(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
The Gem of Life - Wikipedia

The Gem of Life (Traditional Chinese: たまこうたから) is a TVB grand production drama, that broadcast between October 2008 and February 2009. The series was specifically filmed to celebrate TVB's 41st Anniversary. Filming took place in many locations apart from Hong Kong, including Tibet, Taiwan, and France.

The Gem of Life
Official Poster
たまこうたから
GenreModern Drama
StarringGigi Lai
Ada Choi
Maggie Shiu
Bowie Lam
Moses Chan
Bosco Wong
Linda Chung
Wong Hei
Louise Lee
Eddie Kwan
Kenny Wong
Elliot Ngok
David Chiang
Chan Hung Lit
Opening theme"鑽禧" by
Shirley Kwan
Ending theme"無情むじょうゆうあい" by
Linda Chung
"しょうこい兩個りゃんこ" by
Bowie Lam & Gigi Lai
"わがかえざいとう甚麼いんも" by
Moses Chan
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes82
Production
ProducerJonathan Chik
Production locationsHong Kong
Macau
France
Thailand
Tibet
Beijing, China
Shanghai, China
Qingdao, China
Shanghai, China
Shenzhen, China
Dongguan, China
Zhuhai, China
Running time45 minutes (approx.)
Production companyTelevision Broadcasts Limited
Original release
NetworkTVB Jade
ReleaseOctober 20, 2008 (2008-10-20) –
February 13, 2009 (2009-02-13)
The Gem of Life
Traditional Chineseたまこうたから
Simplified Chineseたまこうたから
Transcriptions

Premise

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The story centers around three sisters: Sylvia (oldest), Constance, and Jessica (youngest). Each of them faces a failing marriage and the subsequent loss of their comfortable lifestyle. The sisters and their mother, SiuYau, plot various schemes to recover their family honor and fortune.

Cast

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The Hong family

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Cast Role Description
David Chiang Hong Ching-Yeung
かんあお
Owner, Cheok Mei Jewelry.
Hong Bak Siu-Yau's husband.
Sylvia, Constance, and Jessica Hong's father.
Louise Lee Hong Bak Siu-Yau
かんしろ筱柔
Affectionately called "Xiao Jia" (Shanghainese for "miss" or "madam").
Hong Ching-Yeung's wife.
Sylvia, Constance, and Jessica Hong's mother.
Maggie Shiu Sylvia Hong
かん雅言がげん
Affectionately called "Du Mei" (Shanghainese for "big sister").
Entertainment company manager.
Constance and Jessica Hong's elder sister.
Bok Mao's (ひろし貿) CEO
Tim Yip's ex-wife.
Sunny Yau's close friend.
Gigi Lai Constance Hong
康雅やすまさひとみ
Affectionately called "yi Mei" (Shanghainese for "the second sister").
Joint partner with Terrence and Jessica at Ego-Sky Enterprises & Miracle Holdings after Martin's death.
Manager at Cheuk Mei Jewelry.
Sylvia and Jessica Hong's sister.
Terrence Ho's ex-wife.
Derek's ex-girlfriend
Frankie Fan's ex-wife
Ada Choi Jessica Hong
康雅やすまさおもえ
Affectionately called "Xiao Mei" (Shanghainese for "the baby sister").
Joint partner with Constance and Terrence at Ego-Sky Enterprises & Miracle Holdings after her husband Martin's death.
Sylvia and Constance Hong's younger sister.
Martin Ho's widow.
Patrick Yeung's ex-wife.

The Ho family

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Cast Role Description
Elliot Ngok Martin Ho
ほう
Wealthy tycoon.
Chairman of Ego-Sky Enterprises & Miracle Holdings.
Terrence Ho and Ho Zit-Seon's father.
Jessica Hong's late husband.
Moses Chan Terrence Ho
哲男てつお
CEO of Miracle Holdings.
Constance Hong's ex-husband.
Joint partner with Constance and Jessica at Ego-Sky Enterprises & Miracle Holdings after his father's death.
Ho Zit-Seon
あきら
Ho Fung & Jessica Hong's Son
Terrence Ho's half brother.
Died after kidnapped by Phillip Song.

The Shek family

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Cast Role Description
Wong Hei Shek Tai-Wor
いしたい
Jewelry company factory assistant manager.
William Shek's older brother.
Jessica Hong's secret admirer.
Bosco Wong William Shek
いしたいがわ
Businessman
Inherited Melissa Yan's business empire - the Melissa Li Group.
Melissa Yan's protege before her death.
Shek Tai-Wor's younger brother.
Elise Sung's secret admirer.

The Sung family

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Cast Role Description
Chan Hung Lit Philip Sung
そうまん
Wealthy Business Tycoon
Chairman of Wrestle Holdings.
Elise Sung's grandfather.
James Sung's older brother.
Helen Ma (うまうみりん) Margaret Sung-Kwok
そうかく婉儀
Philip Sung's first wife.
Terrence Ho's godmother.
Queenie Chu Man Wai (Mandy)
ぶんとし
Philip Sung's ex-mistress.
Queena Chan (ちんたんまこと) Charlie Cheuk Yi
たくしこり
Philip Sung's fourth mistress.

Martin Ho's mole in Sung Sai-Man's organization

Linda Chung Elise Sung
そうりょう
William Shek's right hand person.
Philip Sung's granddaughter.

Philip Sung's mole in Melissa Li Group, after William Shek inherited it.
Admires Terrance Ho and is the cause of his and Constance's divorce.
Later, admires William.

Yu Yang James Sung
そうもと
Philip Sung's younger brother.
Cindy Lee Kate Sung
そう佩嘉
James Sung's daughter.
Elise Sung's good friend.

The Ko family

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Cast Role Description
Lai Suen (はじむせん) Ko Cheung-Shing's mother.
Bowie Lam Calvin Ko
高長こうちょうかち
Bok Shing Corporation's CEO
Sylvia Hong's ex-boyfriend, reconciled later.
Sunny Yau's friend and partner.
Shum Tsi-Tang's ex-husband.

Other cast

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Cast Role Description
Eddie Kwan (せきあやすぐる) Derek Chan
ひね啟發けいはつ
Admirer of Constance Hong.
Kenny Wong (とくあきら) Sunny Yau
ゆう日東にっとう
Calvin Ko's friend/business partner/admirer.
Sylvia Hong's friend. Revealed to be a homosexual.
Rebecca Chan Melissa Yan
おそれあしにわ
Businesswoman
head of Melissa Li Group
Former ally of Martin Ho.
Lau Dan Ryan Suen Wai-Tak[1]
まごふところとく
Chairman of Kei Lei Jewelry.
Florence Kwok Catherine Shum
沈之きよし
Chairwoman of L'ete Holdings.
Calvin Ko's ex-wife.
Carrie Lam Stephy Model
Ram Chiang (蔣志こう) Patrick Yeung
楊志だま
Businessman.
Jessica Hong's ex-husband.
Patrick Dunn Tim Yip
とみ
Commercial airline pilot.
Sylvia Hong's ex-husband.
Mat Yeung (あげあきら) Oscar Artist.
Sylvia Hong's entertainment company artist
Friend to Kate and Elise Sung.
Rocky Cheng (ていけんらく) Frankie Fan
范禮
Constance Hong's ex-husband.
Angelina Lo (あてしとね) Mrs. Ho
なにふとし
Hong Bak Siu-Yau's friend.

Awards and nominations

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TVB Anniversary Awards (2009)

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15th Shanghai Television Festival

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Viewership ratings

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Week Episode Average Points Peaking Points References
1
October 20, 2008
1 — 2
32
37
[2]
October 21–23, 2008
3 — 5
31
36
[3]
2
October 27–31, 2008
6 — 10
28
30
[4]
3
November 3–7, 2008
11 — 15
29
[5]
4
November 10–14, 2008
16 — 20
29
[6]
5
November 17–21, 2008
21 — 24
28
[7]
6
November 24–28, 2008
25 — 29
28
[8]
7
December 1–5, 2008
30 — 33
28
[9]
8
December 8–12, 2008
34 — 38
28
31
[10]
9
December 15–19, 2008
39 — 43
25
[11]
10
December 22–26, 2008
44 — 48
25
[12]
11
December 29, 2008 - January 2, 2009
49 — 53
28
30
[13]
12
January 5–9, 2009
54 — 58
27
[14]
13
January 12–16, 2009
59 — 63
27
[15]
14
January 19–22, 2009
64 — 67
27
January 23, 2009
68 — 69
28
29
[16]
15
January 28–30, 2009
70 — 72
25
[17]
16
February 2–6, 2009
73 — 77
30
33
[18]
17
February 9–13, 2009
78 — 82
29
35
[19]

References

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  1. ^ The English name of this character was only seen on the doors of his office.
  2. ^ Premier Ratings Archived 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Week 1 Ratings Archived 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Week 2 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Week 3 Ratings Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Week 4 Ratings Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Week 5 Ratings Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Week 6 Ratings Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Week 7 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Week 8 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Week 9 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Week 10 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Week 11 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Week 12 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Week 13 Ratings Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Week 14 Ratings Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Week 15 Ratings Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Week 16 Ratings Archived 2009-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Week 17 Ratings Archived 2009-03-08 at the Wayback Machine
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  • TVB.com The Gem of Life - Official Website (in Chinese)
  • K for TVB.net The Gem of Life - Episodic Summary and Screen Captures (in English)