The Legend of Kublai Khan
The Legend of Kublai Khan, also known as Legend of Yuan Empire Founder, is a Chinese television series based on the life of Kublai Khan and the events leading to the founding of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in China. The series started shooting in 2011. It premiered at the 2013 Shanghai Television Festival from 11–13 June 2013,[2] and was first aired on HBS from 21–30 July 2013.[1] The series was directed by Tsui Siu-ming and starred Hu Jun as Kublai Khan, Charmaine Sheh as Chabi in the main leads, with Cai Wenyan, Wu Yue, Tang Guoqiang, Gao Fa, Steven Ma and Ray Lui as part of the supporting cast.
| The Legend of Kublai Khan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Legend of Yuan Empire Founder |
| Traditional | 忽必烈傳奇 / 建元風雲 |
| Simplified | 忽必烈传奇 / 建元风云 |
| Mandarin | Hūbìliè Chuánqí / Jiàn Yuán Fēngyún |
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Written by | Hasi Bagen |
| Directed by | Tsui Siu-ming |
| Presented by | Li Hua Zhou Shidu Yu Dong Sheng Luosong Kong Deming Cao Fang Wu Huai'en Wang Guangzhong Liu Hong Xi Hongyi Du Daning He Ling Guo Li Liu Zhanhui Cheng Lidong Jin Tingting Wu Weimin Wang Jingyi Tian Jun Zheng Yuxia Li Ying Xiaoning Zhang Huayong Hou Li Wu Zhiling Wang Liqiao Luo Yi |
| Starring | Hu Jun Charmaine Sheh Cai Wenyan Wu Yue Tang Guoqiang Gao Fa Steven Ma Ray Lui Ba Sen Hasi Gaowa Xie Miao Xu Xiangdong Du Yiheng He Yanni Wang Huilai Xu Dongmei Huang Jianqun Zhang Yan Debbie Goh Liu Xiaoxiao Zhang Jingda Jin Tingting |
| Opening theme | Qiankun Wu Di Bu Baorong (乾坤无地不包容) performed by Tsui Siu-ming |
| Ending theme | Leishui Daluo Le Hualei (泪水打落了花蕾) performed by Jin Tingting |
| Composer | Luo Jian |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 50 46 (Hong Kong release) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Wang Xiangwen Zhang Ping Fan Xiaojun Feng Wei Liu Yipeng Su Jianrong Liu Haiming Wang Guang Chang Sheng Zhang Zili Wang Haitao Guo Zhijian Zhao Wei Tu Tu Zhao-Yan Guozhang Xu-Li Fengming |
| Producers | Zhou Shidu Sheng Luosong Feng Jing Xi Hongyi Tang Xuan Zhu Xianqing Zhang Linshu Bu Xiaofeng Di Nannan Wang Liqiao He Qing |
| Production location | China |
| Cinematography | Guan Jianxiong |
| Editor | Li Jian |
| Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
| Production company |
|
| Distributor | Sheng Luosong |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBS[1] |
| Original release | 21 July[1] – 30 July 2013[1] |
Plot
The series, spanning over 70 years, romanticises the life of Kublai Khan and the events leading to the founding of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in China.
Kublai was born in 1215 as a son of Tolui, the fourth son of Genghis Khan. At the time, Töregene, the wife of Ögedei (Genghis Khan's third son), sees Tolui as a potential threat. As Tolui gains more glory for his victories in battle, Töregene becomes worried about whether her husband will be selected by his father as his successor. She also feels uneasy because the young Kublai is highly favoured by his grandfather.
Ögedei eventually succeeds his father as the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. After Tolui is poisoned to death by Töregene, his sons, under the leadership of their eldest brother Möngke, want to avenge their father. Töregene plans to accuse Möngke and his brothers of plotting a rebellion if they seek to avenge their father, and hopes to use the opportunity to eliminate Tolui's family. At this critical moment, Kublai and his mother, Sorghaghtani, manage to calm down his brothers and get them to stay low while secretly building up their forces.
Following Ögedei Khan's death, Töregene becomes the Regent of the Mongol Empire for some years until her son, Güyük, is elected as the new Great Khan. When Güyük dies in a conflict against his cousin Batu, his wife Qaimish takes over as the Regent for a brief period of time until Möngke becomes the new Great Khan.
A few years later, after Möngke dies in a battle against the Song Empire at Diaoyu Fortress, Kublai and his younger brother Ariq Böke engage in a power struggle to seize the succession. Kublai eventually overcomes his brother and secures his position as the Great Khan after defeating all his rivals. He conquers China and establishes the Yuan dynasty with him as its first emperor.
Cast
- Hu Jun as Kublai
- Su Jiahang as Kublai (young)
- Charmaine Sheh as Chabi
- Cai Wenyan as Töregene
- Wu Yue as Ariq Böke
- Lao Huanjie as Ariq Böke (young)
- Tang Guoqiang as Genghis Khan
- Gao Fa as Möngke
- Lei Haotian as Möngke (young)
- Steven Ma as Liu Bingzhong
- Ray Lui as Tolui
- Ba Sen as Ögedei
- Hasi Gaowa as Sorghaghtani
- Xie Miao as Širemün
- Xu Xiangdong as Huochi
- Du Yiheng as Hao Jing
- He Yanni as Yunlin
- Wang Huilai as Dong Wenyong
- Xu Dongmei as Kusa'er
- Huang Chien-chun as Güyük
- Jin Bo as Güyük (young)
- Debbie Goh as Qaimish
- Zhang Yan as Yelü Chucai / Yelü Zhu
- Liu Xiaoxiao as Hao Qin
- Zhang Jingda as Hulagu
- Zhang Bolun as Hulagu (young)
- Jin Tingting as Yina
- Zhang Jiaojiao as Yina (young)
- Sengge Renqin as Chilaun
- Dao'erji as Subutai
- Lu Ying as Anchen
- Liu Sibo as Fifth Princess
- Luo Huimiao as Alandar
- Ji Shuai as Liu Taiping
- He Ya'nan as Tana
- Wang Lu as Kaidu
- Li Hua as Yesutai
- Menghe Wuliji as Chagatai
- Hongtong Batu as Jochi
- Sude Siqin as Bo'orchu
- Siqin Bilige as Batu
- Gangte Mu'er as Shiban
- Dao'erji as Godan
- Liu Shijia as Godan (young)
- Baoyin Gexige as Mukha
- Dong Ming as Baodi
- Wang Zhengping as Reverend Haiyun
- Jiang Yongbo as Ahema
- Anna as Fatima
- Dalielihan Hade'er as Suhe
- Bate'er as Buhe
- Sulide as Batu
- Fan Yu as Qašin
- Suyou Lesiren as Yesu
- Hong Chang as Li Tan
- Yan Linfei as Wang Jian
- Yong Qing as Narisong
- Tao Ri as Taozi
- Tang Zhaokang as Jinhua
- Wudamu as Bateng
- Wang Xueqian as Zhenjin
- Yijile as Khochu
- Lan Tian as Hutu
- Jiang Haotong as Naohu
International Broadcasts
| Country | Network(s)/Station(s) | Series premiere | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | HBS | July 21, 2013 - July 30, 2013 () | 忽必烈傳奇 (The Genius of War – Kublai; lit: ) |
 Malaysia | 8TV | September 11, 2013 - November 19, 2014 (Asian Select Monday to Friday 20:30-21:30) | 忽必烈傳奇 ( ; lit: ) |
 Taiwan | GTV1HD | December 19, 2013 - January 17, 2014 (Monday to Friday 20:00-22:00) | 大漠風雲 (Da Mo Fengyun; lit: ) |
 Hong Kong | TVB Jade | December 23, 2013 - February 28, 2014 (Monday to Friday HD Theater 23:45-00:45 (for other replay times, please see here), Broadcasting will be suspended on December 31, January 30, 31 and February 7) | 建元風雲 (Legend of Yuan Empire Founder; lit: ) |
 United States | KTSF 26 | March 21, 2014 - May 29, 2014 (Monday to Friday 20:00-21:00) | 打仗天才忽必烈 (The Genius of War – Kublai; lit: ) |
| Hong Kong | Jade | April 23, 2015 – June 30, 2015 (至五 10:30 - 11:30, 5月1日及25日暫停播映, 5月28日 11:00 - 11:55) | 忽必烈傳奇 ( ; lit: ) |
 South Korea | CHING | June 11, 2015 - 2015 () | ( ; lit: ) |
| United States | KSCI 18 | September 24, 2015 - 2015 (Monday to Friday from 12.00-13.00) | The Legend of Kublai Khan ( ; lit: ) |
 Japan | ASIA DRAMATIC | April 24, 2016 - 2016 ("Fabylai Han") | ( ; lit: ) |
 Siam | True4U | November 5, 2015-April 8, 2016 (Every Thursday to Friday from 14.00 - 15.00.) | The Legend of Kublai Khan ตำนานกุบไลข่าน จักรพรรดิแห่งมอลโกล ( ; lit: ) |
| 5HD1 | March 27, 2019 to 20 June 2019 (Every Monday to Thursday from 22.30 - 23.30.) | ตำนานกุบไลข่าน (The Legend of Kublai Khan; lit: ) | |
| NEW18 | April 6, 2020-June 30, 2020 (Every Monday to Thursday from 21.15 - 22.15.) | ตำนานกุบไลข่าน (The Legend of Kublai Khan; lit: ) | |
Production
The Legend of Kublai Khan was produced at a cost of about 150 million yuan.[3]
Awards
The Legend of Kublai Khan won the Golden Angel Award for Outstanding Television Series and Best Director of Chinese TV Series at the 2013 Chinese American Film Festival.[4]
Controversy over title renaming
The Legend of Kublai Khan was released under the title The Genius of War – Kublai (打仗天才忽必烈) when it was aired on Hunan Broadcasting System (HBS) in July 2013. Apparently, this was done without the approval of the producers, and the reason behind the renaming is believed to be that HBS wanted to attract higher viewership. Director Tsui Siu-ming and lead actor Hu Jun expressed unhappiness over the renaming; Hu even wrote on his weibo, "Who changed the title? What genius of war?", and added an angry emoticon.[3]
References
- "《忽必烈传奇》湖南地面频道首播受热捧 ("The Legend of Kublai Khan" is well-received when it started airing on HBS)". Sina Entertainment News (in Chinese). Sina.com. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- "《忽必烈傳奇》搶灘上海電視節(附圖) ("The Legend of Kublai Khan" premieres at the Shanghai Television Festival (pictured))". Sina Entertainment News (in Chinese). Sina.com. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- "胡军不满新剧更名为《打仗天才忽必烈》 (Hu Jun expresses unhappiness over renaming of new drama to "The Genius of War – Kublai")". Sina Entertainment News (in Chinese). Sina.com. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- "2013 Awards". Chinese American Film Festival. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
External links
- (in Chinese) The Legend of Kublai Khan on Sina.com