What is really arrogant is this review. This is one of the most openly racist reviews I’ve come across on this…
While I am not too fond of the phrase "Master and Owner", and the reviewer's blatant Sinocentrism, it should be noted this movie is also set during the late 16th century, and should be examined to be as free from modern sensitivities as possible.
I believe the correct vocabulary this reviewer is looking for is "suzerainty", given China was the suzerain to Korea and their relationship during the Ming & Qing Dynasties was hardly an equal one. This is rather blatant in the numerous Korean correspondences to China and Korea's own historical records (of which all were written in Chinese). You will find references to Ming as the "Heavenly Dynasty", their armies being the "Heavenly host" and Ming diplomats being "Divine messengers". Yeah, so while their relationship was clearly unequal, and certainly devoid of one befitting the 21st century; Nonetheless, if historical records are anything to go by, the Joseon Dynasty was rather content in that relationship.
This is a very good review. Your point about the unnecessary and propagandist political overtones is well-made…
Thank you for your response.
Yes, it is true the Kangxi Emperor was keen on the Taiwan situation, but for a completely different reason, and at the time actually allied with the Dutch to accomplish this objective. Moreover, how this objective relates to the Yellow River is questionable. This was also a time when the Kangxi Emperor would gradually sideline his Han subjects in favor of Manchu and Mongol interests. Thus the reason for conquering Taiwan had very little to do with unifying all Chinese subjects, but because Zheng's naval presence proved irritating. At the end, neither Zheng or Qing ever managed to occupy Taiwan entirely, not even close. To add insult to injury, it was actually Japan from 1895 that managed to, for the first time, unite the entire island under one administration.
On the other hand, the series maintained a higher level of historical accuracy than most series I have seen depicting this era. The characters of Chen Huang and Jin Fu were portrayed rather closely to their historical counterpart. Despite only scant information of their existence, they were nonetheless recorded as being diligent, attentive and incorruptible. Moreover, they were both recorded to have personally engaged in dam work. Unfortunately for the duo, they were accused of being wasteful and forced to retire from their posts with Chen eventually dying in his cell as depicted in the series. Ironically, the perpetrator of this was none other than Yu himself. Yu actually replaced Jin, but retained almost entirely the latter's method in pacifying the Yellow River. This irony was not lost on Kangxi, who deemed Yu a hypocrite. Although Jin was restored to his post, he would, as depicted in the series, pass away shortly after.
While I am not entirely bothered by the show's portrayal of the bureaucracy, I found it boring and trite. They do this every time when ancient China is involved, politics or not. Does it not make you wonder how China lasted as long as it did with these morons in charge?
Was it good or not? Aside from costumes. Just curious.
As someone who is conscious about historical events during the Ming Dynasty, I cannot recommend this series to you based on bad history alone. Now, even if you set that aside, you'd still have to deal with ridiculous dialogues and a ridiculous plot (as the show draws closer to the end). As I mentioned, the only merit to this series came from the acting prowess of Wang Xueqi, who made Emperor Zhu Di an absolute menace. But once he is out of the picture, whatever quality this show mustered, left with him.
Things I despise about Chinese historical dramas are on full display once again. Soldiers don't look like soldiers, and armor doesn't look like armor. The war scenes are blatant ripoffs of various mediums in existence, and the dialogues can sometimes go from cringe to downright laughable.
Yes, the quality in production especially regarding costumes and setting are many steps ahead of previous incarnations depicting the same era, but those alone cannot compensate for the mediocrity that is the rest of the show.
I believe the correct vocabulary this reviewer is looking for is "suzerainty", given China was the suzerain to Korea and their relationship during the Ming & Qing Dynasties was hardly an equal one. This is rather blatant in the numerous Korean correspondences to China and Korea's own historical records (of which all were written in Chinese). You will find references to Ming as the "Heavenly Dynasty", their armies being the "Heavenly host" and Ming diplomats being "Divine messengers". Yeah, so while their relationship was clearly unequal, and certainly devoid of one befitting the 21st century; Nonetheless, if historical records are anything to go by, the Joseon Dynasty was rather content in that relationship.
Yes, it is true the Kangxi Emperor was keen on the Taiwan situation, but for a completely different reason, and at the time actually allied with the Dutch to accomplish this objective. Moreover, how this objective relates to the Yellow River is questionable. This was also a time when the Kangxi Emperor would gradually sideline his Han subjects in favor of Manchu and Mongol interests. Thus the reason for conquering Taiwan had very little to do with unifying all Chinese subjects, but because Zheng's naval presence proved irritating. At the end, neither Zheng or Qing ever managed to occupy Taiwan entirely, not even close. To add insult to injury, it was actually Japan from 1895 that managed to, for the first time, unite the entire island under one administration.
On the other hand, the series maintained a higher level of historical accuracy than most series I have seen depicting this era. The characters of Chen Huang and Jin Fu were portrayed rather closely to their historical counterpart. Despite only scant information of their existence, they were nonetheless recorded as being diligent, attentive and incorruptible. Moreover, they were both recorded to have personally engaged in dam work. Unfortunately for the duo, they were accused of being wasteful and forced to retire from their posts with Chen eventually dying in his cell as depicted in the series. Ironically, the perpetrator of this was none other than Yu himself. Yu actually replaced Jin, but retained almost entirely the latter's method in pacifying the Yellow River. This irony was not lost on Kangxi, who deemed Yu a hypocrite. Although Jin was restored to his post, he would, as depicted in the series, pass away shortly after.
While I am not entirely bothered by the show's portrayal of the bureaucracy, I found it boring and trite. They do this every time when ancient China is involved, politics or not. Does it not make you wonder how China lasted as long as it did with these morons in charge?
Yes, the quality in production especially regarding costumes and setting are many steps ahead of previous incarnations depicting the same era, but those alone cannot compensate for the mediocrity that is the rest of the show.