Zhou Tong, the archery teacher of Song dynasty General Yue Fei, has appeared in black-and-white films, wuxia novels, and folktales. He mainly appears in material dealing with Yue Fei, but also in media about his other students and his own biography and comic book.
Film and television Yuè Fēi () (1940). Zhou was portrayed by Huang Shou Nian ().Yuè Fēi (岳飛) @ the Chinese Movie Data Base (Chinese only) Jīn Zhōng Bào Guó ( – "Serve the Country Loyally") (1940). Zhou was portrayed by Li Ming (, not to confuse with Leon Lai, a similarly named actor).Jīng Zhōng Bào Guó (尽忠报国) @ the Chinese Movie Data Base (Chinese only) The name of this movie comes from the famous tattoo on Yue Fei's back. Yuè Fēi Chū Shì ( – "The Birth of Yue Fei") (1962). Zhou was portrayed by Jing Ci Bo (). A ten-year-old Sammo Hung played young Yue Fei.Yuè Fēi Chū Shì (岳飛出世) @ the Chinese Movie Data Base (Chinese only) This film was largely based on The Story of Yue Fei. Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon () is a 1988 Taiwanese television series based on the story of Yue Fei. Hong Kong actor Kenny Ho played Yue Fei while Lu Fung appeared as Zhou Tong.
Veteran martial arts actor Yu Chenghui (), who played the villain "Wang Renzhe" in Shaolin Temple (1982) and "Master Shadow-Glow" in Seven Swords (2005), has expressed interest in playing Zhou in a future movie.Hong Kong Cinemagic – Yu Cheng HuiThe HK Actors Index In an interview, Mr. Yu said he never shaved his famous beard for any role, even at the request of movie producers, because he wanted to portray the "Shaanxi knight-errant Iron Arm, Zhou Tong".Interview with Yu Cheng Hui (于承惠) (Chinese only)"陕西大侠铁臂膀周侗"
Shortly after filming New Police Story in 2004, Jackie Chan reported that he would produce and play Yue Fei in a biopic about the general's life. Jaycee Chan, Jackie's son, will share the role as young Yue Fei. Jackie said, "There's already a rough draft right now, we've even found a co-star. In fact, filming of 'Genghis Khan' is also under consideration, but it must be a good script, because a lot of people have filmed this story, and the story itself is complicated and randomized, so up to now, there isn't a concrete plan yet. And [the script for] 'Yue Fei' is nearly completed." He continues, "I think Yue Fei is a man with great sense of loyalty, so am I. I've been loyal to Golden Harvest, to friends and to my country!" Filming will not begin until Jackie finishes filming several other projects (including Rush Hour 3), but he is willing to work for reduced pay so he can work with his son. This is because he believes the box office results will be good. However, Director Stanley Tong says the role of Yue Fei could possibly go to Andy Lau.Article about Jackie Chang's future portrayal of Yue Fei (Chinese only)JACKIE CHAN WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK FOR A REDUCED SALARY TO WORK WITH HIS SONJackie Chan And Son Will Portray Yue Fei, A 11th [sic] Century Chinese General (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) Japanese internet page which talks about Jackie Chan's plans to play Yue Fei (Japanese/Chinese mix)Jackie Chan Makes Preparation for Yue Fei Becomes outstanding the fathers and sons to ally "Yue Fei"? Stanley Tong doubts the rumor (Chinese only) It has yet to be announced which actor will portray Zhou.
The Patriot Yue Fei is an upcoming television series based on the biography of Yue Fei. Huang Xiaoming stars as the titular character while Yu Rongguang plays Zhou Tong.
Literature
The Story of Yue Fei
Zhou is a minor character in Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan ( – The Story of Yue Fei), a popular wuxia fiction written by Qian Cai () sometime during the reigns of the Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors (1661–1735) during the Qing dynasty. He first appears in Chapter 2 when he becomes the new teacher of the Wang household (some 7 chronological years after newborn Yue Fei and his mother are rescued from the Yellow River flood). In chapters three through four, he adopts Yue Fei as heir and student, trains all of his students in archery and the 18 weapons of war, enters them in a military cadet contest, and arranges a marriage for 16-year-old Yue Fei. In Chapter 5, Zhou becomes ill after a heated horse race with Yue and stays bedridden for 7 days before his death. Yue lives by his grave for five months before returning home to his mother and eventual taking a wife.Qian, Cai. General Yue Fei. Trans. Honorable Sir T.L. Yang. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd., 1995 ()
Yue Fei Biography
Zhou appeared in the fictional Yue Fei Zhuan ( – Yue Fei Biography) by Huanzhulouzhu (1902–1961). In this tale, Yue happens upon Zhou's military training hall in a neighboring town while chopping firewood in the forest.Huanzhulouzhu. Yue Fei Zhuan ( – "Yue Fei Biography"). Taiyuan : Shanxi ren min chu ban she : Bei yue wen yi chu ban she ( – "Taiyuan: Shanxi People's Publishing Agency: Hengshan article publishing house"), 1998 () This should not be confused with the historical Yue Fei Biography written during the Song dynasty, but compiled with other such biographies in the Yuan dynasty.
Fictional biography
The wuxia paperback novel Tiě Bèi Jīn Dāo Zhōu Tóng Zhuàn ( – "Iron Arm, Golden Sabre: The Biography of Zhou Tong"), written by Wang Yun Heng () and Xiao Yun Long (), details the fictional adventures of Zhou as a young man. It has 451 pages, 72 chapters and reads "left-to-right" like an english language novel. Ten black-and-white line drawings sporadically appear throughout the publication to illustrate the action in a certain chapter. These pictures are reminiscent of the Manga genre (Click here to see these illustrations). This is now a very rare book. In 1986, only 66,000 copies were made.Wang, Yun Heng () and Xiao Yun Long (). Tiě Bèi Jīn Dāo Zhōu Tóng Zhuàn ( – "Iron Arm, Golden Sabre: The Biography of Zhou Tong"). Hangzhou: Zhejiang People's Publishing House, 1986 (UBSN --- Union Books and Serials Number) CN (10103.414) and 464574.
Comic book
Zhou stars in a ten volume lianhuanhua-style comic book called Zhou Tong Zhuan Qi ( – "The Legend of Zhou Tong"). The plot takes place before the events of the Water Margin and The Story of Yue Fei (i.e. before he takes Yue Fei as his student). The plot revolves around his vow to the military to destroy the bandits of Lake Tai and his resistance against armies of the Liao dynasty. The last few pages of volume ten touches upon the four chapters that he appeared in The Story of Yue Fei.Xiong, Ti (). Zhou Tong Zhuan Qi ( – "The Legend of Zhou Tong") (Vol. 1–10). Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House (), 1987
+Title of each volume Vol. Chinese Translation Pages 1 首战传捷报 Victory Report from the First Battle 126 2 大破石佛寺 Defeat of the (Monks of) Stone Buddha Temple 110 3 孤胆闯太湖 The Lone Soul Travels to Taihu (Lake Tai) 126 4 奇取同盟录 Obtaining the Records of the Alliance By Trickery 134 5 剿杀熊双飞 Killing the Bandit Xiong Shuangfei 118 6 联姻邈川关 Marriage at Miaochuan Pass 110 7 受困桃源山 Trapped in Mount Taoyuan 102 8 全歼赵都都 Being Destroyed At the Capital of Zhao 110 9 除暴芒山道 Ending the Tyranny on Mount Mang Road 126 10 名师出高徒 A Famed Teacher Produces A Great Disciple 110
Other
Young Zhou is mentioned as the younger martial arts brother of General Jin Tai () in the book Jin Tai San Da Shaolin Si ( – "Jin Tai has three fights with the Shaolin Monastery").Lou Yun He (). Jin Tai San Da Shaolin Si ( – "Jin Tai has three fights with the Shaolin Monastery"). Zhejiang Literature & Art Publishing House (), 1986 Zhou's own fictional biographical novel was published in 1986, the same year as Jin Tai's book. Both have similar storylines that fit into an overall chronology and appear to have been written in congruence with each other.
Storytelling
Zhou is either mentioned in or connected to the tales these storytellers of the following material sing about.Yangzhou storytelling and storysingingThe Story of Yue Fei is a favorite among Pingshu () or Pinghua () storytellers, which is a modern-day form of Shuoshu ("talk-story") storytelling that became popular in the Tang and Song dynasties. One of the most famous of these artists is Liu Lanfang (1944–present), a noted singer and actress. She first made a name for herself in 1972 when she sang the full-length script of The Story of Yue Fei. In September 1981, the Chunfeng Literature Publishing House published the 100-chapter pingshu script of Yue Fei's tale.The Story of Yue Fei Pingshu Artist: Liu Lanfang
Yangzhou Pinghua ( – "Yangzhou storytelling") is divided into major (Da shu) and minor (Xiao shu) texts. The Story of Yue Fei is one of the major texts, along with the Water Margin. One of the most famous singers of the Water Margin tale was Wang Shaotang (1889–1968). He compiled four scripts from the Water Margin tales about the bandits Wu Song, Shi Xiu and Lu Junyi and formed his own school of storytelling called the "Wang School Shui Hu".
Yue Fei Studies the Archery According to a moral tale called "Yue Fei Studies the Archery" in You Er Hua Bao ( – "Children's Pictorial"), a Chinese magazine tailored for children ages two through seven, young Yue Fei purchased a bow, a sword, and a spear to practice martial arts on his own since he did not have a teacher to train him properly. One day when he was chopping fire wood, he passed by a village with a military training hall ran by a famous master. Yue Fei immediately asked the master to become his student, not even knowing that this person was none-other-than Zhou Tong. Zhou told the boy "Your skill in wushu is inadequate, so you must first train the eyes."
As a part of his training, Yue Fei began to stare directly into the morning sunrise. At first the training was hard because the bright sun hurt his eyes, but he continued to practice the skill of the "far-sighted person" for many years. One day, Zhou came to Yue Fei and pointed to an object high up in the sky. When he focused his trained vision, Yue saw that it was a lone goose. Zhou then directed Yue to scan some trees that were one hundred paces away. Yue again focused his vision and caught sight of two black cicadas on a tree. Zhou then laughed in approval and said "Now that your eyesight is practiced, I not only receive you as my student, but as my adopted son. I will now teach you wushu."
Yue Fei practiced diligently and became a master of the eighteen weapons of war. He could draw a 300-catty bow and, with a "whiz" of the arrow, shoot a leaf from 100 paces away. The moral of the story is that achievements are only made through diligent practice. The magazine then states it is very dangerous to stare into the sun and that this tale is only used to exemplify hard work.Yue Fei Studies the Archery (Chinese only)About "Children's Pictorial" Magazine (Chinese only)
How Wu Song becomes Zhou's student
The following tale alternatively known as "Meeting Zhou Tong By Chance" and "Swordplay under the Moon" belongs to the "Wang School of Shui Hu" Yangzhou storytelling. It acts as a Shu wai shu ( – "Story outside of the story"), meaning it takes place during the Water Margin, but is outside of the main storyline. The tale takes place after Wu Song kills a man-eating tiger, resists the charms of his sister-in-law and accepts a mission from the Magistrate to transport money to Kaifeng, but before he becomes a bandit. It explains how he came to learn swordplay from Zhou Tong:
Wu was given orders to travel on assignment to the eastern Song capital of Kaifeng after becoming a constable for the Yanggu District police force in Shandong province. When he arrived in Kaifeng, Wu took his introduction letter to the office of the local administration building and retired to an inn to await his summons. The following day, he left his inn to explore the bustling city.