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, and was first aired on HBS from 21 to 30 July 2013. 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.
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, sees Tolui as a potential threat to her husband. As Tolui gains more glory from his victories in battle, Töregene frets that Genghis Khan will choose Tolui instead of 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 eldest son Möngke gathers his brothers to discuss avenging their father. Töregene plans to use this opportunity to accuse Möngke and his brothers of plotting treason against Ögedei, and thereby get rid of Tolui's descendants. At this critical juncture, Kublai and his mother, Sorghaghtani, manage to convince Möngke and the others 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, Kublai and his younger brother Ariq Böke get into a power struggle over 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
- Charmaine Sheh as Chabi
- Cai Wenyan as Töregene
- Wu Yue as Ariq Böke
- * Lao Huanjie as Ariq Böke
- Tang Guoqiang as Genghis Khan
- Gao Fa as Möngke
- * Lei Haotian as Möngke
- 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
- Debbie Goh as Qaimish
- Zhang Yan as Yelü Chucai / Yelü Zhu
- Liu Xiaoxiao as Hao Qin
- Zhang Jingda as Hulagu
- * Zhang Bolun as Hulagu
- Jin Tingting as Yina
- * Zhang Jiaojiao as Yina
- 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
- 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