Han Wu Da Di
Encyclopedia
Han Wu Dadi, also known as The Emperor Han Wu, is a 2005 Chinese television series based on the life story of Emperor Wu of Han
, the seventh ruler of the Han Dynasty
.
from his early childhood to his death, as well as significant personalities and the events during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han
(father and predecessor of Emperor Wu), such as the Rebellion of the Seven States
. It also follows the conflicts that defined the pivotal war
between the Han Dynasty
and Xiongnu
, portraying the major victories that Han scored over the Xiongnu during Emperor Wu's reign. Numerous prominent historical figures, including the military generals Li Guang
, Wei Qing
and Huo Qubing
, as well as the diplomats Su Wu
and Zhang Qian
, also make appearances in the series.
, Hebei
, Henan
, Zhejiang
) captured the expanse of the Han Empire and its frontiers. While liberties were taken with some of the historical details, the series was generally well received by viewers.
The series also featured five different actors playing the role of Emperor Wu of Han
from his childhood to his old age. Among them, Chen Baoguo
spent the most time on screen, playing the young Emperor Wu and donning a moustache to play the middle-aged emperor.
Han Wu Dadi on Sina.com
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, the seventh ruler of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Plot
The series covers the life story of Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
from his early childhood to his death, as well as significant personalities and the events during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
(father and predecessor of Emperor Wu), such as the Rebellion of the Seven States
Rebellion of the Seven States
The Rebellion of the Seven States or Revolt of the Seven Kingdoms took place in 154 BC against China's Han Dynasty to resist the emperor's attempt to centralise the government further.-Prelude to the rebellion:...
. It also follows the conflicts that defined the pivotal war
Sino-Xiongnu War
The Sino-Xiongnu War is a name given to a series of battles between the Han Dynasty and the tribes of Xiongnu between 133 BC and 89 AD. The nature of these battles varied through time between Han conquest and the possession of city-states in central Asia. The war culminated in Geng Kui driving the...
between the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
, portraying the major victories that Han scored over the Xiongnu during Emperor Wu's reign. Numerous prominent historical figures, including the military generals Li Guang
Li Guang
Lĭ Guăng , born in Tianshui, Gansu, was a famous general of the Han Dynasty. Nicknamed The Flying General by his Xiongnu enemies , he fought primarily in the campaigns against the Xiongnu peoples to the north of Han China...
, Wei Qing
Wei Qing
Wei Qing , born Zheng Qing in Linfen, Shanxi, was a famous general during Han Dynasty of China, whose campaigns against the Xiongnu earned him great acclaim. He was the younger half-brother of Empress Wei Zifu, making him the the Emperor Wu's brother-in-law...
and Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu....
, as well as the diplomats Su Wu
Su Wu
Su Wu was a diplomat and statesman during China's Han Dynasty, well known in Chinese history for his faithfulness to his mission and his empire.-Mission to Xiongnu:Not much is known about Su's early life or career...
and Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian was an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty...
, also make appearances in the series.
Cast
- Chen BaoguoChen BaoguoChen Baoguo is an award winning Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1977 and has since acted in many films and television series, including Han Wu Dadi, Da Zhai Men and Rob-B-Hood. He is married to actress Zhao Kui'e .-Filmography:-Awards and nominations:-References:...
as Emperor WuEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
- Du ChunDu ChunDu Chun is a young Chinese actor with a thousand faces. Du has played as leading roles for more than a dozen of TV drama series. He is such a chameleon that you remember the characters he creates instead of his persona or even his name...
as teenage Emperor Wu - Wan Changhao as child Emperor Wu
- Du Chun
- Jiao Huang as Emperor JingEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
- Gui Yalei as Empress Dowager DouEmpress Dou (Wen)Empress Dou , formally Empress Xiaowen , was a Chinese empress during the Han Dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence of Taoist philosophy...
- Song Xiaoying as Empress WangEmpress Wang ZhiEmpress Wang Zhi , formally Empress Xiaojing , was an empress during the Han Dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Jing and the mother of Emperor Wu.- Family background and first marriage :...
- Shen Baoping as Liu Wu, Prince of Liang
- Yang Tongshu as Princess PingyangPrincess Pingyang (Han Dynasty)Princess Pingyang was the eldest daughter of Emperor Jing of Han and his second empress, Empress Wang Zhi. She was the eldest sister of Emperor Wu of Han...
- Tao Hong as Liu Ling
- Chang Shih as Tian Fen
- Ma Shaohua as Dou Ying
- Lou Jicheng as Liu AnLiu AnLíu Ān was a Chinese prince and advisor to his nephew, Emperor Wu of Han of the Han Dynasty in China and the legendary inventor of t'ai chi...
- Zhu Yi as Chao CuoChao CuoCháo Cuò was a Chinese political advisor and official of the Han Dynasty , renowned for his intellectual capabilities and foresight in martial and political matters. Although not against the philosophy of Confucius , he was described by later Eastern Han scholars as a Legalist...
- Zhao Gang as Yuan AngYuan AngYuan Ang was a Han Dynasty minister who served Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing. His biography appears in the Shi Ji, and a parallel one is in Han Shu...
- Chen Youwang as Wei Guan
- Bo Guanjun as Ji An
- Tong Zhongqi as Zhi Du
- Zhang Hongbin as Zhang TangZhang TangZhang Tang was a high ranking official of the Western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu.-Personal life:Zhang Tang was a native of Du, the son of a deputy in Changan's city government. His father died before Zhang Tang became a minor official, but his mother, along with a number of younger brothers,...
- Yang Pingyou as Yan Zhu
- Zhang Lei as Huo GuangHuo GuangHuo Guang , courtesy name Zimeng was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne...
- Wang Wang as Sima QianSima QianSima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
- Hou Xianglin as Zhufu Yan
- Yang Dawei as Dongfang ShuoDongfang ShuoDongfang Shuo was a Han Dynasty scholar-official, fangshi , author, and court jester to Emperor Wu...
- Zhang Chaoli as Sang HongyangSang HongyangSang Hongyang was a prominent official of the Former Han Dynasty, who served Emperor Wu of Han and his successor Emperor Zhao. He is most famed for his economic policies during the reign of Emperor Wu, the best known of which include the state monopolies over iron and salt - systems which would...
- Lu Jianmin as Wei QingWei QingWei Qing , born Zheng Qing in Linfen, Shanxi, was a famous general during Han Dynasty of China, whose campaigns against the Xiongnu earned him great acclaim. He was the younger half-brother of Empress Wei Zifu, making him the the Emperor Wu's brother-in-law...
- Li Junfeng as Huo QubingHuo QubingHuo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu....
- Lu Shuming as Li GuangLi GuangLĭ Guăng , born in Tianshui, Gansu, was a famous general of the Han Dynasty. Nicknamed The Flying General by his Xiongnu enemies , he fought primarily in the campaigns against the Xiongnu peoples to the north of Han China...
- Xu Zuming as Zhou YafuZhou YafuZhou Yafu was a renowned Han Dynasty general who put down the Rebellion of the Seven States, but whose honesty and integrity eventually cost him the favor of Emperor Jing and his life...
- Sun Feihu as Han Anguo
- Ren Zhong as Zhang QianZhang QianZhang Qian was an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty...
- Liang Wei as Su WuSu WuSu Wu was a diplomat and statesman during China's Han Dynasty, well known in Chinese history for his faithfulness to his mission and his empire.-Mission to Xiongnu:Not much is known about Su's early life or career...
- Ma Yong as Han Yan
- Ba Yin as Junchen Chanyu
- Gao Fa as Yizhixie Chanyu
- Xu Chong as Jin MidiJin MidiJin Midi , formally Marquess Jing of Du , was a prominent official of the Chinese dynasty Han Dynasty of Xiongnu ethnicity. He served as coregent early in the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han.- Background :...
- Lin Jing as Wei Zifu
- Wu Wei as Liu JuLiu JuLiu Ju , formally Crown Prince Li was crown prince during the reign of his father, Emperor Wu of Han, during China's Han Dynasty...
- Su Xiaoming as Liu Piao
- Xu Hongna as Empress ChenEmpress Chen JiaoEmpress Chen Jiao was an empress during Han Dynasty. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu of Han, but was deposed in 130 BC. Her father was Chen Wu , the Marquess of Tangyi. Her mother was Emperor Wu's aunt Princess Liu Piao , making her and her husband cousins...
- Gao Tingting as Li Yan
- Zhao Wanyi as Zhao Jieyu
Production and reception
Production value ran high (budgeted at 50 million RMB, the series claims to be "the most expensive historical drama"), with sweeping battle scenes, period costumes, armor and props and huge palace backdrops for the series. Filming in various scenic locations (Inner MongoliaInner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
) captured the expanse of the Han Empire and its frontiers. While liberties were taken with some of the historical details, the series was generally well received by viewers.
The series also featured five different actors playing the role of Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
from his childhood to his old age. Among them, Chen Baoguo
Chen Baoguo
Chen Baoguo is an award winning Chinese actor. He graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1977 and has since acted in many films and television series, including Han Wu Dadi, Da Zhai Men and Rob-B-Hood. He is married to actress Zhao Kui'e .-Filmography:-Awards and nominations:-References:...
spent the most time on screen, playing the young Emperor Wu and donning a moustache to play the middle-aged emperor.
External links
Han Wu Dadi official page on CCTV website Han Wu Dadi on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....
Han Wu Dadi on Sina.com
Sina.com
SINA is an online media company for China and Chinese communities around the world. SINA operates four major business lines: Sina Weibo, SINA Mobile, SINA Online, and SINA.net. SINA has over 100 million registered users worldwide...