'SCARLET HEART' Various Versions, from Chinese Novel to K-Drama and Thai Series

Kapanlagi.com - SCARLET HEART THAILAND is currently a topic of discussion after its teaser was released by GMMTV. The drama, starring Tu Tontawan, Win Metawin, Nanon Korapat, Tay Tawan, and others, is often referred to by fans as an adaptation of MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO. In fact, this story originally comes from a Chinese novel or tong hua that was then adapted into dramas and films in China, Korean dramas, and even series in Thailand.

This time, let's discuss the various versions of SCARLET HEART, from the original to its various adaptations. Don't forget to check out other news about dramas on Liputan6.com, if not now, when else?

1. Original Novel Bu Bu Jing Xin (Scarlet Heart)

The story of Scarlet Heart begins with a Chinese novel titled Bu Bu Jing Xin (literally meaning Startling by Each Step) written by Ren Haiyan, a historical romance novelist from China. This debut novel was initially published online in 2005 through Jinjiang Original Network.

The story of the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin tells of a 21st-century woman who experiences an accident and her soul is thrown back to the past, specifically to the late Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (around the 1700s). She wakes up in the body of a Manchu noble girl named Ma'ertai Ruoxi (her modern name: Zhang Xiao), the younger sister of one of the prince's consorts of the Qing Dynasty.

Ruoxi, who comes from modern times, then becomes involved in palace intrigues and the struggle for the throne among the princes of Emperor Kangxi. The two princes closest to her are the 8th Prince (Yinsi) and the 4th Prince (Yinzhen), who would later become Emperor Yongzheng.

This novel combines elements of time travel with historical romance, where Ruoxi uses her knowledge of history to try to change the fate of those she loves. The novel has been revised several times (most recently in 2011 with an additional epilogue of 30,000 words) and Bu Bu Jing Xin has become very popular, leading to adaptations in various media.

2. Chinese Television Drama: Bu Bu Jing Xin (2011)

SCARLET HEART, Chinese drama (credit: Hunan TV)

The first and most famous adaptation of this novel is the Chinese drama series Bu Bu Jing Xin (English title: Scarlet Heart) which aired in 2011. This 35-episode drama was directed by Lee Kwok-Lap and starred Liu Shishi (Cecilia Liu) as Ma'ertai Ruoxi, Nicky Wu as the 4th Prince (Yinzhen), Kevin Cheng as the 8th Prince (Yinsi), and Yuan Hong and Lin Gengxin as the 13th Prince (Yinxiang) and the 14th Prince (Yinti) respectively.

Zhang Xiao from the 21st century has an accident and finds herself trapped in Ruoxi's body in the Qing Dynasty era in the 1700s. Initially, she is close friends with the 13th Prince and develops feelings for the 8th Prince, but then her heart shifts to love the 4th Prince, who is cold yet loyal. The political struggle for the throne among the sons of Emperor Kangxi becomes the main conflict, known as the 'Battle of the Nine Princes', and Ruoxi, who knows the line of historical destiny, tries to avoid a tragic ending for her loved ones.

Interestingly, the ending of this drama is different from the ending of the novel. In the novel, Ruoxi's story ends tragically in the Qing era without any clarity on a reunion with her lover in modern times. Meanwhile, in the 2011 drama, after Ruoxi dies in the Qing era, the closing scene shows Zhang Xiao (the modern incarnation of Ruoxi) crying at a museum exhibition while looking at a painting of the 4th Prince, hinting at a meeting with a man resembling the prince in the modern world, although it still ends touching and somewhat hanging.

3. Chinese Drama Sequel: Bu Bu Jing Qing (Scarlet Heart 2, 2014)

Sequel to SCARLET HEART, Chinese drama (credit: Hunan TV)

The success of the drama Bu Bu Jing Xin led to the creation of a modern sequel titled Bu Bu Jing Qing (Scarlet Heart 2) which aired in 2014 in China. This sequel is not a direct adaptation of the novel, but rather a continuation of the story created by the drama team to address the cliffhanger ending of the first series. The original author did not write this sequel, so the story of Bu Bu Jing Qing is considered non-canon to the original novel.

Liu Shishi reprises her role as Zhang Xiao in the modern era (the reincarnated soul of Ruoxi), and Nicky Wu also returns but as a new character, Yin Zheng, a modern man who is the reincarnation of the 4th Prince. Several new supporting characters are introduced, including Sun Yizhou as Kang Sihan (another modern male character), and Jiang Jinfu as Kang Siyu, set against the backdrop of a modern corporate world.

The plot of Bu Bu Jing Qing begins three months after Zhang Xiao awakens from a coma at the end of the first drama, returning to modern life but unable to forget her love and regrets for the 4th Prince (Yinzhen) whom she left behind in the past. One day, Zhang Xiao visits a Qing Dynasty museum and is shocked to meet a young man named Yin Zheng whose face is identical to that of the 4th Prince. In order to uncover her connection to the prince, Zhang Xiao joins as a designer at the family-owned company of the man.

Compared to its predecessor, Bu Bu Jing Qing has a contemporary setting (modern Chinese city) and does not involve time travel at all. The historical elements are replaced by corporate drama, yet the themes of reincarnation and the destiny of love remain at the core. This sequel was created to conclude the love story of Zhang Xiao/Ruoxi with the '4th Prince' in the modern era, providing fans with a kind of closure that was not explicitly given at the end of the first drama.

4. Chinese Feature Film: Time to Love (2015)

Chinese film, TIME TO LOVE (credit: Mydramalist)

The story of Scarlet Heart was also adapted into a feature film titled Time to Love (Mandarin title: Xin Bu Bu Jing Xin) released in 2015. Unlike the TV drama, this film replaces the cast and summarizes the story within a duration of about 1 hour and 55 minutes. Ivy Chen plays the main character (in the film version her name is Zhang Xiaowen/Ruoxi), with Shawn Dou (Dou Xiao) and Tony Yang (Yang Youning) portraying the main princes.

Due to the limited duration, the plot of the film is more concise and focuses on the love triangle conflict between Ruoxi and the two main princes only. A striking difference compared to the drama version is that the 8th prince is omitted from the film's story. The film Time to Love emphasizes the story on Ruoxi's relationship with the 4th Prince and the 14th Prince only, thus the lengthy rivalries and political intrigues in the drama are trimmed down to a simpler romantic and time fantasy core. Although the historical elements remain, the film highlights Ruoxi's emotional conflict in choosing between the two princes.

In addition to simplifying the characters, this feature film adaptation also offers an alternative ending that differs from the 2011 drama version. Spoiler: in the film Time to Love, Ruoxi ultimately ends up with the 14th Prince instead of the 4th Prince. The film's ending is depicted sweetly and satisfyingly for viewers who prefer the 14th Prince, providing a happy closure for Ruoxi and the 14th Prince – in stark contrast to the tragic tones of both the novel and the drama.

5. Korean Drama: Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

Moon Lovers - Scarlet Heart Ryeo (credit: SBS)

The next adaptation that is equally popular is the Korean version titled Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which aired in 2016 on SBS (South Korea) for a total of 20 episodes. This drama is an official adaptation of the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin with a historical backdrop of Korea, directed by Kim Kyu-tae. IU (Lee Ji-eun) plays the main female character named Go Ha-jin/Hae Soo, with Lee Joon-gi as the 4th Prince Wang So and Kang Ha-neul as the 8th Prince Wang Woo.

Unlike the original version set in the Qing Dynasty, Moon Lovers relocates the story to the Goryeo Kingdom era in 10th-century Korea. The story begins when Go Ha-jin, a young girl from the 21st century in modern Korea, experiences a total solar eclipse and mysteriously travels back to the year 941 AD during the reign of King Taejo, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty. She awakens in the body of a noble girl named Hae Soo, who lives in the palace environment and is surrounded by the Wang princes, the sons of King Taejo.

The subsequent plot parallels the Chinese version: Hae Soo initially falls in love with the gentle 8th Prince Wang Wook, but fate leads her to develop a deep love for the cold 4th Prince Wang So, a figure nicknamed 'wolf dog' who later becomes King Gwangjong. Hae Soo befriends several other princes (such as the 13th Prince Baek-ah, the 10th Prince Wang Eun) and becomes involved in the intrigue of the throne struggle among King Taejo's sons. Moon Lovers maintains the bloody political conflict characteristic of the Goryeo era, where Hae Soo struggles to survive in a palace filled with betrayal while facing the tragic fates of many people around her.

The main difference in the Korean version is evident in the cultural context and plot details. Because it is set in Goryeo, there is no Qing emperor or Manchu terms; instead, there are Korean kings and princes with Goryeo customs. Hae Soo also does not know the course of Goryeo history as well as Ruoxi knows Qing history, so her decisions are driven more by emotion than historical knowledge.

Another striking difference is at the end of the story. Moon Lovers is known to end more tragically compared to the Chinese version. After going through a series of painful events (including Hae Soo being ostracized and seriously ill), Hae Soo dies in the Goryeo era without being able to be with her lover Wang So until the end. She then awakens in modern times as Go Ha-jin with her memories restored upon seeing a painting of Wang So in a museum, and cries realizing everything.

6. Thai Drama: Sroi Sabunnga (Scarlet Heart Thailand)

SCARLET HEART THAILAND (credit: GMMTV)

The latest adaptation comes from Thailand with a drama project titled Sroi Sabunnga, also known as Scarlet Heart Thailand. This project was announced by GMMTV in 2024 and is a remake of the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin for the Thai audience. Sroi Sabunnga is currently in production and is not scheduled to air until the end of 2025.

This drama is directed by Kanittha Kwanyu (based on initial information, director Koo Ekkasit is also involved) and produced by GMMTV in collaboration with The One Enterprise. The main cast has been announced, featuring Tu Tontawan as the female lead, alongside actor Win Metawin as the male lead. Additionally, the star-studded GMMTV cast includes Nanon Korapat, Tay Tawan, Foruth Nattawat, Perth Tanapon, and Phuwin Tangsakyuen.

Sroi Sabunnga will adapt the core story of Scarlet Heart to the historical context of Thailand. Based on the initial synopsis, the plot is similar: a woman from the 21st century experiences a mysterious event that causes her to travel 300 years back in time. She wakes up in the body of a frail noble girl in the Kingdom of Lanna (an ancient Thai kingdom) during that era. There, she must adapt to the customs of the time and finds herself caught in the fierce competition among the royal princes vying for the throne.

(kpl/pit)