean war heroine, educator and councillor. Along with her husband, Choy Khun Heng, she supplied medicine, money and messages to British civilians interned in Changi Prison during the Second World War....
and Sybil Kathigasu
Sybil Kathigasu
Sybil Kathigasu GM was a Eurasian Malayan nurse who supported the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. She is the only Malayan woman to be ever awarded with the George Medal for bravery.-Background:...
and the famous philanthropist Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :...
, as well as notorious Japanese military figures, such as Ishibe Toshiro and Yoshimura Ekio, are featured as semi-fictional characters in the series as well.
Cast
- Rayson TanRayson TanRayson Tan is a Singaporean MediaCorp actor.Before joining MediaCorp, Tan worked as a flight attendant with Singapore Airlines. In 1990, he emerged as the 2nd Runner-Up in Singapore's Star Search talent competition...
as Lim Bo SengLim Bo SengLim Bo Seng was a World War II anti-Japanese resistance fighter based in Singapore and Malaya.-Family background and early life:... - Xiang YunXiang YunXiang Yun ) is a Singaporean actress from MediaCorp. She is considered as one of the veteran actresses in MediaCorp with 27 years of her career in the Singaporean entertainment industry. She is also deemed as MediaCorp's first "Ah Jie" ....
as Elizabeth ChoyElizabeth ChoyElizabeth Choy-Yong Su-Moi OBE was a Singaporean war heroine, educator and councillor. Along with her husband, Choy Khun Heng, she supplied medicine, money and messages to British civilians interned in Changi Prison during the Second World War.... - Chen ShuchengChen Shucheng-Acting:Chen joined Mediacorp, then known as Radio Television Singapore , as an actor in 1971. Since then he has portrayed many different roles ranging from the young nerdy doctor in The Awakening, a rich flirting playboy in Pretty Faces to the strict and unbending father in Love at 0°C .-Life...
as Tan Kah KeeTan Kah KeeTan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :... - Jacintha AbisheganadenJacintha AbisheganadenJacintha Abisheganaden , also known as Jacintha or Ja for short, is a Singaporean singer and actress.- Discography :Studio albums* 1998: Here's To Ben - A Vocal Tribute To Ben Webster...
as Sybil KathigasuSybil KathigasuSybil Kathigasu GM was a Eurasian Malayan nurse who supported the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. She is the only Malayan woman to be ever awarded with the George Medal for bravery.-Background:... - James LyeJames LyeJames Lye is a former MediaCorp Singaporean TV and Raintree Pictures movie actor. He is currently working as a Product Manager with Citibank in Singapore.-Awards:* TCS Star Awards Best Newcomer...
as Dida Cheng - Lina NgLina NgLina Ng is a Singaporean JTEAM actress, formerly under MediaCorp and MediaWorks. She was initiated into acting as the 1st runner-up for Star Search 1993. She currently runs a childcare centre with ex-MediaWorks actress Evelyn Tan...
as Zhang Cuicui - Christopher LeeChristopher Lee (Singaporean actor)Christopher Lee , born Lee Meng Soon, is a Singapore-based Malaysian Chinese film and television actor, host and singer.-Early life:Lee studied up to form 5 in Sekolah Menangah Seri Kota, Air Leleh, Malacca, Malaysia...
as Xie Guomin - Ivy Lee as Xiuxiu / Natsuki Hideko
- Carole LinCarole LinCarole Lin Chinese name: 林晓佩 is a Singaporean actress.She was previously signed with Mediacorp. Carole had won herself a Best Actress award for putting up a great performance in The Price of Peace in 1997 which left a deep impression to viewers....
as Wang Qiumei - Ryan Choo as Zhou Wenlong
- Bryan Chan as Zhang Ada
- Hong HuifangHong HuifangHong Huifang is a veteran Singaporean actress. She was known for her roles in dramas such as Samsui Women and she won Best Supporting Actress award in the annual Star Awards ceremony twice - in 1997 and 2006 .She married fellow actor Zheng Geping in 1993 and they have two...
as Wang Jinfeng - Brandon WongBrandon Wong (actor)Brandon Wong is a Mediacorp artiste. He was nominated in the Star Awards 2010 for the Best Leading Actor award for his role in Housewives' Holiday after 15 years in the industry. However, he lost the award to Chen Hanwei.-Career:...
as Fang Qinghua - Ken Tay as Zhou Ren
- Chunyu Shanshan as Colonel Miura Kiyoe
- Guo Yikai as Ishibe Toshiro
- Wang Jinlong as Yoshimura Ekio
External links
- The Price of Peace official website The Price of Peace on Baidu BaikeBaidu BaikeBaidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....