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 establishment of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in China. The series started shooting in 2011. It premiered at the 2013 Shanghai Television Festival from 11 to 13 June 2013,[2] and was first aired on HBS from 21 to 30 July 2013.[1] The series was directed by Tsui Siu-ming and starred Hu Jun and Charmaine Sheh as Kublai Khan and Chabi, along with Cai Wenyan, Wu Yue, Tang Guoqiang, Gao Fa, Steven Ma and Ray Lui in supporting roles.

The Legend of Kublai Khan
Also known asLegend of Yuan Empire Founder
Traditional Chinese忽必烈傳奇 / 建元風雲
Simplified Chinese忽必烈传奇 / 建元风云
Hanyu PinyinHūbìliè Chuánqí / Jiàn Yuán Fēngyún
GenreHistorical drama
Written byHasi Bagen
Directed byTsui Siu-ming
Presented byLi 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
StarringHu 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 themeQiankun Wu Di Bu Baorong (乾坤无地不包容) performed by Tsui Siu-ming
Ending themeLeishui Daluo Le Hualei (泪水打落了花蕾) performed by Jin Tingting
ComposerLuo Jian
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes50
46 (Hong Kong release)
Production
Executive producersWang 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
ProducersZhou Shidu
Sheng Luosong
Feng Jing
Xi Hongyi
Tang Xuan
Zhu Xianqing
Zhang Linshu
Bu Xiaofeng
Di Nannan
Wang Liqiao
He Qing
Production locationChina
CinematographyGuan Jianxiong
EditorLi Jian
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production companies
  • Hainan Province Film and Television Production Centre
  • Tianjin Beifang Film Group
  • Bona Film Group
  • China International Culture and Art Centre
  • Beijing Yangguang Shengtong Culture Art
  • Jiuzhou Audio-Visual Publishing
  • Beijing Dongfang Investment Managing
  • Inner Mongolia Shiqi Group
  • Beijing Ruyi Jixiang Television Planning
  • Beijing Zhongshi Meixing International Culture Media
  • Alpas Grasslands Culture Tourism Development
  • The Travel Channel
  • Qilin Net (Beijing) Film Culture Media
  • Guofu Film (Beijing) Culture Media
  • LeTV.com
Release
Original networkHBS[1]
Original release21 July (2013-07-21)[1] 
30 July 2013 (2013-07-30)[1]

Plot

The series, spanning over 70 years, romanticises the life of Kublai Khan and the events leading to the establishment 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 to her husband. As Tolui gains more glory for his victories in battle, Töregene worries whether Genghis Khan will choose Ögedei to be 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 Töregene secretly poisons Tolui to death, Tolui's sons, under the leadership of their eldest brother Möngke, seek to avenge their father. Töregene plans to use this opportunity to frame Möngke and his brothers of plotting treason against Ögedei, and thereby get rid of Tolui's clan. At this critical juncture, Kublai and his mother, Sorghaghtani, manage to convince his brothers not to do anything rash. Instead, they would secretly build up their forces, lie low and wait until the time is ripe to take revenge.

Following Ögedei'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 the rest of China and establishes the Yuan dynasty, becoming its founding 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 Ahmad Fanakati
  • 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

Region Network(s)/Station(s) Series premiere Title (if different from original)
ChinaHBSJuly 21, 2013 - July 30, 2013
Malaysia8TVSeptember 11, 2013 - November 19, 2014 (Asian Select Monday to Friday 20:30-21:30)
TaiwanGTV1HDDecember 19, 2013 - January 17, 2014 (Monday to Friday 20:00-22:00)大漠風雲
Hong KongTVB JadeDecember 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
United StatesKTSF 26March 21, 2014 - May 29, 2014 (Monday to Friday 20:00-21:00)
Hong KongJadeApril 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)
South KoreaCHINGJune 11, 2015 - 2015 ()
United StatesKSCI 18September 24, 2015 - 2015 (Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 13.00)
JapanASIA DRAMATICApril 24, 2016 - 2016 ("Fabylai Han")
ThailandTrue4UNovember 5, 2015 – April 8, 2016 (Every Thursday to Friday from 14.00 - 15.00.)ตำนานกุบไลข่าน จักรพรรดิแห่งมอลโกล
5HD1March 27, 2019 to 20 June 2019 (Every Monday to Thursday from 22.30 - 23.30.)ตำนานกุบไลข่าน
NEW18April 6, 2020 – June 30, 2020 (Every Monday to Thursday from 21.15 - 22.15.)ตำนานกุบไลข่าน

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

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