Da Chang Jin
Da Chang Jin aka Jewel in the Palace Synopsis
The story is set in Korea under the Joseon Dynasty, during the reigns of King Seongjong (only a brief tenure, fortunately), Yeonsangun (1494-1506) and King Jungjong (1506-1544). The story begins with the mother of young Yeonsangun being poisoned by a group of imperial guards under the order of the king.
After the incident, an imperial guard, Suh Chun-soo, who accompanied the group, returns to his home but suffers an accident on his way back. He is rescued by a Confucian monk, who tells him that his life will revolve around three women, and that he will be killed by the third woman. (It does not become clear until much later that the three women are Yeonsangun's mother, Chang Jin's mother, and lastly, Chang Jin herself.)
The inner stress from the incident eventually causes him to resign.
On the other hand, Lady Park, a royal kitchen apprentice/servant, witnesses a conspiracy against the queen mother and is in turn indicted on false charges by the inner circle of kitchen senior staff, and ordered secretly executed per their internal procedures. She is saved by Lady Han, her best friend in the palace, and later again saved inadvertently by the now retired Suh. The two depart to live in secret in a remote village, posing as lower class persons; they marry, and raise a very bright young daughter, Chang Jin.
In the year 1504, Yeonsanggun orders a massive investigation into his mother's murder, and eventually finds Suh and his family, partly because of a mistake on the part of his child, Chang Jing. Suh is arrested, and presumably later executed. Chang Jin and her mother flee, but Jang-geum's mother is severely wounded by her enemies, and before her death she tells Chang Jing her last wish, should she choose to do so, is for her to become the head chef in the royal kitchen and record her case in the kitchen Ladies' secret historical records book (to redress the wrong done to her honor).
Chang Jing through some adventures manages to enter the palace, and through her courage, curiosity, talent, good-heartedness, and hard work, helps Lady Han (her mother's best friend, which she does not discover until much later) to become the head chef in the palace.
During her years in the palace, she is put under many ordeals and shunned because she is smarter than the other apprentices. Jang-Geum, however, does not become discouraged and cures many apprentices and royals with her fast thinking. However, a conspiracy results in them being exiled to the Cheju Island, and Lady Han passes away en route.
In Cheju, Chang Jingbecomes acquainted to a female doctor who instructs Jang-geum in medical studies. Chang Jing eventually returns to the Joseon palace, this time as a medical student. She graduates at the top of her class in spite of difficulties with class and gender prejudices, and becomes accepted as a medical worker as part of the staff of the imperial pharmacy/hospital.
After much further political mischief, the high-ranking schemers who have been trying to hurt Chang Jing eventually fall victim to the consequences of their own conspiracies, and Chang Jing then pleads the case to King Jungjong, and is able to restore the positions and the reputation of her mother and Lady Han.
Afterwards, Chang Jing devolves further into medical studies, and is able to cure the perpetually ailing Queen and Queen Mother, along with a smallpox plague that also affects the Crown Prince. With such achievements, Chang Jing is eventually accepted by the palace's workers and doctors, who initially are prejudiced against her because of her gender and secretive attitude.
With the support of her love interest Lord Min Jung-ho and her long-time friends including Liang Sheng, Jang-geum becomes the first female imperial physician in the history of Korea, and is awarded the title "Dae Jang-geum" and a third-class officer position (c.f. nine-rank system) in the royal court. The ongoing romantic sub-plot eventually ends well, too.
Seo Jang-geum (Chang Jin) / Played by Lee Young-Ae
As a beautiful and intelligent woman blessed with a positive attitude, Jang-geum is haunted by numerous difficulties. Yet, she overcomes them with an iron will. She enters the royal palace at the age of ten and puts her heart and soul into cooking, finally achieving recognition for her talents. However, she is entrapped in a conspiracy aimed at her mentor Lady Han, and she is expelled from the palace. She is forced to work as a maidservant for the local government in Jeju Island. There, she studies medicine and re-enters the palace, ultimately becoming the head physician and also the first woman physician in the history of Joseon to serve the king.
Min Jung-ho / Played by Ji Jin-Hee
Min Jung-ho becomes closely bound to Jang-geum after his appointment as a Royal Guards officer. He is an outstanding scholar who not only passes the civil service examination but also possesses great talent as a military officer, which leads to a position at the Royal Guards. He is a learned man with intelligence and good looks. Deeply touched by Jang-geum’s wisdom and passion for learning, he helps her in many ways. At the same time, he falls in love with her, but his love also puts him in deep trouble.
Choi Geum-young (Jin Ying)/ Played by Hong Li-na
Geum-young enters the royal palace with Jang-geum and becomes her long-time rival in the royal kitchen. She is the niece of Lady Choi, who holds the place of power in the royal kitchen. Arrogant and burning with ambition, Geum-young has loved Min Jung-ho ever since she was a little child, but her love is never returned. She considers Jang-geum her rival, and is always out to defeat her.
King Jungjong / Played by Im Ho
He is the 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty. A gentle man, but at the same time irresolute and indecisive, the king cherishes Jang-geum’s many talents and later falls in love with her.
Lady Han (Han Ae-jong) / Played by Yang Mi-gyeong
Lady Han is an outstanding cook and one of the teachers and mentors of the royal kitchen. Strict in her principles, yet warm-hearted, she cares for Jang-geum like a daughter. She dies in a conspiracy planned by Lady Choi.
Lady Choi (Choi Seong-geum) / Played by Gyeon Mi-ri
She is the younger sister of rich man Choi Pan-sul and the aunt of Geum-young. Arrogant and self-assured, she is a master of cooking with a frightening tenacity to succeed. Her desire for power leads her to plot for the death of Madame Park, the mother of Jang-geum, and Lady Han. She also expels Jang-geum from the palace.
My Review
Personally, I think this is a very nice show. It broke many highest rating TV show in many countries which include Taiwan, Hongkong and Korea itself. I just read from the internet that in China, one lady almost killed herself because her husband would not let her watch "Da Chang Jin".
Actually I did not watch the whole of the show but I knew the story. I watched the 1st few episodes and then the last 20+ episodes. Ocassionally, I watched a few episodes in between. Even though, I did not watch the whole show but I found the story great. One would want to keep watching, almost addicted to it. I remember I watched 6 disc in one night, till 2+ in the morning. By the way, I just finished watching the Da Chang Jin VCD last night. Excellent plot and excellent ending. Actually, there is a phrase in the the show that says "Gong Li De Nu Ren Dou Shi Huang De Nu Ren" which means all women in the palace are the emperor's women. This phrase makes me think and ponder over it. Right now, it is still in my mind. A phrase which I would'nt forget. There are many other great quotes but this is the best. This show distinctly show the distinction between men and women. But the King was really a benevolent person towards Chang Jing n Min Zhi Hao when he knew they love each other.
Even though, the Korean Craze is in for quite sometime already but to say, up to date, I only watched maybe 3 Korean Dramad and not 100% watched, skipped some here and there. The 3 I have watched are "Qiu Tian De Tong Hua", "Xing Niang 18" and "Da Chang Jin". All 3 are good but I like "Da Chang Jin" best. Highly recommended.
The story is set in Korea under the Joseon Dynasty, during the reigns of King Seongjong (only a brief tenure, fortunately), Yeonsangun (1494-1506) and King Jungjong (1506-1544). The story begins with the mother of young Yeonsangun being poisoned by a group of imperial guards under the order of the king.
After the incident, an imperial guard, Suh Chun-soo, who accompanied the group, returns to his home but suffers an accident on his way back. He is rescued by a Confucian monk, who tells him that his life will revolve around three women, and that he will be killed by the third woman. (It does not become clear until much later that the three women are Yeonsangun's mother, Chang Jin's mother, and lastly, Chang Jin herself.)
The inner stress from the incident eventually causes him to resign.
On the other hand, Lady Park, a royal kitchen apprentice/servant, witnesses a conspiracy against the queen mother and is in turn indicted on false charges by the inner circle of kitchen senior staff, and ordered secretly executed per their internal procedures. She is saved by Lady Han, her best friend in the palace, and later again saved inadvertently by the now retired Suh. The two depart to live in secret in a remote village, posing as lower class persons; they marry, and raise a very bright young daughter, Chang Jin.
In the year 1504, Yeonsanggun orders a massive investigation into his mother's murder, and eventually finds Suh and his family, partly because of a mistake on the part of his child, Chang Jing. Suh is arrested, and presumably later executed. Chang Jin and her mother flee, but Jang-geum's mother is severely wounded by her enemies, and before her death she tells Chang Jing her last wish, should she choose to do so, is for her to become the head chef in the royal kitchen and record her case in the kitchen Ladies' secret historical records book (to redress the wrong done to her honor).
Chang Jing through some adventures manages to enter the palace, and through her courage, curiosity, talent, good-heartedness, and hard work, helps Lady Han (her mother's best friend, which she does not discover until much later) to become the head chef in the palace.
During her years in the palace, she is put under many ordeals and shunned because she is smarter than the other apprentices. Jang-Geum, however, does not become discouraged and cures many apprentices and royals with her fast thinking. However, a conspiracy results in them being exiled to the Cheju Island, and Lady Han passes away en route.
In Cheju, Chang Jingbecomes acquainted to a female doctor who instructs Jang-geum in medical studies. Chang Jing eventually returns to the Joseon palace, this time as a medical student. She graduates at the top of her class in spite of difficulties with class and gender prejudices, and becomes accepted as a medical worker as part of the staff of the imperial pharmacy/hospital.
After much further political mischief, the high-ranking schemers who have been trying to hurt Chang Jing eventually fall victim to the consequences of their own conspiracies, and Chang Jing then pleads the case to King Jungjong, and is able to restore the positions and the reputation of her mother and Lady Han.
Afterwards, Chang Jing devolves further into medical studies, and is able to cure the perpetually ailing Queen and Queen Mother, along with a smallpox plague that also affects the Crown Prince. With such achievements, Chang Jing is eventually accepted by the palace's workers and doctors, who initially are prejudiced against her because of her gender and secretive attitude.
With the support of her love interest Lord Min Jung-ho and her long-time friends including Liang Sheng, Jang-geum becomes the first female imperial physician in the history of Korea, and is awarded the title "Dae Jang-geum" and a third-class officer position (c.f. nine-rank system) in the royal court. The ongoing romantic sub-plot eventually ends well, too.
Seo Jang-geum (Chang Jin) / Played by Lee Young-Ae
As a beautiful and intelligent woman blessed with a positive attitude, Jang-geum is haunted by numerous difficulties. Yet, she overcomes them with an iron will. She enters the royal palace at the age of ten and puts her heart and soul into cooking, finally achieving recognition for her talents. However, she is entrapped in a conspiracy aimed at her mentor Lady Han, and she is expelled from the palace. She is forced to work as a maidservant for the local government in Jeju Island. There, she studies medicine and re-enters the palace, ultimately becoming the head physician and also the first woman physician in the history of Joseon to serve the king.
Min Jung-ho / Played by Ji Jin-Hee
Min Jung-ho becomes closely bound to Jang-geum after his appointment as a Royal Guards officer. He is an outstanding scholar who not only passes the civil service examination but also possesses great talent as a military officer, which leads to a position at the Royal Guards. He is a learned man with intelligence and good looks. Deeply touched by Jang-geum’s wisdom and passion for learning, he helps her in many ways. At the same time, he falls in love with her, but his love also puts him in deep trouble.
Choi Geum-young (Jin Ying)/ Played by Hong Li-na
Geum-young enters the royal palace with Jang-geum and becomes her long-time rival in the royal kitchen. She is the niece of Lady Choi, who holds the place of power in the royal kitchen. Arrogant and burning with ambition, Geum-young has loved Min Jung-ho ever since she was a little child, but her love is never returned. She considers Jang-geum her rival, and is always out to defeat her.
King Jungjong / Played by Im Ho
He is the 11th king of the Chosun Dynasty. A gentle man, but at the same time irresolute and indecisive, the king cherishes Jang-geum’s many talents and later falls in love with her.
Lady Han (Han Ae-jong) / Played by Yang Mi-gyeong
Lady Han is an outstanding cook and one of the teachers and mentors of the royal kitchen. Strict in her principles, yet warm-hearted, she cares for Jang-geum like a daughter. She dies in a conspiracy planned by Lady Choi.
Lady Choi (Choi Seong-geum) / Played by Gyeon Mi-ri
She is the younger sister of rich man Choi Pan-sul and the aunt of Geum-young. Arrogant and self-assured, she is a master of cooking with a frightening tenacity to succeed. Her desire for power leads her to plot for the death of Madame Park, the mother of Jang-geum, and Lady Han. She also expels Jang-geum from the palace.
My Review
Personally, I think this is a very nice show. It broke many highest rating TV show in many countries which include Taiwan, Hongkong and Korea itself. I just read from the internet that in China, one lady almost killed herself because her husband would not let her watch "Da Chang Jin".
Actually I did not watch the whole of the show but I knew the story. I watched the 1st few episodes and then the last 20+ episodes. Ocassionally, I watched a few episodes in between. Even though, I did not watch the whole show but I found the story great. One would want to keep watching, almost addicted to it. I remember I watched 6 disc in one night, till 2+ in the morning. By the way, I just finished watching the Da Chang Jin VCD last night. Excellent plot and excellent ending. Actually, there is a phrase in the the show that says "Gong Li De Nu Ren Dou Shi Huang De Nu Ren" which means all women in the palace are the emperor's women. This phrase makes me think and ponder over it. Right now, it is still in my mind. A phrase which I would'nt forget. There are many other great quotes but this is the best. This show distinctly show the distinction between men and women. But the King was really a benevolent person towards Chang Jing n Min Zhi Hao when he knew they love each other.
Even though, the Korean Craze is in for quite sometime already but to say, up to date, I only watched maybe 3 Korean Dramad and not 100% watched, skipped some here and there. The 3 I have watched are "Qiu Tian De Tong Hua", "Xing Niang 18" and "Da Chang Jin". All 3 are good but I like "Da Chang Jin" best. Highly recommended.
NICE SHOW!!!!!! NICE SHOW!!!!!! NICE SHOW!!!!!!
posted by Sherry at 9/28/2005 02:03:00 PM
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