Synopsis
Lei Xuan (Kwong Wah) is the prefect of Tiānpíng Prefecture in Tang dynasty China. In the course of his duties he confronts a group of what he believes to be religious charlatans who claim to be in possession of divinely inspired magical powers and who demand money to placate their deity. Despite his sceptism Lei Xuan pretends to have powers of his own to combat the fraudsters, who seem to have genuine powers. After a battle of wits Lei Xuan exposes the fraudsters for what they are and that the majority of their so-called magical powers are tricks, however even when exposed the fraudsters continue to claim that some of their powers are real and derive from a magical treatise.
With the treatise in his possession Lei Xuan uses the populaces belief in magic to solve crimes in his jurisdiction by pretending to consult and use the manual. Even when magical formulations from the manual appear to work Lei Xuan puts the results down to co-incidence and the gullibility of the uneducated. However, when Lei Xuan is targeted by a witch who uses her powers to steal the life essence of men to maintain an illusion of eternal youth he cannot but admit that magic is real, and with the aid of the manual defeats the witch and saves his own life.
Lei Xuan is aided in his adventures by his man servant Ching Ao Gum and his betrothed Bei Chur Wun (Shirley Yeung). Chur Wun is the daughter of the Tang chancellor and Lei Xuan's betrothed, despite her devotion to him Lei Xuan doubts his own love for her and in a moment of confusion asks the manual to show him what true love is. The manual taking Lei Xuan at his word leads Lei Xuan's astral body on a journey in which he encounters lovers of various times and eras, including the past and future. Early in his voyage Lei Xuan becomes frustrated by lovers who out of misunderstandings or circumstances appear to be drifting apart and uses the manual to smooth their paths, with each subsequent pair that he is shown Lei Xuan's powers increase as is his desire to aid those in love, so that those who truly love one another can be together.
The last couple that the manual shows Lei Xuan is Chur Wun and his man servant Ching Ao Gum (Louis Fan). Although in his astral form no time seems to have passed in the real world seven years have passed, Lei Xuan material body empty of a soul for seven years has been kept from decay by the efforts of Chur Wun and Ching Ao Gum who use ice from a mountain to preserve the body. Lei Xuan realises that the love he is being shown is that between Chur Wun and Ao Gum, who have grown to love each other, and not between Chur Wun and his own lifeless body. Wishing to free Chur Wun from their betrothal Lei Xuan accidentally destroys his material body in a fire, however Ao Gum because of his own lowly status refuses to acknowledge his love for Chur Wun. Finding himself powerless with the breaking of his ties to the material world, Lei Xuan's astral body occupies the body of a recently deceased beggar.
Using his knowledge of the couple and not magic Lei Xuan convinces Ao Gum to express his love for Chur Wun, and to compete in a competition to find a champion to lead the Tang vanguard. Through his supernatural strength, skill with an axe and an unwillingness to give up, Ao Gum wins and is accepted by the chancellor as a suitable match for Chur Wun (it is hinted that Ao Gum will become the famed Tang general of the same name, known in folklore as the Tang dynasty's lucky general who would always arrive in the right place at the right time to save the day).
With Ao Gum united with Chur Wun, Lei Xuan proceeds to abandon the material realm for that of the immortals, during his ascent and farewell to Ao Gum it is revealed that the beggar is Lei Xuan and that Lei Xuan is Tieguai Li, Iron-Crutch Li of the Eight Immortals.
劉 / 刘 is an East Asian surname. pinyin: Liú in Mandarin Chinese, Lau4 in Cantonese. It is the family name of the Han dynasty emperors. The character 劉 originally meant 'battle axe', but is now used only as a surname. It is listed 252nd in the classic text Hundred Family Surnames. Today, it is the 4th most common surname in Mainland China as well as one of the most common surnames in the world.
Chinese mythology is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature throughout the area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology encompasses a diverse array of myths derived from regional and cultural traditions. Populated with engaging narratives featuring extraordinary individuals and beings endowed with magical powers, these stories often unfold in fantastical mythological realms or historical epochs. Similar to numerous other mythologies, Chinese mythology has historically been regarded, at least partially, as a factual record of the past.
Ceremonial magic encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic. The works included are characterized by ceremony and numerous requisite accessories to aid the practitioner. It can be seen as an extension of ritual magic, and in most cases synonymous with it. Popularized by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, it draws on such schools of philosophical and occult thought as Hermetic Qabalah, Enochian magic, Thelema, and the magic of various grimoires. Ceremonial magic is part of Hermeticism and Western esotericism.
Astral projection is a term used in esotericism to describe an intentional out-of-body experience (OBE) that assumes the existence of a subtle body, known as the astral body or body of light, through which consciousness can function separately from the physical body and travel throughout the astral plane.
The Life and Times of Juniper Lee is an American animated television series created by former MTV reality star Judd Winick for Cartoon Network and produced by Cartoon Network Studios. It premiered on May 30, 2005 on Cartoon Network and ended its run on April 9, 2007. The show currently reruns on Pogo in India, Boing in Nigeria, South Africa and France, Boomerang in Thailand and Tooncast in Latin America.
Legendary Weapons of China is a 1982 martial arts wuxia film or wuxia pian directed by Lau Kar-Leung. It takes place during the late Qing Dynasty when Empress Dowager Cixi dispatches her agents to various factions of the Boxer Rebellion in order to find supernatural martial artists that are invulnerable to western bullets. When one of the leaders of these groups disbands his forces, assassins from the remaining factions are sent out to kill him for his apparent treason. As the title of the film suggests, a great variety of fights take place involving the "legendary weapons."
The body of light, sometimes called the 'astral body' or the 'subtle body,' is a "quasi material" aspect of the human body, being neither solely physical nor solely spiritual, posited by a number of philosophers, and elaborated on according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings. Other terms used for this body include body of glory, spirit-body, luciform body, augoeides, astroeides, and celestial body.
Rental Magica is a Japanese light novel series by Makoto Sanda, with illustrations by Pako. It was serialized in The Sneaker magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten from August 2004 to March 2013. An anime television series adaptation animated by Zexcs was broadcast in Japan between October 7, 2007, and March 23, 2008, airing a total of twenty-four episodes.
The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back is a Hong Kong wuxia comedy television series based on Wong Yuk-long's manhua series Buddha's Palm. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1993.
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a magic item is any object that is imbued with magic powers. These items may act on their own or be the tools of the character possessing them. Magic items have been prevalent in the game in every edition and setting, from the original edition in 1974 until the modern fifth edition. In addition to jewels and gold coins, they form part of the treasure that the players often seek in a dungeon. Magic items are generally found in treasure hoards, or recovered from fallen opponents; sometimes, a powerful or important magic item is the object of a quest.
The Wen Xuan, usually translated Selections of Refined Literature, is one of the earliest and most important anthologies of Chinese poetry and literature, and is one of the world's oldest literary anthologies to be arranged by topic. It is a selection of what were judged to be the best poetic and prose pieces from the late Warring States period to the early Liang dynasty, excluding the Chinese Classics and philosophical texts. The Wen Xuan preserves most of the greatest fu rhapsody and shi poetry pieces from the Qin and Han dynasties, and for much of pre-modern history was one of the primary sources of literary knowledge for educated Chinese.
Can't Buy Me Love is a 2010 Hong Kong television series. It is a grand production by TVB and starred Charmaine Sheh and Moses Chan, Linda Chung, Raymond Wong, Kenneth Ma and Fala Chen as the main cast for this series.
Chinese Paladin 3 is a 2009 Chinese television series adapted from the video game of the same title, and, because of an added time travel concept allowing the protagonist from Chinese Paladin (2005) to appear in the setting decades before the events of the first. It was first aired on Taizhou Broadcasting Station in June 2009. Chinese Paladin 2 was not filmed because the producers felt that the third game had a much stronger story than the second.
The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. It was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong in 1998.
Yang Wo, courtesy name Chengtian, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Liezu of Yang Wu (楊吳烈祖), was the first independent ruler of the Chinese Yang Wu dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning as the Commandery Prince of Hongnong.
Colourful Life is a 2001 Hong Kong, ancient costumed comedy drama produced by TVB, starring Annie Man and Frankie Lam as the main leads with Gigi Wong, Louis Yuen, Ronald Cheng, Louisa So, Florence Kwok, Cutie Mui, Myolie Wu and Mimi Chu as supporting leads. The series is helmed by executive producer Mui Siu Ching and was aired as a Lunar New Year drama. Original broadcast of the series began on January 15 till February 9, 2001 on TVB's Jade channel, Monday-Friday during its 9:15-10:20 p.m. timeslot.
Xuanzang or Xuan Zang is a 2016 Chinese-Indian historical adventure film that dramatizes the life of Xuanzang (602—664), a Buddhist monk and scholar. The film depicts his arduous nearly two-decade overland journey to India during the Tang dynasty on a mission to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. The film is directed by Huo Jianqi and produced by Wong Kar-wai. It stars Huang Xiaoming as Xuanzang, and includes cameo or short performances by other accomplished actors including Kent Tong, Purba Rgyal, Sonu Sood and Tan Kai. It was released in China on 29 April 2016, with distribution in China by China Film Group Corporation. It was selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but was not nominated. It won the Golden Angel Award Film and the best screenwriter categories at the 12th Chinese American Film Festival and was nominated in several categories at the 31st Golden Rooster Awards.
Love Cuisine is a 2015 Taiwanese romance, comedy drama television series produced by Sanlih E-Television, starring Lego Lee, Allison Lin, Duncan Chow and Nita Lei as the main cast. Filming began on July 13, 2015 and will be filmed as it airs. First original broadcast began August 7, 2015 on SETTV channel airing every Friday nights at 10:00-11:30 pm.
White Snake is a 2019 animated fantasy film directed by Amp Wong and Zhao Ji, with animation production by Light Chaser Animation. The film was inspired by the Chinese folktale Legend of the White Snake and was released in China on January 11, 2019. A sequel, Green Snake, was announced in 2020, and was released on July 23, 2021.
Taoist coin charms, or Daoist coin charms are a family of categories of Chinese and Vietnamese numismatic charms that incorporate elements of the Taoist religion. Taoist coin charms come in various shapes, sizes, and formats and can contain inscriptions or wholly pictorial designs. While a large number of Taoist coin charms have their inscriptions written in traditional Chinese characters, a subset of Taoist coin charms have inscriptions written in Taoist "magic" writing. In these countries similar numismatic charms existed for Buddhist and Confucianism, and at times Taoist coin charms would also incorporate symbolism from these other religions.
