Time Before Time
Encyclopedia
Time Before Time was the most successful TVB series released in Hong Kong
in 1997, the year that Hong Kong was transferred back to China. The series stars Gordon Lam and Kathy Chow with the storyline dealing greatly with the themes of fate, love and traditional Chinese supernatural beliefs
.
, Terry Chan and composed by George Lam
with lyricist Pun Yun-loeng (潘源良). The song was performed by Anita Mui
.
The insert song (我愛風光好) was composed by Joseph Koo
with lyrics by Albert Leung
. It was also performed by Anita Mui
and Anthony Lun
. The song "Waiting For You to Return" (等著你回來) was originally by performed by Bai Guang
, a 1930-1940s singer from the shidaiqu
era. Throughout the series the song played a role in the story.
, China
. Ever since their death, the warehouse store "Guang chang lung" has been passed down to Luk's remaining brothers. Rumour has it that the store became inhabited by a female ghost. The mystery of how they were murdered was never solved.
named Dai-kwong happened to find work in the same warehouse store. One night in the allegedly haunted store, he accidentally releases the ghost of Siu Fu-yung from an old oil-paper umbrella. She mistakes Dai-kwong for her lover since he looks exactly the same as her husband Wan-kwong who died 20 years ago. After being frightened half to death, Dai-kwong explains that he isn’t the one she’s looking for and reluctantly promises to help her find her lost lover.
Through a radio station, the ghost Siu Fu-yung retells her tragic life by possessing the body of the radio host. As time goes on Dai-kwong falls in love with the female ghost and jeopardizes his relationship with his real wife. Later in a stormy night, memories of Dai-kwong’s mind came back as he discovered he is the reincarnation
of Luk Wan-kwong. Both in this life and his past life he had coincidentally the same name "kwong". The mystery of who killed Luk Wan-kwong and Siu Fu-yung begins to unravel.
, they meet again. Fortunately, unlike the previous two lifetimes, (it is hinted that) this time the two lovers live happily ever after.
folk legend, which was put into a black and white Hong Kong film in 23 February 1949 called "Ruckus at Kwong Cheong lung". The story involved the female ghost in the umbrella in the store. Other versions include the "Musical ghost that causes an uproar in Kwong Cheong Lung" a 28 May 1952 film based similarly on the plot.
The original story has also been adapted to Cantonese opera
form both in the past and present. Part of the story is similarly done for the 1993 movie "Finale in Blood" by Fruit Chan
, which uses the same Chinese name for the film title. The TVB series has elements found in different versions. It is generally regarded as the most successful release.
In the year 1997 when Hong Kong's sovereignty returned to China, the average prime time
rating was only about 32. Time before Time was the most surprise success of the year as a second-line TVB series. The show began with a rating of 34 points and finished with an average rating for 40 points by the end. This was quite high when compared to other averages of the period.
Kathy Chow also left a good impression with the audience wearing qipao and continued to play future roles in other series in that attire. Her acting role with Gordon Lam also won the series the "most touching romantic award for the year". That is not a typical award. The main theme song "Holding Your Beloved" (抱緊眼前人) was one of the few chosen TV series song performed by Anita Mui
in her "Anita Classic Moment Live" final concert. She would also die just weeks after the concert in 2003.
The legend of the Guang chang lung store has been a more widely known legend since. People are constantly searching for the real store and ghost. Some have even posted pictures possibly of the real store in the Hong Kong Discuss Forum
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1997, the year that Hong Kong was transferred back to China. The series stars Gordon Lam and Kathy Chow with the storyline dealing greatly with the themes of fate, love and traditional Chinese supernatural beliefs
Chinese spiritual world concepts
Chinese spiritual world concepts are cultural practices or methods found in Chinese culture. Some fit in the realms of a particular religion, others do not...
.
Music
The opening theme song "Holding Your Beloved" (抱緊眼前人) was written by Anthony LunAnthony Lun
Anthony Lun is a Hong Kong songwriter, arranger, musical director and singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and English.Anthony Lun is a graduate of La Salle College, Hong Kong, Santa Clara University and University of Michigan .Upon returning to Hong Kong in 1986, Anthony released an...
, Terry Chan and composed by George Lam
George Lam
George Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...
with lyricist Pun Yun-loeng (潘源良). The song was performed by Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
.
The insert song (我愛風光好) was composed by Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, SBS is one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran for Mandarin songs. He is the younger brother of famous Chinese singer Koo Mei .-Career:...
with lyrics by Albert Leung
Albert Leung
-Education:He was educated at the boys school Chan Sui Ki College and La Salle College, and graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1984.-Songwriting career:He has been a cantopop lyricist since 1985, using the pen name Lin Xi...
. It was also performed by Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
and Anthony Lun
Anthony Lun
Anthony Lun is a Hong Kong songwriter, arranger, musical director and singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and English.Anthony Lun is a graduate of La Salle College, Hong Kong, Santa Clara University and University of Michigan .Upon returning to Hong Kong in 1986, Anthony released an...
. The song "Waiting For You to Return" (等著你回來) was originally by performed by Bai Guang
Bai Guang
Bai Guang was a famous movie star and singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars.-Biography:...
, a 1930-1940s singer from the shidaiqu
Shidaiqu
Shidaiqu is a type of Chinese folk/European jazz fusion music that originated in Shanghai, China, in the 1920s.-Terminology:The term literally means "songs of the era" in Mandarin...
era. Throughout the series the song played a role in the story.
1920s
The series begins in 1922 with the death of a young couple, Luk Wan-kwong (Gordon Lam) and Siu Fu-yung (Kathy Chow) in GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. Ever since their death, the warehouse store "Guang chang lung" has been passed down to Luk's remaining brothers. Rumour has it that the store became inhabited by a female ghost. The mystery of how they were murdered was never solved.
1940s
In 1947 Hong Kong a lazy 25 year old coolieCoolie
Historically, a coolie was a manual labourer or slave from Asia, particularly China, India, and the Phillipines during the 19th century and early 20th century...
named Dai-kwong happened to find work in the same warehouse store. One night in the allegedly haunted store, he accidentally releases the ghost of Siu Fu-yung from an old oil-paper umbrella. She mistakes Dai-kwong for her lover since he looks exactly the same as her husband Wan-kwong who died 20 years ago. After being frightened half to death, Dai-kwong explains that he isn’t the one she’s looking for and reluctantly promises to help her find her lost lover.
Through a radio station, the ghost Siu Fu-yung retells her tragic life by possessing the body of the radio host. As time goes on Dai-kwong falls in love with the female ghost and jeopardizes his relationship with his real wife. Later in a stormy night, memories of Dai-kwong’s mind came back as he discovered he is the reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Luk Wan-kwong. Both in this life and his past life he had coincidentally the same name "kwong". The mystery of who killed Luk Wan-kwong and Siu Fu-yung begins to unravel.
1990s
The final scene of the series warps us to the 1990s, the next reincarnated lifetime of Fu-yung and Kwong where, again due to fateDestiny
Destiny or fate refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual...
, they meet again. Fortunately, unlike the previous two lifetimes, (it is hinted that) this time the two lovers live happily ever after.
Legacy
The warehouse store Guang chang lung (廣昌隆) and the ghost story is based on the GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
folk legend, which was put into a black and white Hong Kong film in 23 February 1949 called "Ruckus at Kwong Cheong lung". The story involved the female ghost in the umbrella in the store. Other versions include the "Musical ghost that causes an uproar in Kwong Cheong Lung" a 28 May 1952 film based similarly on the plot.
The original story has also been adapted to Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing,...
form both in the past and present. Part of the story is similarly done for the 1993 movie "Finale in Blood" by Fruit Chan
Fruit Chan
Fruit Chan Gor is an independent Hong Kong Second Wave screenwriter, filmmaker and producer, who is best known for his style of film reflecting the everyday life of Hong Kong people. He is well known for using amateur actors in his films...
, which uses the same Chinese name for the film title. The TVB series has elements found in different versions. It is generally regarded as the most successful release.
In the year 1997 when Hong Kong's sovereignty returned to China, the average prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
rating was only about 32. Time before Time was the most surprise success of the year as a second-line TVB series. The show began with a rating of 34 points and finished with an average rating for 40 points by the end. This was quite high when compared to other averages of the period.
Kathy Chow also left a good impression with the audience wearing qipao and continued to play future roles in other series in that attire. Her acting role with Gordon Lam also won the series the "most touching romantic award for the year". That is not a typical award. The main theme song "Holding Your Beloved" (抱緊眼前人) was one of the few chosen TV series song performed by Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
in her "Anita Classic Moment Live" final concert. She would also die just weeks after the concert in 2003.
The legend of the Guang chang lung store has been a more widely known legend since. People are constantly searching for the real store and ghost. Some have even posted pictures possibly of the real store in the Hong Kong Discuss Forum
Hong Kong Discuss Forum
The Hong Kong Discuss Forum is a major Internet forum based in Hong Kong. As of 2010, it is the 5th most frequently visited website in Hong Kong.-HK161:...
.
Cast
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Gordon Lam | Luk Wan-kwong (陸運廣) | 1920s warehouse store owner |
| Hui Dai-kwong (許大廣) | 1940s coolie | |
| - | 1990s | |
| Kathy Chow | Siu Fu-yung (小芙蓉) | 1920s wife of Luk Wan-kwong |
| Siu Fu-yung ghost | 1940s ghost | |
| - | 1990s | |
| Florence Kwok Florence Kwok Florence Kwok Siu-Wan, born 25 August 1970 in Hong Kong, is a Hong Kong film and voice actress. She entered TVB after participating in Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1992.... |
Ku Mei-ying (古美英) | 1940s wife of Dai-kwong |
| Kenneth Chan Kenneth Chan Kenneth Chan Kai-tai is a Hong Kong actor and television host for the Hong Kong-based Cable TV Hong Kong channel .... |
Che Tat Fu (車達夫) | |
| Yeung Ling (楊羚) | Hui Suk Jing (許淑貞) | |
| Sum Wai (沈威) | Ku Yan Gui (古仁貴) | |
| Johnny Tang (鄧兆尊) | Luk Gai Wah (陸繼華) | |
| Gan Pui Kuan (簡佩筠) | Luk Hiu Tung (陸曉彤) | |
| Ho Yuen Hang (何遠恆) | Che Tat Kuan (車達君) | |
| Cho Chun (曹眾) | Dan Fung (丹鳳) | |
| Law Lok Lam (羅樂林) | Che Yu Ting | |
Cultural Background
- Throughout the series, we see paper models of things such as clothes, bicycles and letters burnt. As a traditional belief, the Chinese see this as the only way to send things to persons who exist in the afterlife. See hell moneyHell Money"Hell Money" is a 1996 episode of The X-Files television series. It was the nineteenth episode broadcast in the show's third season. "Hell Money" features Mulder and Scully investigating a Chinese lottery involving the selling of body parts.- Plot :...
.
- The Chinese philosophy of Yin and YangYin and yangIn Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
is frequently referred to throughout the series. It is used to describe the human and ghost world. Yin energy is associated with passiveness, femininity and yielding therefore, the spirit world whilst on the other hand, Yang is associated with strength, masculinity and brightness – the human world.
- According to Chinese superstition, it is inauspicious to carry an open umbrella inside the home from the outside. The Chinese believe that ghosts find shelter under umbrellas, and may enter one's home if 'carried' inside.