Justice Bao

A popular set of Chinese TV series based on Bao Zheng, a famed official and prefect during the Song Dynasty whose sense of justice and defence of the common people have made him a legend.

Although a TV adaptation was made in 1974, Justice Bao gained popularity as a 1993-94 TV series, both of which made in Taiwan. Two remakes were aired from China in 2008 and 2010-12, with major characters from the 90s series reprising their roles.


 * Acting for Two
 * Aristocrats Are Evil: Not everyone. But the nobles and officials Bao puts under judgement - and sentences to death - are definitely villainous and corrupt.
 * Deadly Decadent Court: The Imperial court of the Song Dynasty is generally portrayed as one, though there are sympathetic figures and allies like the Emperor.
 * Deliberate Values Dissonance: As the shows involve are set in Song Dynasty China, the culture, laws and norms come across as this to modern audiences, whether Western or Chinese.
 * Exact Words: At one case, the Empress Dowager tries to intervene in stopping the imminent execution of Prince Consort Chen Shimei, informing Bao that a royal decree she had recommended to the Emperor would soon arrive that would pardon Chen.
 * Flower Motif: Pai Xiamei is named after Mei (Plum) Flower.
 * Germans Love David Hasselhoff: The various series have gained popularity not just among Chinese viewers but also across much of Southeast Asia among others.
 * Historical Hero Upgrade: While the real Bao Zheng is still renowned by Chinese, his fictional versions tend to take this even further.
 * Imperial China: Bao's exploits take place in the backdrop of Song Dynasty China.
 * Judge, Jury, and Executioner: Not to the same extreme as Judge Dredd, but Bao is shown to have a mandate from none other than the Emperor to uphold the law, no matter the cost. And when push comes to shove, he can be merciless to those who defy justice.
 * Kangaroo Court: Of course, Subverted with Bao. Played straight with other villains.
 * Loophole Abuse: How more than one suspect tries to circumvent the law, which Bao eventually catches on to.
 * Love Quadriladeral: The main point of "The Dream of Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies Case".
 * Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: At times there are a few supernatural elements present. While clearly not true, they are generally based on the various stories told about Bao over the centuries.
 * Off With His Head: As per medieval Chinese custom, court executions are done by decapitation. Bao in particular always has three specially tailored knives for this purpose, granted by the Emperor himself.
 * Mistress and Maid: Yea Niang and Shuishui.
 * Reasonable Authority Figure: As unwavering as Bao is, he's also shown to be one of the few figures to be genuinely understanding and considerate, taking his responsibilities seriously.
 * Role Reprisal: Jin Chao-chun has played Bao since 1993 in the various versions of Justice Bao.
 * Sibling Yin-Yang: Zan Jen and Zan Ping.
 * Also Consort Lee and Consort Liu. While Lee is unambitious, Liu is very power-hungry.
 * Temporary Love Interest: Oh, poor Zan Zhao. All three of his love interests are dead; in some way that is very sad.
 * Values Resonance: Part of the enduring popularity of *Justice Bao* is the unwavering dedication to justice and fairness for all, represented in the person of Bao.
 * The Voiceless: Wang Shunxiang. It is a plot point that . She is also unable to appeal to Bao because she can't write.
 * Woolseyism: English translations generally use Western equivalent terms like "Marquis" or "Viscount" with regard to conveying Imperial Chinese titles for nobility, for example.