Er (二) ➔ ( the Chinese term for two – ‘ èr’– also usually on the good side and relatively powerful they show up to support the Zhang family) – Initially led by Er Yuehong (aka Er Ye).Dunno □♀️ His power lies in his mystery). Zhang Qiling is one of the stars in The Lost Tomb and is related to this family somehow (cousin? We prefer to imagine him as the adored child of Zhang Qishan and his wife Xin Yue, but it’s unlikely. They are often associated with the military. Zhang (张) ➔( the first and one of the most powerful – they are generally on the good side and keep the other families in check) – Initially led by Zhang Qishan (aka Fo Ye) aided by his cousin and assistant Lieutenant Zhang Rishan who takes over eventually.Undertake large operations involving more manpower. Not necessarily large in the immediate family, but extensive in terms of their extended family, apprentices, connections, etc. Upper Gates ➔ Tend to be larger, wealthier, more powerful families. The nine families are generally sorted into three ‘tiers’ or ‘gates’ based on their power and influence within the community. Although related, these films ( Reunion) focus once more on Wu Xie and his friends once again rather than Li Cu and the families in general. Sequels ➔ Zhang Qiling finally returns and the Iron Triangle (Wu Xie, Qiling, and Pangzi) are reunited once again in a serious of new adventures. Reunited with allies from the other eight families, they take on the evil Clan Wang who seeks to end the nine families and the world with them if possible. As he waits for Zhang Qiling, a now older Wu Xie adopts a young apprentice, Li Cu, in the Tomb of the Sea. Eventually Zhang Qiling leaves on a ten year mission of his own, and Wu Xie is forced to hold down the fort alone in his absence. They would form a friendship stronger than brotherhood. Joining him are Zhang Qiling and Wang Pangzi – the Iron Triangle. The Lost Tomb (I, II, III) / Ultimate Note tells of the adventures of a young Wu Xie as he searches for his Third Uncle who mysteriously disappeared on a mission. The Lost Tomb ➔ We move away from the historical period and step into the modern times as we shift our focus to Wu Xie from another family – Clan Wu. There, they must learn to navigate not only the threatening Japanese forces but the other eight families who are not always as friendly as they appear. They have recently entered Changsha as officers in the military. Zhang Qi Shan and his cousin Zhang Ri Shan are all that remain and seek to recover the name and reputation of their family. Clan Zhang was once the most powerful, but weakened in the 1800s. The main series in this era is The Mystic Nine collection focusing on Zhang Qi Shan – head of the most mysterious of the nine families. They serve both as a historical approach to the tomb-raiding concept and as a tool for understanding the novels’ world and its characters. Prequels ➔ The prequels focus on the rise of the Nine families immediately before and during WWII. The Grave Robber Chronicles can more or less be divided into three eras chronologically within the universe: None are safe against the guards set by the ancestors to ward off intruders. others are in it to preserve the precious artifacts before they are looted and sold on the black markets. Originally protecting the famous city of Changsha, the families have slowly branched out and relocated since the war - each specializing in their own methods and techniques for evading the deadly traps and tricks that lay waiting underground. The novels follow the adventures of the Old Nine Gates – nine ancient families who have controlled most of the tomb-raiding mission in China since before WWII. The original novels formed a series known in Chinese as 盗墓笔记 (Daomu Biji) or by its English title ‘The Grave Robber Chronicles.’ They were written by popular Chinese novelist 徐磊 (Xu Lei – Kenny) who writes under the pseudonym ‘Nan Pai San Shu’. It’s filled with mystery, fantasy, the supernatural, fighting, history – think Indiana Jones with less Romance and more Mystery and Intrigue. A great balance of enough romance (but not overly-much) versus action and adventure (tons). One of the reasons we love the show is that it truly is a great watch for any taste. Although we have hundreds of mysteries under our belt, ‘The Grave Robber Chronicles’ universe has been a particular favorite since its first adaptation ‘The Lost Tomb’.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |