2026-06-04
Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994) Theme Song and Opening
A look back at the iconic opening theme song ‘The Rolling Yangtze River Flows East’ from the classic 1994 TV series Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
I would like to post about the theme song and opening of the drama ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’.
This drama was released about 25 years ago, around 1994.
The theme song is titled ‘The Rolling Yangtze River Flows East’. It is a musical rendition of the poem found on the very first page of Luo Guanzhong’s novel, ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’.
滾滾長江東逝水 [The rolling Yangtze River flows east]
浪花淘盡英雄 [Its white-capped waves wash away all heroes]
是非成敗轉頭空 [Right and wrong, success and failure, all vanish in the blink of an eye]
靑山依舊在 [The green mountains remain as they were]
幾度夕陽紅 [How many times has the sunset glowed red?]
白髮漁樵江渚上 [A white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the riverbank]
慣看秋月春風 [Are accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze]
一壺濁酒喜相逢 [Meeting happily over a pot of turbid wine]
古今多少事 [Many events of the past and present]
都付笑談中 [Are all dismissed with a laugh and a chat]
gun gun chang jiang dong shi shui ,
lang hua tao jin ying xiong ,
shi fei cheng bai zhuan tou kong
qing shan yi jiu zai ,
ji du xi yang hong .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the title of the opening theme song of the drama 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'?
Yes, the title of the theme song is 'Rolling Eastward the Great River' (滾滾長江東逝水). It was widely loved as the opening song for the memorable drama 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', which aired around 1993, about 25 years ago.
What is the source of the lyrics for the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' theme song?
The source is a poem written on the very first page of the novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' by Luo Guanzhong. The content of this introductory poem was directly borrowed and used as the opening song for the drama.
What is the meaning of the lyric 'Rolling Eastward the Great River'?
It means that the mighty Yangtze River flows eastward. The subsequent lyrics express the transience of heroes' disputes and successes, stating that all heroes were washed away by the spray.
What is the meaning of 'Qīngshān yījiù zài' (青山依舊在) in the lyrics?
It is interpreted to mean that the green mountains remain as they were in ancient times. This phrase represents the permanence of nature, which remains unchanged, unlike the fleeting lives of humans or the successes and failures of heroes.