Justice Pao is a 236-episode television series from Taiwan, first airing on Chinese Television System (CTS) from February 1993 to January 1994.
Background The show stars Jin Chao-chun as the legendary Song dynasty official Bao Zheng. It was hugely popular in many countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
The series was originally planned to have just 15 episodes. However, the show had high ratings when the initial episodes aired. Due to its popularity, CTS extended the show to 236 episodes.
The rival TVB and ATV Home networks in Hong Kong both bought the series in an attempt to gain viewers. Competition between the two networks during the series’ run was so intense that identical episodes were shown on both channels on the same night. It was also one of the first dramas that used NICAM technology (Dual Sound Switch Cantonese/Mandarin).
List of cases Case ep.# Chinese Title English Translation#16鍘美案 (Zhá Mĕi Àn)The Case of Chen Shimei#25真假狀元 (Zhēn Jiă Zhuàng Yuán)The Real and Fake Principal Graduate#37狸貓換太子 (Lí Māo Huàn Tài Zĭ)Beating the Dragon Robe#43雙釘記 (Shuāng Dīng Jì)The Tale of Two Nails#54探陰山 (Tàn Yīn Shān)The Trek to the Underworld#64紅花記 (Hóng Huā Jì)The Tale of the Red Flowers#75鍘龐昱 (Zhá Páng Yù)The Execution of Pang Yu#89鍘包勉 (Zhá Bāo Miăn)The Execution of Bao Mian#93烏盆記 (Wū Pén Jì)The Tale of the Black Pot#105秋娘 (Qiū Niáng)Qiu Niang#114鍘王爺 (Zhá Wáng Yé)The Execution of the Prince#125古琴怨 (Gŭ Qín Yuàn)Resentment of the Guqin#139三擊鼓 (Sān Jī Gŭ)The Thrice-hit Drum#145攣生劫 (Luán Shēng Jié)The Tale of Twin Brothers#155報恩亭 (Bào Ēn Tíng)The Temple of Retribution#165真假女婿 (Zhēn Jiă Nǚ Xù)The Real and Fake Son-in-Law#174紫金錘 (Zĭ Jīn Chuí)The Purple Hammer#189天下第一莊 (Tiān Xià Dì Yī Zhuāng)The Number One Manor#195 寸草心 (Cùn Căo Xīn)The Mind of Kindness#208屠龍記 (Tú Lóng Jì)The Tale of Dragon Slayers#215鴛鴦蝴蝶夢 (Yuān Yāng Hú Dié Mèng)The Dream of the Butterfly Lovers#226 天倫劫 (Tiān Lún Jié)The Rules of the Lord#236孔雀膽 (Kŏng Què Dăn)Peacock Gall (A type of poison)#246真假包公 (Zhēn Jiă Bāo Gōng)The Duel of Baos#256貞節牌坊 (Zhēn Jié Pái Făng)The Widow's Board#265 血雲幡傳奇 (Xuè Yún Fān Chuán Qí)The Legend of the Blood-thirsty Flag#277生死戀 (Shēng Sĭ Liàn)Love Between Life and Death#286尋親記 (Xún Qīn Jì)The Story of Seeking Beloved Ones#296踏雪尋梅 (Tà Xuĕ Xún Méi)Searching for Plum Blossom in the Snow#306青龍珠 (Qīng Lóng Zhū)The Azure Dragon Pearl#316魚美人 (Yú Mĕi Rén)The Mermaid Angel#325狄青 (Dí Qīng)Di Qing#337孝子章洛 (Xiào Zĭ Zhāng Luò)Zhang Luo, the Filial Son #347雷霆怒 (Léi Tíng Nù)Heaven's Wrath#357陰陽判 (Yīn Yáng Pàn) The Fortunes of Yin and Yang#366九道本 (Jiŭ Dào Bĕn)Nine Letters to the King#376菩薩嶺 (Pú Sà Lĭng)Buddha's Peak#386畫中話 (Huà Zhōng Huà)Mystery of the Painting#396龐妃有喜 (Páng Fēi Yŏu Xĭ)Consort Pang's Pregnancy#406乞丐王孫 (Qĭ Gài Wáng Sūn)The Beggar Princess#415五鼠鬧東京 (Wŭ Shŭ Nào Dōng Jīng)Five Rats in the Eastern Capital
Cast Note: Some cast members played multiple roles. CastRoleDescriptionJin Chao-chun Bao Zheng Prefect of Kaifeng, capital of Song DynastyKenny Ho Zhan Zhao "Southern Hero", "Royal Cat", 4th-ranked imperial guardFan Hung-hsuan Gongsun Ce Bao Zheng's secretaryKao Nien-kuo Wang Chao Bao Zheng's officerHsu Chien-yu (C.1–21) Ma Han Bao Zheng's officerLiu Yueh-ti (C.22–41)Yang Hsiung Zhang Long Bao Zheng's officerShao Chang-sheng Zhao Hu Bao Zheng's officerSun Peng (C.1) Zhao Zhen "Emperor Renzong", 4th emperor of Song DynastyWang Chung-huang (C.2–28)Shih Yu (C.29–41)Hou Ping-ying Emperor Renzong's sisterYang Huai-min Chen Shimei married to Emperor Renzong's sisterYang Ping-an Han Qi Chen Shimei's guardLeanne Liu Qin Xianglian Chen Shimei's original wifeTsao Chien Wang Yan Ling Song Dynasty chancellorLung Lung Zhao Defang "Eighth Virtuous Prince", Emperor Renzong's uncle, and the name in real life history is Zhao YuanyanHan Hsiang-chin (C.3) Princess Di Eighth Virtuous Prince's wifeYin Pao-lien (C.32)Liu Yueh-ti Zhao Heng "Emperor Zhenzong", Emperor Renzong's father and predecessorLu Pi-yun (C.1) EmpressDowager Liu Emperor Zhenzong's wifeHsiao Ai (C.3)Tai Chih-yuan Guo Huai eunuch for Empress Dowager LiuTseng Ya-chun Consort Li Emperor Renzong's real motherWen Shuai Chen Lin eunuchTu Man-sheng Pang Ji Song Dynasty grand tutorChen Chi Consort Pang Pang Ji's daughter, married to Emperor RenzongDoze Niu Pang Yu Pang Ji's sonLiu Chu Pang Fu Pang Yu's servantChang Kuo-chu Lu Fang "Sky Rat", 1st sworn brotherWu Yuan-chun Han Zhang "Earth Rat", 2nd sworn brotherPang San Xu Qing "Mountain Rat", 3rd sworn brotherLu Yi-lung Jiang Ping "River Rat", 4th sworn brother (C.3–6) Bai Yutang "Sleek Rat", 5th sworn brotherGoo Goon-chung (C.41)Tai Chih-yuan Bao Mian Bao Zheng's same-aged nephewLiu Ming Wu Miaozhen Bao Zheng's eldest sister-in-law and motherly figure, Bao Mian's motherChang Fu-chien Di Qing Song Dynasty general, Princess Di's nephew
Awards 1995 – 30th Golden Bell Awards Won – Jin Chao-chun, Best Actor Won – Tai Chih-yuan, Best Supporting Actor, for the portrayal of Guo Huai (Case 3) Won – Liu Ming, Best Supporting Actress, for the portrayal of Bao Mian's mother (Case 8)
Theme songs 1. The opening theme, performed by Hu Kua, has the same title as the series. It was originally performed by the late Chiang Kuang-Chao for the earlier 1974 CTS series also of the same name. The ending credits song in Stephen Chow's Hong Kong comedy movie Hail the Judge was based on the opening theme of Justice Bao. A Cantonese cover ("願世間有青天") performed by George Lam with lyrics by Wong Jim was the opening theme of the series on TVB in Hong Kong. It was also the opening theme of the 1995 TVB series Justice Bao. Another Cantonese cover by Ray Lui was the opening theme of the 1995 ATV series Justice Bao. A Tagalog cover ("Katarungan Ay Si Judge Bao") was the opening theme of the series on ABC-5 in the Philippines Produced By 20 Plus Entertainment. Andy Lau covered the song in the 2003 Bao Zheng-related movie Cat and Mouse. Cambodian version was performed by Nou Sib which aired on CTV9 in 1994 and Neay Koy which air on CTN in 2020 (as he performed in 2001) 2. The ending theme was "New Dream of the Butterfly Lovers" (), written and performed by Huang An. This song became a huge hit in the Chinese-speaking world, and Huang's album with the same name became one of the best-selling albums in Taiwan, selling over a million copies. Cover versions in many languages exist due to the show's influence in the region. Kenny Ho recorded a Cantonese version (also "新鴛鴦蝴蝶夢") with lyrics by Albert Leung, while Huang An and Loletta Lee each recorded a different Cantonese version (both titled "愛於錯誤年代" but the lyrics differ). A popular English version from the Singaporean band Tokyo Square was titled "Can't Let Go". Huang An's own English version was titled "When It Comes to Love". There are also versions in Hokkien ("鴛鴦蝴蝶夢" by Joice Lim), Thai ("สุดจะหยุดใจ" by Koong Tuangsith Reamchinda), Vietnamese ("Uyên Ương Hồ Điệp Mộng" by Đan Trường), Khmer ("ផ្ការោយមុនរដូវ" by Nou Sib and "ព្រួយជាមួយចន្ទ" by Khemarak Sereymon) and Indonesian ("Melody Memory" by Lavenia), among others. 3. Another ending theme song used for some episodes was "Hand in Hand, Let's Travel the World" ().
International broadcast : Channel 9 : Indonesian Educational Television (1995). : Metrovision (1995) : Myawady Television (1998), Myanmar Radio and Television (2018 - with Burmese dub), Sky Net Channel 9 Myanmar (2019) : RPN (1996-2000), ABC 5 (2007-2008) : Channel 8 : Channel 3 (1995; rerun was broadcast in 2006, 2015 and again since 2024) : NEW18 (April 6, 2020 - March 28, 2021 (Every Monday - Sunday from 16: 35-17: 35)) : HanoiTV (1996) : KBS2 (1994-1996)
Video game adaptations On the first few years after its original run ended, at least three video game adaptations of the series were published in Asia. It is unknown if any of them were licensed by CTS.
The first adaptation was the homonymous beat 'em up 包青天 (Bāo Qīng Tiān), published in 1994 by Bit Corporation for the Gamate handheld console in Taiwan. It is the only one out of the three that was licensed by the console manufacturer. Its higher quality and overall polish and country of origin may also be a pointer for it being officially licensed by CTS, although that is uncertain.
The second and third adaptations were both released in mainland China in 1996 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and it is unclear which went to market first. The most well-known out of the two, usually cited as the first, is a platformer also titled Bāo Qīng Tiān, published by Kai Sheng in Hong Kong and by Family TSI in Thailand. The second is a fighting game titled Impartial Judge, published by Fuzhou Waixing in China.
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