The Sino-Dutch War 1661
Encyclopedia
The Sino-Dutch War 1661, also known as Hero Zheng Chenggong, is a 2000 Chinese historical drama film directed by Wu Ziniu
and starring Vincent Zhao
, Jiang Qinqin
, Du Zhiguo, Shimada Yôko, Xu Min and Zhang Shan. The film is based on the life story of Zheng Chenggong
and focuses on his battle with the Dutch
for control of Taiwan
principally at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia
. The film was released in 2002 in Japan under the title Kokusenya Kassen (國姓爺合戰). An alternative Chinese title for the film is 鄭成功 1661.
s of the Qing Dynasty
, while the south is ruled by the Longwu Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty
. Zheng Sen is the son of Zheng Zhilong
, a prominent Ming general. Longwu is impressed with Zheng Sen's sense of loyalty, and he grants Zheng Sen the imperial surname (Zhu) and a new personal name, "Chenggong" (literally: "success"). Zheng becomes known as the "Imperial Name-keeper" (國姓爺; Koxinga
) from then on. At that time, Taiwan
is under Dutch
colonial rule and many people are hoping that the island will return to Chinese rule one day.
Zheng Zhilong defects to Qing after seeing that he has no future in Southern Ming. Despite his father's betrayal, Zheng Chenggong remains loyal to the Longwu Emperor and continues to resist the Qing invaders even after the fall of Southern Ming. He decides to retreat to Taiwan, where he will establish a new base of operations in preparation for retaking the mainland from the Manchus. In 1661, Zheng Chenggong's fleet sets sail from Xiamen
to attack the Dutch on Taiwan. Nine months later, Zheng succeeds in driving away the Dutch and restores Chinese rule on the island.
Wu Ziniu
Wu Ziniu , is a Chinese film director and a member of the "Fifth Generation" film movement, a movement of filmmakers who graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in the early 1980s. Unlike his better-known contemporaries, Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, who made their names with historical dramas, Wu...
and starring Vincent Zhao
Vincent Zhao
Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo , sometimes credited as Chiu Man-cheuk, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Zhao is best known playing the role of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film and television series.-Early life:Zhao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, as the...
, Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin
Jiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
, Du Zhiguo, Shimada Yôko, Xu Min and Zhang Shan. The film is based on the life story of Zheng Chenggong
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
and focuses on his battle with the Dutch
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
for control of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
principally at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia
Siege of Fort Zeelandia
The Siege of Fort Zeelandia , which took place in 1661 and 1662, ended the Dutch East India Company's rule over Taiwan and began the Kingdom of Tungning's rule over the island...
. The film was released in 2002 in Japan under the title Kokusenya Kassen (國姓爺合戰). An alternative Chinese title for the film is 鄭成功 1661.
Plot
The story begins in 1654, when northern China is controlled by the ManchuManchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
s of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, while the south is ruled by the Longwu Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty
Southern Ming Dynasty
The Southern Ming Dynasty was the Ming loyalist regime that continued in Southern China from 1644 to 1662 following the capture of Beijing by rebel armies and the death of the last Ming emperor in 1644....
. Zheng Sen is the son of Zheng Zhilong
Zheng Zhilong
Zheng Zhilong also known as Nicholas Iquan Gaspard, a native of Nan'an, Fujian, China. He was a Chinese merchant, pirate and admiral for the Ming Empire. He was the father of Zheng Chenggong , also a military leader. Under the Qing Dynasty, Zheng was elevated to the rank of Count of the Second Rank...
, a prominent Ming general. Longwu is impressed with Zheng Sen's sense of loyalty, and he grants Zheng Sen the imperial surname (Zhu) and a new personal name, "Chenggong" (literally: "success"). Zheng becomes known as the "Imperial Name-keeper" (國姓爺; Koxinga
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
) from then on. At that time, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
is under Dutch
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
colonial rule and many people are hoping that the island will return to Chinese rule one day.
Zheng Zhilong defects to Qing after seeing that he has no future in Southern Ming. Despite his father's betrayal, Zheng Chenggong remains loyal to the Longwu Emperor and continues to resist the Qing invaders even after the fall of Southern Ming. He decides to retreat to Taiwan, where he will establish a new base of operations in preparation for retaking the mainland from the Manchus. In 1661, Zheng Chenggong's fleet sets sail from Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
to attack the Dutch on Taiwan. Nine months later, Zheng succeeds in driving away the Dutch and restores Chinese rule on the island.
Cast
- Vincent ZhaoVincent ZhaoVincent Zhao Wenzhuo , sometimes credited as Chiu Man-cheuk, is a Chinese actor and martial artist. Zhao is best known playing the role of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film and television series.-Early life:Zhao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, as the...
as Zheng ChenggongKoxingaKoxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of... - Jiang QinqinJiang QinqinJiang Qinqin is a Chinese actress. She is sometimes credited as Shui Ling , a stage name given to her by Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao while she was involved in the production of the television series Tears in Heaven....
as Xue Liang - Du Zhiguo as Zheng ZhilongZheng ZhilongZheng Zhilong also known as Nicholas Iquan Gaspard, a native of Nan'an, Fujian, China. He was a Chinese merchant, pirate and admiral for the Ming Empire. He was the father of Zheng Chenggong , also a military leader. Under the Qing Dynasty, Zheng was elevated to the rank of Count of the Second Rank...
- Shimada Yôko as Tagawa MatsuTagawa MatsuTagawa Matsu , or Weng-shi , was the mother of Koxinga, a Chinese national hero, and Tagawa Shichizaemon , a servant to a Japanese feudal lord. She was a Nagasaki Japanese who lived most of her life in the coastal town of Hirado, then later migrated to China...
- Xu Min as Longwu Emperor
- Zhang Shan as Li Wei