Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty is a Chinese television series based on the life of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. Directed by Feng Xiaoning and starring Hu Jun as the emperor, the series was first aired on CCTV in China in 2006.

Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty
DVD cover art
Also known asZhu Yuanzhang
Chinese朱元璋
Hanyu PinyinZhū Yuánzhāng
GenreHistorical drama
Screenplay byZhu Sujin
Directed byFeng Xiaoning
StarringHu Jun
Ju Xue
Yin Guohua
Zheng Xiaoning
Opening themeYingxiong Mowen Chushen (英雄莫问出身) performed by Zhi Yu
Ending themeTongnian Women Shi Pengyou (童年我们是朋友) performed by Liu Yanyan
ComposerLi Ge
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes46
Production
Executive producersYang Yubing
Fang Quanning
ProducerFeng Xiaoning
Production locationHengdian World Studios
CinematographyFeng Xiaoning
Zheng Jie
Feng Feng
EditorsFeng Xiaoning
Shen Lei
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production companies
  • Shanghai Three Nine Culture Development
  • China International Television Corporation
Release
Original networkCCTV

Plot

Turmoil engulfs China in the final years of the Mongol-ruled Yuan dynasty as the government degenerates into corruption while rebel forces sprout throughout the land to overthrow the Yuan regime. Somewhere in the wilderness, Zhu Chongba, a young cowherd, stands on a huge rock and proclaims to his friends, "I, Emperor Zhu, will reward each of you with a large piece of rice cake when I ascend the throne one day!" Around the same time, his parents died of starvation at home.

To give his parents a proper funeral, Zhu becomes a novice monk at a local monastery and spends part of his childhood there. A few years later, the monastery is destroyed so he has no choice but to become a beggar. One day, he encounters Yuan soldiers and narrowly escapes death, but is captured by some rebels, who suspect that he is a spy and want to kill him. At this critical moment, he is saved by a girl, and he joins Guo Zixing's rebel army later.

Zhu Chongba proves his capability on the battlefield and wins the favour of Guo Zixing. Guo gives Zhu Chongba a new name, "Yuanzhang", and arranges for his goddaughter, Lady Ma, to marry Zhu. From then on, Zhu Yuanzhang starts his journey towards becoming an emperor. He earns the support of talented men, such as Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu, Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen, triumphs over his nemesis Chen Youliang at the Battle of Lake Poyang, overthrows the Yuan Dynasty, and finally establishes the Ming dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang initiated a beginning for a golden era of China under the reigns of his successors. He implemented land reforms to prevent peasants from being abused by wealthy landlords and bureaucrats; harshly punished officials found guilty of corruption; drafted the Code of the Great Ming; introduced policies to help the country recover from the effects of war. However, he also used ruthless and brutal means to consolidate power: he killed some of his subjects who had contributed greatly to the founding of his empire for fear that they would rebel against him.

Cast

Releases

The series was released in Japan under the title 大明帝国 朱元璋 in a three box DVD set.

See also
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